The Complete Guide to Shotgun Fitting for Driven Game

A shotgun that fits gives you quiet confidence. It comes up to the cheek without thought, the rib picture is the same every time, and the bird folds cleanly because the pattern lands exactly where your eyes are looking. For driven pheasant, partridge and grouse, this is not a luxury. It is the difference between guesswork and consistency.

At Game & Gun in Denmark, we build and repair fine guns every day, from Dickson round actions to recent over and unders. That work has taught us a simple truth: good fitting is as much about the shooter as it is about the stock. Body shape, eye dominance, mount style, clothing and even the line of birds on a given estate all matter.

This guide sets out how fitting works for driven shooting, how to read the signs of poor fit, and what you can expect from a professional session. There is craft involved, but there is also a clear process. When the two come together, the result is a gun that feels natural and shoots where you look.

What fitting really means

Fitting is the process of adjusting the gun so that when you mount it correctly, the barrels point where your eyes are looking. That sounds obvious, yet many guns are bought off the rack and never adjusted. They might be close, but close still costs birds.

The stock is the main lever. Length, drop, cast, pitch, toe shape and grip size all influence how the gun meets your face and hands. Trigger reach matters too, since a short reach can drag the gun off line when you slap the first shot.

For driven work, a slightly high point of impact often helps. Rising birds call for a pattern that sits a touch above the point of aim so you can see the bird over the rib. How high depends on your style and quarry.

The core measurements, at a glance

Measurement	What it changes	Typical aim for driven game	Signs it is wrong
Length of pull (LOP)	Distance from trigger to centre of butt	Full mount without stretching, fast repeatable mount in thick clothing	Thumb to nose contact, bruised nose, snagging on coat, slow to the shoulder
Drop at comb	Vertical distance from rib line to comb	Eye sits just over rib for a clear view of the bird	Shooting low or seeing too much rib, inconsistent cheek weld
Drop at heel	Height at the back of the stock	Helps with comfort and recoil control	Face slap, climbing the stock to see the rib
Cast (off for right hand, on for left hand)	Lateral bend of stock	Centres the master eye over the rib	Shots pulled left or right, cheek pressure on one side only
Pitch	Angle of butt relative to barrels	Butt sits flush on shoulder, spreads recoil	Heel dig or toe dig, sore shoulder after a drive
Toe shape and cant	Rotation of butt face	Stops the toe digging into chest, aids mount over layers	Stock catches on jacket, bruising low or high on shoulder
Grip shape and size	Control and wrist comfort	Natural, neutral wrist, easy access to safety	Wrist strain, reaching for trigger, inconsistent pull
Trigger reach	Distance to trigger blade	Straight pull without shifting grip	Slapping the trigger, gun twisting on firing

Treat the table as a map rather than a prescription. Your build, mount and clothing can nudge these settings.

Signs your gun does not fit

If you recognise any of the following, the stock is asking for attention.

• Cheekbone soreness or a slap to the face when the gun fires
• Bruising along the arm or high on the shoulder
• Seeing a staircase of rib when you mount, or losing the bird under the muzzles
• Consistent misses to one side of the bird
• Gun catching on your jacket or vest when you move to the shoulder
• Feeling rushed to get the second shot away
• A mouthful of thumb under recoil

A quick visual check helps. Mount the gun in a mirror with your eyes closed. Settle the gun, open your eyes. If your dominant eye is not centred just over the rib, something is out. Repeat ten times. Are the results the same? Consistency is as important as a single perfect mount.

The driven picture and point of impact

Driven birds climb and curl. Many shooters find a pattern that prints slightly high gives them a clearer view and better results. Numbers vary, but a common target is around 60 percent of the pattern above the point of aim and 40 percent below. Some like 70 or even 80 percent high for very tall pheasants. Lowland partridge might call for a flatter print.

Your aiming method matters. If you shoot with a maintained lead and want to see plenty of bird over the barrels, a higher print helps. If you are more instinctive and push through the line, a flatter print keeps things honest. We test this on the plate and on clays that mimic driven birds, where you can watch the relationship between rib picture, bird and result.

Clothing, weather and real field conditions

A stock that fits in a T-shirt may not fit in a tweed coat. Winter layers add bulk to your shoulder pocket. That shortens the effective length of pull and can change where your cheek falls on the comb. Gloves alter trigger reach and grip feel. Hats change head position.

Plan your fitting with real equipment:

• Wear the coat and waistcoat you use on days with your syndicate
• Bring gloves, ear defenders and your hat
• Pack a recoil pad or slip-on spacer if you swap layers through the season

We set a fit to the thickest outfit you will shoot in, then make a plan for warmer days. That might mean a second pad, a spacer under the butt, or an adjustable comb if you change clothing often.

Eye dominance and fit

If your non-dominant eye takes over at the point of the shot, even a perfect stock will not save the bird. Fit interacts with eye control. More cast can help centre the dominant eye, but technique also plays a part.

Options include:

• A small opaque dot on the shooting glasses over part of the non-dominant eye
• Slightly closing or squinting the off eye late in the mount
• Rib extensions or a raised rib to change the sight picture
• Coaching to improve mount timing and head position

During a fitting we test for dominance, then watch how it behaves under recoil and time pressure. The fix should be simple, reliable and repeatable on a busy peg.

Side by side or over and under

Both can be superb on driven game. They feel different and often ask for different stock shapes.

• Side by side: often more cast for right-handers, slightly more drop, slimmer grip, lighter barrel profile that speeds the first shot. A soft, neutral pitch to prevent heel dig during quick mounts.
• Over and under: a little less cast, higher comb to suit a single sighting plane, fuller grip, marginally longer length of pull for control through the second shot.

The rib picture differs. A side by side hides more of the bird if too much rib shows. Many shooters do well with a lower comb and a straighter head on the stock. An over and under gives a narrow sighting plane so a touch of extra height can keep the bird visible. Try both on clays that mimic your quarry. The numbers are less important than the results.

Mounting technique, then fit

No stock can make up for a poor mount. The sequence is simple: eyes on the bird, move the gun to the cheek, then settle into the shoulder pocket. Cheek first, shoulder second. If you drive the butt to the shoulder first, the comb will meet your cheek on the way, often hard, and your eye line will sit low.

Checklist for a clean driven mount:

• Feet set to allow a smooth turn through the line of the bird
• Gun slightly out from the body, muzzles up
• Eyes locked on the bird, not the rib
• Cheek meets comb in the same place every time
• Butt folds into the shoulder without crush or bounce
• Light, consistent pressure on the cheek, no head bobbing
• Trigger finger bent, not reaching

We often spend ten minutes on dry mounts before touching a screw. Many “fit” issues melt away when the mount is tidy. Then we lock in the measurements that support that technique.

What happens during a professional fitting

Game & Gun offers a two-part process that takes you from assessment to stock work with clarity on cost and timing.

Intake and conversation

• Review of your shooting, typical birds, preferred estates and average ranges
• Check of eye dominance and a quick look at mount and stance
• Inspection of the gun, existing measurements and condition

Try-gun and pattern plate

• Use of a fully adjustable try-gun to find drop, cast, length and pitch
• Pattern plate work to centre the pattern to your line of sight
• Driven-style clay targets to confirm results under time pressure

Clothing and season check

• Repeat with heavier layers to test for snagging and head position changes
• Agree any secondary setup for warmer days

Stock work and parts

• Steam bending for drop and cast on walnut stocks where the grain allows
• Stock extension or reduction using matched wood and a fitted pad or heel plate
• Shaping and refinishing of comb and toe to match your cheek and chest
• Adjusting grip size and trigger reach, optional trigger shoes
• Careful pitch adjustment at the butt face to get full contact on your shoulder

Sign-off and test

• Final plate and clay verification
• Written measurements supplied for your records
• Care guide for wood and metalwork

Our workshop produces custom parts in-house, springs, pins and levers included, so even uncommon actions can be brought back to proper function. Every project carries a firm quote once the fitting plan is set, and the work is completed to the standard we keep for London pattern guns.

Typical measurements as starting points

Every shooter is different, but it helps to have ballpark numbers when talking about fit. The figures below are common starting places for driven guns.

• Length of pull: 14.5 to 15 inches for many men of average height, 13.25 to 14.25 inches for many women. Add 0.25 to 0.5 inches for heavy winter layers.
• Drop at comb: 1.35 to 1.5 inches on an over and under, 1.5 to 1.6 inches on a side by side.
• Drop at heel: 2 to 2.25 inches, adjusted for neck length and head position.
• Cast at heel: 0.15 to 0.25 inches off for right-handers on an over and under, 0.25 to 0.4 inches off on a side by side. Cast at toe slightly more by design.
• Pitch: usually between 2 and 4 degrees, tuned to give even butt contact.

Treat these as rough markers. A long neck might ask for more drop. Strong wrists and long fingers might benefit from extra trigger reach. High birds push some shooters toward a higher comb.

Recoil comfort without compromise

A fit that protects your face and shoulder lets you shoot a long day without fatigue. The elements that make the difference are subtle.

• Comb height and shape that invites a light cheek pressure rather than a clamp
• Pitch set so the butt makes full contact, not just heel or toe
• Toe shape that clears the chest on a fast mount
• A recoil pad with the right firmness and edge bevel, blended to the stock
• Balanced weight between barrels and stock so the gun moves without effort

If you are still sore after a day, the answer is not always a softer pad. Often the pad is masking a pitch or drop issue. Correct the geometry and the pad can stay firm and positive.

Pattern plate work that relates to your peg

Pattern plates tell the truth when used well. We set the distance to reflect your birds, then use a simple, repeatable drill.

• Pick a small mark, mount to it without aiming, and fire as the stock touches the cheek
• Do this five times, starting with low gun each time
• Measure the centre of the pellet strikes relative to the mark

This shows not only where the gun prints, but how stable your mount is. Wide spreads or mixed heights point to technique. Tight groups in the wrong place point to stock geometry. We test left and right barrels on a side by side, both barrels on an over and under, then confirm on driven clays to add time pressure.

Maintenance of fit

Wood moves with seasons. Pads compress. Screws back out. Small shifts accrue and can show up on a busy day.

A simple annual check helps:

• Look along the rib for any casting shadows or rib lift
• Check butt screws for tightness without over-torquing
• Inspect the pad for hard spots and cracks
• Wipe the stock with a light oil that suits the original finish
• Mount the gun ten times and confirm the eye sits where it should

If the gun lives in a cabinet by a radiator, consider a move. Stable humidity keeps stocks straight and prevents tiny cracks. We can steam and correct small bends, re-cut chequering after a refresh, and touch in blue on wear points. Hot or cold blue is available depending on the part.

Stock alterations without drama

Many shooters worry that altering a classic will spoil it. Done properly, the work is discreet and reversible in many cases.

• Steam bending keeps original wood and finish, with careful local heat and pressure
• Wood extensions matched for grain flow preserve the look of a best gun
• Thin leather covered pads hide an extension and keep a classic profile
• Adjustable combs can be fitted cleanly for guns used across disciplines
• Trigger reach can be altered with a new trigger blade or shoe

We take a conservative approach on historic pieces by Holland & Holland, Purdey, Dickson and Boss. The work is planned to suit the gun and the owner, with photographs and notes added to your file for future reference.

Practical kit that supports a solid fit

A good fit is easier to realise with the right field kit. Two items that help on driven days:

• Footwear with proper ankle support for pegs set on banks or plough, keeping your stance quiet and balanced. Our men’s and women’s hunting boots are chosen for grip and long day comfort.
• Clothing that slides as you mount rather than catching, with a cut that leaves the shoulder pocket free. Shooting vests, coats and ties are stocked with fabric and fit that work with a gun, not against it.

We keep shoe care and accessories on hand to maintain waterproofing and structure, along with hardware like Blaser mounts for those who run a scoped combination gun between seasons.

When to book a fitting

Good times to act:

• After buying a new or vintage gun, even if it feels close
• When your average bird height changes with a new estate or beat
• After an injury or weight change
• When you switch from early season shirtsleeves to winter tweed
• If you notice repeat misses to one side or persistent cheek soreness

Game & Gun runs fittings by appointment so we can set aside enough time for plate and clays. You will leave with your measurements, a clear plan, and a quote for any work. If the stock needs time to settle after bending, we book a quick return visit to confirm, then carry out the final touches.

If your project is more involved, perhaps a split head repair on a sidelock, a new extractor, tightening a loose action, or re-laying ribs, the same team handles it. That way nothing is lost in translation between fitter and gunsmith, and the gun comes back ready for the next driven day.

Drop by the workshop or get in touch to arrange a session. Bring your coat, your hat and your favourite peg stories. We will bring the try-gun, the plate and a method that puts pellets where your eyes look.