CO>I've fitted a few in my time.  The ideal is to cobble bits and pieces
CO>onto the stock or shave off parts until it's right, take measurements
CO>and then make a new stock to those measurements (well, the ultimate
CO>ideal would be to have an adjustable "try stock" such as used by the
CO>custom shotgun makers in England during the glory days of their
CO>craft).
Iv'e thought about making a try stock myself, just for the heck of it.
I've also kicked around the idea of making a permanent try stock for
some of the guns as well.  It would look ugly as all get out, but could
be real interesting.  Beretta's got essentially that on one of their new
shotguns.  You can adjust length, offset and comb height.  Interesting,
_very_ interesting.
Like you, I play with scraps, wedges, rubber bands and duct tape.
That's how I've gotten the .22 nearly perfect for me, but now quite the
shotgun.  .22's a whole lot more forgiving then the shotgun.  Right now
though, the shotguns _real_ close.
The kicker for the shotgun especially is I can't really make it perfect
because I may be out there shooting in nothing but a t-shirt, or bundled
under several inches of winter clothes.  Which of course completely
changes the way the gun fits.
CO>For a comb (what you were referring to as a crown) that's too high, a
CO>wood rasp and some sandpaper fixes that real nice.
I think the shotguns is too high, but not by much.  I don't want to
simply rasp it down though.  Instead, my thoughts are to play with
cutting the top of it off and reattaching it with screws.  That way I
can use shim pieces or spacers and have it adjustable for different
types of shooting.  I could also play with a nice soft pad for my cheek
as well.  The mousepad was a great idea, but seems to fail in execution.
CO>For a comb that's
CO>too low, you'll have to add some height - probably by attaching a
CO>wooden spacer or rubber pad to the top of the comb.  Bear in mind,
CO>though, that you probably won't be able to get the comb to the right
CO>height for both iron sights and a scope - especially if you insist on
CO>using those worthless "see through" rings (they were made to sell to
CO>the less knowledgable, not to shoot accurately).
I don't switch between the two on any given weapon of mine.  The .22 has
a scope because its iron sights are horrible, the shotgun actually has
iron sights.  Or a strap on plastic rear sight and front bead.  No
scope.  Don't think I really want a scope for a shotgun, and there isn't
a mount made for this shotgun.  At least I've never seen a mount made
for an old Winchester 1897.
CO>For a stock that's too short, lengthen it by adding a hard rubber
CO>recoil pad.  Quick and easy to do.
Gasp, another fan of hard shoulder pieces?   I bought several years
ago a generic squishy recoil pad.  Fired it once, and ripped it off.
Damn those things hurt you everywhere else, and royally screw up your
shot.  As long as that gun is tucked back hard, I generally have no
problem with recoil from much of anything.  Especially if the butt of
the stock is shaped to fit my shoulder profile.  It's when I hold lose
or the gun does something like jab the toe into my armpit or chest that
I get hurt and bruised.
CO>For one that's too long, grit
CO>your teeth and saw the appropriate length of the butt.
I'd recommend getting or making a scrap stock first and cutting that one
up before cutting up a good stock.  I made my own stock for the shotgun.
Wasn't willing to hack the original.
Next time I make a stock I'm going to make it a laminate stock instead
of trying to drill a straight hole about 18" long.  Use a router
instead, and glue the two pieces together.  If I were to screw the
pieces together instead it would also make it far easier to play games
with making into an adjustable stock as well.
In fact, I've been kicking around the idea of making yet another stock
this way, so I can play with offset.  The europeans use this to great
effect apparently.  I'd like to at least try it.
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