Because of the weapon's capabilities and versatility, a majority of officers and experts consider the shotgun to be the best defensive and backup weapon in the police arsenal. The shotgun is carried primarily on dangerous assignments such as stakeouts and raids; it is carried when transporting payrolls and deposits; and it is the safest and most practical weapon for killing a dangerous or fatally injured animal. Despite this, the shotgun is often a police department's most neglected piece of equipment, and both maintenance and proper training often are ignored. Mastery of the shotgun, particularly in instances of armed confrontation, should include training in standard and combat loading techniques. A combat skeet course is useful in training. This course is fired on a standard skeet field and consists of five phases, with five shells being fired in each phase. The course can be altered to fit particular agency needs. While the average shooter hits about three fewer targets than on an ordinary sport skeet course, the combat course, when combined with combat loading techniques, reflects a higher degree of realism in police shotgun training. A shotgun course which can be used for qualifying instructors is also described. Illustrative photographs are provided.