To assume the low ready position, which description best matches the correct method for a shotgun?

• A. Place the shotgun on the ground and shoot from the hip.
• B. Keep the butt away from the shoulder and angle the barrel upward.
• C. Hold the shotgun's butt in the curve of your shoulder and point the barrel toward the ground at about 45 degrees.
• D. Stand upright with elbows locked.

Answer: (C)

The core idea is to keep the shotgun secure against your body with immediate readiness to move, while maintaining muzzle control. Placing the butt in the curve of the shoulder and pointing the barrel toward the ground at about a 45-degree angle gives you a stable, controlled stance that allows a quick, deliberate presentation to a target. This setup stabilizes recoil, keeps the muzzle safe and directed downward, and maintains a ready position without sacrificing balance. Other descriptions fail because they remove the stock from proper shoulder contact, angle the barrel upward, or keep you upright with elbows locked, all of which reduce control, increase muzzle risk, and slow a prompt response.