The shotgun is one of the most common home defense weapons in the country. They are a very versatile firearm that has a hard punch. It is important to regularly train with the shotgun you keep for defense. This ensures you are efficient with it if the need arises. One of the most important drills is to practice tactical shotgun reload techniques.
Home defense shotguns are very effective in stopping a threat but they do have a major limitation. Limited ammo capacity of most shotguns makes efficient reloading a necessity. If you’re not shooting, you need to be reloading. Keeping extra shells on the gun or readily accessible is a necessity due to the limited amount of ammunition a shotgun can hold.
Ammo Storage on the Gun
I keep a side saddle and a stock pouch on my shotgun and have a mixture of slugs and buckshot. Shotgun slugs are great for longer range shots and the stopping power of buckshot is unmatched. However, it is important to consider how your home defense shotgun will pattern with the ammo you carry.
The Remington 876 Tactical is a popular choice for a home defense shotgun. Practice tactical shotgun reload techniques for better efficiency.
Different models of shotguns will require slightly different techniques to reload them. No matter the type of shotgun you use for self-defense you need to be able to reload it quickly or consider a different model that you can.
Tactical Shotgun Reload Technique
Fill the side saddle on your shotgun halfway up with the brass facing down. Fill the remaining openings with the brass facing up. If there is a break in the shooting use your support hand to draw one of the shells down from the side saddle and press it into the magazine tube. If the gun is empty leave the action open. Use your support hand to draw a shell up from the side saddle and place it directly into the chamber.
The video above demonstrates a couple different ways to reload a shotgun. The faster you are, the better chance you have in protecting yourself.