Proper fit

[grnoah]

How do you determine the proper fit of a shotgun for a specific person? How do you measure length of pull?
I never had a shotgun that fit me just right. I have some that fit better than others but none that seem to come up to the sholder natually.... you know what I meen?

[darkgael]

Proper fit is a subject for book length discussions. There is no real good short answer to your question.
A proper fit of a SG involves measuring and then adjusting, if necessary, five different parameters or aspects of the stock. LOP is just one of them. The others are: Drop at comb, drop at heel, cast, and pitch.
These measurements are taken by means of a contraption called a "Try Gun". It is a shotgun with a stock that is adjustable in about a bazillion ways - for each of the five aspects.
Its use  requires someone who REALLY knows what he is doing.
You go to a range. There is a steel plate painted white and mounted 16 yards away from a shooting point. You are handed the try gun. It is loaded and then you are instructed to look at the target, mount the SG, and shoot at the target. The idea is to get the gun to shoot where you are looking. The bead is not used.
The fitter looks at the point of impact and adjusts the stock on the try gun. You do this repeatedly until the pattern is centered. Then the figures are recorded.
Like all such explanations, this one is an oversimplification.
The simplest way to measure LOP and get pretty close is to take a measuring tape and measure from the crook of your arm, along the forearm to the center of your trigger finger. Done this way, I get a LOP of 15 1/4". The Try Gun put me at 15 3/4". Pretty close.
Pete

[SHOOTALL]

The short ansewer is have a fitting done . There are people around the country who will mesure and fit you.
 A test you can do is with an unloaded gun stand in front of a mirrow . Close both eyes mount the gun facing the mirrow then open your eyes . Note where you are looking with reguard to where the gun is pointing. When a gun fits you will be looking down the bbls right where the gun is pointing often looking at yourself eye to eye over the bbls.
To see if the gun is shooting where you point get a bed sheet or paper the same size. It should be white . Paint a 4 inch red circle in the middle. Take 10 to 12 shots at it. Mount the gun and as it touches your shoulder fire as you point at the circle . Note where the hole in the sheet appears in relation to the aiming point. If the gun fits they should be one and the same.

[keith44]

The above replies are accurate and complete enough.  The complete fitting of a shotgun is complex and can get pricey.  If LOP is all you want to change first determine if the stock is too short or too long for you.  You can change the recoil pad and add or remove spacers until the gun comes to the shoulder more naturally.  This is about the only stock adjustment that the average gun owner can make at home, by themselves. 

[grnoah]

I just came across this site. looks like a very informative book.
http://www.stockfitting.com/index.html

[Lon371]

Here is a link where Sourdough describes fitting the length of pull.
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,243064.0.html
 
It does not go in to the comb drop and stock angle. If you are going to fit it totally you should get a little help from someone who knows the ins and outs.
 
Lonny