Shotgun Techniques from a Pro

Dave Hammer is my oldest friend in the investment industry and an expert on many subjects, including shotguns. Our featured video Shotgun Joe Biden provides both humor and some truly scary advice from the vice president. Here Mr. Hammer provides some shotgun techniques that you can actually use.

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and lined up at a 45 degree angle to where you think the target will appear. No matter what your target, it is moving. So you have to be able to twist your body quickly. If you were to stand facing the target as in pistol shooting, you’ll end up flat on you back. Conversely, if your chest is 90 degrees to the target as in archery, you would have plenty of stability against the recoil but you couldn’t turn.

Don’t aim! Just point. Some shot guns have no sights, some have two and most just one at the muzzle end. Look along the top of the barrel as you point. Many shotguns have a ribbed ramp to assist in keeping the barrel straight at the target. Since you are able to look along the top of the barrel, the front end is at least 1/4 inch higher than the near end. So point low, just below where you want to hit. If your gun has two sights the size of small BB’s, point so that the front bead should appear sitting on the rear bead, and the center of the target sitting on the front bead. Think snowman.

Unlike still-target shooting, don’t be easy on the trigger. Fire as soon you’ve moved the gun slightly below and ahead of the target but don’t pause to shoot. Move through the target. When you make the turn, the gun should not change position relative to your shoulder and cheek. Keep the gun snug at those two places. Keeping your elbows out away from your body helps.
Keep both eyes open during pointing and firing and keep your weight on your front foot by leaning slightly forward and bending your front knee.

Don’t load until you’re ready to shoot and be sure to wear earplugs. Keep the breech open until you’re ready to fire.