This one's for the ladies

UPDATED 

Finding a shotgun that fits just right can be difficult. And it is especially difficult if you are, as Basil Fawlty would say "an opposite person of the contradictory gender". Rollin Oswald, the author of Stock Fitter's Bible, explains why the vast majority of guns do not fit most women:

 

Fact: Men and women are shaped differently.

Fact: Women are often smaller than men.

Fact: Women have proportionally slightly longer necks than men.

Fact: The average woman does not have the strength of the average man.

Fact: Most guns have stocks designed for men who are 5’ 10” tall and weigh 165 pounds.

Fact: Women/girls are often visually cross dominant. Their dominant eye is often opposite their handedness. This means that if they are right-handed, their dominant eye is their left eye. (This causes a big problem when they shoot a shotgun with both eyes open.) The cross dominance problem just adds to the difficulty many women experience when shooting a shotgun.

He then goes on to explain some of the common problems women face when trying to shoot a shotgun that doesn't fit properly.

The stocks on shotguns are too long for many women. This makes the guns feel too heavy due to so much of the weight being so far forward and makes them very awkward to swing to targets.

The “comb” (top surface of a stock on which the cheekbone is snugly placed) is often too far below the level of the gun's rib. When the gun is mounted to the shoulder, the receiver or action the shooter often cannot look along the rib. If the cheek is raised to allow looking along and aligned with the rib (required to shoot well) the eye will not be able to remain aligned with the rib during swings. Something much anchor the face and eye to the stock. That something is the cheekbone on the comb of the stock. The barrel-rise that occurs naturally when the gun is fired, can drive the comb, which also rises, into the cheekbone (ouch). 

The pitch (angle formed by the recoil pad and the rib) is often wrong for women. The bottom of the recoil pad stocks out too far jabs them in the upper breast. Not only is this painful but it also increases the recoil-driven barrel rise so much that the cheek is injured by the comb, even when the cheek is making snug contact.

The size of the grips on stocks is often too large for the smaller hands of women. They must slide their hand up and forward on the grip, which then requires them to pull up rather than straight back on the trigger. This is not good because it is harder to pull the trigger and fire the gun that way and as a result, it upsets shot timing - knowing exactly when the gun will fire. Here is a possible solution: http://www.aodagrip.com.

Guns are quite often too heavy for women to mount and swing easily and accurately. It may not feel heavy at first but will seem to gain weight during an afternoon of shooting. A gun that is too heavy can also cause smaller shooters to shoot with too much weight on the back foot. This will significantly increase the recoil felt by the shooter (man or woman). 

Many women complain that the forward wood on a gun, the forearm, is too large to grip easily with their smaller hands. This feeling is partially due to a misunderstanding of the purpose of the forearm, which is to support the weight of the gun in the hand and to move it vertically. 

Most women can shoot most shotguns, regardless of their weight, barrel length and gauge. But when a gun does not fit, she (or he, for that matter) will suffer excessive felt recoil, is likely to tire quickly, and will have difficulty hitting targets of any type. Shooting will not be nearly as enjoyable as it could be if the gun fitted the shooter.

Generally speaking, to shoot well, shooters need to use a good gun mount, stance (placement of the feet) as well as good body, head and neck posture. This is known as the shooting form. A good form promotes shooting success. A good form also helps reduce felt recoil (kick) and delays fatigue. In order to use a good form however, a gun’s stock dimensions and its weight must match the size, the shape and the strength of the shooter.

Good Shooting Form: Shooting form consists of the gun mount, the stance, the weight distribution and the head, neck and body posture used when shooting.

The shooter should stand with the body rotated no more than 45 degrees from the anticipated direction of the target. (Shooters attempting to shoot a gun that has a stock that is too long, often shoot their shotgun like a rifle with the shoulders nearly aligned with the direction of the shot. This is not good. One reason is because it hampers swings in the direction opposite the side of the gun mount.

To see clearly along the gun's rib and to help keep the eye aligned with the rib vertically and horizontally during swings, it is best when both the head and neck are in a natural, erect, posture. 

The gun should be brought back to the shoulder (mounted and the cheek placed on the comb without the need to lean the neck forward and lower the cheek to he comb or, or to lean the head sideways toward the stock.

(When shooting trap targets, it is best to raise the trigger-hand elbow so the upper arm is parallel with the ground. This helps avoid moving the stock away from the cheek during swings to the side of the gun mount, often because the gun is being arm-swung rather than moved laterally with upper body rotation, powered by the legs. (The angle formed by the gun and the shoulders should not change when swinging to targets. either to the left or to the right.)

Gun weight: The gun should be able to be mounted comfortably and be easily supported with the forward hand during a full day of shooting. 

Keep in mind however, that heavier guns kick less than lighter ones. The easiest way to reduce recoil is to shoot shells with a reduced weight of shot. 3/4 or 1 ounce for 12 gauge shells, moving at velocities of 1100 or 1150 feet per second (fps) are quite commonly available.

When you are new to shooting or weigh less than 160 pounds, shoot the lightest and slowest shells you can find, regardless of the gauge and weight of gun that you are shooting. There are even subsonic velocity shells available but they are less common than 1 1/8 ounce shells with a velocity of 1200 fps, which until quite recently, was the most common 12 gauge clay target load.

Smaller gauge gun for a new shooter: A 20 gauge rather than a 12 gauge is sometimes considered. However, generally, 20-gauge guns weigh less than 12 gauge guns. For that reason, shells with an equal weight of shot moving at an equal velocity will kick considerably more in a 20 gauge gun than they will in a 12 gauge gun. 

The goal should be to choose a gun that can be comfortably handled and repeatedly mounted all day but one that is no lighter than required (unless it will be used only for hunting, when carry-weight becomes more important than smoother swings and reduced felt recoil). 

The best advice for the majority of women is to get the gun to fit, since most guns have stocks that are designed for men who are 5' 9" or 10" tall and weigh 160 pounds. 

The easiest way to get a gun to fit you is to visit a good stock fitter. He can change the stock's dimensions so you can shoot it using a good shooting form. The good stock fitters will also teach you a good shooting form and then change the stock's dimensions so you can use that form when you get home.

How Well Does it Fit? The following will give you an idea of how well a gun fits: 

The stock's "pitch" Pitch is the angle formed by the recoil pad or butt plate, and the rib (close to 90 degrees).

As the gun is being mounted and brought back to your shoulder with the barrel raised to normal shooting height (Get someone to help hold the barrel up if that is difficult to do.), the whole recoil pad, top to bottom, should make simultaneous contact with your shoulder.

If the bottom “toe” of the recoil pad (or butt plate) makes contact very much before the top of the pad, the "pitch" on the stock is wrong for you and needs to be corrected. In other words, the angle formed by the recoil pad and the gun's rib needs to be changed to fit you (makes simultaneous contact with your shoulder). If it's wrong for you, it can be changed by a stock fitter or most gunsmiths.

Stock length - length of pull (LOP) Not that you care, but the stock's length of pull is the distance from the front of the trigger to the end of the recoil pad.

With the gun mounted (ideally, with the head and neck in a normal, erect posture) and the finger on the trigger, the nose and the trigger-hand thumb should be separated by 1.25 to 1.5 inches. If there is much more separation than that, the stock is too long and needs to be shortened. (Grip radius (size of the grip) affects the position of the hand and also the nose/thumb separation.) 

A stock that is too long will make the gun feel too heavy and will be awkward to swing. It may also cause you to shoot with too much weight on your back foot and result in increased felt recoil.

The "Drop at the comb" dimension The comb is the top surface of the stock upon which the cheek is placed when shooting. This drop dimension describes the distance of the comb below the level of the gun's rib.

With the gun mounted with snug cheek pressure on the comb, you should be able to look along the surface of the rib or to look very slightly down-onto the surface of the rib when the gun will be used for trap shooting with its rising targets).

Often, combs need raised for women and girls. This can done by having an adjustable comb installed (+ or - $250) or by adding moleskin to the top of the comb or by applying one of a number of comb pads that are available commercially. 

Recoil pads: Regardless of the type of shooting for which the gun will be used, there should be a recoil pad on it. Most women are not as "tough" as male shooters, most of whom use the best recoil pad they can find when shooting clay targets. Good recoil pads reduce punishment and felt recoil and make shooting much more comfortable.

Barrel length: The barrel length of most hunting guns is usually no more than 28”. The barrel length of many guns designed for clay target shooting is greater: 30” for pumps and semi-autos, 30” or 32” for over & under guns and 34” for single shot, break open, trap guns.

Longer barrels offer a longer sighting plane, which is beneficial. The additional weight forward of a longer barrel promotes smooth swings, which is also beneficial. Many women however, are better off with guns having a barrel lengths of 26" or 28” on semi-auto and pump guns, with 26” on over & under guns being preferred by smaller women since, although the action or receiver is shorter, there are two barrels to add forward weight.

Shotgun types: Of the different types of shotguns, semi-autos are considerably softer shooting (have less felt recoil) than other designs. Of the semi-autos, gas operated semi-autos are softer shooting than inertia operated semi-autos.

Choosing a gun: If at all possible, shoot a gun before you buy it. When this is not possible, most stock dimensions can be altered to fit women (with the possible exception of the grip). Knowledgeable stock fitters can fit women of course, but so can most gunsmiths if you or a good coach tell them what dimensions you want changed and by how much. (Plug for my book)

There are also guns that come with an adjustable comb, and a few that have stocks that are specifically designed for women and younger shooters. These slightly rare guns usually come closer to fitting women and youths than do guns that are designed for "average" men, the ones who weigh 160 pounds and are 5' 10" tall.

Considering everything before buying a gun, will reap big rewards, not the least of which is money saved by trading guns less frequently, trying to find one that you can shoot comfortably and one that offers more rapid improvement with shooting experience. 

Take your time and consider everything type of action (semi-auto, over & under, pump). Shoot, or at lease handle a gun before you buy it. 

To get an idea of how well a gun fits you, stand with your body rotated less then 45 degrees from an imaginary target and, with your head and neck in a natural posture, slowly mount the gun with your eyes closed. Then open them and judge how your eye aligns with the rib.

Repeat the exercise but this time, mount it so that the top of the recoil pad is extending slightly above your collarbone. Be sure that it makes contact with your shoulder inside of your shoulder joint. 

Dismount it and mount it again (with your eyes closed). With the gun mounted, open them. Is your eye aligned vertically and horizontally with the rib? If not, the gun probably doesn't fit you very well. You may be able to learn to shoot it but you will pay a heavy price in felt recoil and shooting success.

If you are a new shooter, this exercise has only limited value. This is because your gun mount has not been practiced and as a result, is not yet consistent. (There are a number of ways to mount a gun, some much better than others. With the barrel raised to normal shooting height and the gun brought back to your shoulder is only one way and not the easiest way.)

Questions to ask yourself:

How did the recoil pad make contact with my shoulder?
Did the bottom toe of the recoil pad make contact well before the top of the pad?
With my cheek on the comb, was I able to look along or slightly down-onto the surface of the rib?
Did I have to lean my neck forward and lower my cheek down to the comb? If I did, could I raise my gun mount on my shoulder just a little to reduce the neck lean and the cheek lowering? (Allow no more than about 3/4" of the recoil pad to extend above the collar bone.)
Have someone check the distance between the tip of your nose and the second knuckle of your trigger-hand thumb. Is it 1.5" or less? (The closer to 5' in height your are, the less is the separation needed, down to about an inch.)
If the separation is more than 1.5", the stock will need to be shortened. (This is also the ideal time to correct the pitch.)
How heavy does the gun feel? Does it seem balanced between your two hands? (If not, can you move your forward hand farther forward or back to help balance the gun?) Could you mount it 25 or 50 times during a morning or afternoon's clay target shooting without becoming too tired to handle the gun without straining?

Take your time deciding: Don't be rushed by a salesman (or your significant other). This will be your gun and you want to feel good, physically and emotionally when shooting it. Your attention to detail when choosing a gun will improve your chance of getting the best gun, one that you will enjoy shooting for many years. So, do your best to make it happen the first time.

Thanks to Rollin Oswald, the author of Stock Fitter's Bible, for allowing me to reprint this article. If you'd like to contact Rollin, you can email him here: rollin@stockfitting.com

UPDATE

YES!! Shotgun makers are finally bringing shotguns to market that are specifically designed for female shooters. Here is what the Caesar Guerini company says about its new line of Syren shotguns:

Over the years many firearm manufacturers have considered making a firearm for women. Some decided the market is too small to justify the effort. Others have made halfhearted attempts, or even worse a gun with a shortened stock that has been painted a silly color. In our opinion these efforts are something less than genuine. Syren is a different story.
As a division of Caesar Guerini and Fabarm, the goal of Syren is to provide products that are designed exclusively for Women. We want to finally end the need for making compromises. No more modifying existing products, no more paint to cover up an altered stock, no more youth models being pushed as your only option. Our shotguns and accessories are designed just for Women and led by Women. Everyone involved with Syren, from our female management team to our Pro-Staff ladies, are committed to producing the best products possible so that there will be no more compromises when it comes to our lady shooters and their needs. Learn more at http://www.SyrenUSA.com - or join the conversation on Facebook athttp://Facebook.com/SyrenUSA

And check out this promotional video for the new guns.

Enjoy my blog posts? Check out my book Pointing Dogs, Volume One: The Continentals

2013 Year in Review

With over 200,000 page views in 2013, it was the best year yet for the Pointing Dog Blog! Here's a look at some of the highlights:

Most popular post (by traffic): The Weimaraner Part One (parts two and three were also quite popular).

Most commented post: The Tumbling Pheasant, a photo essay about an unusual photo session in the wilds of North Dakota.

Most controversial post: The Whitemaraner and the follow-up pieces here and here. My exploration of white coats and piebalding in Weimaraners struck a nerve with more than a few folks.

Most popular video: Everybody Knows Where Broomhill's At is the first video I've posted related to  Volume Two of my pointing dog books

Most popular photo essay: 12 Things I learned at Broomhill was one of the first posts I made in 2013 and turned out to be very popular, especially among the Pointer, Setter and field trial folks.

Biggest trend: VIDEOS! In 2013, I vowed to upgrade my video gear and video skills. The first part was relatively easy. I saved my pennies and purchased a decent camcorder and Go Pro rig. But the jury is still out on the second part. My video skills still lay far, far behind my photo skills. But I have fun making more videos this year than I've ever made. Here's the complete list of videos posted in 2013. 



Thanks to everyone who visited the blog in 2014. I am especially grateful for the support of Gregg Elliot at the Dogs and Doubles Blog, Andrew Campbell at the The Regal Vizsla the fine folks at the Upland Journal, Versatile Dogs and the Gundog Forum in the US, the WorkingHPR forum in the UK, Field Chasse Passion in France and the Il Bracco Italiano forum in Italy.

About

My name is Craig Koshyk and I'm a dog nut.

I am also a hunter and photographer, author of Pointing Dogs Volume One: The Continentals, president of Dog Willing Publications and founder of PrairieView School of Photography.

But mainly I'm a dog nut.

Pointing Dogs Volume One

Over a decade in the making, Pointing Dogs, Volume One: The Continentals is more than a rich collection of photographs. It is a definitive guide to the versatile gundog breeds of Continental Europe, an in-depth study of the history, development and current status of the pointing dog, and it is a remarkable travelog of an incredible journey.

Written by a hunter for hunters, this volume provides detailed descriptions of all the pointing breeds from Continental Europe. It is illustrated with stunning images of hunting dogs doing what they were bred to do: hunt

To purchase your copy, click here.

Reviews 

★★★★★ Congratulations Craig, what an incredible book!! The quality and depth of the content, the design, your personal observations, and of course the fabulous photos, make this one of the best dog books (especially sporting dogs) I have ever read (and I have read quite a few). I’m sure this book will get some high praise from the dog community and the upland hunting crowd, both in Europe and North America. Besides its aesthetic qualities, it is highly educational and should do an excellent job introducing those unaware, myself included, of the many fine hunting breeds that exist in Europe (“Yes Watson, there is life other than the GSP”). Once again – well done ol’ “Crazy One”, well done in deed. - Hank Phillips, “The enthusiastic hunter from the US."

★★★★★  I was counting the years, then the months, then the weeks for the publishing of this book, but it was worth the wait. I don't think there is any similarly thorough, well-put together, high quality book about the pointing dogs anywhere in the World. Not only the fantastic pictures, but also the very profound content makes the book a precious piece for everyone who is interested in hunting dogs. Not one breed of the Continental Pointing Dogs is left out of the book, breeds I have never seen and never heard of, and the topics and breed's comparisons in their work style, what each chapter covers give a great overview for the reader. This is THE BOOK about the Continental Pointing Dogs. - Zsófia Miczek, Hungary

★★★★★  Your Pointing Dogs book arrived a couple of days ago (safe and sound thanks to the sturdy packaging). I have been reading it ever since and wanted to let you know that I already consider it to be THE contemporary compendium on continental pointing dogs (and I have quite a few books, English and non-English, regarding HPRs)! It is truly a wonderful piece of art and a treasure trove of HPR-knowledge. Sure, it's pricey, but when considering that it offers hundreds of beautiful pictures printed on quality paper and contains a wealth of knowledge gained from actually seeing each and every breed working in the field, I now feel it is one of the best bargains I made in a long, long time! The only thing that makes me sad, is the knowledge that I might have to wait another 12 years for Volume 2! - Steve van den Buys, Belgium

★★★★★  It is hard to know where to start, when attempting some sort of review. In short, this book is a staggering opus. It features all the HPRs I've ever heard of, and then a whole lot more besides, along with comprehensive sections on the History, Form and Function of each breed. (Caution: This book is dangerous. You will find yourself making a shopping list. Personally, I am now coveting the Braque du Bourbonnais. It has a natural bob-tail, did you know?)

The photos are stunning and effortlessly capture the beauty of the dogs in the field. There are many whole-page photos of dogs, and I found myself wanting even more, and wanting the smaller photos BIG. I wanted huge *posters* of these photos, they were so stunning. Realistically, though, I think the photos couldn't be any bigger without something having to go, in this 364 page book. It must have been very difficult for Craig to choose which photos to use and which not to include; which photos would go full-page and which would have to stay smaller. (Writers call this 'killing your babies'. Craig must have killed many. I feel for him.)

I have only read the Weim and the SRHP sections thoroughly, so far, but have dipped in and out of many others and I look forward to reading more. I've already learnt things I didn't know: I had no idea Weims were listed in the German GSP stud book until the 1920s and were considered a grey variant of the GSP! I'm no expert myself, but I have no doubt that even the most experienced owner of their breed will learn something new from this book.

The quality of the book is top-notch: The hardback is thick and heavy, the pages are dense and creamy and (very important to me, this one) it has that 'new book' smell! The book is (probably must be, to cover costs) pricey. However, when you think that it costs about the same as a tank of petrol and a couple of entries in a field event, it's a worthy investment.

In the book, Craig often refers to people who have done a great service for their breed by, say, bringing it back from near-extinction or promoting working abilities. I think it's clear to anyone with their hands on this epic that Craig, himself, has done a great service for all these breeds through creating something which is such a breathtaking tribute to the dogs we all live with, and love." - Joanna Laurens, UK

★★★★★  Well, THE BOOK arrived today. It is stunningly beautiful, thoughtfully created, and overwhelming in its scope. I really cannot imagine how you ever managed such a huge project. It must have felt as if sometimes this book took over your lives. Lisa and you must be made of stern stuff to have made it through. We are very honoured to have been included in your stupendous book. Bless you and thank you." - Al and Nell McKim, Canada

★★★★★  It is a fabulous book – congratulations! I think you did an excellent job on the history, and you're right most people get it wrong. I said to Sheila, Craig did a great job. He sticks his neck out here and there and I’ve yet to find a time when it could be chopped off! - Joe Schmutz, Canada

★★★★★  I received the books today! Wow, I am in awe. Of course I went to the Weim pages first, but enjoyed randomly flipping around and reading about breeds I'd never heard of before. It will sit proudly on my book shelf! Anne Taguchi, USA

★★★★★ I am just finishing my brand new copy of “Pointing Dogs Volume 1: The Continentals”. I read nearly every word and loved it. I was hesitant about spending over $100 for what I thought was essentially a reference book, but I am looking at replacing my Brittany in a couple years. The next dog will probably be the last gun dog I’ll hunt with because when the dog retires, I’ll be well into my 70s. Hence the desire to read up on the Continentals and make a breed decision before I fell in love with a puppy.

The format was excellent! The photos were superb, and I especially appreciated your perspective on the animals—and your honesty—especially about the Weims and Pontos was refreshing. Thanks for such a great piece of work! It was worth every cent. It will remain as one of my prized possessions! Dennis Swett, USA

★★★★★ You do not know me, but I really mean this: what you have achieved is truly a masterpiece. I am convinced it will become a classic. Please consider my Volume Two pre-ordered! Santiago Herror, UK

★★★★★  I can think of many words to describe the book but perhaps the best is simply "wow". The love and determination you have towards this project show through and the book is simply amazing. Ken Reade, Canada

★★★★★  I just spent an hour clicking through Craig's website, blog and book samplings. From the few bits of Craig's writings I'd read before I knew he had a great knack for colorful wordsmithing and he comes through in great form here. "Dogwilling" is a clever twist. My best effort would have been "Dogeared" for a dog genre website/publisher name. His word picture of the printing and delivery of the "book" where he talks of the over sized truck with "reinforced axles" and "wide load" sign made me laugh. His joke about Lisa's "dognapping" purse is a chuckle too. He shows his uncle Tom and Sylvia "exaggeration" genes here. I'm sure Craig's book will be a bestseller because of it is so expertly researched and superbly written with great photography. His marketing skills in using all the internet tools and his personal promotions at Dog/hunting broadcasts and gatherings etc. will likely require him to use many big trucks with reinforced axles to keep up with demand. Gary Anderson, Canada

★★★★★  Today I received another "very special present" from Canada - Your book Vol 1 - Brilliant publication and so big, great informative text and wonderful photo's (usual CK high standard). Thank you so much for sending it to me, I will have hours of pleasure reading, re-reading and referring to it. Richard Jupp, UK

★★★★★  Ho appena ricevuto il libro "Pointig Dogs" di Craig Koshyk , é veramente bellissimo, splendide fotografie di razze che non conoscevo o che non avevo mai visto, come di razze continentali ben note. Interessantissime le annotazioni statistiche , il glossario ed i commenti sulle razze estinte. Un'opera che non puo' mancare nella libreria di un cinofilo appassionato. Lucio Marzan, Italy

★★★★★  Wow Craig! Your book arrived safely yesterday morning, and I can't thank you enough! What an extremely impressive looking publication. You should be very proud of your achievement. This is a must have for anybody who owns a Continental pointing breed. Martyn Ford, UK

Uma in the Snow

Another short video clip, this one featuring Uma the Pont-Audemer Spaniel hunting pheasants in the snow..and a rare (thank goodness) misfire due to a defective shotgun shell!

An Encore for Souris-Manon

 In September I wrote a post explaining that the retirement of our dog Souris-Manon from the hunting field only lasted about a week. And now that the season is over, I can happily report that she actually had one of the best seasons ever! So I've put together a photo and video retrospective of Souris-Manon's encore hunting season. Enjoy!

This summer, our nearly 14-year-old Weimaraner was laid low by pancreatitis. And when the veterinarian discovered a heart murmur, it looked as if Souris-Manon's hunting days were over.

But the smell of autumn and the promise of birds in the woods was too hard to resist. We decided to just let her hunt --come what may.  And on her very first hunt after coming out of retirement, Souris outsmarted a sharptail grouse. Click below to see the video replay.

And so, from that day to the last day of the season, Souris ran across pastures.

and in stubble fields.

Over the prairies,

and in the woods.

She found birds to point in the tall grass,

in the cattails,

 

and even in the snow.

 

She backed her hunting buddies,

and on the rare occasion when my aim was true,

she retrieved pheasants (click to play),

snipe

woodcock, grouse, ducks and geese.

But above all, Souris did what she's done every day for nearly 14 years. She put smiles on our faces and warmed our hearts.

Bravo Souris. It was a fantastic encore!!