I'm consistently shooting high. What are my options at resolving the problem as we go into hunting season? I have a feeling that adjusting the drop at the face of the stock, or getting an adjustable comb may mean the gun is tied up until after the birds are long gone for the year. I can't afford to have my gun in for the adjustment for too long because the grouse season is not too far off now. Could a magic dot or a bit of moleskin on the stock simply solve the problem for the hunting season, or do I need to get refitted and get the gun adjusted properly - as soon as possible?


Dear “Over The Top”, Shooting over the top or consistently high can either be a good thing or a bad thing. For most bird hunting type shots, a gun that shoots a couple inches high can be a true benefit and an advantage. The higher point of impact helps to build in natural lead for a rising bird (or target). Most game birds are rising if they have flushed from cover and are still accelerating by rapidly beating their respective wings. More often than not, sporting clays competitors today experience a different problem. Many targets today are presented to be shot at well past their apex and are dropping when shot. Therefore, a relatively flat shooting sporting clays gun will benefit the competitor who sees a lot of flat trajectory or dropping target presentations. Unfortunately, none of the “gun fit” options you listed are going to help you one bit. An adjustable comb can really only help if you need to raise the point of impact or add and subtract some cast off/on at face. The reason you see a lot of adjustable combs on “trap” guns is because trap competitors benefit by shooting a high impacting gun. Single trap targets are typically shot under power and rising, thus the lead for elevation is built in with a trap gun that shoot 70%, 80% or even 90% high. Moleskin, in effect, accomplishes the same benefits to stock fit as does adding an adjustable comb. If you’re lucky and your stock is presently too short for you (at length of pull) a simple change you could make to lower your point of impact is to add a recoil pad to lengthen the stock. Your face will therefore contact farther back and lower on the comb, thus lowering your eye alignment and respective point of impact. Ultimately, the easiest and best way to lower your point of impact, is to have a proper gunfitting conducted for you, thereby determining your ideal stock dimensions. Then you can have your gun “bent” to your ideal drop at face and cast off/on at face and the l.o.p. altered as necessary. When stocks need to be bent by the hot oil method, the amount of time it takes a stock-bender to work his craft is typically two or three weeks. The biggest issue with any custom gunsmithing vs. turn around time normally relates to the time of year the work is submitted. It may take the stock bender only two or three days to complete the respective work on your gun, however if you send in your gun in early September and the gunsmith has 15 stock bends already booked ahead of your job, you see the reason for the delay. However, if you ask for the work to be conducted in the slower work months like Jan., Feb., or March the work may only take one week or so to complete. If all else fails, many gunsmiths offer a “rush order” fee. For an additional charge, the gunsmith is offering to burn the midnight oil and complete your stock bend as quickly as possible, without compromising his already booked clients. Simply put, don’t wait until bird season is only a few weeks away to deliver your gun to the stock bender, expecting to have the gun completed by opening day. I hope my answer helps you decide what to do with your “shooting over the top” problem. Good Luck & Good Shooting, Dr. Shotgun