Last year I started to see a move by competitive shooters to use a 2 shell strong hand reload technique. At the time, I was still trying to learn the basics of the shotgun and noted it in passing. Over the last several months there has been a moderately widespread adoption of the technique, and I think it is one that I will want to adopt as well. Having more tools in the tool box is always a good thing.
What is this technique? Details of the quad load technique are in the video below.
The twins /quad load technique can be run from the pinwheel and backbone equipment too.
Why would you want to use this technique? For that there are many answers.
- If you are restricted on your loading capacity for a stage, and starting with a higher load makes sense up front, use this technique.
- If you are moving and loading, this technique is all gross motor movement and is very easy to execute quickly while moving with fewer shells to fumble through your fingers.
- If the stage requires your shotgun to come off your shoulder for any reason, it makes sense to top it off using this technique.
When not to use this technique?
- If I don’t need to move from my position but need to reload in a hurry a weak or strong hand reload without removing the gun from the shoulder makes sense. There was a stage at the AR15.com match last year that the clay birds were on a 1 or 2 sec. interval. To get through the string I needed to reload, pulling the gun from my shoulder and reloading 2 would have been disruptive to my position and ambushing technique.
How does it work in practice?
Here is a quick video of my friend Jay struggling through the cold weather with a mix of the techniques.
As Pat says, if the weak hand load method works for you don’t change. But there are other techniques out there, and the twin / quad load is certainly one way to go about it.