How Many Shotgun Reloads In A Match?

[Whip Assalot]

I am in the market for a shotgun belt to hold my shot shells for matches.

So far, I have not gone over 6 shells in a stage.

What is the most shells you have gone through in a stage?

How many shells should my belt hold?

Do they have shotgun heavy stages at major matches?

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

The number of shotgun targets will vary.  Six is the most I have seen around here in a good while, but have heard of shotgun-heavy stages elsewhere.  You also need to have extras for targets that don't go down and need to be re-engaged.  Pretty much any shotshell belt will hold more than you will need for a single stage.  It is shotgun belt-slides that may not hold enough for every situation.

[Dusty Devil Dale]

My belt holds 10.  I've encountered two stages, one in a big match, that used 8.  

I use all 10 slots (actually 5 doubles).  From the left side, I keep six of my light 7/8oz loads for ordinary KD targets.  From. the right, I usually keep four 1-1/8 oz loads for clay birds.  That has worked out well, but it does make for a wider pistol separation.  

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Major matches - Cowboy stages usually never exceed 6 shot shells.  

A "team shoot" could be one place where you might need more (shooting a whole bay of targets with all your posse members firing at the same time).  But, staging shells on a table in front of you is usually allowed.

Wild bunch may have stages with up to 12 shotshells fired.

 

I use a snap on 6 shell holder on my gun belt myself. Back when I strapped on a separate shotshell belt, I VERY rarely put more than 8 in it.  It's heavy, and it's slow to reach around to your back to reach those last few shells.

 

I'd plan no more than an 8-shell belt.   Pairs together if using a double.  And loops spaced to match how you practice pulling shells if using a 97 (some folks can pull 4 at a time!)

 

Remember you can always stage extras in pockets or on props.

 

good luck, GJ

[Yul Lose]

You have to carry enough for the stage minimum and then there are the misses. I’ve seen some pretty good shooters use 7-8 shells on a .4 KD stage. Better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them. I use a bandoleer with 13 shells in the front and 13 more in the back.

 

I wrote a shotgun heavy match once and on a couple of the stages it called for 8+ SG shells, I thought it was fun but they never asked me to write stages for them again.

[Dantankerous]

Normal is 4. Usually a match or monthly will have one stage that has 6. I've seen 8 on a stage before but that is rare.

 

My personal highest round count on on stage was 22. Yup. But not because there were that many targets. And I had my belt full, probably a couple in a vest pocket too.  I was experimenting with BP loads when I first began loading BP shot shells. I must have been shooting rings around the KD targets as they just never went down. Lots of smoke that stage and I finally got 'em all.

 

Now, I usually carry 6 to 8 shot shells in my belt.

 

General rule is always carry at least 2 more than the stage calls for.

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

Benefit of being a fat guy - more room for shotgun shells.

My belt carries 24 shells - I keep every loop filled.

I don't notice the weight - but more weight means less chance of a sticky shell or loop moving the belt.

Also having a large number of shells means it is no issue when at the loading table (or after the beep) - I realize that I neglected to refill my belt from the stage before.  Just grab 4 or 6 from further down.  With a slide or limited number of loops - when you forget to refill (and you will) - you will eat those as misses.

Do you need 24 like me? 

No - most likely not. 

But would I have a SG belt with any less than 12 or 14? 

No - the cost of a miss because I run out of shells or forgot to refill is much greater than the penalty of a little additional shotgun shell weight.

[Idaho Gunslinger]

Creeker just beat me to it. Mine holds 12 in doubles. I haven't done it yet (knock on wood) but if I forget to reload between stages I will likely still have enough shells to shoot the state and a good reminder to not forget again. 

[Griff]

Because... well... just because it might as well, my shotgun belt holds a box of shells.  That would be 25 for those of you that have never noticed how many come in a box.  I think I actually wore it 5, maybe 10 years ago... for a team match... Otherwise, my slide on the pistol belt holds 6.  If a stage calls for six, I simply put a couple more in a vest pocket.  I haven't encountered a stage with 8 targets in years... and years!  Our monthly matches consist of 6 stages, and you can usually finish with either having used 22 or 24 shells if you don't miss, depending on whether there's a stage with only 2, otherwise, it's normally four!

[Whip Assalot]

Thank you for all the replies.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Assume 6 rounds per stage, to account for misses.

So, if it's a 6 stage match, 6x6 = 36.  So you bring 50 since shotshells come in boxes of 25.  

Basically, always round up to the next full box.   So, if you think you need, 51, bring 75,  Common sense will also say that if you think you need 75, bring 100.  It never hurts to have extra.

If your belt doesn't hold all that much, refill it every stage.   Stick a couple extras in your vest/shirt pocket just in case.

[Whip Assalot]

Thank you. This was more geared towards how many shot show loops should I have on my belt for one stage.

[Mister Badly]

I needed 13 on this stage. But I was rusty and confused 

 

 

[Whip Assalot]

I might end up changing my SASS name to that...

"Rusty N. Confused" lol

[Chancy Shot, SASS #67163]

The most I have seen in a "regular" stage was 6.  I always carry at least 8 in my belt.

 

At the Illowa Irregulars, where I am a member, there is one bay that hard rounds may not be used.  For a 10 stage match, we set that bay as a shotgun only stage with from 12 to 16 rounds used.  We also provide belts and loading blocks for those with just slides.

 

Chancy

[Cypress Sun]

 

I always have at least 4 more that the stage calls for and usually more. My belt holds 20. 

 

There used to be a match in Florida in Lakeland with the Polk County Crackers that stage 5 was notorious for A LOT of shotgun. It wasn't uncommon to use 8 - 10 shells and sometimes 14 - 16 shells. Once there were TWO custom made Texas Stars + rifle and pistol. When I say custom made, they were...spinner a third larger than the size of a normal one, 12" plates x 1/2" steel. Ran out of shells (20) trying to clear that stage.

 

Ultimately, your ability to HIT the shotgun targets and power of the shotgun loads dictate the number of shells in your belt.

[Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L]

my slide holds 8, 4 double loops of 2 each.

 

Our club lets you stage extra ammo if needed.  Usually will find places to carry them vs. stage them: pockets in shirts and pants

 

[Marlin Schofield]

Howdy Dart68,

What's your Alias?

IMHO The Best Cowboy/WB  Holster, Gun &  Shotgun belt maker out there is by Mernickle.  Theirs has (6) double elastic shell holders with lower shell stop (single loops optional), the leather shell holder is doubled over the belt so it sits slightly forward of the belt like a slip on (SASS LEGAL), The shells come out smooth & effortlessly, but never fall out bending over, running etc. They offer a variety of colors and stitching. I had (2) .45 shell loops put on the LH for rifle uploads. Included a pic of the matching gun belt & holsters they made for my Schofields. Hope to meet ya at DDCT  match in the future.

Marlin

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

This is my shotgun belt.

https://www.huntercompany.com/products/shotgun-shell-belt-2-1-2?_pos=1&_sid=53269435f&_ss=r

You can see it holds plenty of shells.   Tend to "refill" it at least every 3 stages.

[Tennessee williams]

Mine holds 14. I've almost needed them all.

[Hoss]

I carry 10. Most stages require 4. A few 6. 
if I forget to fill my belt after a stage I’ll have enough on my belt to get me thru another stage. (It’s happened!) 

[Captain Bill Burt]

Mine holds 12. 10 up front and 2 behind my left elbow. It also holds my rifle reloads. 
 

opinions differ. I rarely start a stage without all 12 shells, though occasionally I may forget to top off the last two. I won’t start without at least 10.

 

One other thing, you can always put spares in your pocket but you can’t always stage extras. Some matches will allow it and some won’t.

[Widder, SASS #59054]

I've used EXCELLENT belts made by Doc Noper which was a single canvas loops on a leather belt.

 

AND..... I've used an EXCELLENT belt by 'Hastings', which is all leather, double shell holders.

 

My present belt holds 10 shells..... (five pairs).  I rarely need more.

 

 

..........Widder

 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

Two of the spare rounds on my shotgun slide hold game loads.  I use these when I encounter knockdowns that don’t fall easily.  One stage at EOT this year had distant KDs that needed a harder kick.

[Mister Badly]

2 hours ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

My present belt holds 10 shells..... (five pairs).  I rarely need more.

That's cuz yur aimin!!

[Widder, SASS #59054]

1 hour ago, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

Two of the spare rounds on my shotgun slide hold game loads.  I use these when I encounter knockdowns that don’t fall easily.  One stage at EOT this year had distant KDs that needed a harder kick.

 

On those 'hard to fall' KD's,  I normally just pull the trigger harder.

 

..........Widder

 

[The Rainmaker, SASS #11631]

I run a canvas loop belt that has SG shell loops all the way around (probably 25 or more).

Of course I only load up 7 for monthlies and 9 for big matches but I like to live on the edge so... 

[Whip Assalot]

1 hour ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

 

On those 'hard to fall' KD's,  I normally just pull the trigger harder.

 

..........Widder

 

Tried to send you a message but it stated you can't accept?

[Widder, SASS #59054]

4 minutes ago, dart368 said:

Tried to send you a message but it stated you can't accept?

 

I'll clean out some of my box.

Email me if you want:  widder1894@icloud.com

 

or call me:  865 / 696-1996

 

Both are business contacts.

 

..........Widder

 

[Whip Assalot]

Here is my current set up. I have never gone past more than 6 shells which made me wonder if I needed to have so many.

[Von Dutch, SASS # 7995]

In the 28 years I have been doing this in one match I shot one stage required 18 + shotgun ! and one other match one stage required 16 + shotgun.

[watab kid]

i had a shotgun heavy match a number of years ago that i was not prepared for , i now have a slide that holds ten , found it was comforting when i missed as well - and yes you can miss with the shotgun , ive also encountered a stubborn target on a stage - hit that bugger well but had to hit it again to get it down - granted not the norm but carrying a couple spares never hurts 

[Anvil Al #59168]

Mine holds 12.

Have done a shotgun only stage before that was 10.

Also some fastest shotgun side matches with 8.   

[SHOOTIN FOX]

Mine holds fourteen. Stopped too quick on one stage and dumped 8. Plenty plus more equals enougb.

[watab kid]

ill come back to add that i started out shooting with a seperate shotgun belt over my holster belt - i had all the shells i needed for anything they might present but ...i hated wearing two belts , just damn uncomfortable , so i went to slides - i have a few because it takes a bit till you figure out what you like . and if you shoot mutiple shotguns your approach might be different , 

ive settled on a slide that holds ten - in pairs as i shoot my double more than my 97 , you seldom need more than that even if you miss like me , 

 

ive relegated my shotgun belt to cowboy trap , it works great when your not wearing your holster belt ,