When the subject of recoil management comes up, we’ve noticed that an element of machismo often comes with it. Who cares if a weapon kicks like a mule? Lean into the recoil and suck it up, princess! say the self-proclaimed experts with their chests puffed out. Admittedly, you shouldn’t be developing gnarly shoulder bruises after shooting a 10/22, but recoil management is a worthwhile consideration for other weapons — shotguns are a prime example. We’ve all seen videos of young or inexperienced shooters picking these guns up for the first time, and nearly toppling over after the first round. More experienced shooters may feel discomfort after a few dozen full-power loads. Rather than accepting these issues as inherent to the platform, it’s worthwhile to take a look at what can be done to manage them.
As with any weapon, proficiency with a shotgun is a by-product of two factors: software and hardware. The importance of software — meaning your training and experience — cannot be overstated, but the gun itself is also a contributing factor. That’s why muzzle brakes, compensators, weighted buffers, and other recoil mitigation systems exist. Bearing in mind these two factors, we set
