How to determine LOP to fit me

[Grassymike]

Have read a fair bit that LOP is important for best accuracy and getting the most from your rifle. How does one determine what LOP will work best ? I guess that I am trying to figure out how to measure what my personal LOP should be and how do measure it on your rifle ?

 

[Sled]

you'll know it when you find it. if it's too short you'll be reaching with your finger to reach the trigger. too short and you'll feel like that gun is a kids toy with your shoulders all hunched up.

 

[Wyobohunter]

You can check on a rifle or shotgun you have on hand. Lay the recoil pad in the crook of your elbow right against the bottom of your bicep. If your index finger lands perfectly on the trigger that long gun is the perfect LOP for you. Then you can look up the LOP for that gun on the manufacturers website.

 

[Oregonmuley]

A lot depends on how tall you are and how you are built. For most the standard 13.5 LOP works just fine but of you are a taller than average person you could need longer - or if shorter person a shorter LOP.

 

[hereinaz]

The old rules of thumb are OK, they get you close.

It can depend on what kind of shooting you do, your body size, the height of your scope, length/mobility of neck, width of shoulders, size of your hand, shape of your grip, etc.

Start with getting the rifle to fit you. Then, where your head naturally and comfortably sits, that is where you mount the scope. Don’t mount the scope and contort your body to get into it. That can throw off what is otherwise a good length of pull.

Fitting the rifle is best done with eyes closed and concentrate on feeling comfortable and neutral without stress or strain. No need to have eyes open. We tend to move our bodies to where our eyes need to be, so we don’t get in repeatable positions and have to squirm and bob our heads to get a picture through the scope.

 

[Centralcoastca]

You can check on a rifle or shotgun you have on hand. Lay the recoil pad in the crook of your elbow right against the bottom of your bicep. If your index finger lands perfectly on the trigger that long gun is the perfect LOP for you. Then you can look up the LOP for that gun on the manufacturers website.

That’s how my grandpa showed me years ago and it works pretty good. Most rifles are a little short for me so I get a nitro limb saver pad that adds a little more length and are awfully nice with the recoil too.

 

[Mykolaivka887]

You can check on a rifle or shotgun you have on hand. Lay the recoil pad in the crook of your elbow right against the bottom of your bicep. If your index finger lands perfectly on the trigger that long gun is the perfect LOP for you. Then you can look up the LOP for that gun on the manufacturers website.

Precisely ......

 

[Grassymike]

Thanks, as usual not as complicated as it sounded. I have owned and used hunting rifles for 40 years and thought that I might be missing something.

 

[Wyobohunter]

The old rules of thumb are OK, they get you close.

It can depend on what kind of shooting you do, your body size, the height of your scope, length/mobility of neck, width of shoulders, size of your hand, shape of your grip, etc.

Start with getting the rifle to fit you. Then, where your head naturally and comfortably sits, that is where you mount the scope. Don’t mount the scope and contort your body to get into it. That can throw off what is otherwise a good length of pull.

Fitting the rifle is best done with eyes closed and concentrate on feeling comfortable and neutral without stress or strain. No need to have eyes open. We tend to move our bodies to where our eyes need to be, so we don’t get in repeatable positions and have to squirm and bob our heads to get a picture through the scope.

That’s the “advanced” next steps. Basic LOP is the first step.

 

[hereinaz]

That’s the “advanced” next steps. Basic LOP is the first step.

i thought that is what he asked, to get the best performance.

 

[Wyobohunter]

i thought that is what he asked, to get the best performance.

I didn’t think you answered the wrong question at all. I just figured he wanted help with LOP 1st.

 

[XLR]

Sounds like you have the LOP covered! Also, check everything in different positions. I know that If I had a strictly prone rifle, I would run my LOP about 1/2 inch longer than I do for my prs rifle. The reason being in different positions like kneeling and standing my body is positioned a little differently on the rifle. I measure a 13 3/4 but run a 13 1/4 so I am never reaching for the rifle, especially in weird positions.

 

[hereinaz]

Sounds like you have the LOP covered! Also, check everything in different positions. I know that If I had a strictly prone rifle, I would run my LOP about 1/2 inch longer than I do for my prs rifle. The reason being in different positions like kneeling and standing my body is positioned a little differently on the rifle. I measure a 13 3/4 but run a 13 1/4 so I am never reaching for the rifle, especially in weird positions.

agreed, so many factors go into it. Same thing about position and LOP applies to the scope placement. Prone to standing, the body angle pushes your eye closer to the scope the more your back and neck moves from vertical when standing to horizontal when prone.

It is those kinds of factors about LOP and rifle fit that are wrapped up into conversations about getting the most out of your rifle system.

Also, what clothes will you be wearing? A winter jacket adds to the LOP.

I went to running adjustable AR stocks on my rifles for a few reasons, but this is one of them.

 

[gbflyer]

agreed, so many factors go into it. Same thing about position and LOP applies to the scope placement. Prone to standing, the body angle pushes your eye closer to the scope the more your back and neck moves from vertical when standing to horizontal when prone.

It is those kinds of factors about LOP and rifle fit that are wrapped up into conversations about getting the most out of your rifle system.

Also, what clothes will you be wearing? A winter jacket adds to the LOP.

I went to running adjustable AR stocks on my rifles for a few reasons, but this is one of them.

Same as XLR for me, I use a little shorter one than I measure. Also, the clothing factor is often overlooked and a great point.

 

[mtnbiker208]

i had a gunsmith measure me for it. I came out to 15 inches lop. I have had stocks lengthend to fit me. It is nice when a stock fits you.

 

[Grassymike]

How did the Gunsmith measure ?