How Do You Measure for Best LOP for a Shotgun?

[Jeff White]

Ok, I've looked through all my references and I can't find how you measure for optimum length of pull on a defensive shotgun.

I have been advised to show up at school with the stock on my Benelli M121 already cut down. It's right at 13" now and seems to fit me pretty well.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Dave McCracken]

Traditionally,LOP has been measured from the center of the trigger,(rear trigger if there's more than one) to the center of the butt plate or pad.

13" is on the short side, you should be alright in your class with it as is.

Enjoy, and let us know how the class was. Thanks...

 

[Jeff White]

Dave,
I meant to say the stock was 13 inches long now. Isn't there a way to measure my forearm length and come up with the best LOP from trigger to butt plate?

Sorry for the confusion. I'll post a reveiw of the class here.

Jeff

 

[Dave McCracken]

That forearm thing is just a very rough guide. A better method would be to do some fast mounts. If you can get the thing in position easily and fire it without bumping your nose on your thumb, it's close enough.

We can also minic the effect of a longer or shorter stock by moving the forward hand back and forth.

 

[TaxPhd]

Dave, are you sure on the LOP measurement for a two trigger gun? I always thought it was from the front trigger.

 

[El Tejon]

Just make it short and then shorter!

 

[Dave McCracken]

Rear. The front trigger is used for the distance from the standing breech on a double, IIRC.

 

[sm]

Great, now I'm .
I go and consult Brister, then Misseldine and they were of no help.

Seems as If LOP on a English Shotgun with double triggers was measured from rear trigger. Being English and all they measured from front trigger on a double rifle. They do things like that.

Then somewhere in my gray matter, some American Shotgun maker suggested LOP be measured from Front trigger. Something about English straight vs Churchill vs semi-pistol and pistol grip.

Of course the English called the pump gun an "enigma". What do they know, they put the steering wheel on the wrong side .

Can we all agree that El Tejon needs to back away from the saw and put the shotgun in a safe place

Jeff White: perhaps find a slip on pad and see if a change of LOP makes a difference. This way you can see/feel the difference. At class you can try both and maybe get some assistance with fit. Since LOP can affect comb, take along some moleskin to build up comb. Lessee , longer LOP raises comb, shorter ( too short) one may need to raise ( moleskin).

I think that's right...more coffee...

 

[BigG]

We have lots of guys at our range that have muy expensivo guns with what look like "try" stocks,, comb, LOP, etc adjustable. Then we have guys with similar guns with the Bondo treatment.

 

[JShirley]

One way some get LOP is to hold the weapon with the stock against the bicep. Ideal is to have the finger comfortably reach trigger.

Like Dave said, though, you have to try mounting the weapon to see if you have the right pull length. (Also your shooting gear will dictate LOP: are you shooting in heavy winter clothes? Body armor?)

Since I'm a hobbit, my LOP is pretty short...

John

 

[Dave McCracken]

When using this method, the trigger falls at the base of my trigger finger. Except for winter geese and Kevlar events, that's a bit short..

73, longer stocks have more drop. The cheek's further back. The older I get, the more I think that drop is more criucial than LOP.

As for the English, they like their beer warm and they mangle their own language.

 

[JShirley]

'Bout an inch short, Dave?

John
lucky when he buys Comblock shoulder arms, unlucky when he buys 'Merican ones.

 

[tlhelmer]

Does LOP mean length of pull?

 

[sm]

yes, LOP = length of pull.

Dave, thanks for correction on above, I got it flipped/flopped...cough cough...chalk dust...

 

[tlhelmer]

Thanks re1973



Speedfeed makes a 13" lop for Remington 870's

 

[Gila Jorge]

Horsefeathers! Length of pull indicated by bicep to finger joint only accounts for your sleeve length and says nothing about your neck length and whether you are a stock crawler or not. I have a longish neck, kee[ my head on the stock, and a 33 inch sleeve and shoot a 14.5 inch stock in winter and 14.625 in summer. I also use 1.5 inches of pitch in a field gun to reduce recoil and float my targets. Do NOT do any cutting unless you like buying replacement stocks. Have the gun fitted ny a semi pro shooter at the range while you are shooting it. Use shims to get the length best for you. Blessings.

 

[mete]

What kind of school is this that tells you to cut the stock if they don't know how big you are ?

 

[RandyB]

My own 2 cents here...

On all the custom guns (muzzleloaders) and other mods to my long guns I take the crook of my elbow and measure to the relaxed postion of my index finger. When buying a gun I measure in the same manner placing the butt of the gun into the crook of my elbow and if my finger touches the trigger in a comfortable manner, it fits.

 

[TaxPhd]

If one shot with the gun mounted in the crook of the elbow, that would be a fine method indeed for measuring LOP. However, since most shoot with the gun mounted to the shoulder, that method does little, if anything, to determine proper LOP. Unfortunately, that method has been passed on as gun shop wisdom for so long that it is taken as gospel by many.

 

[9x19mm]

From what I have seen so far, primarily in O/Us, out-of-the-box sporting shotguns have longer LOP than field shotguns. Any ideas why?