Best Way To Carry Spare Shells

[phattmatt]

Gentlemen

My Wife blessed me with a brand new Remington 870 for Christmas. I really like the gun and it is identical to my father-in-law's (FIL). My FIL carries his around on his property, which is pretty remote and home to, the usual, deer, cougar, black, bear, etc. I just ordered two sidesaddle shell holder for the guns, as we have both used them in the past with success.

Now to my question. Is there a good way to carry spare shotgun ammunition on your person, when out walking, beyond what is on the shell carrier? I don't imagine we would need tons and tons, but I would like a bit more than 12. For example we might want to carry some spare field loads, to decrease the pest population or just do a little shooting.

When it comes to AR and AK ammo I just hang a sub-load off my belt and have 2-4 magazines worth. I though something like that might be more tacticool, than filling up a BDU pocket with a handful of rattling shells. It would be nice if the pouch, etc that I pick is efficient enough to use for tactical purposes as well.

If anyone has any ideas or better yet experience with this, please jump in.

Matt

[toddackerman]

I have personally used an Eagle Industries Belt Pouch that holds 12 rounds very securely. The materials are "Bomb Proof" and the top has a Velcro cover that makes it easy to retrieve shells. This unit also slides on and off any belt. They're $35, but they'll outlive you.

With 5 in the gun, 4-6 on the side saddle, and 12 in this pouch, you should be good to go. If you need even more...they make a version that holds 20 rounds. Here is the link for the 12 round pouch. http://www.eagleindustries.com/prd_detail.asp?ProdID=114&CatID=83&SubCatID=77

One thing...make sure to call them for availability. With the Sand Box issue, they are booked out on many items for months. Maybe ask about another color if they don't have what you want.?

By all means...stay away from anything that is an "Elastic Loop" configuration (Wrist straps, Belt Straps, Bandoleers etc.) without a pouch around it (the elastic bands)! You will have nothing but problems as your shells fly everywhere because they aren't secure in those cheap rigs.

[LOKNLOD]

For me, it's hard to beat a regular old shell pouch -- similar to these (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20712-cat601051&rid=&indexId=cat601051&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=1&parentType=index&parentId=cat601051&id=0012735) -- for walking around with shotgun shells. But I realize they aren't very cool, or very secure if you were doing other things besides walking around looking for things to shoot at. I've used an old ALICE canteen carrier with no canteen in the role and it holds quite a few shells. Really you can use about any pouch.

Maybe a dump pouch on your belt to carry loose shells? If you've already got one, you're set, and if you don't have one, now you have an extra excuse.

[Buck]

I can highly recommend the California Competition Works 12 gauge tactical stripper. It comes with a few options that include a black nylon cover and a Bianchi M9 holster belt clip, so you can put it on or take it off without having to remove your belt.

As the lengths of a particular 12 gauge rounds, 2 3/4" or 3", vary quite a bit from manufacturer to manufacturer, They need be set up for the round that you intend to carry; however, for "tactical" ammo carry and speed reloading, I truly believe they are the best game in town bar none...

http://www.demooner.com/shotguns.php

http://www.demooner.com/images/12TS2a.jpg

[m24shooter]

Claymore bag.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a391/m24shooter/spxltrmuzzwm.jpg

[phattmatt]

Everyone

Thanks for all the replies. I like the idea of the Eagle shell carrier and the and the shell stripper. I had thought about a dump pouch or other bag, however I don't like the idea of the shells just rattling around and grabbing each shell in a different orientation.

Todd, have you had any issues easily pulling the shells out of the eagle product?

Matt

[h8mtv]

I carry six slugs on one of those $5 stock sleeves from Wal-Mart and a bunch of 00 buck on a bandolier type sling. Total of about $20 invested.

[Buck]

I carry six slugs on one of those $5 stock sleeves from Wal-Mart and a bunch of 00 buck on a bandolier type sling. Total of about $20 invested.

The problem is that with any hard use, you will leave a trail of shotgun ammo like Hansel and Gretel…

[BigEd63]

It might be over kill but using a Garand belt lets you carry up to 40 shells in a seucre manor. With 1 horizontal at the bottom as a spacer and 3 vertical per pouch.

Of course you can stash other goodies in the ouches you don't use for ammo.


Only downside is the M1 ammo belts are getting pricey, even the replica ones.

[SIMPLYDYNAMIC]

I can highly recommend the California Competition Works 12 gauge tactical stripper. It comes with a few options that include a black nylon cover and a Bianchi M9 holster belt clip, so you can put it on or take it off without having to remove your belt.

As the lengths of a particular 12 gauge rounds, 2 3/4" or 3", vary quite a bit from manufacturer to manufacturer, They need be set up for the round that you intend to carry; however, for "tactical" ammo carry and speed reloading, I truly believe they are the best game in town bar none...

http://www.demooner.com/shotguns.php

http://www.demooner.com/images/12TS2a.jpg

+1 on Bucks suggestion... It also depends on how efficient you want to be with reloading... I assume people carry guns for a reason (protection, bird Hunting, etc...) and when they need to reload, I also assume and hope that they would want to reload it as fast as possible... The strippers are probably the most efficient and fastest way to reload.

My second in line is the newly popular elastic side saddle from 3gun gear http://3gungear.com/Pages/Shotgun.html
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/simplydynamic/m1field_8shell.jpg
I run both systems when carrying a Shotgun as a primary, 3gun, or hunting.

[IrishDevil]

I use a CSM dump pouch to carry spare shells at matches. Side Saddle on the gun, and I forgot the brand but, I have a leather butt cuff for shells that is of good quality. Don't always use the butt cuff as I find it slower to load from than the pouch or side saddle. Not applicable to a pump but I like the 3 Gun Gear SlideLock 2 Pack on my automatics, works very well when I'm duck hunting.

[K.L. Davis]

The problem is that with any hard use, you will leave a trail of shotgun ammo like Hansel and Gretel…

And having to take a somewhat precision, completely important shot... with six and a half pounds of "sling" swinging back and forth under the gun sucks :mad:

[LonghunterCO]

The problem is that with any hard use, you will leave a trail of shotgun ammo like Hansel and Gretel…

The nice thing about this though is that you can fight your way back to your truck with ammo resupply along the way. ;)

[novashooter]

I load two different ways for my shotgun. I have a Mark Otto 9 shot side saddle on my FN and I also us Choate and Progressive Machine shotshell strippers that attach to my belt.

Either way it takes a lot of practice to be able to reload fast. This is from the perspective of a 3G shooter and not a hunter.

Get Em Good!!

Jayson Smith

[Redmanfms]

I've been using a Prana chalk bag for years. It's durable is fairly light and fits well on my belt. It'll hold a box (25) of shells. The elastic top keeps the shells well-protected but still grants me immediate access by just shoving my hand in and grabbing.