11 replies to this topic

[Merlin Orr]

Might should have put this under the What I Like forums..... Finally broke down and went to the Otto load two vest and found that my Benelli set up was just not quite right. Took it over to Triangle this afternoon and had Benny optimize it for the two at a time loading. He re-cut the bottom and cut and chamfered the opening to help guide the second shell into the tube. That, with a little additional tweaking of the carrier latch, and a new flat faced spring follower and a Crums lifter... The two at a time loading is very noticeably easier...

World of difference.

[Clint-M]

Do you have some pictures? I'm having a heck of a time figuring out the "easier and faster" side of load-two.

CM

[Merlin Orr]

Clint... Not really. Only worked on it about an hour so far. But I think I can load eight about as fast after the hour of practice as I ever could off the side saddle.

I was already thinking I was not going to do the Otto Load Two Vest but it is really getting easier. The gun mods sure helped.

Benny's Daughter in Law, Rorie was in the shop today and she made me look silly in my loading. She has been shooting shotgun for about a month and can load much faster than I can.

I think there is hope....

[JeremyM]

Picts. Please!

[Merlin Orr]

[MarkCO]

Merlin, the sides might be okay, but the loading port really needs to be lengthened a bit for the best results. It will work, just not optimum.

The sides should be lowered enough so that with the shell trapped against the lifter, the front of the shell is just above the edges of the receiver when viewed from the side. This is what helps keep the shell properly aligned with the fingers trapping the shell in the port. There should also be a slope to the removal of material. Deeper cut as you near the tube.

At least 1/8", preferably more like 1/4" of the follower should be visible in the modified opening looking straight down. You don't want to stop the smooth motion, you want the thumb to be slide up the created angle and disengage contact with the case head after it is past the latch. The way this one is shown, the thumb will have to stop and be lifted or you will risk dumping the round onto the carrier. That is not a huge deal, just lift, shoot, go back at loading.

It does not matter if you use an Otto vest, a Load Two belt or any of the six TWinS systems from Carbon Arms. Once you have two shells in your hand, they all should go in the same way. If you want to play with the Quad load, then the carriers matter and you will definately need to optimize the loading port.

This is the first SLP I modified and is probably about the minimum for the best technique.

[R-Bros_JLR]

Merlin, the sides might be okay, but the loading port really needs to be lengthened a bit for the best results. It will work, just not optimum.

The sides should be lowered enough so that with the shell trapped against the lifter, the front of the shell is just above the edges of the receiver when viewed from the side. This is what helps keep the shell properly aligned with the fingers trapping the shell in the port. There should also be a slope to the removal of material. Deeper cut as you near the tube.

At least 1/8", preferably more like 1/4" of the follower should be visible in the modified opening looking straight down. You don't want to stop the smooth motion, you want the thumb to be slide up the created angle and disengage contact with the case head after it is past the latch. The way this one is shown, the thumb will have to stop and be lifted or you will risk dumping the round onto the carrier. That is not a huge deal, just lift, shoot, go back at loading.

So how much can one cut out of the front of a Benelli loading port? I've read a number of posts saying that the front area can be sensitive to hacking. My FN has a fair bit of the follower showing and it helped out tremendously so I'm wondering how far I can go with the new uncut M2 I have sitting in the safe.

[Merlin Orr]

Merlin, the sides might be okay, but the loading port really needs to be lengthened a bit for the best results. It will work, just not optimum.

The sides should be lowered enough so that with the shell trapped against the lifter, the front of the shell is just above the edges of the receiver when viewed from the side. This is what helps keep the shell properly aligned with the fingers trapping the shell in the port. There should also be a slope to the removal of material. Deeper cut as you near the tube.

At least 1/8", preferably more like 1/4" of the follower should be visible in the modified opening looking straight down. You don't want to stop the smooth motion, you want the thumb to be slide up the created angle and disengage contact with the case head after it is past the latch. The way this one is shown, the thumb will have to stop and be lifted or you will risk dumping the round onto the carrier. That is not a huge deal, just lift, shoot, go back at loading.

It does not matter if you use an Otto vest, a Load Two belt or any of the six TWinS systems from Carbon Arms. Once you have two shells in your hand, they all should go in the same way. If you want to play with the Quad load, then the carriers matter and you will definately need to optimize the loading port.

This is the first SLP I modified and is probably about the minimum for the best technique.

Hmmmm... Looking at mine now and reviewing your comments...

[benny hill]

Looks like your follower has a lip sticking out. If it was flat as merlins in, it would be about the same. Merlins is cut back past the follower lip on a benelli and any more would let the follower slip onto the lifter.

[Don Springer]

I think Benny grinds the nipple off the follower.

[benellibuilder]

We dont use the factory followers.

[benellibuilder]

And merlin wasnt kidding. My wife Rorie is very proficient at using the otto load 2 vest.