We covered traditional weak-hand loading in an earlier guide. Now it’s time to step up your game with techniques that will get shells into your tube faster under the clock.
These methods go by several names: L2/L4, Load Two/Load Four, Dual Loading, Quad Loading, or loading Twins and Quads. Whatever you call them, these techniques have proven themselves at matches as one of the fastest ways to reload a tube-fed shotgun—second only to strong-hand quad loads in pure speed.
Dual loading (L2) means inserting two shells into your shotgun’s loading port with a single hand motion. Quad loading (L4) takes this further by loading four shells in rapid succession—two shells followed immediately by two more—without repositioning your hand to the carrier.
These techniques work because of how you hold the shells. Instead of grabbing one shell at a time, you’re picking up pairs or quads from your shell carrier and inserting them together. The time savings add up fast when you’re loading 4+ rounds on a shotgun-heavy stage.
Before you start practicing these techniques, you need the right shell carrier setup on your belt. Not all carriers work equally well for dual and quad loading.
The shells in your carrier need to be positioned so your thumb naturally lands on the brass when you reach for them. They also need to sit at the right height and angle to let you grab clean pairs without fumbling.
My personal favorite is the Taccom Duelin Deuces. These carriers pack a lot of shells into a small footprint, and their lower profile means you can actually go prone without jabbing yourself in the hip. That matters when you’re grinding through a stage with multiple shooting positions.
For a complete breakdown of carrier options, check out our Best Shell Carriers for 3-Gun guide, where we compare caddies, belt-mounted carriers, and vest setups.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Shell carrier positioned on weak-hand side of competition belt, showing proper orientation with brass facing up] Alt text: Competition shell carrier mounted on left side of belt showing shells oriented with brass facing the shooter’s thumb
Getting your shotgun into the right position makes everything else easier. Here’s the basic sequence:
This roll-and-tuck method shortens the distance your support hand travels between your belt and the loading port. Less travel distance means faster reloads.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Shooter demonstrating the roll-and-tuck position with shotgun inverted, stock tucked under arm, loading port visible] Alt text: 3-gun competitor holding shotgun inverted with stock tucked under arm, demonstrating proper weak-hand loading position
Start with dual loading before you move to quads. The fundamentals are the same, and building good habits here will make quad loading feel natural when you’re ready.
Step 1: Index your thumb on the shells
Reach to your carrier and place your thumb against the brass end of two shells. Your thumb should only cover about half the brass—this gives you room to pull the shells free without catching on the carrier.
Step 2: Grip the shells at your knuckles
The two shells should rest firmly under your furthest set of knuckles (near your fingertips), not down in your palm. This grip gives you better control during insertion and lets your hand clear the loading port smoothly.
Step 3: Insert with one smooth motion
Push the business end of both shells into the loading port. Don’t stop at the port—follow through with the motion, pushing both shells past the shell catch until you feel them seat. Your hand movement should continue slightly past the port, sweeping toward the forend.
That follow-through accomplishes two things: it ensures the shells are fully seated, and it starts your hand moving back toward the gun for a faster remount.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Close-up of hand gripping two shells properly at the knuckles, showing correct finger position] Alt text: Close-up of shooter’s hand gripping two shotgun shells for dual loading, shells positioned at knuckles rather than palm
Step 4: Remount and engage
Roll the shotgun right-side up and establish your cheek weld. Get a consistent sight picture before moving to your next target or performing another loading cycle.
Once dual loading feels automatic—and I mean truly automatic, not just “pretty good”—you’re ready to add quad loads to your practice.
The mechanics are identical to dual loading. The difference is shell management. You’re now dealing with four shells at once, and they need to cooperate with each other during insertion.
Your shells must be stacked correctly in the carrier. The brass on the second pair of shells needs to sit slightly higher than the first pair. This offset prevents the second pair from catching on the shotgun receiver when you insert the first pair.
If your shells are all at the same height, the rear pair will hang up on the loading port rim. You’ll fumble, lose time, and possibly drop shells. Check your carrier setup before you start drilling.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Shell carrier showing correct staggered height of shells for quad loading] Alt text: Competition shell caddy showing staggered shell heights with rear shells positioned higher than front shells for quad loading
Step 1: Grab four shells
Use the same knuckle-based grip as dual loading, but now you’re grabbing all four shells at once. The pair closest to your palm goes in first.
Step 2: Insert the first pair
Push the front two shells (closest to your palm) into the loading port. As you do this, extend your knuckles slightly to keep the second pair of shells clear of the receiver. Think of it as “opening” your hand just enough to give the rear shells room.
Step 3: Load the second pair
As soon as you feel positive feedback from the shell catch—that click telling you the first pair seated—immediately push the remaining two shells into the port. Complete the same sweeping follow-through motion toward the forend.
Step 4: Decide your next move
At this point you have options:
Dry practice is where this skill gets built. Live fire reinforces it, but the raw mechanics come from repetition without ammunition.
This gives you double the reps in each cycle. Start position ready, roll and tuck, quad load, remount to target, roll and tuck again, quad load, remount. Focus on consistent hand placement each time.
This variation forces you to index differently across your shell carrier. You’re training your hand to find shells at different positions, which matters when you’re mid-stage and your carrier isn’t full anymore.
Set a par time on your shot timer (start with 4 seconds, then work down). On the beep, roll, tuck, and load as many shells as you can before the second beep. Track your consistent round count at each par time.
Pro tip: Film your practice sessions from a rear angle. You’ll catch hand position errors that feel invisible when you’re the one loading.
Gripping shells in your palm instead of at your knuckles. Palm grip feels more secure, but it puts your hand too deep in the loading port and slows your follow-through.
Shells at equal height in the carrier. For quad loading, that rear pair must sit higher. Adjust your carrier setup or switch to a carrier designed specifically for quad loading.
Stopping at the loading port. Follow through every time. That sweeping motion past the port seats the shells and starts your recovery.
Practicing quad loads before dual loads are automatic. Build the foundation first. Sloppy dual loads become sloppier quad loads.
Weak-hand loading works well when you’re stationary or moving to your next position. It keeps your strong hand on the gun and your support hand free to manage shells.
Strong-hand loading—where your trigger hand does the loading—can be faster in certain situations, particularly when you’re already transitioning the gun between positions and your support hand is occupied.
Most competitive shooters develop both skills and choose based on the stage design. A 12-round shotgun array with movement between positions might call for weak-hand loads during movement, then strong-hand loads while stationary at the final position.
Beyond your shell carrier choice, a few other factors affect loading speed:
Loading port modifications: Some shotguns have factory loading ports that fight you on multi-shell loads. A competent gunsmith can open up the port for smoother insertion.
Shell catch tuning: An overly stiff shell catch makes seating shells harder. Too loose, and shells won’t stay put. Find the sweet spot.
Consistent ammunition: Stick with one brand and load for practice. Dimensional differences between brands can throw off your muscle memory.
For carrier recommendations specifically, our shell carrier guide breaks down what works best for different loading styles.
Most shooters can achieve consistent dual loads within 2-3 weeks of daily practice (10-15 minutes per day). Quad loading typically takes another 4-6 weeks after that before it’s match-ready. “Match-ready” means you can execute the technique under time pressure without thinking about mechanics.
Not all carriers support quad loading well. Carriers designed for quad loading have staggered shell heights built into the design. If your carrier holds all shells at the same level, you’ll struggle with the technique. The shell carrier comparison guide covers which options work best for quad loading.
Box-magazine shotguns eliminate the loading question entirely, but they come with trade-offs: higher cost, more weight, and restrictions in some divisions. Tube-fed shotguns with good loading technique remain competitive at the highest levels of 3-gun. Your choice depends on your division, budget, and how much time you want to invest in loading skills.
Strong-hand quad loading is generally considered the fastest technique, but weak-hand quad loading is close and more versatile since it keeps your primary hand on the gun. For most competitors, developing solid weak-hand quad loads will cover 90% of your match needs.
Stock shotguns can work, but most competitors eventually modify the loading port, shell catch, and sometimes the carrier latch. These modifications make multi-shell loading smoother and faster. Start with your stock gun to learn the fundamentals, then modify based on what’s giving you trouble.
Have questions about shotgun loading or want to share your own tips? Drop a comment below or find us at your next match.
