How do you work out your ideal length of pull

Bolt action rifles, lever action, pump action, self loading rifles and other miscellaneous longarms.

How do you work out your ideal length of pull

Post by tactice » 17 Jun 2014, 1:28 pm

G'day all.

I know what length of pull is, don't really know how I would pick it though if I had to be specific about it.

I bought my two Remington 700's without knowing anything about length of pull at the time.

By happy coincidence they fit me well and felt comfortable so I just got them.

What's the test for purposely choosing the right size though? If I got an adjustable or custom stock for a bench rifle or something like that in the future.

:mrgreen:
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Re: How do you work out your ideal length of pull

Post by MeccaOz » 17 Jun 2014, 1:49 pm

Measure from the face of the trigger to the end of the butt. An old bloke told me measure from your wrist to elbow, that actually gets close alot of the time
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Re: How do you work out your ideal length of pull

Post by Berper » 17 Jun 2014, 2:19 pm

If your hand is touching your face when you shoulder it, it's too short :P
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Re: How do you work out your ideal length of pull

Post by MeccaOz » 17 Jun 2014, 2:35 pm

Berper wrote:If your hand is touching your face when you shoulder it, it's too short :P

HAHAHAHAHAHA. yeah just a bit though :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: How do you work out your ideal length of pull

Post by Baldrick314 » 18 Jun 2014, 11:00 am

MeccaOz wrote:An old bloke told me measure from your wrist to elbow, that actually gets close alot of the time


My old man was a keen shotgunner and this is how he told me to work it out. Has always worked for me
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Re: How do you work out your ideal length of pull

Post by Apollo » 18 Jun 2014, 11:13 am

If I measure from my wrist to elbow I come up about 2" too short.

To measure your length of pull you should measure from the pad of your index finger to the inside of your bicep. It is important to make sure your index finger is in the position as if you were shooting the gun.

Here is one of many sites to explain.

http://www.accurateinnovations.com/LOP.html

My target rifles generally have a longer length of pull, just a personal comfort thing.
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Re: How do you work out your ideal length of pull

Post by Chronos » 18 Jun 2014, 4:14 pm

For shotgun and rifle I put the butt pad to the inside if my bicep and my forearm along the stock. If the trigger is inline with the pad or the first nuckle on my trigger finger it's about right. That to me us about right for shooting standing, prone can be a little different but a little bit can usually be made up by shifting the scope to correct eye relief.

* does not apply for pistols :lol:

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Re: How do you work out your ideal length of pull

Post by bunnybuster » 18 Jun 2014, 4:57 pm

Similar to Chronos,lay the rifle on a bench/table,take the pistol grip in your hand in your shooting position then draw the rifle back toward your body until

your elbow forms a rt angle the butt should be touching your bicept,

Be Safe BB.
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Re: How do you work out your ideal length of pull

Post by Lorgar » 19 Jun 2014, 9:00 pm

This is just the way I do it...

When I hold shoulder the rifle the distance between the tip of my nose and the first joint in my thumb (on my right hand, holding the rifle by the grip) is the width of my 4 fingers on the left hand. About 3 inches.

I don't if that translates into a working technique for other people/body sizes but that's mine.

Comfortable arm/hand/shoulder position for shouldering and scope can be positioned for the correct distance to match eye relief.
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Re: How do you work out your ideal length of pull

Post by tactice » 19 Jun 2014, 9:01 pm

That's about where mine falls with my Rem's too, Lorgar.

Whatever works I guess. Just for fun I might go to my LGS and see how that works with some other rifles.
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Re: How do you work out your ideal length of pull

Post by Octane » 19 Jun 2014, 9:03 pm

Lorgar wrote:Comfortable arm/hand/shoulder position for shouldering and scope can be positioned for the correct distance to match eye relief.


To OP, there is some margin in this, not a 'perfect' distance really.

As above, if you're hand is touching your face that's too short, duh :lol: If it's too long you may have to crane your neck forward to be able to see clearly through your scope.

Being able to move your scope forward or back on the mounts though gives you some tolerance here. As long as it's not significantly too far, or too short, and comfortable then I say you're good to shoot.
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Re: How do you work out your ideal length of pull

Post by roob » 13 Mar 2015, 9:38 am

Berper wrote:If your hand is touching your face when you shoulder it, it's too short :P


That would add a new dimension to "quit hitting yourself" :lol:
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