My shotgun is really heavy!

[HOGLEG]

Thanks for the responses.

I will try weighing down the stock to balance the weight. I found that if I bring my hand way up the grip my trigger hand can help support the weight and I can hold it shouldered at a target for about a minute. I guess a handgun would be a better option for me since I could probably keep the handgun pointed for a lot longer than a shotgun which would be better in a home defense situation.

When that time comes, you'll be so jacked up on adrenaline that you won't even notice the weight.

Practice a little shooting from the hip. You can hold your shotgun at the hip on target quite easily. For best accuracy, by all means shoulder and shoot, but when when the treat has been neutralized, holding at the hip will still present a serious threat to contain further action.

There's also a few methods of low ready and high ready that will help you bare the weight and still be ready to fire when needed. Just experiment a bit with your holds. You'll build muscle, you're just using muscles now that you rarely use. Tuck the butt between your chest and right elbow and sqeeze in on the elbow. This will work for a high or low ready hold. Goodluck.

[Dattebayo]

When that time comes, you'll be so jacked up on adrenaline that you won't even notice the weight.

Practice a little shooting from the hip. You can hold your shotgun at the hip on target quite easily. For best accuracy, by all means shoulder and shoot, but when when the treat has been neutralized, holding at the hip will still present a serious threat to contain further action.

There's also a few methods of low ready and high ready that will help you bare the weight and still be ready to fire when needed. Just experiment a bit with your holds. You'll build muscle, you're just using muscles now that you rarely use. Tuck the butt between your chest and right elbow and sqeeze in on the elbow. This will work for a high or low ready hold. Goodluck.

This. Even when I went skeet shooting for the first time, I didn't even realize I was getting fatigued till I sat down at home and my arms were dead xD.

[Meety Peety]

Perhaps trade it in for an O/U with 32" barrels.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Put a sling swivel on the back end of the stock, and then hang a small child from it!

[Jet Setter]

I have the same problem when I have to whiz.

Hey - more than 3 shakes is a wa*k.

[DM_Mossberg500]

Put a sling swivel on the back end of the stock, and then hang a small child from it!

Good thinking! I could hang my Chihuahua from my stock to add better balance .

[XenosAce]

Arm exercises and training. The shotgun is heavy but I also agree HOGLEG. When your adrenaline is pumping you won't notice it. Training would be best to make sure you are ready for that day it happens and need to use it.

[Gutz]

Stick to this.

[big al]

Bipod or shooting stick!!

[frigginchi]

[Dinosaur Jr]

Eat better...exercise...

[kTC xDEICIDEx]

Eat more bacon!

[762.DEFENSE]

Get on the "juice?"

[zombiescanlearn]

Thanks for the responses.

I will try weighing down the stock to balance the weight. I found that if I bring my hand way up the grip my trigger hand can help support the weight and I can hold it shouldered at a target for about a minute. I guess a handgun would be a better option for me since I could probably keep the handgun pointed for a lot longer than a shotgun which would be better in a home defense situation.

In a HD situation, you won't have to hold it that long. Plus with your juices flowing in a life and death confrontation, you won't even notice the weight. Just work out more. Try crossfit.

[Mitch]

The Mossberg, being aluminum, is lighter out of the box than the Remington 870. I suspect what you are experiencing is how the lighter weight of the base shotgun makes it feel so much heavier once it's loaded.

Perhaps the biggest reason I prefer the Remington 870 to the Mossberg is the former's weight: I prefer a heavier shotgun. They are actually easier to handle.

As another poster said, you aren't going to be holding the shotgun up that much in a home defense situation. When you are at the range, if it gets heavy, just bring the butt down and back and clench it under your upper arm for a moment or two, as a break. If you are practicing tactical reloads, you should always do this. If you support the shotgun too much with your trigger hand, you will get tired and eventually start to shake.