[senior smoke]

HELLO:
since i started trapshooting i have been on an endless mission to find, for what i call "the magic wand" i often wondered is there a shotgun out there that i could shoot well and be competitive? over the years my search has included using model 12's, 870's 1100's old style bt99's, bereta 302, 303, perazi comp 1, and some other trap guns that most shooters have never heard of. i have been presently shooting a rem 870 tb, could not hit a barn with this gun. one sunday at the club, i pull my gun out of the gun case and i forgot to change the stock. my newphew who is disabled and shoots from a wheel chair, uses a 13 3/4 inch straight trap stock. my stock is a monte carlo 14 3/8 trap stock. it was to far to go back home to get my stock, so i decided to shoot with his stock. after 39 years of seaching for the magic wand, i lucked out and found a winning combination. the hits i now have rolls deep black smoke. it breaks targets almost effortlessly. i can't wait for the next target to come out of the house. the gun shoots great from 16 yd and hdp. i have a renewed passion to shoot ATA. at my age, i realize i will never be on a state team, or be an all american. but, now being on 20 yards, i am positive that i will finally get off that dreaded yardage this year. my goal, is someday get back to 25 yards again. who knows, just how far back i can go? over the years i have convinced myself that i was a bad shooter, my scores showed it. could it have been, my stock was just to long? for all you fellow shooters, consider LOP. i never thought lop was that important. i thought lop was for for comfort. what do you think? is lop as important as comb height?
steve balistreri

 

[TEXASZEPHYR]

Smoke try rollins book for reference. Beleive too short is better than too long. Too long can cause stock crawling, which in turn causes you to have your face pointed down some hwat and and can cause the eyes to not be level. plus if is harder to get your head on the stock at the exact same place every time, and can cause your head to move around on the gun when shooting anglew. What you think?

Bob

 

[crusha]

Ah, yes...1 practice session on 1 day, and the magic wand has been identified.

I wish I had a dollar for every time I thought that!

 

[RogerNRA]

Another "one time wonder"..............Roger

 

[shoehorn324]

You know the old saying "A NEW BROOM SWEEPS GOOD" I would say
after the newness wears off you will shoot the same.

 

[rick979]

SENIOR SMOKE: Forget all the negative threads guys are posting to your posting!! I think you have hit an area that works for you and I see no reason that it wont continue to work in the future. Keep your positive attitude. It will serve you well in smokin' clays!!!

 

[senior smoke]

Bob- i just got back from the gun club. very winding conditions. for me, i did very well. i hope the bubble doesn't burst. i think want you said makes sense. i believe, that no matter what gun your shoot, if you think you are shooting a great gun, with the correct poi, the correct lop, that you are on the right track to improving scores. prior to this recent stock length change, i have only one way to go score wise. I love this sport, as well as most of the shooters. no matter what someone says to me on a response to my thread, i don't take it personal. everyone is entitled to their own comments. like i always say, we are in the greatest fraternity in all of sport.
Happy Easter to everyone,
steve balistreri

 

[BIGDON]

Just more Steve junk.

Don

 

[senior smoke]

bigdon- i finally know who you are, was talking to pete at lakeview. just to let you know, i have always felt you are a great shooter, and accomplished alot in this game over the years. i enjoy your comments. keep them coming.
good shooting,
steve balistreri

 

[tcr1146]

I believe you have a groupie big don!~ Can't even hurt the guy with your sarcastic cynical shit! Tom Rhoads

 

[tcr1146]

Hell, I liked old smoke better when he was on here asking for advice when his nephew's wife was porking some buddy and he wanted us to help him with advice for his nephew! Tom Rhoads

 

[TC]

Steve, good for you! Keep at it. Tony

 

[no5shooter]

Steve, we don't know each other, but I'll say two things to you. First, as Rick said, ignore the negative crap that's being posted here. We all know this is about a 90% mental game, and if you feel good about how you're shooting, you're going to continue to shoot well. Second, I'm an average-size guy, and many years ago I set up my BT-99 to have the same LOP as my favorite hunting rifle just because that rifle fits so well - short pull, about 13-3/4". So I agree with what you've found, a short LOP sometimes works better. I have shot longer stocks from time to time, but not as well and not as comfortably. Keep it up. Jerry, in Oregon

 

[J.Woolsey]

Steve always, always think positive thoughts when shooting, and about your ability. If you think you can you will. Trapshooting is series of peaks and valleys for most of us. Enjoy the good roll. JW

 

[senior smoke]

thanks for the encouragement! i need it.
steve

 

[CalvinMD]

Hey Steve...I bet your wife is glad you finally did

 

[jimrich60]

I think two things are at work here for you. First (and less important) is that often using a new/different gun can temporarily improve ones scores. This is a well known phenomena. But second (and more important) is that your experience high lights one of the most important factors in good shooting, and that is gun fit. Whether or not the LOP is short or long, or the comb height, or what exactly the stock off-set (if any) is, is not the important part, but finding out exactly what dimensions in these areas are right for you. Some need a long LOP, others a short LOP, and some a higher comb, some a lower, and so forth. You are in the process of finding out what comb dimensions work best for you. Every one is different and you need to find out what fits you, not some mythical "average" as used by gun makers. This is, of course, why adjustable stocks are now so popular. The shooter can try out many different combinations of LOP, comb height, comb offset and so forth to find out the right one for him (or her) The best way, of course, is to have expert help in determining the right gun fit. But if you don't have that, then use an adjustable stock to work it out and what exact fit gives you the breaks you want. Sounds to me like you are on the way to this happy combination. Good luck.

Jim R

 

[Onceabum]

Steve has to be a good guy. I used to give him a bad time for the number of threads he posted on here until I started noticing they were almost always interesting. He is friendly and polite and one of my favorites on TS.Com.

Booger

 

[Dr.Longshot]

My length of pull is, and has been 14 inches for years, and LOP needs to be correct, actually the shorter the better if your thumb does not hit your nose.
It will point better.


Gary Bryant
Dr.longshot

 

[senior smoke]

Bazooka Joe and Booger Blue- thank you both for the kind words. Bazooka Joe and I are good friends. no one in trapshooting has as good of ethics and high morals than bazooka joe. I am very proud to call him a friend. yes, my wife and i have had some serious medical problems over the years, but that is life. i forgot who said it, but in life you have to live with the cards you are dealt. we both live one day at a time like most people. one thing i have learned over the years, don't feel sorry for yourself, because there is always someone who has it worse off. i owe this sport more than i could ever repay. during the worst of times, i could always go to the gun club and forget my medical problems. when people respond negatively to threads, i never take it the wrong way. that is what makes life and trapshooting great is the diversity among all of the people. nothing, and mean nothing is better than to go to a shoot and see old friends. trapboy 1957- you never new it, but when i first started out in this sport, i considered you one of the gretest shooters i had ever seen. my highlight of my career, was shooting 2 man teams with you. sorry to say i let you down more than i ever helped you.
take care,
steve balistreri