Shoulder-mounting a shotgun is a key skill for anyone who wants to hunt with a shotgun. Knowing the correct technique is essential for accuracy and comfort while shooting. In this article, we’ll discuss what the correct way to shoulder a shotgun is.
Shouldering a Shotgun
Shoulder-mounting a shotgun is the process of holding the shotgun against your body with your dominant arm, usually the right arm for right-handed shooters. This allows you to control the shotgun with your dominant hand and aim with your other hand.
Correct Technique
The correct way to shoulder a shotgun is to start with the butt of the gun placed against the inside of your dominant shoulder. Your dominant hand should be placed on the fore-end of the gun, with your thumb and index finger slightly wrapped around it. Your other hand should be placed on the pistol grip, with your thumb and index finger slightly wrapped around it.
Your dominant arm should be slightly bent, with your elbow pointing down and your shoulder blade pulled back. Your non-dominant arm should be bent and pointing toward the target. Your head should be slightly tilted forward, with your chin tucked in, and your eyes should be looking down the rib of the shotgun.
When you mount the gun, you should feel a slight tension in your shoulder and arm muscles. This tension will help you control the gun and keep it steady while you are shooting.
Shoulder-mounting a shotgun correctly is a key skill for anyone who wants to hunt with a shotgun. Knowing the correct technique is essential for accuracy and comfort while shooting. With the correct technique, you can stay steady and hit your targets with ease.
Shoulder a shotgun correctly for safety and accuracy in the shooting range
For any shooter, owning a shotgun is a major investment and it is important to practice safe and proper technique when handling any firearm. That’s why it’s important to understand the right way to shoulder a shotgun.
Shoulder a shotgun correctly by positioning it close to the body, making sure the grip sits in your dominant hand and the butt is at the ‘pocket’ of your shoulder. While doing this, always point the barrel away from any bystanders and certainly never point it at yourself.
Once you’ve correctly and comfortably shouldered the shotgun, your dominant eye (the eye you use primarily to view things with) should be in front of the breach. To achieve this, you will need to tilt the shotgun at an approximate 45-degree angle until you have the weapon sighted in and centered on the targets.
Also, take care to ensure your shooting stance is comfortable and your feet are far enough apart, around shoulder-width apart, and squared off. When ready, take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger to fire the shotgun.
Once the shot has been taken, keep the barrel pointed in a safe direction and lower the weapon until both feet are placed flat on the ground. This ensures that the barrel never moves off the safe path and when ready, you can shoulder the shotgun and repeat the same firing steps until all rounds have been fired.
By following these easy steps and with practice, shooters can achieve high accuracy and marksmanship with a shotgun. Remember, by practicing gun safety, you’ll successfully shoulder your shotgun with confidence and safety for a better shooting experience.