Why do you tape your cheek comb?

[Duffy1298]

I see pictures of guys that have taped up their cheek combs. I have always been under the impression that the reason you would do so is if your optic was a little high, you just use some mat foam and 100 mph tape to build up the height of the comb. This all makes sense to me, where I'm thrown off is why are they still taping the stocks with the adjustable saddle (mcmillan A4) whats the point?

 

[Decoy]

Not sure about anyone else but I add a little foam with removable non stick tape to give me a positive stop for eye relief and an up right head position. It gives me a repeatable weld each time.

 

[Duffy1298]

makes perfect sense to me. I was just unsure why people that have adjustable cheek combs tape theirs??

 

[seanh]

repeatable weld? Maybe it feels better than the plastic (metal in some cases).

 

[MayDaySOC]

Building cheek pieces out of mat and tape is required at sniper schools in the service. Those rifles also come with adjustable check pieces but using them is not authorized (at least not in the Marines.) You run everywhere you go through hills and water, from yardline to yardline at the range, etc, etc,... That one screw that holds the check piece will not only come loose but it most likely wont even be in the rifle when you get where you need to go to take your shout. However, those isomat cheek pieces will not only still be there but they will have your perfect sight picture. Mile after mile, mission after mission.

My guess is most people who use them are prior service. I ditched mine so others can adjust the cheek piece to use my rifle. If I were to go back overseas I'd go back to my isomat cheek piece.

 

[MayDaySOC]

*shot... Not shout... Stupid iPad.

 

[R.Walters]

I have mole skin on mine so when it is 100 in the summer my cheek dosent have to be on the hot ass stock. the mole skin does not heat up like the stock will. im not sure why people would put plain tape on them. maybe they have their reasons. just like i have mine for some things. to each their own, i guess

 

[Duffy1298]

Building cheek pieces out of mat and tape is required at sniper schools in the service. Those rifles also come with adjustable check pieces but using them is not authorized (at least not in the Marines.) You run everywhere you go through hills and water, from yardline to yardline at the range, etc, etc,... That one screw that holds the check piece will not only come loose but it most likely wont even be in the rifle when you get where you need to go to take your shout. However, those isomat cheek pieces will not only still be there but they will have your perfect sight picture. Mile after mile, mission after mission.

My guess is most people who use them are prior service. I ditched mine so others can adjust the cheek piece to use my rifle. If I were to go back overseas I'd go back to my isomat cheek piece.

See a valid reason.. It makes sense now, that stupid assed thumb screw on the side cant unscrew if theres a shitload of 100 mhp tape over it.....Unless of corse you go over 100 mph I have wondered why i had seen so many guys running adjustable saddle type cheek combs all taped up and now i know. Thanks man.

 

[210]

I use tape and a couple inch long piece of 550 cord. Put the cord under the tape as a marker so when I lay my cheek on it, my lips hit the cord bump for repeatability as far as cheek weld.

 

[Wannashootit]

I use tape and a couple inch long piece of 550 cord. Put the cord under the tape as a marker so when I lay my cheek on it, my lips hit the cord bump for repeatability as far as cheek weld.

This is a good point, and something I plan to do...
There was a segment on Long Range Pursuit (yeah- I know it's an infomercial, but there is occasionally some good tips) where this competition shooter (a chick, forget her name) wraps a hair band around her cheekpiece so that she immediately gets repeatable and precise positioning.

As she stressed, repeatable positioning of your eye (with proper stress-free cheekweld) to the scope exit pupil is critical. Never re-position your head/eye to the scope- you move the scope.

 

[jolofree]

Building cheek pieces out of mat and tape is required at sniper schools in the service. Those rifles also come with adjustable check pieces but using them is not authorized (at least not in the Marines.) You run everywhere you go through hills and water, from yardline to yardline at the range, etc, etc,... That one screw that holds the check piece will not only come loose but it most likely wont even be in the rifle when you get where you need to go to take your shout. However, those isomat cheek pieces will not only still be there but they will have your perfect sight picture. Mile after mile, mission after mission.

My guess is most people who use them are prior service. I ditched mine so others can adjust the cheek piece to use my rifle. If I were to go back overseas I'd go back to my isomat cheek piece.

See a valid reason.. It makes sense now, that stupid assed thumb screw on the side cant unscrew if theres a shitload of 100 mhp tape over it.....Unless of corse you go over 100 mph I have wondered why i had seen so many guys running adjustable saddle type cheek combs all taped up and now i know. Thanks man.

Doesn't this require you to peel all the tape & junk off every time you need to clean the rifle?

 

[Duffy1298]

Yea Id say it would, but I almost never run anything down my barrel so for me thats basically a non issue. I keep a fouled bore as long as my rifle lets me without demanding a scrub down.

 

[seanh]

Doesn't this require you to peel all the tape & junk off every time you need to clean the rifle?

I've never removed mine and it's been cleaned many times... Why would you have to remove the pad/tape?

 

[MayDaySOC]

If you were to use bore guides and Dewey rods it would require removal. Those are not issued for obvious reasons. All you get is an Otis cleaning kit which contains a coated snake to pull your patches through. So removal of the cheek piece is not necessary. Again, I'm talking strictly for service guns here. Not the best setup for civilian bolt guns in my opinion. But what the heck do I know. I have two posts. I just like to stalk on this forum. Lots of good info concealed here.

 

[Duffy1298]

And yesterday at the range my thumb wheel vibrated out. Shoulda taped it........

 

[Gildoom]

I use tape on the vltor stocks cause my beard gets into those little groove things and it smarts like a bastard...

 

[seanh]

If you were to use bore guides and Dewey rods it would require removal. Those are not issued for obvious reasons. All you get is an Otis cleaning kit which contains a coated snake to pull your patches through. So removal of the cheek piece is not necessary. Again, I'm talking strictly for service guns here. Not the best setup for civilian bolt guns in my opinion. But what the heck do I know. I have two posts. I just like to stalk on this forum. Lots of good info concealed here.

This isn't an issue when you mount the scope low where you get your cheek bone riding the stock...even with 50-56mm objective. But if someone were to have a high riding scope, I can see where the pad would cause a problem.

For those that have a high riding setup, I'd suggest, not taping all the up the back of the stock...just from the cheek weld back, this will allow the bore guide to easily fit. As to the cleaning rod...get a piece of brass tubing and lay it in-line with the bore between the pieces of foam (or bore it through the foam).

 

[MayDaySOC]

This isn't an issue when you mount the scope low where you get your cheek bone riding the stock...even with 50-56mm objective. But if someone were to have a high riding scope, I can see where the pad would cause a problem.

Obviously when constructing a cheek piece you must pull the bolt to the rear as if you were going to remove it entirely and make a mark on the stock. That's the max on how close to the optic you can place isomat. Eye relief shouldn't be an issue.

For those that have a high riding setup, I'd suggest, not taping all the up the back of the stock...just from the cheek weld back, this will allow the bore guide to easily fit. As to the cleaning rod...get a piece of brass tubing and lay it in-line with the bore between the pieces of foam (or bore it through the foam).

I constructed one this way once with a pen under the bottom piece of foam. (If Urban) When in your FFP you can pull the pen and your bolt out to look down the bore towards your objective to see if you're going to hit any bars in the window before engaging. But never did it for cleaning purposes. Just doesn't seem practical.

 

[CUSTOM1911FAN]

The tape and isomat setup is still my favorite method of adjusting height. Comfy and infinitely adjustable.