Double rifle fitting

[Backyardsniper]

I am very close to purchasing K-gun. What i am concerned about is getting a rifle that fits me, or getting the rifle fitted to me. This rifle is a stock rifle as far as I know with a 14-7/8" LOP which sounds rather long to me but as I understand it the doubles generally have a bit longer LOP than a standard bolt rifle. I'm 6'00" so not a small guy. I would like to get a fitting using a Try-Gun, does anyone have a recommendation for a gun fitter that is within a few hours of west KY?

 

[yhc]

You might want to reach out to JJ Perodeau to see whether he can help you with fitting.

 

[Backyardsniper]

Will do. Thanks

 

[Mississippian]

I googled this a while back. I’ve never been fitted with a try gun but I have been measured. This technique was in the ballpark of those measurements. If you have a fine gun room nearby you could stop by and shoulder weapons until you get one that’s feels like an extension of your body. Copy the dimensions of that firearm.

Measuring for stock fit.

Measuring for stock fit.

americanlongrifles.org

 

[WAB]

I googled this a while back. I’ve never been fitted with a try gun but I have been measured. This technique was in the ballpark of those measurements. If you have a fine gun room nearby you could stop by and shoulder weapons until you get one that’s feels like an extension of your body. Copy the dimensions of that firearm.

Measuring for stock fit.

Measuring for stock fit.

americanlongrifles.org

It’s a good link. I’ve read his references over the years and have been fitted with a try gun by two separate fitters (Holland &Holland and Fieldsport) who came up with essentially the same dimensions. A word of caution: your shooting technique affects the fit and thus the correct dimensions. If your technique improves over time, the optimal dimensions will shift. So two key points to consider:
1) Nail your technique before you get fitted,
2) if at all possible, get fitted with a try gun. Two people of identical size but different shooting styles can require different dimensions.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I am new to this game but by pure fluke my first shelf double was a perfect fit. What does that mean? For me it meant when I gripped it well and planted my cheek firmly on the comb the front sight settled exactly in the middle of the express V with about a half moon showing. If I didn't plant my cheek hard, it was a miss fit, so the cheek weld to me is the absolute.
Then on the next one I must have cold tried six doubles all made by the same manufacturer and they were all over the place. Two were spot on, however, and I have discovered I am a 'standard fit'. What was mostly out with the other four was the cast, ie not enough cast so the front sight rode up on the left hand wing of the Vos hid behind it.
A double is way to special not to get right, you will never be fully happy with it.

 

[rookhawk]

A couple points of order.

A krieghoff double rifle isn't a "K-gun" in the common parlance. It's not a K80 shotgun. Allow me to elaborate.

When you buy a mass-produced double rifle they are made on stock duplicators and they are able to use less expensive wood while making the gun anatomically larger to avoid potential warranty issues.

When you speak of bespoke guns with a proper fitting, you're really talking about Heyms as the minimum baseline and then on to the London makers.

You may be able to prescribe a length of pull which in reality is just the length of the recoil pad or chopping down the stock ,but you're not talking about getting a gun to fit you perfectly. It is very hard, near impossible to cast-off a gun or adjust toe and heel adjustments on a through-bolted mass produced gun. You try to bend that much wood with that much of a hollow hole in the stock, something is going to break.

Best case scenario you can get the gun's stock carved to your measurements at a slightly increased risk of the stock cracking due to loss of material. (especially relieving wood from the wrist and pistol grip)

For a true fitting, you need a heym or london gun that is pretty close to good, adjust the pad, and then steam/lamp bend the gun for slightly more drop or cast. Worse case scenario the comb can be sanded down a bit if you need to be lower on the stock but usually the problem is the opposite.

 

[Challer]

When I spent that much on a classic I visited K and got measured. For that kind of money, the visit is worth it. Getting them to fit it makes fit on them. If your guy does the measuring, it's on you.

A well fit gun does a lot to mitigate recoil and greatly improves your rapid mount when needed

 

[Backyardsniper]

Where would you go to do this? Is thier a K-gun place here in the states where you can get fitted?

 

[Challer]

Ottsville PA, Krieghoff US. Onsite custom stock making. You'll be very glad you did, probably come back poorer than expected

Wood Working | Krieghoff

Krieghoff woodworkers create, finish and customize stocks for K-80s, K-20s, K-32s and other Krieghoff rifles and shotguns.

www.krieghoff.com

 

[sureshot375]

To echo some of what has been said above, if you are buying a used gun you aren’t really talking about having the gun fitted. You are talking about possibly needing to adjust the LOP.

If you were buying new, krieghoff can custom fit a stick for you. Most of the krieghoffs out there have a standard stock in terms of drop, cant, etc.

Once you get the gun you can shoot it and then decide if you need to add or take away some length on the stock.

 

[Challer]

My understanding is that Krieghoff will fit and make a custom stock for used Classic if you bring it to them.

 

[Backyardsniper]

That is great I had not really thought about that. I could buy the gun and then if it doesn't fit right I could have a custom stock made that does fit.

 

[rookhawk]

That is great I had not really thought about that. I could buy the gun and then if it doesn't fit right I could have a custom stock made that does fit.

Have you tried a krieghoff double rifle previously? I ask because there are very strong feelings about their cocking-safety design. If you love it, more power to you to get what you like. (And it is safer)

The disdain for them effects resale value because the design creates a smaller buyer pool.

I’ve never heard anything bad about their reliability and krieghoff is known for quality which is good. As a matter of preference, you couldn’t trade me ten for a single heym though. Their cost to value ratio isn’t in line from my perspective and their fit and finish are similar to guns $10k less. If I was a k80 shotgun guy I may have a different opinion as beauty and brand reputation is always in the eye of the beholder.

Just make sure you love it before you buy it because you’ll own it a long time and you may lose a fortune on resale. (Last used one I saw went $6800 after a year on the market)

 

[ActionBob]

If you can make the trip to Oklahoma, it is well worth a visit to Champlin Arms. And JJ Peridot a bit East of there if you can line up a time.

Have to agree there is a difference between a fitting and just finding your best LOP. But it sure is cool to try a few classics with George at Champlin @Just Gina had to suffer through playing with the Holland and Holland from the movie Out of Africa, amongst others

George also has some pretty cool yarns to spin about elephant hunting.....

 

[Backyardsniper]

I may just have to schedule a road trip. That sounds like a worthwhile venture, especially since I have not handled or shot any doubles so I don't know exactly what I like.

 

[ActionBob]

I may just have to schedule a road trip. That sounds like a worthwhile venture, especially since I have not handled or shot any doubles so I don't know exactly what I like.

Doubt you get to shoot any of those, it would need to be prepared arranged for sure.

George is inside the airport

 

[Philip Glass]

I am very close to purchasing K-gun. What i am concerned about is getting a rifle that fits me, or getting the rifle fitted to me. This rifle is a stock rifle as far as I know with a 14-7/8" LOP which sounds rather long to me but as I understand it the doubles generally have a bit longer LOP than a standard bolt rifle. I'm 6'00" so not a small guy. I would like to get a fitting using a Try-Gun, does anyone have a recommendation for a gun fitter that is within a few hours of west KY?

Will your dealer not do it for you? Mine did

 

[Backyardsniper]

Will your dealer not do it for you? Mine did

I was looking at buying from an individual.

 

[John the Electrician]

I dabble in trap shooting. At best, dabble.

however, I do love a good excuse for missing and being a pretty short guy, I feel most guns have too long a length of pull.

I don’t know or remember the name but there was a good shotgun fitter in Traverse City Michigan. A Google search should get you in the right direction.

I know a double rifle isn’t a shotgun but it is about all I know about fitting guns. Seems like many people have really strong thoughts on gun fit. But very few actually know or have had it done. Everyone says it’s important.

John.