Side Saddle Woes

[Tyrantresister]

Have had a tacstar side saddle on my 870 for a few years now. A reoccurring problem I have had with it is that it keeps shooting itself loose. The threads on the inside of the aluminum base plate are stripped from all the heavy recoil abuse, I guess. I am considering purchasing a messa tactical saddle as a replacement.

However, that is provided that this side saddle doesn’t have the same problem as the tac star. How do I know that the threads on the unit won't strip just as easily as the tac star? After all, the tacstar base plate is aluminum just as the messa's is. If the aluminum threading on the tac star can get stripped through the recoil, why wouldn't the messa's?

I'd hate to pay double for a replacement upgrade only to have the same problem happen again.

Also, can the messa side saddle accept the same screws as the tac star in regards to screwing the saddle to the receiver? I have my tac star's screws finished to match the rest of my gun, and I'd hate to have to redo that.

[MrMurphy]

Use Loctite.

[Tyrantresister]

If I loctight it, what if I want to break the gun down later or clean the trigger housing?

[JohnJak]

Loctite has a few different types to be used.

[TKM]

What does Tacstar have to say about it?

[EddieMossberg]

Did you put on the little retaining nut when you installed it? I didn't the first time around and had the same problem, until I realized I had left that tiny little nut out. It is rock solid now after a couple years of abuse.

[Tyrantresister]

The 870 version doens't have one of those.

[DT]

The mesa tactical uses screws which screw into the retaining pins not the plate so you will not have the same problem.

[EddieMossberg]

Originally posted by Tyrantresister
The 870 version doens't have one of those.
Oh, I didn't know that. For what it's worth, I've used Loctite on Tac-Star saddles before and it's not that difficult to break the seal to remove the screws. There will be some residue left on the surfaces though. I used Loctite on both of mine.

[Gunfixr]

I use the 3-Gun Gear sidesaddle that Dillon sells on my 870. It holds 7 rounds instead of 6, and velcros on. You very thoroughly clean the side of the receiver and attach the velcro base (it has it's own glue), and then the sidesaddle just hangs on. You cut clearance holes in the base so you can access the factory trigger group pins for disassembly. If you don't want it on today, just peel it off, and the base remains. You could have extras with different types of shells in them and just swap them out in seconds. No screws or other crap. I like it very much.

[Tyrantresister]

I wonder how durable and reliable the glue and nylon shell loops are?

[glockdoc21]

they're plenty durable, they just slide up the buttstock, and your shotgun looks like a 90 year old man who's socks have lost their elastic and fallen around his ankles....

[walangkatapat]

Originally posted by Tyrantresister
I wonder how durable and reliable the glue and nylon shell loops are?

They are sewn in. Give it a try they're not that expensive: 3 gun gear (http://dillonprecision.com/template/p.cfm?maj=59&min=2&dyn=1&CFID=2212932&CFTOKEN=81180676)

[BayouSlide]

My TacStar sidesaddle lost a couple of screws the first time it was subjected to a heavy shooting session. Some blue Loctite on the screws and it's remained tight on my 870 ever since.

[WellArmedSheep]

Blue Loctite is what you want to use...it isn't real hard to break free like red loctite would be.