Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Length of pull?

Is there an easy way to measure for LOP?

Easy Method:

Gasp rifle/shotgun in trigger hand, hand resting where it does when you would be ready to fire. Hold barrel vertically, muzzle up.

Extend arm out to your side and bend elbow at 90�, palm facing your ear.

Butt of rifle/shotgun should just touch your bicep in the case of a shotgun and I prefer 1/4" to 3/8" off for rifles.

It is smart to do this in the clothes you would wear to hunt. Should you hunt bundled up for cold, a slightly shorter length of pull is desiable to compensate for a coat. Conversely, if you are hunting in warm weather and short sleeves, you may want it full touch on your arm.

Sorry, that is as close to useless a method as any perpetuated... That comes up with a 16+" LOP for my arm and I have seen arms even farther off.

Arm length has absolutely nothing to do with how a stock fits. That hinge called an elbow allows the arm to adjust to any reasonable length. The number happens to be close to averages, but it is far from functional as a true measure of stock length.

Far better is to mount the gun naturally with eyes closed and have someone measure from your thumb to your nose. The grip may change where exactly your thumb goes, but about 1 1/2" is in the right area. That would be from nose to knuckle.

Shotgun and rifle knuckle/nose rule the same?

Shotguns should run a bit longer... Because the grips vary far more there it takes a reasoned (seasoned?) eye to see where the thumb should be. But about 2" is reasonable for pistol-grip stocked shotguns.

Fudge long on shotguns, short on rifles.

Yes, the rule of thumb is trigger to butte plate on a firearm or hooked trigger finger to crook of arm on a shooter.

When it comes to function though there are several other measures (cast off and pitch) that should be considered too.

If one is truly fitting a firearm, then he should visit a good stockmaker while wearing his hunting duds and that means more $$$. Unless we are building stocks, most of us just make do and either chop or add recoil pads.

You must have arms like a [bleep]!

Agree 100%

6'4" with a wingspan just under 7'... and narrow shoulders... Like the English Major said, you do the math!

I disagree totally with the notion there is any value in the number derived by using the "Rule" and true stockfitters do not even bother with it.

That is a myth that needs to die.

Sitka:
The value (trigger to butt plate) is that it conveys one of the dimensions of a firearm to a potential buyer. Wesbrook (page 87) suggests the arm measure is a good "approximation" for fitting but not the end all. I'd agree, however, that there's no single firearm dimension that is going to universally translate to proper fit.

Much like fish, I'm impressed by 36" steelhead. That length though does not accurately convey weight, and that's what European sport fishermen are more interestd in because they often sell their catch.

I am defeated. My method will not work on a pteradactyl.

But 36" is a real measure that actually means something and coupled with the girth a valid weight could be estimated that would be close enough for most anyone... Knowing forearm length provides nothing more than static and NO valid measure can or is based on it.

It is without use or function as a measure and perpetuating it does many a disservice.

No argument there.