Pitch can be measured by standing the gun on its butt next to a wall and measuring the distance that the barrels are from the wall. Pitch can be measured more precisely in degrees from the barrel. Pitch is usually downwards. The proper pitch can make a gun much more comfortable to shoot. By altering the pitch we are trying to make full contact with the whole butt of the gun in the shoulder pocket, thus distributing the recoil over a larger area and decreasing perceived recoil.
Pitch can also influence shot placement to a small degree.
All guns are not created equal. The fit that is correct for one gun may not be for another. Stock thickness and comb shape are different for almost every gun and these changes will alter the gun fit. If you have good basic shooting form and are not hitting targets or birds on a regular basis, it is time to have your gun fit checked. Copyright 1999 Pat Lieske.