Buttplate angle

[Steeltrap]

Just a comment here, but it's interesting to note the different builds of the same style of rifle. I've been studying pics of English Fowlers (and is that different from British Fowlers?) and notice that some buttplates are fashioned at (or close to) a 90-degree angle to the slope of the comb, while others are fashioned (sort of shotgun style) where the plate is more of a 90-degree angle to the barrel.

Just commenting on an observation.

[JPK]

That angle is called “pitch” modern shotguns are at less than 90 degrees to the barrel.

[Dphariss]

If the angle get too far from the C/L of the bore (toe line gets shorter) the recoil characteristics can get nasty. I like near zero pitch on most guns. Those than make a lot of recoil or something shot prone in matches. Brass suppository shotguns may have the pitch set to reduce butt movement on the shoulder when doing repeat shots as in doubles and repeaters.

[smylee grouch]

The wrong pitch on heavy recoil guns can cause the gun to " pitch "  the comb up into your cheek ( cheek slapper ) but the reverse but pitch will cause the but to " pitch " down and comb will fall away from your face.

[Steeltrap]

Ok. Pardon my confusion, but I’m looking at my “Grenville” book, when I place a square along the barrel, most of the time the toe (bottom of buttstock) is closer to the breech than the heel of the rifle.

Is that what you are referring to as a cheek slapped?

[smylee grouch]

Along the side of the barrel?  Is the barrel straight, swamped or straight taper? The recoil will be coming straight back from the center of the bore not necessarily in the same line of a barrel side or flat. The fact that the but is below bore line causes the gun to pitch up in front and down in the rear.  That but angle will " nudge " the comb up or down causing cheek slap if its nudged up. I,m not a pro wordsmith so hope I said that right.

[Steeltrap]

Look at this pic of a T\C franked special. You can see where a 90 degree square is extended from the barrel line, the toe of the stock is closer than the heel.

In Dpharris photo above, (forgive me...I swiped and modified his photo) the buttplate is very close to a 90 degree angle from the barrel line.

[smylee grouch]

The TC, I think had a straight barrel so i,m guessing if yours has a straight barrel your bore line is parallel to the barrel top flat and your recoil should come straight back except for the drop at the but which creates a fulcrum causing the gun to come up in front and down in back.  Your but angle to me looks as though it would cause the comb to be nudged up in recoil. how does it shoot in that regard?

[Steeltrap]

Here's a Leman from Track



And a few others

[Steeltrap]

My reason for this post is I'm making my own buttplate. When I've bought pre-made buttplates the angle is already established. So, if I buy a Fowler plate, I then measure my drop at heel and my drop at the comb nose, and my buttplate angle just follows\fits that. I don't really have options to change it.

So, for this current build I think I'll bend the plate so I end up with the buttplate being 90 degrees from the barrel.

[smylee grouch]

The one right after the Leman looks about right for me.