Blackhawk Industries Shotshell Pouch

 

by Erik Johnson

photography by Erik Johnson

October 1st, 2004

 

 

 

The shotgun has seen many incarnations over the years, and from the dusty streets of the Old West to the urban mazes of today it has served the law officer and citizen well.  One problem has remained constant, and that is the management of ammunition.  A few detachable box magazine fed shotguns aside, the shotgun, whether pump action or autoloader, has to be fed with individual shells.  Before the shells can be loaded into the shotgun, they have to be available to the shooter, and methods for carrying the shells are as diverse as the shot shells themselves.

One option is the Blackhawk Box Shotshell Pouch, available for $34.95 from Blackhawk Industries.  I recently bought and tested one of these pouches, and came away impressed.

The pouch, like many of Blackhawk's other products, is made of a tough black nylon, which the company calls "Nytaneon".  Measuring 5 1/2" by 3" by 5 1/2", it's secured over the top by a heavy flap that locks down with the ubiquitous Velcro.  Lifting the flap up, you can see the two elastic baffles that help keep the shells in the pouch when the flap is up, a great time saver.  From there, a small patch of Velcro is sewn on the inside of the flap so the user can tack the flap down in the open position, a feature which casual users will find especially appealing.  On the back side, the pouch is held to the shooter's belt by way of two Velcro-secured belt loops of Blackhawk's proprietary BTS system.  No need to undo your belt to put this one on, simply open the flaps, wrap them around the belt, then secure.  The pouch isn't going anywhere.

Blackhawk advertises the pouch as being able to hold 25 12gauge shotgun shells, and I found that to be right.  Stuff 25 shells in there, and with the outer flap open or closed, the elastic baffles kept the shells inside, even when when the pouch was shaken vigorously.  For range use where the user won't be crawling or jumping around, I found that 25 shell figure to be a little low.  I was able to fit 40 2-3/4" 12gauge shells in it, and even then they stayed put when the pouch was tipped on its side.  Like I said, gentle use.  When I started shaking it as hard as I did with 25 in there, they started coming out.  I hunt small game with a 20gauge shotgun, so I was curious to see how many of the smaller shells could fit in there.  The result?  50 shells, mostly 3", again with the same restrictions.  That's two whole boxes of game loads, plenty enough for a day in the field.

Beyond just handling the Blackhawk pouch in my basement, I also had the opportunity to train with it.  I took the pouch, along with 150 shells and my trusty Mossberg 590A1, to Pat Goodale's excellent Defensive Shotgun course at his facility in Parkersburg WV this past April.  Pat had us running, ducking, and even crawling over dirt, rocks, and grass; during the course of a day's training, the pouch, not to mention my shoulder, got a workout.  Total shells spilled on the ground from the pouch?  Zero.  Having had some gear fall apart on me in the past, I was pleasantly surprised to see how well it held up.  None of the stitches loosed, and none of the corners frayed.

The one improvement I'd like to see is the addition of a small "D" ring to each upper corner on the back (belt) side of the pouch.  That way the user could attach a strap to throw over his shoulder when the pouch and its contents was needed in a hurry without fumbling with belt attachments.  Real "grab and go" gear, if you would.  Otherwise, the Blackhawk shotshell pouch has plenty going for it.  It is tough and durable, and does its intended purpose well.  For the hunter, homeowner, law officer, or anyone who needs to carry shotgun shells, this piece of gear is definitely worth a look.

Click Here for more information. You can check out Blackhawk Industries' complete product line at www.blackhawkindustries.com.

Erik Johnson


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Seen from the front, Blackhawk Industries' Shotshell Pouch appears to be an attractive, rugged pouch.

 

 

A look at the back side reveals Blackhawk Industries' clever BTS system, which allows the pouch to be attached or removed without requiring the shooter to remove his belt.

 

 

Shell capacity is advertised at 25, but author found that except for use during the most rigorous activity, the Blackhawk Shotshell Pouch will easily and securely carry 40 12-gauge shells (left) or 50 20-gauge shells (right).