Wasting money on shotshell holders

[Doug S]

Word of advise to other shotgun newbies around here...listen to the guys with experience. I'm been trying to figure out a way to have a good amount of defensive shotgun ammo on hand on or near the HD shotgun. So far I've purchased the buttstock shell holder that holds 9 rounds, a sling that holds 10 shells, a 56 round bandolier, and a little tackle box looking container that holds 50 rounds. Well, having now received all of those items, I have to say that the only one of real usefulness (in all but the most extreme of settings) is the buttstock shell holder (and I guess the little box will be good at the range). Otherwise the others are heavy, unwieldy, and cumbersome (things I should have known already, or researched beforehand), and most likely will see very little to no use. So a word to the wise, keep it simple, and don't get caught up in gimmicks (or Internest war game scenarios).

Just thought I'd share for those who are less inclined to waste money.

Edit to add: that I didn't buy all of these at once with the intention of filling them all up (because I thought I needed THAT much ammo). They were purchased one at a time in an attempt to rectify what I perceived as the inadequacies of each one's predecessor.

 

[MICHAEL T]

If I am using my shot gun for SD in or around my house . I hope what I have in it is enough. If isn't Then I should have brought my AR to start with. Always have a pistol for a back up

 

[Texan Scott]

I don't own a pump gun ATM, and feel that what I have covers a HD scenario well enough in my case that I'm not bothered. This is largely because, apparently like Michael T, I have trouble imagining a HD scenario that involves more buckshot than would fit in the gun. My poor little house would look like a block of cheese! And yeah, if I was holed up with the Peoples' Household Appliance Liberation Army outside, I'd have a loaded rifle in my hands and a revolver in my belt

That said, I can't argue with the OP's logic on this. If I were carrying a non mag-fed rifle (30-30?) The spare ammo would be in a butt cuff, not in a cartridge box, on the sling, or in a Pancho Villa edition bandolier set .

 

[oneounceload]

I use a pistol first, but I do have a pump with a side saddle- balances better for me

 

[CajunBass]

I used an elastic stock mounted shell holder for years for extra buckshot when deer hunting. I don't recall ever needing to use a shell from it, but it was nice to have them handy.

 

[leadcounsel]

I go with elastic buttstock shellholders and/or sidesaddle shellholders. Heavy, somewhat, but gives me immediate access to more/variety of shells. The weight or even bulk is irrelevant for home defense, which I believe would largely be stationary or minimal movement, perhaps just room to room. Slings on HD longguns... not sure how I feel. You may need to shoulder it, but you also run the risk of it getting snagged on something...

Agree you probably don't need 100 shells immediately available, but perhaps around 10 immediately accessible for HD, with the ability to get more nearby (box in the nightstand, closet, etc.).

 

[loose noose]

Doug S, ya got that right, I had a Pancho Villa bandoleer, when I shot a lot of Cowboy Action Shooting, however when I went to Trinidad, Colo for Rangemaster school I just had the elastic 5 shot butt stock pouch.

 

[Doug S]

Thanks for the comments. I posted this over on TFL also, and both of the threads are very informative. Hopefully helpful to future newbies like myself going through the same process.

 

[JVaughn]

I am inclined to agree, I have the buttstock carrier in use too, best solution.

 

[Virginian]

If I have time to put my pants on I will have pockets. I have 2 speedloaders next to the 357 I can carry in my off hand in my underwear. If I have to open the safe and get a shotgun I have shells on the shelf, but if it gets to that point I may get the bible first.

 

[Hunterdad]

I use 3-Gun Gears Velcro sidesaddle and love it.

 

[ZVP]

Here-here!

I don;t know if you saw my old post against onboard shell holders and the way they unbalance the gun?
It all started when I was praticing sholdering the gun quickly. The 19" barrel was way light and the gun's butt mounted slow and sloppy to the sholder with a full bandoleer of 5 rounds of Buckshot!
I unloaded the bandoleer and the Gun's fine balance came back! It flew to the sholder and settled right iinthe sholder pocket!
Another point is that whichever side the shells are on, the gun leans toward the weight! In my casem the right hand carrier full caused the buttpad to grab my shirt and it took a second or so to remount correctlly!
Any one reason is serious and the culmulation is surely reason enough to do away with onboard carry!
It looked like a good idea at first, but you can reload during use and keep the magazine full and loose all the issues.
I also discovered that with my bad left sholder, I was better off to short load the magazine with 2 rounds and one up the spout in order to get maximum balance of the gun. Yes it requires more reloads but the pain reduction and straight, quick sholdering ability are worth it!
Fine tuning both the gun and YOUR technique make for a deadly packge!
ZVP

 

[Doug S]

Yes, unfortunately I did my research after ordering instead of before.

On another note, though, after playing around with the bandolier a bit, I can see some very limited usefulness for it, at least in certain situations. It's nice to be able to grab a variety of ammo, that you can see visually, all with the same orientation. So in other words in a grab and go situation, a bandolier could be convenient. Otherwise a simple ammo can would probably be more useful for storage and range use.

 

[hedrok]

Like was stated...any extra weight and things in weird places on the gun just add imbalance and confusion to an already unfamiliar situation.
If anything, as Doug said, the bandolier makes the most sense...unless, of course, the bad guy gets hold of it and tries to string you up.

 

[oneounceload]

I'll disagree, the bandolier makes no sense on a HD gun - in the middle of the night being awakened from a sound sleep, you are going to be fumbling around after your bandolier? I don't think so - either run what is in the gun or add something on the gun

 

[hedrok]

You are 100% right, 1oz. A bandolier IN the house would be tough to handle...Somehow, I was imagining more of an outdoors situation, but did not say so.

 

[Deer_Freak]

I use a Maverick 88 with an extended magazine for HD. I have an elastic cuff that holds 5 spare shells for a total of 14. I usually have a 380 in my pocket that holds six rounds. The 380 should buy enough time to get the shotgun. If both guns won't get me out of the jam I hope I am right with god. On the other hand the intruders might overrun me but they are sure to suffer casualties. It would be wise for them to have a word with whatever they believe in before storming my home.

 

[CajunBass]

I'll disagree here a bit. As I said earlier, I used an elastic shell holder on my deer shotgun for years and never thought it really bothered the balance. Of course I was using a longer barrel than the 18-19 inches y'all seem to be talking about (Mine is 28") and being that it was a buckshot gun it was aimed more than swung, but I never thought the five shells hurt anything.

 

[Jaymo]

Mossberg 590. Speedfeed stock holds 2 extra rounds on each side of the butt. Sidesaddle holds six extra rounds.
If 19 rounds of 12 gauge buck doesn't do it, the coach gun, Judge, GP100, 1911, Bulldog, and SR9 just might make the difference. Gotta few Bowies, Khukuris, a cutlass, and a saber, too. At bad breath distance, the last thing you want me to have in my hand is my cutlass, or my 18" blade D-guard Bowie. They are both extremely sharp and will ruin your day, and my carpet.
The edged weapons are a last resort kind of thing.
Thinking about buying a Cold Steel unbreakable baseball bat.
I'm prepared to defend my family, but pray I never have to.

 

[Deer_Freak]

I use an elastic cuff on my slug gun. I don't notice that it is there. And the ammo cuff is useful. I would rather a pack of nabs or a bottle of water in my pocket instead of more slugs.

Some people go deer hunting. Others go hiking with a gun.

 

[2zulu1]

I have an FNH SLP, I keep things simple. Since I can' t predict if I'll be shooting left/right handed, nothing is attached to the stock. For home defense, if 8+1 OO buck is insufficient, I'll throw down and use the next firearm.

 

[1KPerDay]

Sidesaddle works great for me... 6 rounds there, 6 rounds in butt cuff, 9 in the gun.

That should solve most problems that don't require artillery.

 

[dsb1829]

I am fairly new to shotgun having picked one up a few months ago for 3-gun. While I do see advantage to extra shells on-board, i don't like the extra weight. Could have used an extra round today on a 32 shot minimum stage

 

[junyo]

Butt cuff with 6 extras on the gun. 9 in the shotgun. A shooter's sling bag with 2 pistol mags, two rifle mags, and a box of shells. Whenever I need to grab a gun, I grab the bag too. But honestly, if I can't solve it in the first 15 rounds of buck, then I mostly just brought spare mags for when my wife comes in blazing, in which case the bad guy/zombie/cthulhu is pretty much screwed.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

I can't imagine firing more than 5 shots in a HD scenario. However, dumping a box of shells into my left pocket in my cargo shorts works the best for me - assuming I am not in pajamas.