Fitment: Why Rifle Fit Matters

Fitment. It's something that isn't talked about much in the world of firearms, but it is a critical component to how accurate you can be as a shooter. If your gun fits, you'll shoot better. But what exactly is fitment? Why is it that important? Our team of experts and ambassadors explain everything you need to know about rifle fit!

Importance of Fitment
Savage ambassador and host of "Savage Outdoors" and "The  One", Mike Stroff explains there are three components to fitment: length of pull, comb height, eye relief. When your length of pull and comb height are correct, achieving proper eye relief in your optic should be easy and natural with no need to continuously adjust where your face rests on the stock or how you shoulder your gun. Stroff explains how he is most comfortable with a higher comb height to get a good cheek-to-stock weld and alignment with his scope.

How to Measure Length of Pull
You'll often see Length Of Pull abbreviated as "LOP" on many specifications for rifles and shotguns. Simply put, the length of pull is the measurement from the center of the butt pad to the face of the trigger. This is an important measurement for all shooters because it affects where your trigger finger lands and eye relief in your sights or optic. If you're familiar with how to measure your length of pull, you've probably heard of the method where you hold the gun in the crook of your arm and see where your trigger finger ends up. If your hand doesn't reach the trigger comfortably, the stock is too long. If your hand goes beyond the trigger, the stock is too short. 

Patrick Kelley explains another way to way to measure your length of pull with more accuracy: roll the thumb of your dominant hand over the stock, shoulder the gun with your head up -- with the gun shouldered, you should have three finger widths between your nose and your thumb knuckle. This is a simple and easy way to make sure your gun fits you. For a rifle with iron sights or peep sights, the length of pull is critically important for getting proper eye relief. It's all about getting your face in the right relation to the rear sight. 

Why Fit Matters for Hunters
"MeatEater" host, Steve Rinella has seen too many hunters miss their chance at a big game animal because of a poor-fitting rifle that prevented them from quickly finding their target in the scope. "It sounds simple, but it's a huge problem that I've seen so many times," says Rinella. In spot 'n stalk hunting situations, rifle fitment is all too important because most shooting opportunities are going to be improvised positions. For Rinella, that usually means resting on a backpack.  A fitted rifle with proper eye relief doesn't just happen by accident. The length of pull you can adjust by finding a rifle with the right LOP measurement (any Savage model with AccuFit can be adjusted for your perfect LOP!) or by manipulating the shoulder pad. Achieving the solid sight picture can be influenced by a combination of adjusting the comb height in the stock and how you mount your optic. Choosing the right ring height and shifting the optic slightly forward or rearward will help your sight picture. If you have to move your head around to get a perfect sight picture, the fitment is wrong and you need to make some adjustments. And finally -- muscle memory. Practice shouldering your rifle in improvised positions, so when the opportunity to shoot comes, you know that your fitment, placement, and eye relief are all perfect. And take the shot. 

Rifle Fit for the Traveling Hunter
Freddy Harteis, host of "Hollywood Hunter", stresses how important it is to him that every client of his is shooting with an accurate rifle -- and that starts with fitment. Shooters come in all shapes and sizes, and traditionally so have guns. But the reality is that if your rifle doesn't fit you well, you won't shoot well. Hunters will often shoot with a borrowed rifle on an outfitted hunt, and Harteis cautions both outfitters and hunters about this practice. Outfitters -- take the time to make sure that your clients are shooting with a gun that fits them well and help them make adjustments as needed. Hunters -- practice, practice, practice! Outfitted hunts are often once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Don't squander it by letting poor rifle fit get in the way of perfect accuracy. There's an easy way to tell if you or another hunter has the proper rifle fit. "When you lay your head on the comb of the gun, you need to be able to create a solid sight picture immediately," explains Harteis.

Improving Fit for Predators
Predator hunters are accustomed to shooting in many different conditions because no two stands are the same. Predator hunters could be shooting from inclines, different positions, different rests or sticks, moving and follow- up shots. "The fit of the gun can make all those things better and make you more accurate in the field," says Clay Belding of "Dead Dog Walkin'". All of the diverse shooting situations in predator hunting comes second nature when you have a properly fitted gun. Make adjustments to your gun so it fits YOU as best as possible and practice getting a good check-to-stock weld. 

Customizing Fit for Competition
Rifle fitment isn't just important for hunting scenarios. Fitment is critical to accuracy in any competitive shooting discipline too. "Your position changes, say in a PRS match, where you may go from a prone position to a standing position, the geometry of the buttstock has to change to make the rifle fit you better," explains Team Savage shooter, Stan Pate. In a standing position, you may need to shorten the length of pull and raise the comb for a good sight picture. The position of your head will change in a prone position, so instead of struggling with the dimensions of your rifle from your standing positions, Pate recommends adjusting your stock to lengthen the LOP and lower the comb. 

Rifle Built For Women
Good news -- there are more women than ever before starting to hunt! Bad news -- many new female hunters are outfitted with a borrowed rifle. And as we know, borrowed rifles rarely fit. A poorly fitted rifle usually leads to a less-than-stellar shooting experience. Good experiences early on in any new hunter's career is crucial to their enjoyment and drive to continue hunting. Many women have smaller bodies compared to the average male, and thus needing different rifle dimensions to achieve a proper fit. Decreasing the length of pull is often a great first step. With smaller faces, many female shooters end up with a line of sight that is too low to look through the scope, forcing them to lift their heads off the stock and out of good shooting posture. The Savage 11/111 Lady Hunter is the answer many female shooters have been looking for. It has a 12.5" length of pull, raised comb, slimmed down grip, and a shorter barrel to help with balance and weight. It's purpose-built to fit the unique needs of women shooters. 

In 2018, Savage introduced AccuFit -- an innovative adjustable stock system on select models. Models with AccuFit come with a complete kit of four length of pull spacers and four comb height pieces. This kit allows the shooter to establish their length of pull and perfect comb riser height with only a Phillips head screw driver. It's accuracy-enhancing gunsmith customizations right out of the box. This adjustable system was designed to meet the needs of hunters and shooters everywhere looking for a perfectly fitted rifle without the need to customize with a gunsmith or aftermarket parts.