Shotgun Speed Loaders Revisited

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In "Shotgun Speedloaders" (August 2023), I covered the design and manufacture of a prototype speed loader for an over-under shotgun. After extensive testing of the original, I found faults in the design and things to improve upon. Specifically, the aesthetics and performance. As to the aesthetics, the original is really square and a little bit of an eyesore.

Mind you, it was easier to grip in the milling machine and quicker to do the secondary machining operations when I left it with squared-off outer geometries, but it is something I wished to change and improve upon. These original geometries also interfered with effectively lining up the two shells for release into the chambers.

The corner of the holder caught on the receiver and didn’t allow the shells to drop freely into the chambers without actuating the speed loader way above the chambers, hoping the shells fell into place. My latest iteration features much more finish machining and material removed to both cut weight and fit into the confines of an opened breech of an over-under shotgun to effectively start feeding the shells into the chambers before actuating the loader and dropping the shells free.

In terms of streamlining the manufacture of the two parts, I eliminated the second shoulder bolt to hold the pieces together. My intent with the prototype was to use two shoulder bolts to keep the two halves aligned to one another, but the second bolt was binding up the assembly and making it difficult to both add fresh shells to the loader and drop them freely from it when it use. I removed the second shoulder bolt from the assembly, and both pieces moved much more smoothly in relation to each other.

In use of the first prototype, I noticed that having shells in the loader actually contributed to keeping the two halves aligned, which further reinforced my aforementioned points. The new model doesn’t even have it in the blueprints for manufacture. Now, using these same features that did work in the original proto- This was modified slightly after this photo was taken. Below far Centered between them will be the hole for the screw that will push the pieces apart.

Notice all the roundedoff corners and edges where material is not needed.

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Far This side has the 8-32 threads in the rounded tower. Note, this is how it looked before another revision to the tower. Far type, I went through and removed material from anywhere it wasn’t needed for reliable function. This These are the shelves that the user’s fingers will rest in. Below center: Angled view of the "gripper half" showing the removed excess material and new contours. This cut significant weight from the original.

Next, I needed to add the features that would allow me to join the two parts toshow the finish machining of the top of this part. This is the revised version of the tower. gether as I intended. On one half, I machined just a rounded tower on top and drilled and tapped the threads for the hardware I had on hand, in this case a 3/16" diameter by 8-32 shoulder bolt. In the other half, I machined two ledges for the user’s index and middle fingers

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This shows both the two shelves that the fingers rest in, and the half pockets for the shotshells to sit in. These pockets, along with the matching set on the other half of the assembly, help ensure the pieces stay aligned to each other. to hold the assembly against the spring-loaded side. I now needed to drill, ream, and counter-bore a few different diameters.

Specifically, I drilled and reamed the smaller hole 0.1885" to allow the 3/16" shoulder bolt to freely slip through, then counter bored with a 5/16" flat-bottomed drill to capture the spring and guide the head of the bolt. This allows the screw to move freely through the hole and split the two parts and drop the shells while still capturing the return spring.

Once I got everything assembled on the first set, I noticed I had the same problem in that the bottom corners of the loader still interfere with the receiver when in use. I will Notice the counter bored hole for the shoulder bolt to pass through with the larger counter bore for capturing the return spring. My hex wrench is pointing to the shoulder bolt and spring mechanism. American Gunsmith Reader Services 1.

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Above center: Bottom view of the assembly when the mechanism is tripped and the pieces are split. This assembly is pretty solid when holding the shells. The shells wobble a little bit, but this allows them to fall free when you press the pieces apart. They are held in place securely, though. need to take them back to the milling machine, clamp the pieces as a set, put the parts at an angle, and mill off the corners to allow the speed loader to get closer to the chambers.

Milling the angles on both sides of the loader will make this an ambidextrous speed loader. No matter who grabs the speed loader, they will be able to seamlessly use it. Notice the corners of the speed loader still touch the receiver. This is what I mentioned about needing to All there is left to do is extensively test this new version of my design and hopefully rectify the faults that cropped up in the original prototype, and any that may crop up with this latest version.

If this design works, I will make up a few more assemblies to use in around of Sporting Clays! To my fellow Sporting Clays or Skeet shooting fans, fumbling shells that may or may not be in the correct orientation to load is a thorn in all of our sides. Loading shells singly is also time consuming. I am hoping this is a fix. Stay tuned for any updates or further changes, and as always, thanks for reading! AG return to the milling machine to bevel the corners more.

Below far As you can see, it is quite blocky and unrefined compared to its successor. The new model weighs considerably less and looks much better.