New Westley Richards 470NE on order, who wants to hear about it?

[WAB]

I’m reading a book written by Don Currie (Gunfitting achieving the ideal fit for game and Clay Shot)

The book focuses on shotgunning, not DR fitting. But the level of knowledge and skill for the top tier Gunfitters is impressive. I’m learning how little I know and now have a lot more excuses for my missing.

My point is. Going through the whole selection, build and fitting would be quite an experience and add value to the purchase.

I was fit at Holland & Holland many years ago. It made a tremendous difference in my shooting. It makes perfect sense to me that you would be fit for a double rifle.

 

[WAB]

At the end of our day, we had spent nearly 7 hours with Trigger, and I can honestly say it was a very special experience. He had all the time in the world to show us around, answer questions, and tell great stories. We took the last train back to London and had to shift our dinner reservations back. We sat at dinner just glowing about what a fun and unexpected day we'd had.

I highly recommend a Westley Richards visit to anyone who will be in London; it is absolutely worth your time and you will not be disappointed.

I told Trigger that it meant the world to me that he gave us the "Maharajah treatment" even though I'm just a "broke-ass American who works for a living." He was gracious in that very British way, and just laughed and said they were glad to have us. I know he has a client list that includes some very wealthy, powerful, and famous people, both historically and currently. But he absolutely made us feel right at home and welcome, and I can't say enough good things about the whole experience.

I am very happy for you. Trigger is a true gentleman. Business takes me to Birmingham frequently. I never get tired of a visit to WR, and so far they still allow me to return!

 

[towserthemouser]

I am certain that it took a lot of time to relay all the fantastic details of your journey to date. We have all appreciated the passion and character with which you have described it and are thus also able to enjoy it by proxy! Congrats on a well deserved achievement, made all the more sweet by having your wife alongside in support!

Thank you for the encouragement! She is heading back with me for stock fitting in March. We're going to spend a couple of days in the Cotswolds and then on to London after the stock fitting. She wants to go back to Fortnum and Mason's for more of their amazing teas, marmalades, and shortbread cookies.

 

[towserthemouser]

I was fit at Holland & Holland many years ago. It made a tremendous difference in my shooting. It makes perfect sense to me that you would be fit for a double rifle.

I'm looking forward to seeing how they do it and learning the whole process. If folks are interested I'll share a few details here.

 

[towserthemouser]

I am very happy for you. Trigger is a true gentleman. Business takes me to Birmingham frequently. I never get tired of a visit to WR, and so far they still allow me to return!

We had the pleasure of having dinner with him at the SCI show in Nashville, and I can tell you he is a hoot to hang out with! He has lots of great stories and our group had a wonderful evening.

 

[Ravensview]

I just saw this post, thank you so much For taking us along on your experience, that is truly a beautiful work of art, as one who will probably never be able to do this, I truly appreciate seeing this process and am very grateful that you shared this process and am happy for you to obtain this dream and make it a reality. Looking forward to reading the rest as it unfolds. Thank You

 

[towserthemouser]

I just saw this post, thank you so much For taking us along on your experience, that is truly a beautiful work of art, as one who will probably never be able to do this, I truly appreciate seeing this process and am very grateful that you shared this process and am happy for you to obtain this dream and make it a reality. Looking forward to reading the rest as it unfolds. Thank You

@Ravensview thanks for the kind words. I honestly never thought I would be able to order a DR either. I guess that's why it's fun to share it. Absolutely not something that I take for granted. Life is filled with unexpected twists and turns. Therein lies the adventure, my friend!

 

[AZDAVE]

Look forward to hearing about your fitting. The wood on your double is exquisite.

 

[towserthemouser]

Look forward to hearing about your fitting. The wood on your double is exquisite.

Thank you. I will try to take some photos and post a little info about it.

 

[WAB]

When fitting a shotgun, it is important that the shooters technique is excellent. A change/improvement in technique will actually change the fit. I will be very interested to hear if the same applies to double rifles.

 

[towserthemouser]

When fitting a shotgun, it is important that the shooters technique is excellent. A change/improvement in technique will actually change the fit. I will be very interested to hear if the same applies to double rifles.

I am interested in that too. When a shotgun fits you well, you shoulder it and it's just "right there" and you don't ave have to even think about it. Hoping for a similar outcome with the DR. You don't want to be fiddling about with your gun mount when your attention needs to be focused on the game.

 

[Wyfox]

When fitting a shotgun, it is important that the shooters technique is excellent. A change/improvement in technique will actually change the fit. I will be very interested to hear if the same applies to double rifles.

This happened to me recently, was fitted by Bryan Belinski about 25 years ago and did a ton of shotgunning at that time.

Moved to Wyoming about 20 years ago and stopped wingshooting and started getting into precision rifle and did alot of CQB training with high mounted optic AR's for work for the past 20 years.

I'm about to retire and started to get back into shotgunning, bought a Rizzini that was to my measured dimensions and all I see is rib. Due to me shooting heads up high mounted optic rifles for 10's of thousands of rounds I can no longer naturally bury my cheek into a stock. I went from a 2" DAH to a 2 1/2"+ DAH, which workouts because I can now comfortably shoot vintage English guns...

 

[Altitude sickness]

When fitting a shotgun, it is important that the shooters technique is excellent. A change/improvement in technique will actually change the fit. I will be very interested to hear if the same applies to double rifles.

I bought this latest Don Currie book. This is for shotgunning. Not DR.

He says the same. a custom shotgun fit is not a good idea until the shooter has all the fundamentals down. Especially the mount.

He also warns that many gunsmiths and stock makers take a static measurement and do not watch the shooter firing a gun. Most of the English makers have an agreed to standard for measurements.

 

[KJE81]

I bought this latest Don Currie book. This is for shotgunning. Not DR.

He says the same. a custom shotgun fit is not a good idea until the shooter has all the fundamentals down. Especially the mount.

He also warns that many gunsmiths and stock makers take a static measurement and do not watch the shooter firing a gun. Most of the English makers have an agreed to standard for measurements.



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I was measured about five years ago at West London Shooting School, at that time atleast they were quite adamant that live firing with an instructor was crucial to a good gun fit. There was also static measurement before and after if I recall correctly, they fitted the try gun to me before I was shooting it and also after the first shooting and then a final shooting session before finished. At least that is how I remember it.

 

[VertigoBE]

When fitting a shotgun, it is important that the shooters technique is excellent. A change/improvement in technique will actually change the fit. I will be very interested to hear if the same applies to double rifles.

That’s something I never really considered…
I thought better fit —> better technique —> better shooting. If the technique changes and they fit needs to follow, it sounds like chasing around in circles?

For information, I have (almost) zero formal training in shotgun or double rifle training. So I likely have shit technique. I was hoping that a better fit alone would translate into a better technique and then better off hand shooting

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[WAB]

That’s something I never really considered…
I thought better fit —> better technique —> better shooting. If the technique changes and they fit needs to follow, it sounds like chasing around in circles?

For information, I have (almost) zero formal training in shotgun or double rifle training. So I likely have shit technique. I was hoping that a better fit alone would translate into a better technique and then better off hand shooting

I was fit twice, twenty years apart. The results were identical. However, my technique was pretty well cemented before the first fitting.

If someone is starting out, I would recommend a few lessons by a good instructor. There are very few in the US, but Bryan Bilinski mentioned earlier is one. With a shotgun that is close enough, practice your mount extensively. When you are satisfied, go for a fitting.

 

[WAB]

FYI, a good gun mount is pretty easy to do a rough test on. Mount facing a mirror to aim at your shooting eye. If the barrels dip on the way up, you have work to do. If the gun is not perfectly aligned on you eye, you have work to do. A good gun mount is not rushed or slow. Speed of Mount should vary somewhat with the target being engaged.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Brian is very knowledgeable and it’s a day or two well spent in the store and Traverse City.