Extra Shells Up or Down?

[joel1316]

I've seen pictures of shotguns from trained users and mall ninjas. How should extra shells be positioned on the shotgun? Brass up or down?

I don't have any reciever mounted carriers. I usually just use the elastic carriers on the buttstock and prefer to have the brass side down. Is there a wrong / right - faster / slower way of carrying ammo your shotgun?

Sorry, just a thought that crossed my mind....

[proraptor]

I was also thinking about this and prefer my brass down....It seems to be fasteron reloading

[randy]

Down is faster to reload.

The problem with some shell holders if they are out in the heat or have been used many times, left loaded etc. shooting will bounce the rounds out. Brass up and they move down to the brass. Slower to reload but they are there when you need them. The falling out is a personal experience thing.

Good luck.

[slick_711]

From my experience and range training/shotgun course training (lol I know, but I did take a defensive shotgun course)... I found personally that it's faster for me to reload with the brass down. That said, the first two rounds (from the rear) are brass up, otherwise they impede my ability to shoot one handed. Now, I would never willingly do that anyway, but it is something I have practiced and could theoretically need, so you may as well configure your shotgun in a way that allows for it. That's from my point of view with a sidesaddle though. If you're using a shell carrier on your stock, which side of the stock is it on? Which hand do you reload from? Do you grab them from the top or bottom?

Practice reloading, and shooting from a few different positions, and see what makes the most sense for you. Theres not a right or a wrong way as far as the public is concerned, theres a way thats right for you, and thats the one to use.

Just make sure once you pick a method, you always do it the same. And try to pick a method that feels like the most fluid/smooth/quick motion to you when you're actually in the act of reaching back, grabbing the shell, and placing the shell in the loading port.

[joel1316]

I was just checking to see if there was an "official" right or wrong way... I was out shooting jackrabbits with my Mossberg 500 with carrier on the buttstock and brass down. I was able to keep the shotgun relatively shouldered, grabbed a shell, loaded and fired within a short period of time (in my opinion), I've not had any real formal or informal training with the shotgun.... Oh and I got that jack with that shell from about 30 yards using a turkey choke.

[Technical Ted]

Third option I've heard mentioned--but it takes practice and consistency to make it instinctive.: slugs brass up, shot brass down, or vice versa.

[Outlaw Josey Wales]

Brass down, easier when reloading.

[rorschach]

Brass down is what I was taught.

[Rob454]

I shoot left handed so I usually go brass down cause its faster for me. Kind of a pain cause they dont make lefty shotguns. At least i dont think they do
Rob

[Outlaw Josey Wales]

I shoot left handed so I usually go brass down cause its faster for me. Kind of a pain cause they dont make lefty shotguns. At least i dont think they do
Rob

I'm right handed but left eye dominant. I shoot rifles and shotguns as though I am left handed, other than bolt actions I have never felt I was at a disadvantage.

[XeRoFuN]

I would keep them brass down. Much easier to grab and position in your hand for reloading (that is if you're shooting right-handed and grabbing the extra shells with your left.)

[slick_711]

(that is if you're shooting right-handed and grabbing the extra shells with your left.)

Or if you're shooting right handed and keeping your left hand on the forend, pulling the shotgun into your shoulder, and reaching under the the receiver to grab the shells and then shove them into the mag tube. They're better brass down with either hand unless you have developed a personal method that you are faster and more comfortable with. But to anyone reading this and just starting to do quick reloads with a shotgun, brass down.

[mcubed4130]

right handed... combat load with left - brass down - no other way to do it...

As for slugs vs. shot, I happen to run different colors - and I only keep 2 slugs on my carrier (of 5 - toward the back of the carrier)

-M3

[Technical Ted]

As for slugs vs. shot, I happen to run different colors - and I only keep 2 slugs on my carrier (of 5 - toward the back of the carrier)

What if it's dark and you can't see the colors? Going to sneak a peak with your flashlight? If you know that the two rounds of slug are brass up, you can use your sense of touch to differentiate.

[slick_711]

What if his hand gets blown off so he can't use his sense of touch?

You should put perfume on your slugs so you can smell which slots in the sidesaddle they are.

Come on Ted, even in the dark if it's a foot from your face you can tell the difference between red & blue. And if it's too dark to tell, you sure as hell shouldn't be shooting anybody.