The size of the holder should also be taken into consideration – some can accommodate up to ten shells at once, and others may offer more space depending on the type of gun being used. Rugged and lightweight aluminum shell holders from Mesa Tactical Products allow for fast tactical reloads by putting extra 12 gauge shotshells on the left side of the receiver. The unique internal Santoprene™ elastomer rib securely retains even heavy slug shells during vigorous movement or heavy recoil. Available in sidemount or Picatinny rail configurations, the holders come in various capacities to fit Remington, Mossberg, and Benelli shotguns. As for spare shells, the fourteen in the KSG will hopefully suffice. If not, supposedly the latest S&W M&P 12 will hold 22 Mini-shells. That oughta do it. Parting Shots Wear a high-count version and you may resemble Pancho Villa. Better eat your Wheaties too. Further concerns are access, weather exposure, lost shells, and little-to-no space for other items – like a sidearm. By contrast, the unobtrusive 5-shell flap-covered versions we adopted for duty use were a huge success. The Remington Sidemount 4-Round Holder measures 5¼” long x 1½” high and weighs 3.9 oz. It fits Remington models 870/1100/11-87 and requires a shortened, tactical-style forend for 6- and 8-round units. The Mossberg Sidemount 6-Round Holder measures 6-3⁄8" long x 1-3⁄8" high and weighs 5.2 oz. It fits Mossberg models 500/590. The Benelli M2 6-Round Picatinny Holder measures 6” long x 2” high and weighs 7.4 oz. It requires drilling/tapping the receiver to fit M1.

Carrying ammo for a shotgun is often done in the 5 round bandoliers we talked about above. The Viking Tactical shotgun ammo pouch is a pouch designed to accommodate a big 25 round box of shotshells. That’s a lot of shells.For those who are unfamiliar with shotguns, the process of loading one from a shell carrier can seem daunting.

These systems are sold to fit the receivers of popular repeating shotguns such as Remington Model 870s and Mossberg 500 pumps. Offered in various capacities, they locate reloads at the shooter’s fingertips, while consolidating shells into a useful grab & go firearm. The Mossberg Sidemount is a 6-round unit that attaches in the same manner as the Remington Sidemount and fits Mossberg 500/590. Benelli Picatinny models include an integral Picatinny rail and mount to the top of factory drilled/tapped receivers. Available in 6-round for Benelli M1/M2, 6- and 8-round for M4/M1014, and 4-round for Supernova shotguns. This layer of retention does mean accessing the ammo is a little slower than an open bandolier. As you can see, I combine a bit of both. I use the Viking Tactical Shotgun Ammo Pouch as a means to reload my bandolier if I run them dry. Because it’s a little slower and the bandoliers are a little faster, I can reload the shotgun from the bandolier in a hurry and then reload the bandoliers from this pouch if things have gotten a little slower. VTAC Shell pouch The Mesa Tactical Products Receiver Mount Shell Holder is a rugged and lightweight aluminum holder that provides extra 12 gauge shotshells on the left side of the receiver for fast tactical reloads. It is available in sidemount or Picatinny rail configurations and has a Santoprene elastomer rib that securely retains heavy slug shells during movement or recoil.Effective range, depending on the gun and load, will max out at around 35–40 yards. More range (and punch) will require a switch to a slug. A common 12 gauge rifled-slug shell contains a one-ounce, .73-caliber lead bullet. This technology we use to assemble our list depends on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the following: