What is the correct way to shoulder a shotgun?

Bringing the stock all the way up to your cheek before positioning it against your shoulder is crucial for establishing a proper shooting stance with a shotgun. This technique allows the shooter to achieve a consistent cheek weld, which is the contact point between the shooter’s cheek and the shotgun stock. This alignment is essential for accuracy as it ensures that the shooter’s eye is directly aligned with the shotgun's sighting plane.

When the stock is brought up to the cheek, it helps the shooter establish a natural point of aim, making it easier to quickly transition to aim at a target. This method also assists in absorbing recoil effectively, thereby enhancing control over the firearm during and after the shot. Proper shouldering will not only improve accuracy but also increase safety, as it allows the shooter to have better control of the shotgun under various shooting conditions.

The other approaches do not facilitate the correct aiming and control needed when firing a shotgun. Keeping the stock at waist level does not provide the necessary stability and alignment for effective shooting. Bringing the stock up to the shoulder only may prevent proper alignment and could lead to inaccurate shots. Shouldering the shotgun without aiming compromises both control and the shooter's ability to effectively engage targets.