No4 Butt length fitting?

[Lashenden]

Hi. I'm curious to know how HM forces decided whether a shooter needed a different length of butt on their rifle. Was there 'official guidence' on the matter? I was in the TA in the 80s but don't recall anyone ever being measured up for an SLR.

I'm not a big guy but I have long arms and I was wondering whether a long butt might have any advantage?

Information

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[Daan Kemp]

Different pad thicknesses for the butt were available for the FAL/FN, up to 50 mm IIRC.

[Lashenden]

I know. I'm not disputing that they existed, merely that I don't remember anyone suggesting that the different spacers might apply to us. Not complaining - my personal rifle was lovely

[Mk VII]

I certainly remember those of us in the shooting team getting the right length spacers on the SLRs. Or change of butt for those who still had the old wooden ones.





The right length 'feels right'. And too short a butt means you hit your face manipulating the L-E bolt.

[Brian Dick]

There's 1/2" difference in the butts. They made Bantam, (Canada only), Short, Normal and Long.

[Daan Kemp]

Must be somewhere in an armourer/instructor's instruction pamphlet.

[browningautorifle]

When we were issued the FN C1s we were measured on the spot. The book even describes and I remember it being done to me clearly. The butt is placed in the inside of the bent forearm against the bicep. The extended fingers are placed beside the pistol grip. The firer's palm should be beside the firing mechanism to be correct. Try that with the #4 rifle, bet it works.

A side note, I preferred a long or ex long for shooting but a normal for drill. We had no spacers...

[Peter Laidler]

But back to the question as answered by BAR. The short answer was this. Arm outstretched, bent at 90 degrees at the elbow, rifle in the crook of the elbow, muzzle upwards, butt in the crook of the elbow. The trigger finger, at the first joint of the finger should be able to fit round and squeeze the trigger.

If not, the answer was to change the butt spacer on site. But in real life, you told the bloke to find a rifle that DID fit. End of!

[Strangely Brown]

But in real life, you told the bloke to find a rifle that DID fit. End of!

And this is what I recall in 1969, the battery shooting team had first pick of whatever was in the armoury and they were then put on onside with our names on.

[Brian Dick]

The exact same method that we still use to fit a sporting shotgun or rifle when fitting a buttplate or recoil pad. It's simply measuring length of pull.