Length of Pull: What's right for me?
I am all set to order a rifle that is 33 7/8 inches. put a tape to my AK underfolder and it is a tad over 35 inches. That seems to me to be as short as I'd want to get and yet I talked to a gun broker seller selling the same rifle I plan to get and he tells me his is 36 inches long with the compenator on. I don't know if his is longer then the current version being put out of if the Stats are in correct on the companies web site? I'd think the problems it would cause with returns would be a good indicator that the companies info is good.
So my question is I am 5'11 in height, how long should the rifle be for my height? Will 33 7/8th cut it?
So my question is I am 5'11 in height, how long should the rifle be for my height? Will 33 7/8th cut it?
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Measure from the crease of your elbow to the middle of the pad of your index finger. This is what your LOP should be... 0 -
I used the same method as for getting draw length for a bow. Put your hands out together fingertips touching. Hold a rod or arrow between your hands without stretching, other end of the arrow should touch your breastbone/sternum.
Length of pull is where your fingerips meet0 -
quote:Originally posted by Treadlightly
I used the same method as for getting draw length for a bow. Put your hands out together fingertips touching. Hold a rod or arrow between your hands without stretching, other end of the arrow should touch your breastbone/sternum.
Length of pull is where your fingerips meet
That method for a bow makes sense to me.
However,
quote:Originally posted by llama
Measure from the crease of your elbow to the middle of the pad of your index finger. This is what your LOP should be...
This method does not make sense to me as a good way for a length of pull measurement. Although, I have heard it done that way for many years.
Measurement from the shoulder to the palm of the hand holding the pistol-grip, while comfortable angled in a support position, while the face (already having been vertically adjusted for) is looking down the sights. That's the way I see to do it. The total overall length is not, nor is it so critical to length of pull. Length of pull needs to be pretty close or the uncomfortableness of shooting that firearm becomes quickly evident.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Waco Waltz
So my question is I am 5'11 in height, how long should the rifle be for my height? Will 33 7/8th cut it?
Overall length of a rifle isn't nearly so important as its fit, and its balance. Balance is a bit subjective, but you'll know if a gun has poor balance when you shoulder it and/or shoot it.
In terms of fit, you need the distance from the buttstock to the trigger (ie "length of pull") to be correct, or the gun will be either uncomfortable to shoot (if its too short) or impossible to shoot (if its too long).
As mentioned, traditionally length of pull is measured from the inside bend of the elbow to the pad of the curled index finger. This may not be "exact", but I think it works well enough in practice for most people. As a general rule of thumb, if you're 5'11" your length of pull will probably be around 14" - 14.5".
With some guns (EG telescoping stock ARs) you can adjust length of pull on the fly. With others (eg AKs) its relatively easy to change to a different length stock. With many guns you can add a buttplate fairly easily to increase length of pull, and it may double as a recoil pad.
Edit, responding to below:
quote:OK I took the tape to my arm and it is 14 or 14.5 so what does this mean in terms of how long the over all length of the rifle or stock should be?
Heh. . .I knew it. [;)]
Answer is, there is no way to go from length of pull to overall length of the gun! Since stocks attach differently, there is also no easy way to go from length of pull of a gun to stock length. While stock length and length of pull will be somewhat related (if you increase one you increase the other), they are measuring different things and stock length can the same, longer, or shorter than length of pull, depending on the configuration of the stock in relation to the action and trigger.
As an example, imagine two otherwise identical rifles, one with a 16" barrel, and one with a 32" barrel. Even though the one is more than a foot longer than the other, the length of pull will be exactly the same.
Again, length of pull refers to the distance from the end of the buttstock to the trigger. That's how much space you have between your body and the trigger when you're holding the gun in shooting position. Here's a picture of how its usually measured:
Now imagine a Kalashnikov rifle. Typical stock length on a standard "Warsaw pact" issue gun is/was 9.25". But because the stock is set back from the trigger, length of pull is quite a bit longer at about 12.625". If you want an even longer length of pull (and with a personal LOP of 14.5", I probably would), you can add a longer stock (or a buttpad).
Edit#2 for TSR, below, It does have a lot of character, but unfortunately, I don't have it (its not my gun). Its a stock picture pulled from the gun-wiki website off the net
Here's another picture to make this crystal clear. "LOP" refers to length of pull. "DAC" is "drop at comb", etc. Note that in THIS picture example, the stock length is actually LONGER than the length of pull, because the wood stock extends onto the receiver past the trigger.
The point of "length of pull" is to match THAT length with your personal anatomy to achieve the most comfortable fit for shooting the gun.0 -
Waco Waltz,
Your question is like "I am going hunting, I'm 5'11", what size boots should I get?"
Stock fit is an art all it's own, some will stumble on a good fit for their shooting style & frame but most of us stumble through life with "hand-me-down shoes" fit without ever experiencing the eze of fit & swing of a correct size stock.
American Rifleman magazine of Oct. 2000 ran an article worth reading & re-reading for all shooters. Page 44 of that issue was an article "Self Fitting a Shotgun".
A rifle or shotgun is similar, if it fits you, felt recoil is less, target acquisition faster, & shooting is more FUN! Can't guarentee you will be a better shot, but it SURE AINT GONNA' HURT!
If you contact "American Rifleman" & request a reprint or back issue from Oct.2000, you'll be on your way to finding the size that is just right for you.
OH! by the way, LOP is only one of the important dimentions for a proper fit. Look for "cast off", "cast on", "drop at heel", & "drop at comb" also. It doesn't matter whether you are shooting rifle or shotgun, if you hunt & are concerned with jump (off hand) shooting, this article will help.
Jim0 -
OK I took the tape to my arm and it is 14 or 14.5 so what does this mean in terms of how long the over all length of the rifle or stock should be? 0 -
Length of pull, refers to the length of the STOCK only. Total overall length is the length of the rifle from the butt to the muzzle.
Best
EDIT 1
Beantown,
Nice illustrations. Very well done. That is a very nice looking Chi-Com Milled reciever AKS you have in the picture. Has a lot of character.
Best0 -
"Length of Pull" is measured from the front of the trigger to the end of the butt. 0 -
Thank you!
quote:Originally posted by MP
"Length of Pull" is measured from the front of the trigger to the end of the butt.0 -
Beantown,
I applaud your use of graphics here because it illustrates exactly what people need to see when it comes to getting a stock fitted to them. The one thing I always have a problem with is measuring from crook of elbow to 'comfortably placed' trigger finger. This mandates that when you shoot, your trigger arm will be ninety degrees from your body. IMO, this is too short when shooting shotgun. LOP should leave your trigger-side elbow slightly forward. In a comfortable position. The non-trigger hand should be comfortably crooked, so that the hand rests in the middle of the forearm. That depends on action length too, though. A pump is going to be a lot longer than an O/U or SxS.
I totally agree that this has been one of those 'standards' long associated with shotgunning. Meaning, the method for measuring is no myth, nor do people consider it to be out and out wrong. Personally, I just think people should get more for their money when getting a stock fitted.0
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