Help Dave!!!

[TarpleyG]

Okay, I bought a 12" LOP Hogue overmold stock for my Winchester 1300 Defender. Fits my shoulder great and I can actually hold it in position without fully extending my left (support) arm. Problem is, my right thumb is in my eye now. If I hold my shooting hand normally, wrapping it around the grip, my thumb rests just below my right eye. If I try and extend the thumb straight out (direction of aim) along the side of the stock, it is uncomfortable. I thought doing away with the bead and installing a ghost ring set up would help more than it actually does. This allows me to get a higher cheek weld and therefore gets my thumb farther away from my eye but not far enough. Ideas, suggestions, comments welcomed.

GT

[Dave McCracken]

(Rolling up sleeves, spitting on palms)....

OK, it's hard to diagnose this long distance. I know nothing about your build and can't see you operate your shotgun.

Let's try a few things.

First, if a finger or two can get in between your primal digit and schnozz, you should have enough room. Proof test is shooting. If things bump, you'll know.

No mags for this, start with a light load. Trust me on this.

Next, grab the masking tape and some cardboard. Build up the recoil pad maybe 1/4", and see how it fits and feels. If all goes well and your support hand still reaches what it needs to, that's the correct stock length for you in what you're wearing at the time.

Another idea. Most grips are more open than needed. Try building up the front of the grip a little with the cardboard and tape. This may give you enough wiggle room. Shoot and adjust as needed, both pad and grip. Pattern this and shoot moving things to make sure it's right for you.

When you've got it right, lay the unloaded shotgun on a piece of paper and trace it out with a vertically held pencil.

Get one of the epoxy kits sold in archery shops to create an ergonomic grip on bows. After checking with both manufacturers that the materials are compatable, build up the grip to match the tracing. Sand smooth and and paint it with a matching flat spray paint. Again check for compatability first.

KickEez makes neoprene pads for adjusting comb height in various thicknesses for less than $20. A few layers of this on the pad will add just as much or as little LOP as needed to fit you. Cut to shape.

If all else fails, you can keep your thumb over on the starboard side. It's the last resort, IMO.

HTH....