# How to Properly Shoot a Shotgun

Here we’ll go over major parts of pump and semi-automatic shotguns. We’ll then cover stance and how to safely load and unload.
But before we do, now is another good time to review our **[safety rules](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/4-firearms-safety-rules/)**.
- All guns are always loaded
- Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy
- Keep your fingers off the trigger until your sights are on the target
- Be sure of your target and what is beyond it
Parts of a Pump Action Shotgun
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Here are the typical parts of a pump action shotgun.
From our **[Types of Guns](https://www.pewpewtactical.com/types-of-guns/)** article, you know that you have to manually pump the fore-end to load each shotgun shell.
Here is a great video that goes over how everything in a pump action works. The reviewer is using inert **[aluminum snap caps](http://amzn.to/1ot4yzy "Aluminum Snap Caps from Amazon.com")** to demonstrate loading and unloading.

                
                
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Parts of a Semi-Auto Shotgun
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Here are the typical parts of a semi-automatic shotgun.
Semi-automatic shotguns use the energy from shooting to automatically load the next shell. The Benelli M2 uses an inertial system while other semi-autos may use gas or other systems.
Here's how to load and unload a shotgun:

                
                
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How to Shoot a Shotgun
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Now that you know the major parts of both pump and semi-automatic shotguns, as well as how to load and unload, here are a few tips of how to shoot them.
- Hold the standard grip with your firing hand and place your weak hand on the fore-grip.
- Keep your feet shoulder width apart with slightly bent knees. I would recommend being a little more square with the target and leaning forward a little to mitigate recoil.
- Place the shotgun firmly in the pocket of your shoulder. This is important since if you don’t have a firm plant, you’ll end up really feeling the shotgun as it hits you.
- Get a good cheekweld on the stock
Here’s a quick primer on how to load and shoot a pump shotgun:

                
                
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With some more details on how to reduce the recoil with some tension and stance:

                
                
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These just begin to skim the surface of getting proficient at the shotgun. For more in-depth info, I would recommend signing up for a well reviewed course near you, or at the very least, picking up Magpul’s awesome DVD, **[Art of the Dynamic Shotgun](http://amzn.to/1ShDEa6 "Art of the Dynamic Shotgun from Amazon")**.

                
                
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