870 side saddle

[DavidRSA]

I used to use Mesa products but have shied away from it, both for the reasons discussed above, and also because of some first hand experience. While at a tactical shotgun class, my friends was using his 870 with a 6 shell mesa carrier. It came installed and loctited from a Remington certified armorer. At one point in the afternoon after shooting slugs, the front bolt sheared right off. I think this is a weak point since the bolt is internally threaded to take the screws that hold the carrier. It may not be a widespread failure but enough for me to get rid of the Mesa and start using the tacstar holders (which you can keep loaded up without worrying about the rubber deforming)

[Dirtbiker]

I used to use Mesa products but have shied away from it, both for the reasons discussed above, and also because of some first hand experience. While at a tactical shotgun class, my friends was using his 870 with a 6 shell mesa carrier. It came installed and loctited from a Remington certified armorer. At one point in the afternoon after shooting slugs, the front bolt sheared right off. I think this is a weak point since the bolt is internally threaded to take the screws that hold the carrier. It may not be a widespread failure but enough for me to get rid of the Mesa and start using the tacstar holders (which you can keep loaded up without worrying about the rubber deforming)

I'll be Mesa would replace the offending part for free. Try that with CTD and a Tac-star.

I had a Tac-star and it looked good in photos and sitting against the wall but the build quality just isn't there.

Plus the MT units are $50-60 when the Tac-star is like $30. That's a small difference when you have an expensive weapon.

[5150bronco]

Mesa Tactical makes awesome shotgun stuff. I'd go for this:

http://www.tacticalshotgunner.com/me...rier-p-37.html

+1

[SPE]

Yeah I have only seen a tacstar before but I didn't figure there would be that much of a difference! Guess I will be getting a Mesa Tactical then .

I thought the same thing--the Mesa Tactical was alot more expensive. But once I received it, I understood why they cost so much.

As the others have said, it's a solid hunk of metal bolted to your receiver. It's indestructible. The shells are held firmly, but are easy to pull and load.

This review (especially the observations of other carriers) made me go with Mesa:

http://www.stu-offroad.com/firearms/mesa/sureshell/sureshell-1.htm

I just did a shotgun class this weekend and it worked great.

[SPE]

I like my Mesa Tactical, but it is not perfect. More discussion on this topic here:
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=232551

Interesting, thanks for that--Didn't know about that issue.

I'll empty it out every once in a while.

[Ricky-Ray]

I have the Tac Star side saddle just like I said above and I've had it for amost 6 years now. Shells have always been loaded in the saddle since the day I got it and to this day it still hold it firmly in place. Took it with me to my shotgun class over the weekend and I had absolutely no problems whatsoever with it.

The only 2 downsides that I could see with the Tac star is that you would have to replace the fore end grip (not sure if you have to do that with the mesa one) and if you have a top folding stock it would not come down all the way. Since I changed my forend to a surefire light and I don't have a top folding stock, neither is an issue for me.

[XDseb]

Another vote for the Mesa Tactical. It's really worth the extra money.

[bigmark408]

I have the MT on my 870 and like it....i use it for target shooting...keep it empty at home....if 6 rds of #4 can't take care of a H.D issue, then you have some serious issues (IMO).

[River Jack]

Does anyone make a blued side saddle? I'd like to get one that matches my blued 870P.