Best place for extra shells on shotgun? Indicate how many shells in your post.

Best place for extra shells on shotgun? Also, please indicate how many in your post.

  • Buttstock

    Votes: 37 37.0%

  • Receiver

    Votes: 36 36.0%

  • Elsewhere on gun

    Votes: 1 1.0%

  • Nowhere on gun

    Votes: 26 26.0%
  • Total voters
    100
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jakemccoy

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Best place for extra shells? Indicate how many shells in your post.

I'm going to get some apparatus for extra shells on my home defense 870P. It has an 18" barrel. I took the mag extension OFF because I like the feel of the gun much better without the extension. The shotgun will be propped in corner, muzzle down.
 
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I've tried pretty much everything with no clear winner. I do like Side Saddles about the best, but they throw the balance off quite a bit.

One very experianced friend hangs a (spelling?) bandolier off his SG - 1/2 buck, 1/2 slugs. Grab gun, sling bandolier over shoulder. :)
 
I have a 5 shot side saddle that slips over the stock. Works fine for me.
 
Side saddle on the receiver with brass down puts your hand right by the loading gate when you pull the round out. Practice this using your left hand to reload and keeping the gun ready in the right.
 
I had a buddy make me a leather 6 rd. holder that I tie onto the butt-stock.For the last few years , I have shot ALOT of SASS {Cowboy Action} matches with a Win. 97 and the rules are MAX. of 2 rds. in the SG at any time. I have got very good at when I rack the SG with my left hand , I take two rds. with my right hand and single feed them, one at a time, into the open port without takeing the SG from my shoulder.
 
I have an 1100, and 1300 both have extended mags and the side saddles and are somewhat awkward when loaded as they should be.
I'm leaning much more to the bandolier and loosing the side saddles but keep the mag tubes to top off if needed.
 
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I have a receiver 5 shell side saddle. I like it, but it adds a lot of weight to an otherwise light weapon. And it adds a lot of width too. I have debated removing it, but i'm about 51% in favor of it and 49% not in favor. Since it's primarily a barricade weapon for home defense, the extra weight isn't as significant as the benefit to having double capacity at hand.

Alternately, I saw a nice stock that has 1 or 2 shell cut-outs for extra shell(s). That would make a good alternative.
 
Both Receiver and Buttstock. I put extra buckshot in the buttstock sleeve and slugs in a 4-shot sidesaddle on the receiver. I download the mag by one so I can jam a slug in for the first round if it seems like a good idea at the time. My HD shotgun (a 20" 870P with a Wilson 2-shot mag extension and walnut furniture) is heavy--but it's an HD gun, and I don't plan on hiking with it; and it's definitely faster for followup shots than many lighter guns I've seen.
 
I would suggest shooting some blue rock with your defense gun loaded both ways and see if the score is as good. If you hit as well with the heavy load I wouldn't worry. That is just what some of the thought process I'm using.
I think the same goes for loading up a rifle/carbine with everything that will fit. Not that that gear is bad but I think its a good idea to have it removable and carried on the body to lower fatigue. ie. a light or laser in open country daylight vs. a scope and bipod.
 
Gee, are you expecting a war? I have a Mossberg 500 20" Cruiser(7 +1) loaded with; first one BB followed by six 00's, followed by one rifled slug. All are very deadly loads. If I need more than that it is time to have get backup or time to retreat
 
I've tried the 6-shot Sidesaddle on my Mossberg 500 as well as the Uncle Mike's stock sleeve that holds 5 rounds. I like the Sidesaddle better as it holds the shells frimly plus it doesn't slide around the gun during recoil.
 
I used to be one of the one's who carried in a butt-cuff.....until I had to shoot from the opposite shoulder during a class. 12-Gauge shells against the cheek isn't any fun. I still carry a butt-cuff for my lever action, I don't see getting into off-shoulder shoots with it.


I Might go for buttstock carry IF there were a SpeedFeed available for the gun I run, but there isn't at this time. A bandoleer over the shoulder may look a little Pancho Villa-ish, but I don't think my sartorial splendor is going to matter a bit if I need extra shells in the middle of an altercation. The other option I'm looking into is one of the 4 or 6-shell carriers that stack the rounds vertically on the belt.
 
I used to be one of the one's who carried in a butt-cuff.....until I had to shoot from the opposite shoulder during a class. 12-Gauge shells against the cheek isn't any fun. I still carry a butt-cuff for my lever action, I don't see getting into off-shoulder shoots with it.
Click to expand...

I've used one of the Tactical Tailor butt-cuffs for a while and not had a problem shooting from the weak side - though that is a complaint I often hear about cuffs generally.

I've tried the 4 round sidesaddle, the buttcuff, and the shoulder bag. Each is a compromise in a different way. .
 
I have an 870 Express with no tube extension, the field forend and a four-round Sidesaddle. I don't find that it throws the balance off, and with shells oriented brass-up, it's supremely easy and quick to cant the shotgun a bit to the left and load them directly into the feeding port.

I dislike buttcuffs for the reasons already listed - they slide forward on the stock under recoil (unless there's a retaining strap that goes over the buttpad, in which case it catches on clothing) and opposite-side shooting becomes an exercise in discomfort.

I keep a slug in the chamber and four rounds of buck in the tube, with two more of each in the Sidesaddle for a total of six buck and three slugs. I figure that should cover about anything.
 
I have 14 rounds in 2 side saddles on my browning BPS. I made the side saddles out of velcro, nylon web and elastic. Only issue is you have to shorten the forearm.
 
I keep my handwarmer pocket on my waders full with 30 or so 3 1/2" #3's I am a taciticool goose killer. On a more serious note I dont like anything hanging off a gun that doesnt NEED to be there just keep the shells in your pocket.
 
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