The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-02-28
SHOOTING STRAIGHT
The Fit OF the Gun

The fit of the gun is what makes the
wild cats wild" and the shooters
have fits. 81 don't think my gun
under-too straight, or too much
drop" l bet I hear these express
sions at the shoots more than any
other alibis in the gun game. There
is more money spent by the gun
cranks in trying to get correct eft
than in any other part of their shoot
ing expense.
Just take a look at a flock of trap
shooters guns at a tournament. Did
stocks? Special this, and special
that, guns bound up with ten yards
of tape-looking as if they had just
received first aid from the Red Cross.
Stocks heightened out with shoe
leather and even parts of inner tubes.
Fine walnut stocks grooyed out and
pieces glued Unchanged in every
possible conceivable manner by the
shooter in his efforts to get the blame
thing to fit him. And to make it all
the worse-the very first time he has
day off" and misses a bunch Of
targets, he is convinced that the darn
gun don't fit him even then and he
starts numbering the specifications at
once.
Even experienced shots-good shots
get that sneaking idea every so
often that their gun don't fit them
exactly | have seen a shooter pick
up a strange gun, step up to the trap
and knock fifty straight-Square in
the nose-and with a sign of relief
and a cry of joy hand over 100 bucks
for that gun-thinking he has at last
found the gun that fits him to T.
At the next tournament, perhaps, he
will shoot worse than he ever did,
blow up, and go all to pieces, with the
same gun and someone gets it for a
song. He can't get rid of it fast
enough. Once more he starts out
looking for the gun that fits him
and some good gun salesman sells
him a brand new one that is 'just
out" that will automatically" him
in due time. This comes from ex-
perience.
1t takes years of experience to
know when gun does fit you; or
even for most expert shot to locate
your trouble at once. Shooters form
certain habits that tend to change
their load and place the shot charge
in various spots. Some are inclined
to finch little, others hug their gun
in tight some don't even cheek their
guns and some are just poor shots"
,ts;II ho IN q,
great deal better with any change.
There you are. A gun that may eft"
one star may be an impossible pro-
position for Mark Aric. Frank
Troeh, who is known the world over
for his wonderful skill over the traps,
shoots the saddest looking old gas
pipe of a Winchester that has ever
been seen on the shooting grounds.
No one else can hit a flock of Army
Dallons with Franks gun-But, it
fits" Frank. He just murders 'em.
When he looks at 'em over that old
Dlunder bus. Wow.
Still it is possible for shooter to
improve his shooting by studying his
own faults and checking them up.
The length of the stock should be the /.
irst thing. 1t should be just long
enough not to strain the shooter from
holding it in correct shooting posi-
ion, just so that the trigger finger
'ests upon the trigger and the gun
AN be shot with a slight press. SO
he shooter will not have to jerk it off /
,r find too much play" that will .
,ause him to finch and get behind. /
FOO short of trigger pull results in
3low time. Too long of trigger
pull results in the shooter firing too
asst and the gun going off before he /
las the bead on the target. A fellow
With long neck needs more drop"
han the fellow with a short meek, 50 :
he gun will line up without any eff
ort to get down on the gun and stay
here. A shooter with thin cheeks
will need thick comb--so as to make
Up for the difference and prevent him
rom getting over too far and cross |.
iring The fellow with the fat
heeks will need a thin comb for the
everse reason. A pistol grip, of a
traight stock, depends upon how the
hooter holds his gun and the size of
lis hand. Some fellows have a big
land and their thumb rests right in
font of their nose on a straight stock
md they get kick in the nose every
inc they shoot A pistol grip gets rid
# the position Of that thumb and also
gives a shooter u better chance to get
firm hold and grab the gun in the
anne place each time without shifting
s>is often done on straight stock.
Only by careful observation and ex-
with the help of an expert
Who knows guns. can you get good,
"ft'.