[Youngster]

What do you all use for a loading technique? I load weak handed from the bottom while shouldered, with the round held between my index finger and thumb, with my middle finger below. I pop the shell up horizontally and then push it home with my thumb.

On an 870 {and most other "lifter down" designs} I actually prefer having the lifter in the down position, as it acts as a guide and keeps me from trying to insert the shell too high. I don't port load as I find it just get confusing.

I keep no more than two rounds in my hand at a time because my hands are too small and have too much wear and tear on them to mess with more, even so I've gotten pretty fast with practice and can hold my own with most of the speedier guys you see on Youtube.

[LoneStarWings]

I've only taken one defensive shotgun course, but what you describe is the proper way they teach to reload. Honestly I can't get it to work right with my thumb/index, so I usually use thumb/pinky. It's also good that you keep the shotgun shouldered while you reload.

My problem is that I fractured my right wrist as a teenager, and pain from the fracture still lingers 15 years later. Sometimes holding the shotgun shouldered with one hand is a bit painful, but I can manage most of the time.

[Fred Fuller]

With the stock of the gun at the shoulder, let the muzzle sag until most of the weight comes off the gun. Keep your focus downrange toward the threat/target.

Trigger finger in proper index on the receiver gives you an unconscious reference point for the loading hand lottle finger to 'land' on. The ramped front of the trigger guard on the 870 guides straight into the loading port. Hold the shells to be loaded in the support hand with the brass against the little finger and the crimp against the index finger, cupped by the two middle fingers.

The little finger of your support hand "knows" where the tip of your trigger finger is- you get a locator in both the horizontal and vertical axis because 'finger can find finger.' Depending on how long your trigger finger is, that should land the shell to be loaded on the ramped front of the trigger guard, which will guide it into the loading port.

Push the horizontal shell up into the port, rotate the loading hand thumb behind it and pop it into the magazine. Folks with reasonably large hands and some practice can hold and load four shells in less than 3 seconds with this technique using 3-gun gear strippers that hold four rounds in the correct orientation. Every fighting shotgun instructor I know allows that one shell at the time is enough to load under pressure, but still suggests this method.

YMMV of course.

lpl

[AcceptableUserName]

i do rollover reloads. i place speed of load over priority of keeping muzzle downrange. its what works best for me, but i see the merits in both. the muzzle downrange on threat load with forend/pump hand is probably most advisable, but it doesnt work as well for me.

[Youngster]

I find shorter stocks make reloading from the shoulder a lot easier. Running an inch or two less than usual means that there's quite a bit less leverage pulling the muzzle down, and you're that much closer to the loading port.

[slabuda]

I hold the for end in my left hand barrel up and load with my right as I retrieve my birds.

[RandKL]

I tip it over as AUN does and load it with my right hand. I'm in no hurry. The heat shield on the barrel comes in handy in that position.

r