[Bill J]

I shot in a 3 gun event this past weekend and there were a few stages where you had to start with an empty shotgun on a table or empty at low ready. I've spent more than a few hours practicing weak hand loading but I've never practiced with an empty chamber (nor would I at home) but I quickly noticed that it threw my hole rhythm off. After putting a round in the chamber I would leave the gun down low instead of mounting it to my should to load. If it matters I'm using a Benelli M2.

So what is the best and quickest way to load on an empty chamber when you plan on using weak hand for the rest?

Thanks,

Bill

[Brian Payne]

I hold four 12ga. (or five 20ga.) in my weakhand, shotgun at the shoulder. Roll shotgun to the right, feed round into the ejection port with my weak hand and hit (extended) bolt release button with weak hand fingers as you roll the shotgun back. Then load the remaining three (or four) rounds as usual.

This happens fairly frequently when you have a match director that sets up nine targets that must be engaged from your first shooting box, then you would move on toward the rest of the course of fire. Leaves you with the choice of having to load one round while standing in place, or shooting to bolt lock then loading this way while you move to the next array.

If the COF requires an unloaded start and the shotgun is on a table, just drop a shell into the ejection port, put the bolt forward, then pick it up and load as usual.

This post has been edited by Brian Payne: 16 July 2008 - 10:45 AM

[bigbrowndog]

IPSC courses utilize unloaded starts frequently, it is something that would make for good practicing especially with the BIG IPSC shotgun match in 2010.

First off, I have 2, 4 round carriers on my strong side and 5, 6rd carriers on my weakside. For an off the table start, I would have the gun port side up, bolt to the rear, and draw one round out of the strongside and port load it, drop the bolt. Then pick up the gun shoulder it and load weakhand from there. I have found that whatever round you are going to drop into the chamber should come from somewhere other than where your normal loading ammo comes from, it keeps from making mistakes or drawing one to many rounds and then causing problems with your normal loading procedures, if you can have it sitting on the table that works fine as well.

If its an in your hand start, bring the gun to port arms, with the port facing up, draw a round from the strongside, port load it drop the bolt, then shoulder it and load weakhand from there.

Trapr

[Chris]

+1 to what Trapr and BP mentioned. I shot the R&R match last weekend and they didn't allow staging of any ammo near the gun. I use 4 round carriers so on one stage, I had to stick 1 round in my belt so I don't come up short.

I like to port load from under the gun with my left hand, then pinch the bolt release. From there, load 8 rounds as normal. On Stage 'Knock Knock', the RO said I was 9 seconds to the first shot.

[PacMan]

If the stage required loading from an open port with the gun on the table, I'd do just as Trapr described. If the stage required loading from a closed bolt, I would just pick the gun up, load 8 weak hand, hit the shell release with my strong hand's index finger as I finish loading and rack the bolt handle with my weak hand from below. Hard to describe but with practice you can get it all done in one seamless movement with both tasks. Similarly, if the gun is already mounted, I would do the same as described. If the gun is already mounted and bolt open, I would pick up 4 from the carrier, roll the gun sideway, drop one in and close the bolt with the heel of my hand, roll it back and continue loading the remaining 3... YMMV

[Neil Smith]

Trapr & pacman have the drill I believe, for an open bolt start either picking the gun up or while held in the hands I stand a round up in the carriers like this, its the first round I grab & goes into the port, hit the bolt release & then go back to the belt for another four shells.

Traps ill be seeing you next week in the fatherland for some local brew amigo

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This post has been edited by Neil Smith: 17 July 2008 - 09:09 AM

[kurtm]

Seems slow to me, but what do I know. I think I would just grab a hand full of shells, reach around underneath, drop one on the carrier and hit the bolt release with my ring finger and commence to stuffing the rest into the gun. I would grab the next 4 as I mounted the shotgun up to my shoulder and then stuff the rest in. The time spent getting that one extra shell into the gun, could be better used making sure you don't miss!

I wish I was going with Trapr, Neil, I would show you in person.....once again KurtM

[Neil Smith]

kurtm, on Jul 17 2008, 05:29 PM, said:

Seems slow to me, but what do I know. I think I would just grab a hand full of shells, reach around underneath, drop one on the carrier and hit the bolt release with my ring finger and commence to stuffing the rest into the gun. I would grab the next 4 as I mounted the shotgun up to my shoulder and then stuff the rest in. The time spent getting that one extra shell into the gun, could be better used making sure you don't miss!

I wish I was going with Trapr, Neil, I would show you in person.....once again KurtM

I have seen you do that many times amigo & it is fast, the way I suggested works good when the gun is held in the weak hand @ "trail" or from a pick-up start, it also comes in handy when you need to shoot four from a start position before you can move as it leaves a round in the chamber for you.

You will be missed next week amigo & its a shame you cant make it, Im gonna shoot pump now instead cos I dont have you to try & beat

See you next time buddy.

N

This post has been edited by Neil Smith: 17 July 2008 - 09:53 AM

[bigbrowndog]

As I recall in Greece, we all pretty much did it the same on the stage with the gun on the table and sitting down with the magazine in our hands. We tossed a round in the open port, and then commenced loading weakhand.

But what do I know, i was busy reading the article in the magazine when the buzzer went off.

Sorry you won't be there amigo, we can talk on our drive up to Minnesota.

Trapr

[PacMan]

kurtm, on Jul 17 2008, 10:29 AM, said:

...drop one on the carrier and hit the bolt release with my ring finger ... KurtM

Grasshopper can't do it because he got much smaller hand...inherent with us Asian breed

[kurtm]

Actuall Trapr, since the stage was 5 clay birds @ 20m and one Classic target at 25m, I just loaded 8 from the start. Most everyone else did load one to the port and then the 8. I can attest to the economy of loading the 8 and then shooting carefully. I did like the magazine also, but I was after it "just for the articles". KurtM

[bigbrowndog]

?????there were pictures??????

trapr

[CraigS.]

One other option is to use a 3-gun gear 2-pac shell holder
just drag the shell directly back into the open port .

-Craig

[havotec1]

I think there are many out there that have this same problem, I for one wish I would have bought a left handed m2.