I have always like Side Saddles in the past for my shotguns.  Having six extra rounds on the side came in handy when it was time to reload.   However, most side saddles have screws that replace the push pins to break down the trigger assembly of the shotgun.  

You have to remote all the screws and the side saddle, just to be able to give you shotgun a proper cleaning.  

I have seen the stick on side saddles that use velcro, but they look cheesy and the elastic will stretch over time.

What are your opinions of side saddles.  Do the benefits outway the annoyance of having to take everything apart to get at the trigger assembly, or is it worth it to you?

Yes, 6>0 so what's 3 seconds of extra time to clean it matter?

I have a Rem 870 Express that is easily 15 years old that has been in the family for the whole time my father had recently gave it to me. This thing has been a ranch shotgun and has lived a hard life. It has never been taken a part and it runs like a top. IMHO it is a non issue, but to some they may want to keep the tool handy but really it is not necessary.

I like side saddles. I also like the stock on my 500 - holds 2 shells in springloaded tubes on each side (can't remember the name offhand).

The slight inconvenience for cleaning isn't really a problem.

just purchased 870 and side saddle before i left the gun show always thought it was tacticool and usefull, my old man has a 74' model 870 and i dont think he has ever cleaned the trigger group!!! it never fails to go bang not that i would do mine that way. i'll take the trade off more is always better...

I too like side saddles, they are great when you have to grab and go, beats filling your pockets with extra rounds.

They are great but as a lefty I usually dont load the first spot, as a shell in there interfears with my trigger hand.

My old Mossberg has worn a 6-shot sidesaddle for many years, and I've never had a problem keeping the gun clean. I think I've removed the trigger group once or twice since I've owned it, almost 20 years.


That said, the problems I've experienced are the screw that replaces the ejector screw is a tad short, and prone to backing off. Threadlock doesn't help for long, so I'm going to get around to getting a longer screw and cutting it down until it works. I've been putting this off for almost the entire time I've had the sidesaddle.  Not much of a pressing concern....

It is better to have the extra ammo and not need it then to need it and not have it.

As for the trigger plate assembly.  Unless you drop the weapon in mud, sand that gets in there or get caught in a soaking rain there is little need to pull your trigger plate assembly more then once a year.   I pull mine and blow them out with brake cleaner.  You can get that at any auto parts store and it is under pressure and will blow any mess out of there.  It evaporates fast or you can then blow it out with an air hose.  Same as gun blast but the can is twice the size and it cost 1/2 as much.  Oh, and don't get that mess in your eyes it stings (been there done that).

So not to have a side saddle because they make cleaning more difficult is not a valid reason.  I can see not having one on a dedicated HD when you are certain you will never need to exit the home.  In my case, I have out buildings and one is a gun shop.  So, I may have to leave the house and if I get into some mess out there I want enough ammo to cover my tail till some nieghbors get there to help.  So my HD's have side saddles.

If you are worried about having to take the shotgun apart you can velcro the side saddle on.  You have to use INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH velcro that you can get at Walmart or Home Depot to name a few places.  Make sure that you clean both surfaces well with an alcohol pad before sticking the velcro on.  I have had my side saddle like this for about 3 years, in my trunk in anything from 100+ to around 0 degree weather.  It has also seen a fair amount of use with no effect on the adhesiveness of the velcro. My HD shotgun has had one on it for about 2 years with no problem.   If you cut the velcro correctly, you can see the serial number and remove the pins with out a problem.  Good luck.

I agree with bbull, I have decided to use industrial strength velcro on the sides of all my SG's. You have a better chance of your stock falling off then the side saddle. But it will come off when you WANT it to.

I used to use Tacstars until the mounting plate threads for one of the trigger pin mounting screws stripped (tacstar replaced the plate for free). Then I switched to Mesa. All was good until I rounded the tiny allen head on the front  trigger pin screw. I went to the hardware store and fastenal to try to replace it but the thread is a bizarre size (5-40) which neither had and I cannot find on the internet. Granted, Mesa will replace the fastener for you if it breaks but I prefer a more common fastener so I won't have to wait for Mesa. So I replaced the front pin with the front pin from a Brownell's antiwalk trigger pin kit. The allen head on it is equally small however it uses standard 6-32 fasteners that I can find anywhere.

Something else to think about with the velcro is that some companies are making the fabric shot shell holders that are velcro backed.  Generally one holder will fit in an ar 15 mag pouch or two in a double mag pouch.  You can easily switch out side saddles as needed.  I have not tried it but after Christmas I want to pick up a couple and give it a try.  If anyone has tried this, chime in and let us know how it worked for you.

This was something I took into consideration when installing mine. I'm the type who likes to detail strip my firearms everytime after firing them, and getting them as clean as possible before reassembly. Over the years this is a practice that I've been slowly doing away with. It is completely unnessesary to clean and lubricate every single part within a firearm after it has been fired under normal environmental conditions and I have finally realized this type of behavior probably borders on OCD. Perhaps this is you, maybe not.

The trigger assembly gets very little fouling, if any at all (at least on an 870). As mentioned above, there's no real need to take it apart and clean this area on a regular basis. I'd say when installing the side-saddle, clean the trigger group real good, lubricate it with a good grease, and forget about it. Having six rounds readily available far outweighs the neccesity to access this area. In the event you felt compeled to do so however, is only a matter of simply removing two bolts.

Both of my HD shotguns have Tacstar side saddles. My Remington 870 Express Magnum and FN SLP have side saddles along with a butt cuff. So both shotguns have a total of 18 rounds. Six rounds in the magazine tube, one round in the chamber, six rounds on the side saddle, and five rounds on the butt cuff.



I see no negatives to a side saddle. To me it's so weird not seeing a side saddle on a HD shotgun. Hunting rigs are different creatures altogether. But HD/patrol shotguns all have side saddles in my head.

Non-chlorinated brake cleaner = cheap good stuff.  Two things though: 1) it removes ALL oil, so you will need to re-lube.  2) You'll put your eye out, wear safety glasses.  Seriously, it burns like the dickens, and blowing around debris is kinda not safe, wear safety glasses....

Gun Blast is also good stuff, same job for more money though...use the cheap Non-Chlorinated brake cleaner .....  Personally, I flush mine out with WD-40 or Remoil...when needed...which is like once a year if that.....

That would be the Speedfeed brand of stocks, holds four extra shells like you said; two on each side.

seconding this. Give my action a blast while holding the shotgun muzzle down, only break things all the way down about once a year. So my Sidesaddle isn't an inconvenience at all.