length of pull measurement

[thelaw]

how is it properly measured? i've been told from the butt stock to the trigger.

[Don McCullough]

GB,

Measure from the center of the trigger to the center of the buttplate/pad.

Too short is better than too long.  Also, I've come to find, soft rubber can "hang-up" on your winter/bulky clothing so another plus for a little short.  Best to have all your long guns with same pull.

Don McCullough

how is it properly measured? i've been told from the butt stock to the trigger.

[gunnut69]

I disagree with the too short statement.. Correct is best.  Trap shooters (many in any case) prefer a long pull length.  The soft pads hanging on clothing is fixable.  There is a coating avaliable called 'Slick-Eze' which is painted on the upper or heel portion of the pad.  this will cause that portion to become less 'sticky' on the surface. The underlieing pad material remains unchanged. Pads with a hard plastic insert are also available to remedy the problem.  A too short stock on a rifle with a scope can lead to a scope cut..  The correct length with a scope set to the correct distance is the way to go.  The above not withstanding pull length preferences are very personal..so get it the way you feel the best and good shooting.

[longwinters]

Ok, so how do you measure correct length of pull?

Long

[gunnut69]

Now that's a direct question!  I use a ruler!  Sorry, I know, that was flipant.  The pull length is the length at which the shooter's trigger hand elbow will measure a 90 degree bend with the weapon properly6 mounted and the trigger finger engaged.  Of course cast off or cast on as well as stock design can alter that some but that's a general rule.  Short pulls on straight gripped guns can lead to getting the back of the trigger hand's thumb in the nose or a scope to the eyebrow.  Many competition trap shooters like extremely long pulls to help build in lead for the birds.  Measuring pull is easy, use a rigid measuring device and measure from the center of the butt plate to the deepest part of the trigger arch.  Measuring the pull length is quite easy, determining what the right pull length is for someone is much more difficult.  Even the British fitters use try guns, which is in the end a very good idea.  Just a gun with a nearly infinitely adjustable stock..  then they measure..

[Don McCullough]

I'll stick with my too short is better than too long.  Speaking generally.  A scope throws in another variable and it has to do with both how you mount scope and how you place face on buttstock--as well as optimum pull.  Generally speaking you want the scope mounted as far forward as the scope rings will allow and esp. with hard kicking guns.  Otherwise risk of getting nasty cut on eyebrow from scope.

Good to know about the spray that will prevent soft rubber butt pads from hanging-up on clothing.

I expect the fact is one pull measurement would not do for all of a person's guns.  It would take a lot of time and expertise to get the true (not totally by the book) optimum pull on all of one's long guns.

People have done a lot of adapting to other than optimum pull, drop, etc. and done excellent shooting.

Don McCullough

[gunnut69]

'Slick-Eze' is actually a 2 part paint on system. The first bottle is a primer??? the second is what does the work.. Your probable right about the different pulls for different guns therory. A shotgun must be more dinamic than a varmit rifle but a dangerous game rifle must also move well and still avoid hammering the shooter.  A sceond shot may be needed!!  If the shooters elbo is at a 90 degree angle with the rifle mounted, you'll be close.  After that the scope can be mounted. Todays short light scopes makie mounting them a chore sometimes.