SHAPING

        The majority of wood gun hobbyists and manufacturers have been building their guns with a rectangular shape sometimes tapering forward of the handle in the bottom to top dimension. They perform very little rounding, often just a slight chamfer is made on the gun's edges. This minimalist approach to wood working may save time, lessen the wood waste, and appeal to the eyes of the builder but it has several disadvantages:

1. The larger guns are notoriously under ballasted in this configuration requiring cumbersome side stocks with internal lead to be added at the rear of the gun.

2. This gun shape, like a paddle, resists swinging laterally through the water.

3. This gun shape maneuvers vertically through the water with little resistance thereby failing to impede muzzle lift upon shooting.

 

        I, however, shape my guns with much broader width and rounder edges, tapering the bottom and both sides from the handle to the muzzle to achieve a better combination of proper ballast (using internal weights where necessary), balance, recoil resistance and lateral maneuverability by the following means:

1. The 3/4 inch rounded radius on all my guns minimizes water's resistance to lateral gun mobility making it easier to perform minor adjustments in tracking a fish's movements.

2. The increased distribution of wood mass further forward increases water resistance to muzzle lift much like the heavy barrel of a target rifle.

3. The tapering of the stock in 2 dimensions rather than just 1 or no tapering also contributes to balancing the gun as I like it, slightly muzzle heavy.

     

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Copyright 2003 Merlo Spearguns