The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - What is the proper forend technique before/when firing a pump shotgun?

the rifleer · November 8, 2009, 12:11 AM

I don't know what kind of shotgun you have, but the mossberg 500 is designed in a way that you can pull it into your shoulder as hard as you want and it will not cycle until you release that pressure, even after it has been fired.

This is for when you are shooting slugs or buck shot you can really hold it firm against your shoulder. The problem that i have is that i usually shoot 2 or 3 shots very rapidly, usually in less than 2 seconds when im shooting clays. Therefore, i have learned not to pull it into my shoulder with my forearm, but with my right hand/trigger hand, that way i can pump a lot faster.

Is this the proper way? no, but it works well for me.

If your shotgun doesn't stay locked after you fire, thats ok. if you pull it into your shoulder and when you fire it automatically drives the bolt back, good, you can cycle faster. its not going to hurt anything. The projectile(s) is/are going to be out of the barrel before the bolt unlocks, it just happens so fast you don't notice.

November 8, 2009, 12:11 AM	#3
the rifleer Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,281	I don't know what kind of shotgun you have, but the mossberg 500 is designed in a way that you can pull it into your shoulder as hard as you want and it will not cycle until you release that pressure, even after it has been fired. This is for when you are shooting slugs or buck shot you can really hold it firm against your shoulder. The problem that i have is that i usually shoot 2 or 3 shots very rapidly, usually in less than 2 seconds when im shooting clays. Therefore, i have learned not to pull it into my shoulder with my forearm, but with my right hand/trigger hand, that way i can pump a lot faster. Is this the proper way? no, but it works well for me. If your shotgun doesn't stay locked after you fire, thats ok. if you pull it into your shoulder and when you fire it automatically drives the bolt back, good, you can cycle faster. its not going to hurt anything. The projectile(s) is/are going to be out of the barrel before the bolt unlocks, it just happens so fast you don't notice.