only last week i picked up some new book on shotgunning by a writer i'd never heard of. thumbed thru it and in seconds saw a half page pic showing how to determine the correct LOP by placing the butt in the crook of the elbow, etc. immediately put it back on the shelf as i didn't care about anything else that writer had to say.
i don't think either method is valid. you obviously don't want your thumb hitting your nose on recoil but there's way more to it than that. there are too many factors involved to boil it down to something that simple.
i love the way the literature described a benefit of my fabarms o/u: you can adjust the LOP because the trigger blade is moveable. no, you can't. no matter where you put that trigger, on a pistol gripped gun your right hand pretty much stays put and the "real" LOP stays the same.
there's only 2 ways to determine if a gun fits: shooting (empirical) and fitting (somewhat empirical but also somewhat theoritical). if you can hit with the gun, it fits. if you can't, it might not or it could just be you.
roger
My responses to the above, with the utmost respect intended.
1st paragraph, I agree 100%.
2nd paragraph, Ok, but doesn't really say much.
3rd paragraph, absolutely agree. Sort of like my main shooting buddy who believes you can change cast by adding an adjustable butt plate.
4th paragraph, "if you can hit with the gun, it fits". Politely disagree totally with that one. I can hit targets with guns from 13" to maybe 15" but that tells you nothing about how the LOP should be determined and proves nothing. I would be much more comfortable with the 13" LOP than the 15". For me, 14" works best.
AND, SURPRISE, SURPRISE! Just checked my guns using the crook of the elbow method and my 14" LOP guns fit that way too.
It's still not the best way to do it, IMO. Even though it may work sometimes. It's like using a dime to tell if a 12 ga. gun is choked full.