I have noticed that most doubles have a LOP of 14 1/4" or longer.

My huuting rifles seem to have a LOP of 13" or so (all factory stocks--don't have a double yet). My "good" shotguns, however (Browning Superposed O/U, single barrel trap gun) seem to have 14" LOPs.

However, my Tubb 2000 match rifle, which has a buttstock adjustable in 10 degrees of freedom (honest), happens to have a 14" LOP when set at my offhand position.

Is there a reason why side-by-side double rifles have longer LOPs than factory bolt actions or even shotguns? I was thinking that maybe it had something to do with leaning one's head farther forward with a double.

I've been through the same thing. Most poeple have rifles with 13 inch LOP and shotguns with 14-14.5 LOP because that is what factory stocks have and we learn to shoot them. I figured out that when I bought a .470 double I needed about 15.5 inches to avoid having my thumb in my nose from the recoil. Worked great. Low and behold, when a couple of eyar slater I went to a real english shotgun stock fitter he came to the same conclusion (resulted in a lot of shotgun trades!). I just bought a custom bolt gun and had them make the stock an inch longer as well at 14.5. It is so much better.

I have always used slip-on pads to lengthen the factory stocks that are usually around 13.5".

Must be the greater drop of the comb on the shotguns and DR's,
versus the straight stock for a scope sighted boltaction.
Measuring to the middle of the butt for LOP,
You will require more stock length if it is dropping instead of going straight back.

My preferred LOP for the straighter stocked bolt action rifles is 14.5".

I got my Merkel DR cut for 14.5" LOP with a 1" Sporting Clays pad to replace the thin plastic buttplate.
It was 14.5" to start, with the plastic, to the front trigger.

Darned if I don't still like it better with a slip-on leather pad adding another 1/2", to give about a 15" LOP.
That makes the front trigger 15" and the rear trigger 14".

So I still use the slip-on.

A bolt action rifle set up primarily for iron sights, with greater drop, works the same for me as a double. Some extra LOP helps.

Don't use the cheep rubber slip ons by limbsaver.They are too soft. My 470 would collapse and the rifle would slide out the side and hit with a running start. That was no fun,it caused me to double. ouch!!!
JD

I like about 15 1/4" on double rifles and any break open guns. However on a bolt action rifle I need it to be shorter in the 13.5" range or so to easily work the bolt while the rifle is still on the shoulder......

Mac