Have you ever done a pattern test with the shotgun?

If not then i'd suggest that as a first step. If you have then it'll show you if you're natural hold is suitable to the gun or not.

What i mean by that is when i shoot a Beretta i'm straight down the rib. I only see the front sight and i must aim with the target just on or slightly above the sight.

When i shoot with a Bettinsoli i must be able to look "down along" the rib, meaning i need to see a slight amount of the rib and the front sight/muzzle of the gun must block out the target.

The reasons for the difference is because of my cheek position. So in order to compensate for my cheek position, which is my natural hold of the gun, i aim higher with one make over the other. This could be because Beretta make their stocks a little "higher" than Bettinsoli.

Now if i shoot a Winchester or Browning shotgun i notice in the majority of cases i'm in the same position as either the Beretta or Bettinsoli, but with the added complication of being to the side of the gun. In other words i'm either right down the rib with a Browning (like with a Beretta) but i'm also looking along the side of the rib. So i'd either be behind or in front of hte target. I have to move my head to an "unnatural" hold position to compensate.

With the couple of Winchester guns i've tried i have to look up along the rib like the Bettinsoli, but am still out to the side of the gun as with the Browning. So again i'm not only to be low by in front or behind the target.

Its why when i go looking for a gun i shoulder it with my eyes shut and get the gun into my natural shooting/shouldered position and then open my eyes to see where i'm aiming.

A pattern test will tell you what you need to know quite quickly. Stick up a sheet of paper or piece of cardboard at least two foot square. Draw a large aiming dot in the centre (about an inch or two). Aim the shotgun, without adjusting your hold, at the dot and fire a single shot. Take note if you're looking along the rib, or if you can only see the front sight. See how the shot patterns around the dot.

If the majority of your shot is above or below the aiming dot then the gun is not sitting correctly. Now you can either learn to adjust your hold, change the gun or depending on whether you need to increase your cheek weld or not, can fit a cheek riser/comb and this will correct the problem. The same thing applies if the pattern is to the left or right of the centre dot.

The other aspect of pattern testing is don't just use one choke, with one brand of cartridge at one distance. Try as many chokes with as many cartridges at various distances to give yourself the best possible report of how the gun fires. It also gives you good info on which combo of choke/cartridge works best at what distance.