Got a query about this, and have been doing some thinking on my own.so....
"Serious" shotgunners need to practice all aspects of functioning their weapons. This obviously includes reloading under stress. Here's a couple methods,and a few cautions.
First, practice this well away from any live ammo. I suggest doing it in a room without ammo in it. Use snap caps and/or dummy rounds for practice at first, then include these drills and procedures during a live fire practice session. Observe all safety rules.
Dummy rounds cna be made by anyone with a reloader. Use trash hull, preferably different in color and make to the ammo commonly used by you.
And, since pumps are so favored here, I'll stick to them. Folks with autos can adapt as needed.
And naturally, you're doing this behind cover, right?
First method is the one I use, with a variant.
In the firing position,keep the weapon shouldered. Use your support hand to top off the magazine from SideSaddle, Speedfeed, buttcuff,belt pouch,etc.
Use the index and second fingers to direct the shell into the magazine,laying the round parallel to them and using the thumb to push it well into the magazine. Push hard until it clicks past the shellcatchers. And of course you've got all your fingers out of the trigger guard.
This works best for folks with lots of upper body strength, and it's fatiguing. It's also fast and the weapon still covers the threat area.
The variant, bring the butt down and back so it's clamped between the upper arm and chest. This isn't as tiring but it's a hair slower for me.Once loaded to capacity, this is a good position to stay in, the weapon can be used really fast while meanwhile you observe the area over it.
Next method....
Use the support hand to roll the weapon to the left and use the dominant(Strong) hand to reload. You can use the support hand thumb to wrap around the forend and bbl to control the weapon. Keep watching the threat area and supervise the loading with peripheral vision.
You can also keep the weapon shouldered and use the dominant hand to top off, but it's by feel and requires a bit more practice. Neither of these allows as rapid a redeployment if the situation worsens, but speed is still not bad. We're talking fractions of seconds here.
Finally...
The balloon's gone up, it's hit the fan, the barbarians are at the gates and Charlie's inside the razorwire. Despite all training, you've shot your weapon dry. How to resume a ready state PDQ?
Rack your slide back,grab a fresh round and THROW it through the ejection port.Don't try to push it into the chamber, don't try to align it with the carrier. As long as the brass is towards the butt(Brass-Butt, Brass-Butt),it'll work as soon as you close the action. Do so and then top off as above.
Hope I've explained this well,sing out if not....
"Serious" shotgunners need to practice all aspects of functioning their weapons. This obviously includes reloading under stress. Here's a couple methods,and a few cautions.
First, practice this well away from any live ammo. I suggest doing it in a room without ammo in it. Use snap caps and/or dummy rounds for practice at first, then include these drills and procedures during a live fire practice session. Observe all safety rules.
Dummy rounds cna be made by anyone with a reloader. Use trash hull, preferably different in color and make to the ammo commonly used by you.
And, since pumps are so favored here, I'll stick to them. Folks with autos can adapt as needed.
And naturally, you're doing this behind cover, right?
First method is the one I use, with a variant.
In the firing position,keep the weapon shouldered. Use your support hand to top off the magazine from SideSaddle, Speedfeed, buttcuff,belt pouch,etc.
Use the index and second fingers to direct the shell into the magazine,laying the round parallel to them and using the thumb to push it well into the magazine. Push hard until it clicks past the shellcatchers. And of course you've got all your fingers out of the trigger guard.
This works best for folks with lots of upper body strength, and it's fatiguing. It's also fast and the weapon still covers the threat area.
The variant, bring the butt down and back so it's clamped between the upper arm and chest. This isn't as tiring but it's a hair slower for me.Once loaded to capacity, this is a good position to stay in, the weapon can be used really fast while meanwhile you observe the area over it.
Next method....
Use the support hand to roll the weapon to the left and use the dominant(Strong) hand to reload. You can use the support hand thumb to wrap around the forend and bbl to control the weapon. Keep watching the threat area and supervise the loading with peripheral vision.
You can also keep the weapon shouldered and use the dominant hand to top off, but it's by feel and requires a bit more practice. Neither of these allows as rapid a redeployment if the situation worsens, but speed is still not bad. We're talking fractions of seconds here.
Finally...
The balloon's gone up, it's hit the fan, the barbarians are at the gates and Charlie's inside the razorwire. Despite all training, you've shot your weapon dry. How to resume a ready state PDQ?
Rack your slide back,grab a fresh round and THROW it through the ejection port.Don't try to push it into the chamber, don't try to align it with the carrier. As long as the brass is towards the butt(Brass-Butt, Brass-Butt),it'll work as soon as you close the action. Do so and then top off as above.
Hope I've explained this well,sing out if not....
For that stage I thought ahead and actually had the extra shell in my support hand on the pump. Worked well for that stage, but not neccesarily in real life.