How to carry shotshells...

[357wheelgunner]

I was wondering, what is the best way to carry spare ammo for a shotgun for an SHTF type situation. I want to be able to keep a vest or a pouch or a belt next to my shotgun so that if something really bad happened I could grab it and run with it.

I know a lot of you all have taken shotgun classes before, what is the most practical way to carry a bunch of spare shotshells on your person? Also what ratio of buckshot to slugs would you carry? Any advice would be appreciated.....

 

[only1asterisk]

define "a bunch"?

Years ago, in a city far away, I had a belt loaded with pistol, magazines, etc. with a dozen shotshells that I kept behind the headboard.

Buckshot or slugs depents on where you live and what you are likely to be shooting at. A person the lives in a remote house in country might be more likely to use just slugs, an ubran apartment dweller with 5 kids less so.


David

 

[walking arsenal]

i keep a 50 round bandolier with mine. about ten of those are slugs.

 

[foghornl]

25 rounds of #4 Buck in a belt/bandolier.

4 5-round cuffs of slugs.

 

[Fred Fuller]

I like having the first reload on the gun itself. If I roll out in the middle of the night and grab one of the house guns I'm not gonna have any pockets exactly handy- so I really like SideSaddles on the guns.

On the other hand the shotgun that rides along on road trips as travelling artillery has no sidesaddle. It is accompanied by a small milsurp canvas shoulder bag with about 50 rounds of 00 buck and slugs (about half and half) plus a box of pistol ammo.

My preference for carrying ammo in the literal sense is the GI style pouches that fit on a pistol belt and hold 10- 12 rounds each. I started using them a good while ago and liked them so I stuck with them. I hear that .mil shotgun stuff is collectible now, I need to dig out my pistol belt and find homes for those Vietnam era US marked shotgun shell pouches.... the modern copies would serve me just as well.

lpl/nc

 

[scout26]

Ammo Bearer UP !!!!

 

[TrapperReady]

What kind of SHTF are you planning for? My thoughts are as follows:

1) If there's a problem within my house which can't be solved with the shells already in my 1300 Defender (7 shots), then things are pretty darned bad.

2) If things are bad enough that I'm bugging out instead of holing up, then I should be able to fnd a minute or two to grab a case of ammo and throw it in the truck.

3) If things are bad enough that I'm speeding out of town with weapons and ammo loaded into the truck, then I'll be driving, my wife will be laying down suppresive fire, and the kids will be reloading for her.

To answer your question, though, if I were to use something around here as an ammo pouch, I'd probably use an old cheapo briefcase my wife got at a conference. It would comfortably hold 100 shells or so (could fit more -- but then they get heavy), has a strap for your shoulder and a top-opening zipper.

I figure if I'm inside my house, then buckshot is good. If I've got to leave, then I'd rather have nothing but slugs.

 

[Burt Blade]

A really handy expedient shotgun ammo pouch is the cloth bag that holds a 100-round M-60 MG belt. I had a handful of them from when I was on active duty, and discovered they will nicely hold 25 shotgun shells, loose or in the box.

I have seen these items going for anywhere from 50 cents to two bucks at gun shows.

 

[chadintex]

M16 3 mag pouches hold about 25 rounds also.

 

[Rupestris]

Not being one for the "bug out" scenario I think the belt/fanny pack I use for turkey hunting will suit most needs well.


50 rounds of your choice in the big pocket should suit your needs.
Keep it loaded and close to your SG and you'll be set for most situations. Just wear it so that the pouch is at your weak hand side for quick reloading.

 

[Scottmkiv]

I have a hunting vest that comfortably holds 4 25rd boxes, and has a game puch in the back too.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Lots of choices, a number of things already mentioned will do nicely.

I'm no big fan of the bugout, though there's a Panic Box and associated paraphenalia here. A shell belt with 25 Estate 00 and a Nam style pouch with 12 slugs is with the Box.

First HD 870 has a Side Saddle with a 5 round capacity and a 2 shot mag extension. It's loaded one down for spring life, so when I pick it up there's 10 rounds on it. 8 are 00 and two slugs, just because.

A standard hunting vest in a camo or OD color can tote lots of stuff, including ammo. Do keep the ammo in loops, it's amazing how fast it can disappear when one runs across broken terrain.

A fanny pack with two Nam style pouches and a GI first aid kit can tote lots of ammo also, as well as other life saving equipment.

An old thread about Panic Boxes may have some info on this....

 

[Hawk]

Well, it's not very SHTF, but sure works well:

 

[JNewell]

It's loaded one down for spring life

...and shotshell life...

 

[pete f]

I have a columbia jacket made for upland hunting that is my shtf jacket, it stays on a hook next to my shotgun it has plenty of pockets, it has about twenty loops with 00 buck in the loops, there is about ten slugs in a pocket too. Jacket has upper and lower pockets as well as shell loops and the big pocket in the back and two water bottle loops, This jacket is the dark tan/ waxed cotton color all over and is decidedly non tactical looking, but is extremely urban camo in nature. I could wear it fully loaded and not be noticed by 99% of the population, the upper pockets hold extra mags for the handgun which is stuck into the inside "shock collar" controller pocket, a gov;t model fits perfectly. and is restrained by a velcro strap. The lower pockets have some assorted gear in them and the shell holder pockets or cargo pockets will hold 5 AR mags each easy if I so choose. it sits in the closet all ready to go, All i have to do is in the spring take out the zip in liner and zip the liner back in when it gets cold again; I also have a hockey bag for each person in the house that sit in the hall closet, in it are much more basic survival gear. meant more for natural disaster or the like, two people can load the car in under a minute with all we would need for a week or longer.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Put a sidesaddle on the gun, along with a butt-cuff. That'll carry about 10 extra. A Speedfeed Stock will add two more.

Get this, and load up the pockets as necessary:

http://www.blackhawkindustries.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=1186&d=

Then, get two of these and cross-drape them over your shoulders:

http://www.blackhawkindustries.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=1003&d=

Then, get two of these (one for each arm) (or four, and put 'em on your biceps too):

http://www.blackhawkindustries.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=1008&d=

Finally, get three of these and put them on your belt at 2:00, 10:00, and 6:00:

http://www.blackhawkindustries.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=3036&d=

Then top it all off with a custom-made helmet:

http://www.drugstore.com/qxp93844_333181_sespider/reynolds_wrap/heavy_duty_aluminum_foil.htm

Buckshot : Slugs : Flares = 10:5:1

Hey, you said SHTF. I was thinking zombies, dude.

That's 240 rounds of 12ga if you have 8 in the mag and one in the chamber. Granted, you wouldn't be the most mobile, but...

 

[nitesite]

That, Sir...

was freakin' funny as hell!!!!!!!!!

Loved the helmet.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Those GI pouches work well, but a good old Filson or Red Head vest holds a lot more shells in a sensible way and OUT of the way of using a carry strap/sling. I used to use an old Red Head vest for IDPA side matches but I switched to a web belt/replica GI pouch that holds 12 rds. My old red head vest held 2 boxes of shells, 25 on each side.

Carrying 100+ shotgun rounds vs (4) loaded .223 mags will teach you a lesson about why we switched to .223... you can carry a LOT of ammo in the same space/weight.

The old west style 'prarie belt' that is made of cotton duck is far less heavy than a leather one though doesn't look as 'bandito' as crossed bandoliers... but ever try to RUN with all that?

 

[Chris Rhines]

http://www.3gungear.com/Pages/41_sg_gear_selection.html

12-round sidesaddles? 25-round belts? Speedloader pouches? The shotshell man-bra? You name it, Mark can hook you up. His gear is reasonably priced and of excellent quality.

- Chris

 

[MrMurphy]

When I had a shotgun, I had a SideSaddle on the gun, and a pair of canvas military-type pouches I picked up for $8 apiece at a surplus store (still have em) with the twist-shut (insert tab through hole, twist and it stays shut) closure. They fit on a belt and held 30-40 rounds in the main compartment with a smaller one that'd hold 5 more (slugs).

I kept a pouch with 35+ rounds of buck ready, with 10-15 slugs, and a belt. If I had time to grab the gun, I had four in the tube and four on the SideSaddle. If I had a split second more, I could throw the belt on and have 40+ rounds.

 

[A Cleaner]

Great post.

This one got me thinking. I was previously just stowing a small canvas ammo bag under my gun cabinet full of all "helpful" rounds (00 buck, rifled slugs, 4 shot, and 7.5 shot, 5:1:2:1). Basic but not convenient as it requires a spare hand that I do not have if pointing a shotgun.

My decision was to buy a couple 25 round 12g belts. They lie nice and flat alongside my shotguns in their carrying cases for transport and can be worn if necessary. Ratios a little off but you'll have that once in a while.

 

[swacje41]

You can store most of your surplus ammo anywhere--pockets, shoulder bag, backpack, etc. Make sure you have a loop-type pouch of some type on your belt for quick reloads (I like the De Santis rig). I've seen nothing but problems with the chest bandoleers and the slings with ammo on them. The sidesaddle is a nice thought, but tends to interfere with the balance of the gun and frequently breaks. Depending on location/situation, a nice balance is 5 rounds of buckshot for 1 round of slug for fighting. Since you are looking at SHTF you would want to have a higher percentage of hunting rounds (birdshot) available.

 

[Texian Pistolero]

I use two things, old GI M16 nylon ammo pouches, and also a small cammo bag I bought at Walmast, that rides on left side and I sling with a strap across right shoulder.

My game vest is designed so that when I bend over to pick up a birs shells always frop out of pockets, so I don't carry them there.

At times, I rig pistol belt with pistol holster, 2 pare Glock mags in pouch, and shellbags. I'd have to chose 870 or AR. Been a long time since I've had this kinda alert.

I rarely carry slugs.

Also, periodically test rounds to ensure that shells have not been deformed. I had carred 5 rounds for over a year in a side saddle on an H& R single shot in trunk of car.

When I needed to dispose of a rattlesnake, NONE OF THE SHELLS WOULD FIT!

I guess they had gotten squashed somehow.

 

[Roadrunner]

The only thing about those shotgun shell bandoliers, is that the bandolier can bounce around when you're moving fast and shells tend to pop out. I know you can have it nice and tight, but shells will fall out. I'd find some sort of pouch to keep your spares in addition to a side-saddle holder.

Do a search, a lot of the 3-gun shooters use speedloaders for their shotguns while running on the course. However, I believe you need to attach a small adapter onto your shotgun in order to use those speedloaders. I remember seeing a show on either Sighting In or Shooting USA with Jim Scoutten.
http://www.gunaccessories.com/TecLoader/index.asp

 

[seeker_two]

Dionysusigma: I sure hope you don't have to cross any deep bodies of water in that outfit...

My Stoeger SxS sports a nylon butt cuff w/ 5 shells (2 00 buck, 2 #4 turkey, & 1 slug), and I keep a bandolier w/ a mix of buck, turkey, & slugs. That gives me 28 rounds + 2 in the gun. I'm toying around w/ the idea of putting a sling on the gun w/ shell loops on it, too.

But then, if 30 rounds aren't enough, I'm calling for air support...