[dak0ta]

Anybody have experience with different brands and which ones they recommend? Is 25 or 55 round bandoleer better? Weight/comfort/efficiency-wise

[Titan6]

What is purpose of said bandoleer?

[dak0ta]

Just to carry extra ammo for clays and at the range.

[rayman]

Like Pancho Villa?

[Bad Penny 03]

As a low cost solution they are manageable, but I try to avoid them when possible.

The loops often take a while to break in to where you can get the shells in and out easily.
Usually the “in” part is the PITA.
Once they break in, they don’t work as well and tend to drop the shells.

While in use the 55 rounders tend to slide down. Gravity pulls the remaining shells to your belt and sometimes those on your back tend to get caught and you have to pull the loop around your body, and then it slides back down again. . I have seen guys rig velcro keepers at two ends to hold them in place on their belts. They use the first 25 odd shells then twist it around 180 and Velcro it on to use the shells on the back side. Unless you do some weird technique of pulling out every other shell or something this happens and is inconvenient. Especially if you want to practice speed reloads…your shells are always in a different place. Which I suppose isn’t bad if you’re happy with 19 century technology.

Also, I usually go through more than 55 rounds in a session anyway. Having to stop and load up the shells for 20 minutes with one of these contraptions in the middle of a shooting trip doesn't really appeal to me much.

2 solutions I like:

CCW speed strippers:
http://www.botachtactical.com/ccws.html
I think Choate and bunch of other companies make them now.

Blackhawk (or other) SAW pouches:
http://www.botachtactical.com/blstgemosysa.html
http://www.blackhawk.com/product/STRIKE-200rnd-SAW-Pouch,73,1391.htm

The SAW pouches are basically laid out like these old type shell pouches:
http://www.topratedadventures.com/Mfg/WOLFShotshellpouch.tif.jpg
They have the elastic strip across the top under the flap that keeps the shells from falling out, but makes it easy to slip your hand in and grab a few shells.

You could use the RollyPoly style dump pouch also:
http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=26&idproduct=228


So get yourself a good belt like the ATS:
http://www.atstacticalgear.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=ST-2603
Throw some CCWs and or a couple SAW pouches on it ( I like both,) and have fun…as opposed to fighting the shell belts and bandoleers the whole time.

[Bad Penny 03]

Like Pancho Villa?

Ha, no...like KILLER BEESSSSSS!

[rcmodel]

Just to carry extra ammo for clays and at the range. A trap & skeet or hunting shotgun vest with big pockets works way better.

Bandoleers and vests with shell loops are a PITA when the loops get loose and shells start falling out.

rc

[oneounceload]

If you don't want to use a vest, they make pouches with a belt that will hold 1-2 boxes of shells

[SuperNaut]

I use the belt because I don't want to look like a tool. ;)

[highorder]

I have a loaded 25 round Allen belt hanging next to my go vest. The belt also has an old GI 10 round shotshell pouch mounted to it. It's easier to hand someone the belt and pumpgun as opposed to 7 boxes of buckshot and the pumpgun...

I dont use the belt for any sporting purpose.

[Titan6]

Yep. You don't see bandoleers on clay ranges very often. I guess maybe hardly ever. Just use shell pouches, that way you got a place to put the empties. Not that you would look like a tool or anything with your belt, but you would be making a fashion statement.

It's easier to hand someone the belt and pumpgun as opposed to 7 boxes of buckshot and the pumpgun...

I dont use the belt for any sporting purpose.

Now if the Zombies are coming and you need to hand over 35 rounds of 00 buck in a hurry, and you are not worried about picking up the empties, well by all means....

[ArmedBear]

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1855894/2/istockphoto_1855894-three-mexican-banditos.jpg

[ArmedBear]

You don't see bandoleers on clay ranges very often.

I certainly have seen them a good number of times, especially before hunting season, when guys want to get used to loading their guns that way.

The reason I wouldn't is because it's just too slow to load a bandoleer. When there are a few guys ready to shoot a round, and I want to join, it's a lot more convenient to just have a shell bag and dump some more shells into it from my clays bag.

[oneounceload]

In 30 years of shooting clays, I have never seen one person wear one to a gun club. I HAVE seen folks wear their hunting vests with shell loops and use their field gun for warm-ups and practice to make sure their girth hasn't impeded their ability to shoot....:D.

There really isn't a need for one on any clay course.....maybe on your three-gun, but not on sporting