I measured 5 of my favorite SxS guns. The results follow. (B) is barrel length, (C) is drop at comb, (H) is drop at heel and (P) is pitch , measured in the manner decribed above.
Parker: 30"(B), 1-7/16"(C), 2-7/16"(H) and 3"(P).
Lefever: 30"(B), 1-5/8"(C), 2-7/8"(H) and 3-1/2"(P).
Lefever: 30"(B), 1-7/8"(C), 3"(H) and 4-1/4"(P).
Uggie .410: 26"(B), 1-7/16"(C), 2-5/8"(H) and 2-5/8"(P).
Uggie 28: 26-3/4"(B), 1-1/2"(C), 2-1/2"(H) and 2-3/8"(P).
What does this prove? Only that most of what's been said above is true, pitch measured in the usual way varies with barrel length and is not an easy way to determine how to cut your butt. It's a lot easier to cut the angle relative to the comb line than using the pitch method. I shoot all these guns equally well(for me) and have no indication that any of them shoot high or low. What does that prove? To me, it proves that pitch is not an important factor in whether a gun shoots high or low, assuming you place your cheek on the comb, as most modern shooters do.
To dbadcraig: if you'll check it with a square, you'll find that your butt, after adding the tapered shim, is pretty close to 90 degrees from the comb line. As the Eskimo chief, in "Never Cry Wolf" said, "good idea".
