Sidesaddle Loading...

[dave_t73]

While looking at various pics in the 'show me your shotguns' thread, I noticed many people are using sidesaddles. I'd like to know what the strategy is behind loading shells in the saddle. Many people seem to have a couple loaded upside-down in the front slots, and the rest loaded in another direction.
I assume this is for separating buckshot and slugs, but why have slugs (or buckshot for that matter) at the front?
In other words, what's the stratgy most are using for which load to shoot first and why.
(sorry, this was a very roundabout way of asking that question......)

 

[constablex]

I know when I train I load the buckshot and slugs different, just like you thought.
Where you place them and how many of each you have is all up to what you are comfortable with.
For me slugs are used more often so I'll have more slugs than buck in the saddle.
Also, I keep the slugs casing facing to the bottom so I can reach under the reciever to remove shells from the sadde while still keeping my muzzle on the target.
If I'm reaching over the barrel I'm interfering with the sight picture.
This is my preference anyway, Everyone is different.
Sammy

 

[Boomer]

When I have fired a few slugs, I can then top off the magazine from the side saddle, with my weak hand, without loosing my sight picture. If I need shot it is not an emergency, therefore I can load one or two shot-shells, with my strong hand, without the gun being mounted. Hence the slugs are brass down and the shot-shells are brass up.

As my weak hand comes off the fore-end the first shell it comes in contact with will be the front shell in the side saddle, so on my gun the slugs are at the front of the side saddle. If I hold the gun in my weak hand at it's balance, and turn it so the side saddle is facing up or port, the rear shells are the first that my strong hand will reach, therefore my shot-shells are at the back of the side saddle.

 

[easy]

I like my shells accessible from the bottom as I load with my left hand with the gun shouldered on the right.

Because I train to shoot both strong side and weak side, I keep two slugs at the back loaded from the top of the sidesaddle so the two rear shells don't get in the way of my trigger finger when shooting weak hand (left hand).

I access bottom saddled shells faster and know that if a slug is needed it's likely for a longer shot and I have more time to pick it off the top of the saddle. Also having two slugs at the top back of my saddle engrained into muscle memory, I can react instinctively under duress when slugs are needed.

Buckshot, birdshot, I don't care. All I care about is the simplicity to distinguish slugs from all else. My method work well for me. You try it.

Regards.

 

[badboybeeson]

yep upside down for sure same reason as the other guys
and use your non shooting hand.
i can,t tell you how many times i have to teach people to only use there shooting hand for pulling the trigger and not reloading.
bb

 

[RePete]

There are 2 ways you can go.

1. Use different brands of slug and buck. That way you have different coloured hulls.

2. Load the most used down and the least used from the top.

RePete.