Interesting LOP observation

[Youngster]

Yesterday I was putting my 870 and Ithaca 37 through their paces and it struck me that I'm perfectly happy with 14"-15" LOP on the latter while the 870 with its 1.5" longer reciever and considerably heavier forward weight made me glad for the 12" Hogue stock its wearing.

Effective reach to the forend and to the loading port, both very important dimensions for a short armed gun platform like myself, are slightly shorter on the 870 {with its Police style forend vs the Ithaca's corncob} but not enough to be of practical difference to me.

Anyways, nothing earth shattering and probably goes back to proper gun fit, but I thought it worth mentioning nonetheless.

 

[Dave McCracken]

You did good. Everyone has to find out what works for them. And that takes range time....

 

[VA27]

Funny thing about stocks. The standard 870 fits me just fine, but if I pick up a 760 the stock seems too long for comfort. The 'tactical' pistol grip Benelli stock beats me to death, but the standard field stock with the thickest stock shim shoots like a dream.

I'll always take a short stock over a long one. On the range in a T-shirt is one thing, hunting in a heavy coat in the winter is another.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Optimum stock length is never fixed. My clays guns run about 15", my Waterfowler, Frankenstein, has the standard stock on it for shooting with lots of layers from a sitting position and my HD 870s work fine with that length also.

When deciding, better a little short than a little long......

 

[Youngster]

When deciding, better a little short than a little long......

Especially when its easy to add length if needed, literally in seconds in the case of my my shotguns when I slide my Limbsaver slip-on pad on there.