BerettaNut92
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Does anyone else find it easier to load from a pouch than from a sidesaddle?
Anyone Find Sidesaddles More Difficult?
- Thread starter BerettaNut92
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Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Not really. Different, but not harder. I set mine up with bases down, and can extract the loads with either hand, then shoving them straight in.
YMMV.
HTH...
YMMV.
HTH...
Skunk, is this the benelli? I seem to recall you are right(wrong) handed correct? If so are you doing top off loading with your left hand while you keep the gun mounted on your shoulder? Way quicker, your hand doesn't have to go to belt. A bigger load can be accomplished by rolling the gun upside down in your left hand and stuffing the tube with your right. Lots of variations to this, some folks, myself included, like the "slide" where you quickly roll the gun upside down and slide the buttstock on top of your shoulder, very stable and everything happens right there in front of your eyeball.
As a lefty I keep all my shells down except for the rear one that interferes with the trigger guard. Individual preference, some folks put slugs pointing up and buckshot down or vice versa. Many others put three up three down too because that's what they saw in a Wilson catalog.
Loading off the belt is an important skill as the sidesaddle gets empty fast, but while it's there it will always be faster due to less motion required.
As a lefty I keep all my shells down except for the rear one that interferes with the trigger guard. Individual preference, some folks put slugs pointing up and buckshot down or vice versa. Many others put three up three down too because that's what they saw in a Wilson catalog.
Loading off the belt is an important skill as the sidesaddle gets empty fast, but while it's there it will always be faster due to less motion required.
Mute
Member
Nope. About the same, with slightly quicker access from the side saddle.
glockster96
Member
Oh yeah, thats how I do it too.
I like loading from the sidesaddle best. Shortest distance to travel, and it just seems easier for me.
I had a sidesaddle on my Winchester Defender... kept the shells "primer down" as the instructions said... After about a year, they started FALLING OUT when I was shooting! I took it off and tossed it in the garbage.
Just my personal take on the sidesaddle vs. pouch issue.
If you keep your shotgun in the closet, trunk, etc. ready for action, then a sidesaddle is the better way to keep extra ammo.
If you're the "door man" on a SWAT entry team, then (just MHO) the sidesaddle is a negative because it makes the shotgun wider, heavier, and (being left handed) sticks out on the "away" side of the weapon to bump/snag stuff.
I still use a butt-cuff shell pouch to keep my spares, since my shotgun falls into category 1.
I also plan to get the Mossberg shotgun locker for our next house, and the sidesaddle doesn't look like it would work in there.
Just my personal take on the sidesaddle vs. pouch issue.
If you keep your shotgun in the closet, trunk, etc. ready for action, then a sidesaddle is the better way to keep extra ammo.
If you're the "door man" on a SWAT entry team, then (just MHO) the sidesaddle is a negative because it makes the shotgun wider, heavier, and (being left handed) sticks out on the "away" side of the weapon to bump/snag stuff.
I still use a butt-cuff shell pouch to keep my spares, since my shotgun falls into category 1.
I also plan to get the Mossberg shotgun locker for our next house, and the sidesaddle doesn't look like it would work in there.
GunGeek
Member
I go primers down on my sidesaddle.... But then again having been hit in the forehead by shells stored primer up has alot to do with it. In rapid fire situations mine have a tendancy to start "walking up".
NIGHTWATCH
Member
Side-saddle
Base down is faster but I set them upright because of the reason mentioned, they get a little loose over time. Cant have that.
Base down is faster but I set them upright because of the reason mentioned, they get a little loose over time. Cant have that.
BerettaNut92
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How about buttcuffs?
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Buttcuffs make off side shooting nigh impossible, and get in the way for those of us with big forearms.
While the S/S here has not given me any trouble, more and more I'm thinking the extra ammo should be off the weapon and on the shooter for most uses. HD's an exception, picking up the shotgun and having 10 rounds or so on hand is good in short time frame, high stress situations.
While the S/S here has not given me any trouble, more and more I'm thinking the extra ammo should be off the weapon and on the shooter for most uses. HD's an exception, picking up the shotgun and having 10 rounds or so on hand is good in short time frame, high stress situations.
Andrew Wyatt
Member
I use a buttcuff on my shotgun.
I load the shotgun from it, so it's empty when i go to shoot.
I don't think the ability to shoot from toe other hand side is that important, and if i really have to, i think the rims of the rounds against my cheek is the least of my problems.
I load the shotgun from it, so it's empty when i go to shoot.
I don't think the ability to shoot from toe other hand side is that important, and if i really have to, i think the rims of the rounds against my cheek is the least of my problems.
Gordon
Member
I hate side saddles or any attachment of ammo on guns. It reminds me of taping magazines together. I think it unbalances gun and exposes ammo to elements too much. I think they are for show and not go IMHO.:banghead:
Duke of Lawnchair
Member
I've used a Side Saddle for a while back when I first purchased my shotgun and wasn't overly impressed. Threw off my shotgun's balance and I found loading from a pouch (ie. my pant pocket) was the solution for me. Once I learned to index my shotshells, it's been gravy from then on.
Jim
Jim
blades67
Member
I prefer a buttcuff to a sidesaddle and I haven't had any problems with off-side shooting.
Smoke
Member
I have a butt cuff on mine but must agree with the problems of off-side shooting. I don't like side saddles....it's just me.
But a pouch?? How is it worn? Is it tactical skunk? I'm envisioning something worn to the dove field, not a good defensive item.
Help me out on the pouch thing.
But a pouch?? How is it worn? Is it tactical skunk? I'm envisioning something worn to the dove field, not a good defensive item.
Help me out on the pouch thing.
As I already mentioned, I use a buttcuff pouch on my HDSG. I keep them "primer down" too, and they have never fallen out like the SS did.
Although I really don't see me needing to shoot "offhand" in my Shotgun's limited "defend the bedroom" capacity, I do not have any real problems firing with a spare ammo pouch on the butt of a long arm. I'm left handed, my father is right handed, and I have only minimal annoyance at the "G.I." M1 Carbine pouch on the butt of his Postal Meter. I can't imagine the shotgun shells being any worse, and certainly not "impossible".
pouch on my HDSG. I keep them "primer down" too, and they have never fallen out like the SS did. Although I really don't see me needing to shoot "offhand" in my Shotgun's limited "defend the bedroom" capacity, I do not have any real problems firing with a spare ammo pouch on the butt of a long arm. I'm left handed, my father is right handed, and I have only minimal annoyance at the "G.I." M1 Carbine pouch on the butt of his Postal Meter. I can't imagine the shotgun shells being any worse, and certainly not "impossible".
ChristopherG
Member
Geez, am I the only one here that's a big enough wuss to admit appreciating the flat-out WEIGHT a side-saddle (and four or six more rounds of buck or slug) adds to the mighty 12-guage? Helps tame recoil so well I've thought about just taping a brick to the other side for balance
cg
cg
I can relate... The only pistol grip I've ever used on a 12 Gauge that wasn't relatively painful to shoot was the"Pachmayr Gripper" for the Winchester. At a weight of 20 pounds (not really, but it's heavy) it slowed down the kick significantly.
Personally though, on a shoulder fired weapon, I'll take "better recoil pad" over "more weight" any day.
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Personally, I like my "Serious" 870s to weigh over 9 lbs, and the SS helps me get there. And, they've good pads. And I've good form.
But, people vary, and we should all try and see what works for us, whether it's SS, butt cuff, Speedfeed, or a big pocket full of 00.
But, people vary, and we should all try and see what works for us, whether it's SS, butt cuff, Speedfeed, or a big pocket full of 00.
Use the shotgun belt strippers by California Competition Works available from Brownells.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=4148
A couple of those on your belt along with the Blade-Tech belt pouches gives you good select shot capability.
http://shop.blade-tech.com/merchant.ihtml?id=26&step=2
www.3gungear.com has some good alternatives to the normal stuff you see. If you are looking for select shot stuff, check out their fore end 2x4.
http://www.3gungear.com/images/SHotgun/SX2-2x4.jpg
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=4148
A couple of those on your belt along with the Blade-Tech belt pouches gives you good select shot capability.
http://shop.blade-tech.com/merchant.ihtml?id=26&step=2
www.3gungear.com has some good alternatives to the normal stuff you see. If you are looking for select shot stuff, check out their fore end 2x4.
http://www.3gungear.com/images/SHotgun/SX2-2x4.jpg
I dunno guy - the belt pouches work for me and they don't care if I'm lefthanded either! On the other hand, I'm new to shotguns, and I have an inate tendency to trust GI stuff since I know if it's still in use it works most of the time.
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