Figure 6 : Using the Arms Tec stick loader with the shotgun held normally.
(actually a nylon-polymer) Speed loaders and a couple more in the belt holster to their right made by Arms Tec, and are called TecLoaders. Depending on the ammunition length they will hold a maximum of five rounds or four if the rounds are longer (Buckshot is notoriously long due to the majority of the cartridges being roll crimped as opposed to a standard crimp)
Above the Arms Tec TecLoaders are some better quality, custom-made, speed loaders manufactured from stainless steel and in three different capacities called Swift Loader. Depending on the length of cartridge used, they will hold 6, 8 or 10 cartridges respectively.
Both types are based on a simple tube with a plunger inside connected to a handle. They are loaded with a number of cartridges as shown in Figure 2.
The shooter carries a number of these speed loaders on his or her belt as shown in Figures 3. Here the shooter has both systems attached to their belt. The TecLoaders use a holster made from tough material.
The TecLoaders was originally designed for the Remington shotguns (1100, 11-87 and 870), however, they also do a slightly modified version for the Benelli M1 and several other makes. I suspect it would also be fine with the Benelli M2 as they do say it may be used with Benellis similar to the M1 or Super 90 as it’s often known in the US. However, I cannot verify this having not seen one in practice.
Both loader systems benefit from a product from Arredondo called the “Speed Load Assist”. This is the triangular aluminium after-market add-on we touched on earlier in the article. Figure 5 shows this on the gun.
Stick Loading in practice It’s easier to see from a picture or two than to describe. Figures 6 and 7 show both systems in use. One with the shotgun the right way up and the other with the shotgun inverted.
For both systems, the stick is held by the charging handle and slid into the Arredondo “assist bracket” which assures a correct angle and engagement with the gun’s loading port. Once engaged, the handle is pushed forward, forcing the cartridges into the magazine tube.
Without stating the obvious too much, it is crucial that you put all the shotgun cartridges in the stick loader facing forward! A moment’s lack of concentration here would mean a round going in backwards and requiring a lot of effort and fiddling to coax it back out – and thus ruining your stage. Real world use
This type of loader isn’t to everyone’s taste, and, as mentioned, is primarily a system for Open division shooters. Like all methods, it requires practice, but in competent hands is extremely quick indeed at loading up the shotgun on a long stage. Aficionados speak very highly and having seen it in use I can
Target Shooter 89
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