Shotguns that slam your shoulder and still don’t hit centered

Nothing makes you lose confidence faster than a shotgun that kicks hard and still doesn’t print where you think it should. And the truth is: a lot of shotguns don’t shoot exactly “to the bead” for every shooter. Stock fit matters. Patterning matters. Choke choice matters.

These are models that commonly create that headache for folks—usually because of stock fit, short setups, stiff recoil, or inconsistent patterning with the loads people actually use around the place.

Mossberg 590 Shockwave

It’s compact, but it’s also easy to shoot inconsistently because you don’t have a real stock. Recoil feels sharp, and your “aim” changes from shot to shot. Then you pattern it and realize you’re not centered—because your mount isn’t consistent.

If someone insists on running one, they need real practice and they need to pattern it at property distances.

Remington 870 Tac-14

Same problem as the Shockwave: hard recoil, inconsistent mount, and hits that don’t match what your brain thinks you’re doing. A lot of folks end up aiming off without realizing it, then think the gun “shoots weird.”

Most people are better served with a normal stocked 870 they can mount the same way every single time.

Mossberg 500 (short “security” setups)

A short 500 can be a great property gun, but some people find they shoot high or off-center until the stock fits them. Add heavy buckshot and recoil can make you lift your head, which makes point of impact feel even more unpredictable.

Pattern it with your actual buckshot and adjust from there. Don’t assume the bead equals dead center for your body.

Maverick 88 Security

The 88 is a workhorse for the money, but a lot of them get bought as budget “door guns” and never get patterned. Then people are surprised when the buck pattern is high, left, or just wider than they expected. Recoil with heavier loads can also beat up new shooters and make consistency worse.

It’s a solid tool—just needs real patterning and a stock that fits.

Winchester SXP Defender

These can kick a bit in lighter defensive configurations, and some shooters struggle with a consistent mount because the gun feels “whippy.” When you’re not mounting the same way every time, patterns won’t be centered every time.

If you like the SXP, spend time mounting it repeatedly and pattern it at 10, 15, 20, and 25 yards with the loads you keep by the door.

Stoeger P3000 (defense models)

The P3000 is a common budget pick, but stock fit and recoil pad quality can be hit-or-miss depending on the exact variant. Guys end up getting cheek slap or a harsh recoil feel, then their head comes up at the shot and the pattern goes somewhere they didn’t expect.

A better recoil pad and honest pattern testing fixes a lot of “this gun shoots off” complaints.

Stevens 320 Security

These get bought because they’re affordable, but they can feel rough, recoil can be sharp, and consistency suffers when you’re fighting the gun. If you’re flinching or mounting inconsistently, you’ll swear it doesn’t shoot centered.

Some run fine. Some need smoothing and better technique. Either way, you still have to pattern it and not guess.

H&R / NEF Pardner Pump Protector

These are simple, but they can have stiff recoil and a stock that doesn’t fit everyone well. A lot of shooters end up with a high pattern because they’re lifting their head or not settling the gun into the shoulder the same way.

They’ll usually keep running. The question is whether you can shoot it well under pressure.

Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag

When people use 3.5-inch loads like they’re normal, recoil gets nasty fast. Then they start flinching and patterns go off-center because the shooter is bracing for the hit. It’s not always the gun—it’s the recoil teaching bad habits.

If you own an 835, keep your “working” loads reasonable and save the big stuff for when it’s truly needed.