Is Your Rib All in Your Mind? (speak quietly when your shotgun is listening)

There is a very good reason every trap gun needs to have a high rib: It looks damn cool.

But if a shooter simply divorces himself from the imaginary need to see perfectly stacked beads, then pattern height becomes solely dependent on comb height (assuming consistent gun mount). The higher your pupil is above the bore axis, the higher the pattern. Period. A gap between the beads being a problem is just an unnecessary mental hang-up.

So remember -- your shotgun doesn't even know it has a rib. So as long as you don't tell it how high its rib is, it will never know. Shshhhh.

-Gary

 

Gary, I'm sure it is mostly or all in my mind, but If I don't get my beads stacked just right I know my gun is not into my shoulder right, it is tipped up or down so then my pattern is off and I will chip split, or even miss my target. It is all apart of my mental check list when I shoulder my gun. It does work for me, but I am sure it will not work for everybody.

 

Makes perfect sense Ken; if it works, it works. I'm merely reminding folks that your popular and effective method isn't the only way to skin the cat.

-Gary

PS: I can miss quite effectively with any sight picture (and often do).

 

Gary, my old squirrel gun doesn't have one of the fan dangled ribs of any sort! Shot it pretty well considering though. Made it to max yardage, won gold coin belt buckles and a car along with boxes of man on a stick trophies?

The stock fitted to you is more important for your personal timing to the proper bird/bead relationship than any rib for crushing clay targets.

HAP

 

Cool story Hap, but what kind of gun and car are we talking about here?

I'm guessing a Win M12 and a 1967 Corvair.

-Gary

 

Gary, you're correct, a model 12 Winchester. The car was a Plymouth Duster, a 1974. Even if it was a Corvair, considering the difficulty of winning such a shoot, any brands are tough to come by.

HAP

 

LOL, I almost guessed a Dodge Dart! Yeah Hap, a new car of any sort is pretty good prize. I'd be sweatin' bullets on the last bird. Did I ever tell you about the particle board plaque I won shooting modern ATA?

-Gary

 

I thought the only reason to raise the rib / comb relation ship is to get your head more vertical. And it looks cool

 

LMAO@Gary!! That would go pretty good with my shootin well certificate I won!! Another was a ball cap, at least it keeps the sun outa the ol eyes but, butt uglie! It wouldn't work for the younger guys though, bill is too long to turn backards?

HAP