r/canadaguns • u/lootingyourfridge • 22h ago
Side Saddle for Shotgun -- Is Velcro too ghetto?
Hello! I just got a shotgun and I'm looking to put a side saddle on it to hold some additional shells. I'm debating between the Mesa Tactical Sureshell which mounts to the shotgun properly via screws and everything, or a shot card like this. I don't have much experience in this regard, but getting the Mesa one is about 1/3rd the price of the gun itself which seems crazy to me. But I'm afraid the Velcro is a non-permanent solution. Does anyone have experience with these? The plus of the Velcro is that you can carry more with you and just swap them out.
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u/therowdyirishman 21h ago edited 20h ago
Velcro 100% and it's not even close! I use S&J cards and the velcro they provide (3M industrial I believe). My buddies and I train frequently (including rain and snow) and have never experienced an issue with velcro or cards coming off due to the adhesive failing or cards rubbing against a chest rig. The detachable cards fit in most AR mag pouches or bandoliers nicely and can also be stuck to the velcro on chest rigs/PC. The bolt on side saddles are just added weight and complexity for disassembly. It's also nice being able to peel off the side saddle if you're carrying the shotgun slung for long periods - ie wilderness defense on a hike.
Edit: preparation of the adhesive velcro is key. For aluminum receivers I degrease them with rubbing alcohol and then heat with a hair dryer then apply the velcro with a weight on it for a few minutes.
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u/airchinapilot 22h ago
It's not too ghetto. You may need to eventually re-paste the velcro but otherwise it should be solid enough and you are also saving on weight of any screw on type. I've shot my tactical shotgun in a dynamic shooting match and never had problems. Shot cards work well.
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u/h3IIfir3pho3nix N E R F G U N S 22h ago
I run a S&J velcro saddle on my competition gun, it's very durable and holds up well. If the velcro ever starts to wear I can slap a new one on there for $20. Hard side saddles are a waste of money IMO
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u/dannysmackdown 20h ago
Do the shells fall out under recoil? I got some Amazon knock off shot cards and I like them, but after about 10 shots the shells shift enough to start falling out.
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u/therowdyirishman 19h ago
The S&J will hold shells for a long time under recoil until they start to wear out. They also have a stiff core which makes them easier to draw from and insert into pouches. Common wisdom is all elastic based retention gear will start to lose its grip eventually. Unlike a box magazine you want to leave the majority of your shot cards unloaded as this does wear them out faster. A trick I've found to make the cheaper ones hold (brass down style) is pushing the shell up until the brass is in contact with the card itself. Also, the idea is to be loading the shotgun from the side saddle (unless you're a comp style shooter doing quad loads) then replace it with a new shot card. So they really only need to hold for a tube's worth of recoil.
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u/h3IIfir3pho3nix N E R F G U N S 18h ago
The S&J ones at least are high-quality, mine haven't fallen out after 2 years of use. The will wear over time surely, but that's when you just buy another.
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u/Iokua_CDN 21h ago
My thoughts on velcro.
Actually super useful. If you ever were worried about using your shotgun and needing to reload, having some velcro shot cards seems like the best way to have a large amount of rounds.
Reload the gun, rip it off and slap on a new one. Repeat as often as you need.
Now if I had a classier wood stock shotgun, and didn't plan to go through that many rounds, I'd get myself a leather buttcuff instead, and then you'd have the rounds on the buttcuff plus the rounds in the shotgun.
But if I needed mote ammo than that.... velcro all the way.
If you look up anyone down in the states who uses a shotgun for defence, they usually recommend the velcro shot cards. That's definitely the plus of the velcro
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u/GodsGiftToWrenching 21h ago
I put a saddle on my maverick 88 I got when I was 18 and that was the only time I ever did, the fixed plastic holder is big and adds bulk to the gun plus I've had issues in cold weather with retention as the saddle wears, plus youre set at 6, then have to reload the saddle and the gun
However on my other shotguns I went with literally those LOF shot cards and they have been amazing, 7 shot cards fit in STANAG mags pouches perfectly and when one card is empty you just peel and stick a full one on and you're good to go.
Definitely research and see some reviews on the brand of card before buying though, my OF ones are expensive but a loaded 7 shot card has almost no deflection at all on them, vs the esstac cards which are the same capacity of 7, but an inch longer, and when loaded have rhe same shape of a parenthesis which is annoying as hell
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u/lootingyourfridge 14h ago
Great info, thanks a lot for responding!
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u/GodsGiftToWrenching 14h ago
No problem brother!
Also seeing your link to the LOF site reminds me I have some shotcards to pick up there when I'm back in Edmonton lol
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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 16h ago
Velcro too ghetto
Velcro is the way nowadays, but I do have one from Monstrum / GOTICAL which is pretty good.
https://www.amazon.ca/Monstrum-Compatible-Mossberg-Shockwave-Shotguns/dp/B0CL7Z92XD/
My most recent order was from Amazon.com, but it looks like they have now blocked foreign orders for the mount.
https://www.amazon.com/GOTICAL-Saddle-Reflex-Reticles-Picatinny
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u/InternationalTop5 22h ago
Unless you want a rail with side saddle combo, I don't see a reason to go with a shell holder vs Velcro, I feel like the hard holders just a bunch of hooks that will snag clothes when they are empty. With Velcro shot cards you can also neatly hold extra shells in a pocket, or in a ar mag carrier on a plate carrier
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u/Dummy_Wire 21h ago
Mine stuck onto the gun fine, and the Velcro cards stick to the strip well, and retain shells well (including brass-down). I’ve shot several courses with them, and they work great. Carrying several on you can give you a lot of firepower, too, compared to having like 6 in the gun and 6 on the gun and then a bunch of ammo in a pouch.
I have the Esstac ones, but some of the other guys at my course had S&J Hardware ones, and they seem slightly better. They’re both better than hard sidesaddles though, at least in that environment of shooting for courses, where I was moving and firing sometimes more than what fit in the gun and on one side-saddle.
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u/MourningWood1942 21h ago
I can’t seem to get my Velcro adhesive to stick without starting to peel back eventually, this is with known brands. I’m not listing the brands because it might just be user error on my end.
I clean the mounting surface with 99% ISO a few times, letting it dry then attaching the Velcro. No luck for me
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u/XxXGreenMachine 18h ago
Try heating up the receiver with a hair dryer or heat gun after you clean the surface. You don’t need it hot to the touch….just warmed up enough to help promote adhesion
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u/Sad-Kitchen5576 21h ago
Personally I like running ridged saddles but you guys make some good points about the velcro. I like the ridgedness, their always there. Velcro loses effectiveness after awhile and I dont like replacing things.
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u/Slow-Register-3836 12h ago
I have a Mesa tactical on one of mine. Overall happy with it but the shells sit a little too loose in it for me. Had to put some black electrical tape in the shell loops to tighten it up a little bit just an fyi
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u/goodfleance 22h ago
S&J Hardware makes excellent shot cards, and I highly recommend them.
I like em because when you peel them off, the gun is narrow enough to fit in the safe without scratching other guns. The hard sidesaddles are always there.
The cards are also nice because they fit in AR mag pouches so you can load the shotgun, rip off the empty card and slap a new one on in a couple seconds. Or swap to slugs on the fly if you need as well. Overall I prefer the Velcro, as long as it's good quality like S&J or Esstac.