how to determine stock length?

goodsteel · 04-26-2008, 06:11 AM

I am in the processe of customizing my old 30-30 so that my wife can use it with more ease. been married for two years and she is trying to become a proficient rifle shot but she has some hurtles. one of the biggest being that we cannot afford to buy her a custom rifle and the 30-30 is too long for her. I have already bought a replacment stock and a limb-saver recoil pad. Now before i go choping up the new stock I would really like to know what length i am shooting for. One idea I had was to measure my forearm and the length of my stock (trigger to butt) and measure my wifes forearm and turn the whole thing into an equation my arm = her arm
my rifle = X
does anybody know the propper procedure for determining stock length???? thanks for anything.

madcratebuilder · 04-26-2008, 07:00 AM

I would check some of the custom stock sites. I remember one that had a chart for figuring LOP. You could cut down your stock an inch at a time till she found the sweet spot, then cut off for the recoil pad.

rdale501 · 04-26-2008, 07:03 AM

does anybody know the propper procedure for determining stock length???? thanks for anything.

[/quote]
I had a gunsmith cut down a rifle for my daughter. He had her to shoulder the gun and asked her if it felt like she was reaching around the stock. She was, so he cut off about 1". Shouldered it again, still reaching, cut off. It was the third try before she felt like she wasn't reaching around it. I was having a Decellerator recoil pad installed, so he removed an additional 2" and the rifle fits her perfectly. He had to move the sling swivel because it was now too close to the butt. He plugged the old hole with a nice wood plug and installed the swivel farther up on the stock. Whole process including the recoil pad was 75 bucks. I thought very reasonable. One question...are you trying to make this gun fit you and your wife? Anyway the gunsmith never measured the length of her forearm, I have heard of this, but I think it is an old wives tale.

goodsteel · 04-26-2008, 07:31 AM

the gun is for my wife only. I have never heard of measuring the forarm either, just tryin to come up with a way to compare fit.

samuel · 04-26-2008, 07:42 AM

Make sure the gun is empty.Place your hand on the grip with your finger on the trigger in a normal firing position.Place the stock on top of your forearm. If the stock goes beyond the inside of your elbow it is too long.If it doesnt reach the elbow on the inside it is too short.In this case,it might be better to go too short and use a slipon recoil pad. sam.

Capt'n Mil Coll · 04-26-2008, 01:32 PM

Here is the easiest way to determine correct stock length. Grip the rifle or shotgun by the neck as you normally do when firing with whatever hand you normally use to hold it. Lift the gun pointing the muzzle straight up in the air. Hold your arm straight out from you body parallel to the ground bent at your elbow. See if the butt comes to your tricept. If it doesnt it it too short. If it cannot rest on your tricept it is too long. The best is right on or up to one inch too short. Very important to do this when purchasing a shotgun.

turner · 04-26-2008, 08:04 PM

Try this.... Take the rifle and set the buttstock in the corner of the angle made by your forearm and upper arm set at a 90* angle. face the rifle in the same direction as your forearm, pointing out towards your fingers. Grasp the grip of the rifle and place your finger on the trigger (gun unloaded of course). When the buttstock placed in the crook of your elbow facing out/down your forearm allows your trigger finger to fall naturally to the trigger, the length of pull is correct. Good Luck

04-26-2008, 06:11 AM	#1
goodsteel Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: arkansas Posts: 14	how to determine stock length? I am in the processe of customizing my old 30-30 so that my wife can use it with more ease. been married for two years and she is trying to become a proficient rifle shot but she has some hurtles. one of the biggest being that we cannot afford to buy her a custom rifle and the 30-30 is too long for her. I have already bought a replacment stock and a limb-saver recoil pad. Now before i go choping up the new stock I would really like to know what length i am shooting for. One idea I had was to measure my forearm and the length of my stock (trigger to butt) and measure my wifes forearm and turn the whole thing into an equation my arm = her arm my rifle = X does anybody know the propper procedure for determining stock length???? thanks for anything. Last edited by goodsteel; 04-26-2008 at 06:13 AM.

04-26-2008, 07:00 AM	#2
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 561	I would check some of the custom stock sites. I remember one that had a chart for figuring LOP. You could cut down your stock an inch at a time till she found the sweet spot, then cut off for the recoil pad. __________________ The difference between a hot dog and a weenie is a fine line.....

04-26-2008, 07:03 AM	#3
rdale501 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: oregon Posts: 398	does anybody know the propper procedure for determining stock length???? thanks for anything.[/quote] I had a gunsmith cut down a rifle for my daughter. He had her to shoulder the gun and asked her if it felt like she was reaching around the stock. She was, so he cut off about 1". Shouldered it again, still reaching, cut off. It was the third try before she felt like she wasn't reaching around it. I was having a Decellerator recoil pad installed, so he removed an additional 2" and the rifle fits her perfectly. He had to move the sling swivel because it was now too close to the butt. He plugged the old hole with a nice wood plug and installed the swivel farther up on the stock. Whole process including the recoil pad was 75 bucks. I thought very reasonable. One question...are you trying to make this gun fit you and your wife? Anyway the gunsmith never measured the length of her forearm, I have heard of this, but I think it is an old wives tale.

04-26-2008, 07:31 AM	#4
goodsteel Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: arkansas Posts: 14	reply the gun is for my wife only. I have never heard of measuring the forarm either, just tryin to come up with a way to compare fit.

04-26-2008, 07:42 AM	#5
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	Make sure the gun is empty.Place your hand on the grip with your finger on the trigger in a normal firing position.Place the stock on top of your forearm. If the stock goes beyond the inside of your elbow it is too long.If it doesnt reach the elbow on the inside it is too short.In this case,it might be better to go too short and use a slipon recoil pad. sam. Last edited by samuel; 04-26-2008 at 07:45 AM.

04-26-2008, 01:32 PM	#6
Capt'n Mil Coll Military Rifle Collector Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Right behind you. -NRA Member- Posts: 2,255 Images: 10	Here is the easiest way to determine correct stock length. Grip the rifle or shotgun by the neck as you normally do when firing with whatever hand you normally use to hold it. Lift the gun pointing the muzzle straight up in the air. Hold your arm straight out from you body parallel to the ground bent at your elbow. See if the butt comes to your tricept. If it doesnt it it too short. If it cannot rest on your tricept it is too long. The best is right on or up to one inch too short. Very important to do this when purchasing a shotgun. __________________ Let's light this fuse and see what happens! Last edited by Capt'n Mil Coll; 04-26-2008 at 01:37 PM.

04-26-2008, 08:04 PM	#7
turner Banned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tn Posts: 623	Try this.... Take the rifle and set the buttstock in the corner of the angle made by your forearm and upper arm set at a 90* angle. face the rifle in the same direction as your forearm, pointing out towards your fingers. Grasp the grip of the rifle and place your finger on the trigger (gun unloaded of course). When the buttstock placed in the crook of your elbow facing out/down your forearm allows your trigger finger to fall naturally to the trigger, the length of pull is correct. Good Luck