Shotgun Fitting
One of the most important—and often overlooked—aspects of shotgun shooting is proper gun fitting. Simply put, fitting ensures your shotgun shoots precisely where you’re looking. Because flying targets appear too quickly to rely on sights, instinctive shooting depends on a gun that naturally aligns with your eye. This level of performance can only be achieved with a properly fitted stock.
A skilled gun fitter is essential—and rare. True expertise requires a deep understanding of stock dimensions and how they interact with each shooter’s unique physiology. Factors such as drop at comb, drop at heel, cast, length of pull, pitch, toe and heel alignment, and even the weight of the shotgun all influence how the gun shoots. These variables are interconnected—changing one can affect the others—so fitting is both a science and an art. Todd Ramirez has spent decades mastering this art. With over 40 years of experience, including 9 years working for Beretta fitting shotguns to shooters, Todd offers world-class fitting services. Bending a stock using the hot oil method, or building a custom stock to your dimensions, Todd ensures your shotgun fits like it was made just for you—and helps you shoot better than you ever imagined.
Fitting Services Include
- Hot Oil Bending – A traditional, proven method for adjusting wooden stocks.
- New Custom Stock – Built from scratch to match your personal measurements.
- Right-to-Left Hand Conversions – For left-handed shooters, we can convert any right-handed shotgun.
- Pattern Board on Site – For accurate drop and point-of-impact analysis.
- Personal Fitting Sessions – One-on-one evaluation and adjustment.
How Do You Know If You Need a Gun Fitting?
- You’ve practiced consistently, but your scores haven’t improved.
- You’re serious about becoming a better shooter.
- You experience bruising on your shoulder or cheek after shooting.
- You’re tired of your friends outshooting you.
If you answered yes to any of these, you likely need a gun fitting.
What to Expect in a Personal Fitting
Your fitting includes a one-on-one consultation where we evaluate and adjust:
- Length of Pull (LOP): Distance from the trigger to the center of the gun butt (from the front trigger on doubles).
- Pitch: The angle of the butt in relation to the top of the barrel. Proper pitch ensures full contact with your shoulder pocket.
- Cast: The horizontal offset of the stock from the centerline of the barrel.
- Drop: Vertical distance from the barrel or rib to the stock at both the comb and heel. Drop is fine-tuned using the pattern board to match your preferred point of impact.
After initial adjustments, we’ll test the gun on the pattern board, then fine-tune the drop and other dimensions based on performance and feel.
Shotgun Specialist Services
Todd Ramirez is a Shotgun Specialist with over 40 years of experience working with fine shotguns, including nine years of factory-level training in Italy on Beretta and other premier Italian firearms. His deep knowledge spans American, English, and Italian guns, making him a trusted expert for collectors, enthusiasts, and serious shooters.
Todd offers a full range of custom shotgun services, including:
- Stock Restocking – For both sidelock and boxlock shotguns.
- Precision Gun Fitting – Using the traditional hot oil bend method. Fitting includes adjustments for length of pull, pitch, and cast.
- Pattern Board Analysis – On-site to accurately determine and adjust drop.
- Left-Hand Conversion – Converts right-hand cast-off guns to left-hand cast-on for left-handed shooters.
Todd also performs expert-level repairs, including:
- Timing issues
- Ejector and trigger work
- “Back to face” adjustments
- Resoldering and relaying loose ribs
In cases where factory parts are unavailable, Todd can fabricate and refit components to original specifications—even on high-end, premium shotguns—using advanced techniques including heat treating for durability and performance.