Obviously the weight of the H & R Ultra SlugHunter is also part of the reason the gun shoots quite accurately, but also, and no less importantly, does not feel like like a truck ran into your shoulder when you fire it. My previous rifle barreled shotgun was the Mossberg 695.My perceived recoil was considerably more from this gun, and I really could not get it to shoot nearly as accurately. I actually traded the Mossberg for the H&R and have been really happy with the decision. In the Mossbergs defense, it was lighter than the H&R.