The Mossberg Journal

Reduce Recoil When Shooting a Tactical Shotgun

Written by Richard Nance | Jun 27, 2025 5:57:39 PM

The push-pull technique is an effective method for managing shotgun recoil by creating opposing forces that help stabilize the gun and reduce felt recoil.

The Firearm used in this how-to video is the 940 Pro Tactical SPX.

 

Setup and Grip
Establish a firm grip with your dominant hand on the pistol grip, pulling the gun firmly into your shoulder pocket. Your support hand grips the forend and pushes forward against the dominant hand's rearward pull. This creates tension between your hands that helps control the weapon.

Body Position
Adopt an aggressive forward stance with your support-side foot slightly ahead. Lean into the gun with your upper body, creating a solid shooting platform. Keep your cheek welded to the stock for consistent sight alignment.

The Technique
As you mount the shotgun, your dominant hand pulls the stock tight into your shoulder while simultaneously pushing forward with your support hand on the forend. This opposing pressure creates a stable triangle between your hands and shoulder. The forward pressure from your support hand counters the gun's rearward movement during recoil.

Follow-Through
Maintain the push-pull tension throughout the entire shooting sequence. Don't relax your grip after pulling the trigger, as this allows the gun to slam back into your shoulder with full force.

Additional Benefits
This technique also improves target tracking for moving shots and speeds up follow-up shots by keeping the gun more stable. The opposing forces help prevent muzzle rise and maintain sight picture recovery.

Practice this technique with dummy shells first to develop muscle memory before live firing.