My home defense shotgun, which has recently been put through some practice sessions, has a side-saddle shell carrier. While I love this type of accessory, and I think every home shotgun needs one, there are different theories on which way the shells should point when in the side-saddle.

To me, it makes the most sense to have the primer end down, so that when the gun is inverted for reloading, the shells can be extracted out the bottom end nearest the loading port.

I have seen others load theirs the other way, with the primer end up.

I can see mixing some up and some down for distiguishing ammo type by feel, so you don't accidentally load buckshot when the situation calls for the penetration of a slug, but haven't heard a good reason to load them all primer up.

What are your thoughts on this?

I have never seen the need for one myself. That being said, if I were to use one, I would put the shells in primer side down. With the primer up, you will be reaching over the gun, then moving your hand back to the other side. Like you said, with primer down, they are easily accessible from the underside.

i was gonna get one bu tthen i thought. I dont live in a John Woo movie and if someone breaks into my house it iwll only take ONE blast withteh ol 12ga and they will haul there ass out the door. its not gonna take the 9 shot capacity i have, muchless the need for a extra 5-6 in the sidesaddle. unless you live in movie world, ppl dont stay and gun battle with you in your home, they will run at the mire sound of the shotty racking a shell.

yea i always thought those "street sweepers" looked cool but there not practical at all. does it have a pistol grip? i bet its hard as hell to hit anything with it not to mention what the recoil must be like. I only have 1 gun and its a 10/22 and i feel safe enough with that.

to answer your question it sounds like whatever is more comforatble for the user. and god forbid if you ever had to use all those shells get ready to call a home decorator.

god forbid if you ever had to use all those shells get ready to call a home decorator.

ajg2425,
Now that's funny.

Amen guys. I hope to never even have to off-safe the gun, much less pull the trigger and take a life.
There are some nuts out there though, as I have recently seen. Some can't even decide who they want to be on a given day. If it's a choice of me or them, you can bet I'm alive when the smoke clears.

I would dread having to redecorate (my wife would pick some really funky colors, and I'd probably end up doing the painting). [:'(][:@]

While I agree that chances of ever having to use that much ammo in a home defense situation are extremely remote, I couldn't live with myself if an intruder was able to harm a member of my family because I ran out of ammo.

I was just curious to see if anybody had a reason to load the silly thing the other way.

With the factory magazine plug out,one can fit 4 shells in the mag.and one in the chamber. if one needs more than 5 shells from a shotgun,inside a house just for intruder, i would be looking for a different place to live! vangunsmith

There are two ways to use the side saddle loader - you can continue to point the gun down range and pull rounds from the saddle with your left hand, primer down - inserting them into the loading gate with your left thumb. Or you can invert the shotgun, pull them from the saddle with your right hand - and insert them into the loading gate from the top. Most folks do it the latter way - but either methodnormally is done withthe primers"down" when the shotgun is in the shooting position.

That answered my question Roskoe.
It makes a lot of sense. With a short barrelled gun it wouldn't be too much trouble to keep it shouldered for a short time with one hand while reloading. Personally, I think I'll be behind some cover rather than out in the open pointing my gun during a reload, but who knows? Options are good.

While I wasn't asking if anyone thought a side-saddle was a good choice, there are a coupleof advantages that it gives youbesides being able to reload if you should happen to run dry.
You can be completely mobile and have more than enough with you. If you wake to find someone in your house, you will probably not be wearingchothing with pockets to carry extras of anything. Also, since the architecture of the shotgun platform allows to to top off the magazine after a shot has been fired without taking the gun out of service, why not take advantage of the situation and keep your magazine full if the opportunity presents itself? Extra ammo also allows you to 'waste' a few rounds making sure the bad guy keeps his head down while your family makes an escape to a more secure location.

It's all about options, and having a plan.
I was just curious about another view of the loading technique.

Thanks guys.

Bulzeye, it looks like your question has been successfully answered already. I personally have mine with the primer down. God forbid I need to protect my family with it but when kids in middle school get busted for carrying pistols, you can't be too careful. Another invaluable tool to have is a bright flashlight like a Steamlight or Sure fire. It will give you those precious moments to get the upper hand.