LITMIR.BIZ

      We can see here that this stock has 1-¾ inches of drop, a straight stock by many standards. Half a century ago, many stocks would have had more than 2-½ inches of drop.

      Trap is more of un aiming game than other shotgun games are. However, given a comb that is too high (or a face that is too round) we would also see the patterns striking the pattern board too high on the Churchill method.

      Before you go altering your handsome stock, practice on another. I have worked on a large number of Mossberg shotguns through the years. Partly because they are quite popular in Michigan, and could be obtained cheaply. Also, spare parts are easy to obtain, so if I screwed up a part I could quickly replace it. To alter your stock you'll need cabinet makers pattern rasps from Brownells, sandpaper and stock finish that matches the current finish and a china pencil. Place the shotgun to your shoulder and hold it there with your left hand. With your right hand reach up with the china pencil and mark the comb just in front of and behind your cheek. With the rasp start removing wood from the comb between the china pencil marks. Periodically check your progress by looking at the bead. Stop when you can comfortably get your face to the centerline of the bore. Your stock will have a dished section in the comb. Blend the top of the comb over into a smooth curve. If you leave a sharp edge, it will come up during recoil and gouge your cheekbone. Rasp forward from the dished section to blend the contours of the stock. Again, if you leave the forward part of the dished section in place, it can strike your cheekbone during recoil. Sand the rasped area smooth and refinish.

      Many shooters will have the opposite problem, that is the stock is too low, and they cannot get support for their face. A low comb is a particular problem when putting a rifled barrel on a shotgun for slug shooting. The iron sights are always higher than the bead, and a scope is higher yet. If you try to aim with your cheek off the stock, you make the job harder, and you let the stock get a running start before it hits your face.

      The easiest way to build up a comb is to add a pad. While temporary, even a “temporary” fix can work for years. Brownells carries two different rubber cheekpiece pads, called “Cheekeeze” and “Cheek-Eez.” Available in different thicknesses, it is a simple matter to peel the backing off and apply a pad to your stock. But how thick? The Churchill method will give you a starting point. Once on, the pad is messy to remove. If you guess wrong on the thickness, you may be in for a lot of work. Instead of using the difficult-to-remove rubber pad, use the widest masking tape you can find. At the range, apply layers of masking tape to the thickness the Churchill method indicates. To determine the proper number of layers of tape, use your dial calipers to measure the thickness of a card. Apply the tape to the card until it reaches the proper thickness you need. Count the layers of tape, and apply that many to your stock. Pattern test it. Then shoot your shotgun on clay pigeons and see if you notice an improvement. You should, as the stock is better-dimensioned for you. Since the pad will compress when your face is pressed against it where the tape did not, you should get the next thicker rubber pad to put on your shotgun.

      Strip the tape off your stock and clean the cheek and comb with rubbing alcohol to get the old adhesive and general dirt and oil off the stock. Press the new pad against the stock and smooth it out.