Length of pull question

In the market for my first rifle, (patiently waiting to be allowed on the buy and sell) admin.
Went and got a feel for a Tikka T3x, Bergara B14 and a Howa 1500 today. (I spent 1k+ in the store on other stuff so I didn't feel guilty window shopping).
Given that I have the limitation that I can't actually shoot anything I'm just doing my best to "feel" for the rifles in the store.
I felt the length of pull on the Tikka and the Bergara were a bit short for me, the Howa felt much more comfortable.
After all that... The question is, should I write off the Tikka and Bergara solely on the length of pull thing, or is that something relatively easy to fix?

Have you accounted for winter layered up hunting? Will increase your effective LOP.

very easy to fix if need be, via spacers...

I find lop not to be too much of a concern for me personally. Its what one is used to I guess...

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Originally Posted by Stump

Have you accounted for winter layered up hunting? Will increase your effective LOP.

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That's a good point, hadn't taken that into account. Likely to be layered up at first and last light at any time of the year too, so I'll take that into consideration

If the howa feels right.go with the howa.i know I did and don't regret it one little bit.if you want to spend a couple Hindu more you can even have sexy wooden stock for it!!!

Slip on recoil pads offer light vs heavy clothing flexibility…

If that doesn't work, you can often get a Limbsaver or the like pad in a ready made fit for your stock but with the long length rather than standard. Failing that, while the factory pad is off a few sheets of engineering plastic (or one the right length) soon sorts LOP out.

LOP is sort of more important for shotguns, the old stick it on your shoulder run your arm along the stock with trigger finger outside the guard and seeing where the triggers aligns with your finger is really more to do with double trigger guns. If you shoot prone the relationship is different to standing or sitting. Clothing also changes things. So as long as you feel comfortable with the gripa couple of inches either way won't matter

true that but it DOES matter for those need to take quickly standing shots...and the scope and ring height can make or break a rifles ability to do that EG my old Zastava .308 was sucky with bushnel 3x9 scope on it..put my M8 leupold on it and completely different rifle to handle..the vx1 3x9 was nearly as good...all about eye box size and height plus distance from where eye wants to be when rifle chucked up to shoulder.

If length of pull is important for snap shooting… I can’t imagine anyone snap shooting at more than 50 yards either so I don’t see length of pull mattering too much for that scenario..Eye relief would be more important wouldn’t it? Which can be adjusted with scope position? Eye height can be adjusted with an adjustable cheek riser. Mia stocks don’t line the eye naturally even with low rings in my experience

A well fitted rifle is naturally more prone to settle into the 'right' sighting plane, and you aren't using muscles to hold yourself or the rifle off where it wants to naturally sit to keep it on aim. This is why target rifles tend to be so adjustable, and why expensive african double rifles and safari type rifles are custom fitted. Can you work around it if it's not perfect? Yep. Can they be better? Yep. Do you notice the difference shooting a rifle that is correctly fitted to you - bloody oath yes, in everything from the amount of recoil you feel through to ho long you can hold it on target before you get the trembles...

You can get spacers for Bergara - they go between the stock and butt pad. I think I got mine from Reloaders.

Extending LOP made a difference for me - mine is 18" .308 and is lively - seemed to be perception of less 'bang' going off in my face with a better LOP.

https://bergara.dikarcoop.com/en/esp...s-bergara.html

Edit: seems to me that if it's easy to get spacers, why not arrange LOP to suit you?

I made one up out of perspex type stuff for a Norinco .22 and it changes it from something that feels like a kids gun into something comfortable to shoot. 2 mins to change it out for when kid wants to use it.

Something I have found is that if the LOP feels too short standing, it will be far to short in the prone.
I was shooting an old .303 on the weekend and had to put the butt on my shoulder when in the prone.
The .303 isn't a heavy recoiling rifle but recoil always feels worse when the rifle has a "run up".

As others have said slip on recoil pad can help.

I always recommend new shooters try as many rifles as possible before spending a penny.
Do you have friends that shoot? Maybe you could go try a club or the NZDA.