who uses a sidesaddle?

I use a savage 311 18"er for home defense. I have a nylon sleve on the stock to hold a couple of re-loads. Is that considered a side saddle? anyway it works fine for me.
 
I think they are pretty cool when I'm actually grabbing more shells to stick in the tube; however, they make the shotgun rather unwieldy for me to hold and carry. I dislike them.

Hickok45
 
I've had side saddles on several HD shotguns over the years and while I like the concept of them I never liked the way the gun felt after they were installed. I used one in a shotgun course one time. They felt bulky to me, but I don't like the feel of the full length mag tube either. I'm weird :D The 4 round 870 swung nice, but my HD coach gun and O/U with a 5 rd butt cuff swing better than anythng with a side saddle for me.
 
When I set up my first "Serious" shotgun back around 1981, I added a 5 round SS almost immediately.

5 round, you say?

Well, it was a six rounder until I pruned it to work with the peep sight base.

Still on it, though I've toyed with the idea of taking it off. I'm not as strong these days, nor am I running a few 30 round COFs every training day.

A SS with five rounds adds about 1.2 lbs right at the balance point. I find little or no difference in handling.

OTOH, a two round extension will add 7 oz at the muzzle before ammo, and the way it swings is greatly affected.

And that's the real reason many of us add the SS. The weight REALLY tames kick without derailing balance..

BTW, a lot of very good work has been done with shotguns having neither.

HTH....
 
I took the advice of many here and bought an 18.5 inch 870 with a 4 shot magazine to keep the weight down. No plan to put on an extension either. I put on a Tac Star 4 shot sidesaddle to keep the weight down as well. The 6 shot version interferes with the fore end anyway.Seems like a good compromise to me.
 
I use a 6 shot Sidesaddle. I like the idea of having reloads with the gun. I didn't have problems with the handling or balance.
 
I store the 870 in a GunVault in cruiser ready condition (chamber empty, magazine loaded) which requires me to press the slide release and work the slide to chamber a round.
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FWIW I've been to three different academies (2 fed) and cruiser ready for us for any firearm has always meant chamber empty, hammer down, mag loaded, and safety off. You wouldn't have to do anything but rack the shotgun or pull the charging handle on a rifle, regardless of the make. (Some agencies had several different makes of shotguns still in service with different safeties and action release levers.)

Just so you know that the terminology may mean something else to other people.

And back to the original subject, my preference is no SS. Been there, done that, sold them.
 
That's the same way we made our shotguns cruiser ready in the Corps as well. Magazine loaded, chamber empty, hammer down, safety off. Rack and shoot, no other manipulations required.
 
I have a 4-round side saddle on my Remington 870 and have had no issues with balance or bulk. My 870 is an 18" barrel w/factory extended magazine and is my "WTSHTF" gun. If I have to grab it and go those extra 4 rounds may come in handy.
 
yeah, but not like you think

I tried a side saddle when received same, but did not like the way it cluttered up the receiver right where I normally grab it for routine carry. Its just right there where your thumb falls.

I do like the idea of having spare ammo on the gun and being able to grab it an go and have a reload on board. So......

I took the metal backing off the side saddle and was left with the space plastic portion that has the shell clips and molded backing. This I screwed to the butt stock on the right side my shotgun. Work great. Much better than any fabric/elastic cuff.

The extra weight of ammo on butt, is off set by the ext mag tube.
The stock is a ribbed Choate I think.
 
I like 'em- there's one on several of the 870s here that are set up for defensive use. I've used them for a number of years with no problems. 'My' guns have six round versions, those shared with my wife have four round versions because she needs full length forearms on guns she uses. I want a reload on the gun when I pick it up, and a Sidesaddle puts the weight between the hands where it causes no balance problems.

Just because I like them doesn't mean anyone else has to...

lpl
 
I have a sleeve that goes over my stock and I use it ALL THE TIME duck hunting. No lie Ill shoot all 3 rounds, and ill have 5 ready to go ON THE MOVE! I dont have to reach into my pocket or anything. I would imagine in any firefight in a home that lasts more than what the magazine will hold (I would imagine this is very rare my shotgun holds 6 and if Im shooting more than 6 rounds theres something wrong.) Anyways this thing is the **** and you cant be TOO over prepared IMHO
 
probs

I have some of the elastic 'cuffs, but unless you anchor them down somehow, they run around on the buttstock and end up in the wrong place, in my experience. Sometimes I can take a sling swivel stud out, and catch a corner of the cuff, and screw it down. The elastic tends to wear out too.

I also have a leather one that laces on, same prob. I brass tacked that onto the butt of the coach gun that wears it, and it looks great (4 rds)

Cannibalizing the sidesaddle is working good for me. The ammo isn't as close to the action and requires a bit more reach, but there's ammo on board.

I worked w/ a guy who used a sidesaddle AND a butt cuff, 12 extra rds on board. (no carbines in those days)
 
I use a side saddle on my 870 grab and go gun.


Not on my HD 870 with SureFire fore end. It's heavy enough as it is, and I don't see myself reloading in a HD situation. Tube holds 6, I down load by one to not stress the mag. sprg. over time--chamber empty. 5 shots will have to do.

Have a good leather lace-up butt cuff from Milt Sparks (seven rounds), but I don't like it. Changes the balance of the gun.
 
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When installing a SideSaddle on a shotgun like my Bennelli Nova, be advised that tightening the attachment screws/bolts too tight will distort the receiver enough to interfere with the operation of the action. And though it is true that the addition of extra rounds of ammunition affixed to one side of my HD shotgun's receiver adversely affects the balance/handling, I don't plan on going after grouse with it any time soon. :)
 
I use a buttcuff on my 870 Express. It holds 5 extra shells, which means I have a full reload on board (I don't have a mag extension on it, and don't really intend on adding one soon).

It also helps with balance; the synthetic stock on the Express is extremely light, making the gun nose heavy - which I don't like unless I'm bird hunting.

Normally, I'd hold shells in a vest or in pockets, but it's an HD guns, which means I'm unlikely to have a vest on (or have time to put one on), and I may not have anything with pockets either...:eek:
 
When installing a SideSaddle on a shotgun like my Bennelli Nova, be advised that tightening the attachment screws/bolts too tight will distort the receiver enough to interfere with the operation of the action.
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The same is true of any shotgun. You can lock any of them up tight as a drum with a side saddle if you put it on too tight.
 
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