Figure 9: A typical stock mounted cartridge holder – this one is designed to fit the shape of the stock better than some.
Carrying Ammunition on the Shotgun There are a number of after-market systems to allow shooters to carry a limited amount of shotgun cartridges on the gun itself. These generally take two forms:
(i) ‘Side Saddles’ for mounting ammunition on
or around the shotgun receiver (ii) Stock holders – to hold ammunition on the stock of the gun (or even in it!)
I’ve got to say that I’m not a fan of either of these myself. I think they have their place for other uses – (carrying a couple of rounds for vermin control for example) or for police / military use . However, that is just my personal opinion and many people use these in competition very successfully. Personally, I prefer my shotgun to be smooth and not have its balance, familiarity and usability compromised with bristling plastic and metal bits... but that is just me, and there is no right or wrong when it comes to accessories or technique. If it suits you and it works for you – use it.
The key thing with any ammunition carrying method is PRACTICE! I have often suppressed a knowing smile when I see people turn up at a Man v Man competition with their gun bristling with newly
attached saddles and other things sporting a round sticking out at what looks like a convenient angle. It is a rare competitor that has put in the hours of practice to use it smoothly and much fumbling and swearing often follows if it was attached for that competition alone. If you are going to use a saddle then Practice! Practice! Practice! - you may find it an advantage and likely as not use it all the time.
Side Saddles. Side Saddles are usually plastic (polymer) rows of shotgun clips (between two and eight) that are either glued, attached with Velcro, or screwed to the receiver of the shotgun. A word of warning about side saddles: Drilling and screwing something to the side of a gun will not only invalidate the warranty, but may cause cycling issues, particularly with Benelli semi-auto shotguns with their “inertia recoil” operated loading system. Even sticking something on the receiver can cause this problem to manifest so I would always suggest attaching one temporarily with Velcro (if possible) to see if it works okay before drilling. Ideally one that is intended to be attached using Velcro would be a better option, although it may suffer from slight movement in use. Pump shotguns tend to be fine as
Target Shooter 91
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