Help: Adjustable Comb Problem

I just bought a Browning 725 Sporting, 12 gauge, 32" barrel, Adj comb. This is my first adjustable comb. Normally I buy a trap gun with trap stock, a skeet gun with a skeet stock. Never made any changes. This time I thought it would be nice to have a stock to play with adjustments. I found that 1 click up 2 clicks over to the right (I'm right handed) aligns my eyes perfect with the rib (sights). But recoil hurts my cheek. When the top of the stock (comb) is move over to the right, it leaves the bottom of the comb with a rounded but sharp edge. I look at other adjustable stock and they seem to be the same. And I guess if you went more to the right it would be worse? What's the solution??

 

Sounds like you might have a pitch problem. If the pitch is not right the gun will rotate into your face, instead of just going straight back. You may want to put some washers under the recoil pad and play with the pitch. Hard to say if you need them at the top or bottom of the pad(positive or negative pitch), if indeed that is actually the problem. Just a thought and easy enough to play with. Good luck

 

Is the pain caused by the upward motion of the gun into your face due to the recoil or is it from the sharp edge of the stock cutting you? If the pitch is wrong, then the gun will recoil up into your cheek. If the stock is really sharp, that could be the problem, but there should be an abrasion on your face below the cheek. If that is the case, you may need to take the sharp edge away.

No matter which problem you have, I would suggest you start with SS 90-T SS's advice and try the pitch issue correction with the washers under the recoil pad. Try the bottom screw first. That may correct both potential issues.

 

I am not sure I understand. Is it the lower edge of the comb that is hurting your cheek or the cut edge of the stock?

 

If it is the lower edge of the comb or the cut edge of the stock that is biting you it might be time to round off the edges.

I have done it with good results.

 

I kinda though that was the case so I brought the top of the comb back over 1 click toward my face, kept the 1 click up and it's OK. So my conclusion is if you move the comb more than 1 click to the right that opens up the crack between the two pieces of wood enough so that the edge is like a square 2x4 against your face, even with out shooting.

 

Its were the two pieces of comb split (it leaves an edge) when you move the top comb to the right away from the stock. The top edge of the remaining stock is pretty square.

 

That is the problem with adjustable combs. They have there limitations.

I have had combs where I had to bevel that edge.

In more extreme cases where my jaw was making contact with the side of the stock, I had to sand the side of the stock.

Sometimes if you raise the comb a bit more the problem goes away.

That only works if you want the gun to shot higher.

 

Wishbone,
Thanks for the information. I wished I would have posted this thread before I bought my gun. I should have purchased the sporting model with out the adjustable comb then modified or filed the stock to fit me? Would have been cheaper?

 

HAH< HAH I did it!!! This is the view with the comb brought back to 1 click up, 1 click over. More dramatic when 2 clicks over (the best fit for me). The setup you see doesn't bother me at all. The other hurts after a round or 2.

 

Eightshot, I have had the same problem with most of my guns. I have a fat head. See picture to the left. That is why I use a precision fit stock. When I did not have a pfs I had to have the stock beveled for my face. That depreciates the gun. You cant get a pfs for a 725. Make sure the 725 is the gun you are going to keep for life before you butcher the stock .

You could go to a Browning XT and buy a used pfs. That is a big reason why I have the XT instead of the 725.

 

Family Guy, good illustration. And I hate butchering a beatiful piece of wood.
Just for the fun, and practice of transferring photo's, here is a photo of Ian Smingler barrel weights in my Browning 725 Sporting, 12 gauge, 32" barrel, adj comb shotgun. They fit under the forearm.

 

I must warn! Not all Browning 725 barrels are alike. I showed a friend the weights. So he ordered a set with the same dimensions I measured for my shotgun for his Browning 725, He assumed the barrels would be the same, NOT. His barrels have a solid rib between the top and bottom barrels, no columns or vent rib like mine. I told him to glue them in? I really like mine.

 

Just an update:
Well before I start butchering my stock I'm going to move it back to 1 click up and 2 clicks over then add a Meadows Convert-A-Stock pad (I just ordered) to fill the gap, then see how that works?

 

I guess you moved the comb to the side to align your eye with the rib. Did that change the POI? How do you know? Why did you raise it?

 

Yes, I moved the comb over to align my eyes straight down the rib. Just pull it up squeeze the trigger, don't have to think, it's automatic. I raised the comb up 1 click to shoot a little higher. It's now pretty close to my skeet stock dimensions. I've used this gun in Trap, Trap Doubles, Chinese Trap, Skeet, Skeet Doubles, Sporting Clays, not 5 stand or bunker yet. All I know it works. Our shooting club won't let you pattern your gun. One day, I hope soon, that will change. Then I'll know exactly where the POI is. All I know it breaks targets (most of the time). I hope I answered your question?

 

Anything you put in the "gap" will likely just interfere with your gun mount.

No harm in trying, You do want to be sure before you start removing wood. Good luck.

 

I shot today and that 1 click more to the right is needed. I just had to remember to add a touch of lead to the right of the target

 

On the flip side, you need to back off on the left target given the current comb position. Point right at it or a touch behind. Too much thinking. If you like the gun, knock the corner off of it and shoot it. I don't get caught up in resale when making a gun fit me. I need to be able to shoot it.

You could always talk to Browning's Custom shop and see if they'll make you a stock with some cast-off. I believe all Brownings are made straight, with no cast-on or cast-off.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

 

eight, how did you discover you needed to add lead to the right of the target?

Neil

 

Laserwizard makes a ton of sense.

-Gary

 

I'm poor. Can't afford a custom stock. I have to work with what I have. It's the gap between the adj comb and the stock that bothers me when I adj it 2 clicks to the right. That's were the gun lines up best for me. That's why I bought (my first) the adj stock to get an ideal fit. Note: the photo is only 1 click to right.

 

Lead might be the wrong word. Another words to see straight down the barrel I need the stock more into my face. If the target is straight and the gun was straight I would be shooting to the left.

 

Thanks Wishbone I'll let you know what happens
PS, I posted a photo, maybe this will explain???

 

Yes the picture makes it clear.

I have a friend who shoots that set up , just a bit more extreme.

He rests his cheekbone on the ledge.

I can't believe its comfortable but he swears by it.

Good luck

 

Wishbone, Thanks, It's so hard to put pacifistic problems into words. I'm glad the photo (showed up ) and that it explained my problem.

 

Eightshot....Your sporting stock probably has quite a bit of drop built into it. Many do to accommodate a low gun starting position. If you can adjust your comb with the comb position at rear slightly higher than the front(or parallel with bore) and still obtain your desired sight picture you may feel less recoil to your check. Pre-mounted gun stocks usually have a comb that is parallel to or almost parallel to the bore. That is often more comfortable to shoot. Having the front of the comb just very slightly more right than the rear of the comb(for rh shooter) will also remove some of the hit to the cheek. Makes it feel a little like a stock with cast-off for RH shooter.

 

You may need to sand that edge down evenly across so it does not hit your face, I do it all the time, and re-finish it. NW is being argumentive w/u
Dr.longshot

 

Borderland,
I'll try that, but won't that just move the same problem rearward on my face?

 

dr.longshot,
Yes I thought of that, but what if I wont to go back to stock position?? Will that make the gun look funny and hurt my face because of the indentation in the now neutral position? Also if I want to sell the gun to upgrade wouldn't that hurt the value?

 

eightshot....the stock is going to move rearward under recoil. Don't you want the stock moving away from your cheekbone when the stock moves back rather than moving into your face. If the comb is up in the front instead of down or parallel it hits harder on your cheek. If the front of the comb is angled to the left more than the rear of the comb it hits you in the face. Shotgun stock dimension have migrated toward a comb parallel with the bore because fewer shotgun activities other than hunting and sporting clays take place with an unmounted gun. Most of the shooters I have talked with are happier with the stock dimensions of the 725 than of previous Brownings. The ones that I have cheeked seem to have some(new to Browning)cast off. Perhaps your gun of choice has no cast off or on(I dont know if you shoot L or R). I shoot with at least one LH shooter who insists on using a gun that is cast for a RH shooter and their cheek takes a constant pounding.. Sorry this post got too long.

 

Right now the comb is 1 click up and 1 click over to the right, both front and rear of the comb. And that's OK but not great limning up my eyes straight down the barrel. I prefer 1 click up but 2 clicks to the right (front & rear of comb) for a perfect sight alignment, but that's when the sharpness of the ridge comes in. So are you stating to adjust the comb to be parallel instead of sporting with the same cast off? What I'm trying to achieve is a little higher point of aim and a 2 click over cast off. I'm not sure if that's possible to adjust the Browning comb to be parallel? I'll give it a try. Thanks