Raven Concealment Systems ModuLoader Shotgun Shell Carrier

Have you ever had an idea you thought was utter genius, something no one has come up with before…only to find out later that, yes, it’s already been done? That’s how I feel about Raven Concealment Systems and the ModuLoader. Years ago, a friend of mine was messing around making Kydex holsters and mag pouches, and we talked about building a simple Kydex platform to which we could mount velcro shotgun cards.

It turns out Raven Concealment Systems had this idea long before we did in the form of the ModuLoader. However, it was an idea that didn’t do well at the time, and Raven discontinued the ModuLoader.

Imagine my joy when news drifted into my email inbox that the ModuLoader was back. According to Raven Concealment Systems, the resurgent popularity of shotguns suring the pandemic inspired them to give the product another go.

As I type this, Raven still has ModuLoader kits up for sale. These are a limited run item, and RCS is selling the loader and two five-shot elastic cards for $50.

I grabbed one a couple of weeks ago and before this gets published, I’m buying another one in case they disappear again.

Breaking Down the ModuLoader

The ModuLoader is a two-part system. The first part is the elastic shotshell cards. Raven includes two with your purchase. Each shotshell card holds five rounds of 12 or 20-gauge shells. The back end is covered in Velcro hook material. That hook material allows it to connect to anyplace you have a patch of loop. Ares Gear makes these specific shotshell cards.

The second part of this setup is the ModuLoader platform. This is a polymer panel with a field of hook material you use to attach one of the shotshell cards. Additionally, the platform has two loops you can use to attach the shotshell carrier to your belt.

The idea is simple enough. One shotshell card rides on your shotgun and another on your belt. When you fire the ammunition from your shotgun and from the shotshell card, you can remove the empty card and replace it with the fresh card from your belt. It’s easy, handy, and affordable when compared to similar systems from companies like Aridus Industries.

The ModuLoader In Theory

The general idea might be to replace the empty side-saddle with another side saddle, but that’s a limited way of using the ModuLoader. You could simply carry the ModuLoader as a way to carry belt-mounted ammo if a side-saddle doesn’t work with your gun. Plenty of people still use and enjoy double and single-barrel shotguns, and the ModuLoader offers you some on-the-belt action for quick and intuitive reloads.

On top of that, shotguns fire all sorts of different types of ammo. You can belt-carry slugs and keep buckshot in the side saddle. The chance of using all your shotgun ammo in the gun and side saddle is highly unlikely. However, you might need to switch to a slug, or police and military users might need to switch to breaching rounds.

Heck, I’ve switched from buckshot to turkey shot while hunting in my own clumsy manner. Having a mix of slugs and turkey shot, even No. 4 on my belt, gives me plenty of options to take deer, hogs, turkeys, and coyotes at various ranges. It’s easier to carry ammo on your belt than fishing around in your pocket.

I see a lot of versatility with the ModuLoader.

Putting the ModuLoader Into Action

But theory isn’t good enough. We gotta take things out and beat them down, try them out and see if they’re worthy of your hard-earned dollars. I strapped up the ModuLoader on my 5.11 Matrix belt and put an elastic card on my Mossberg 590A1. Then I headed to the range…and the kitchen.

Actually, I started in the kitchen. Not for a snack, but for a little dry fire practice with some dummy rounds. It’s gone from spring to summer hell here in Florida, so in the middle of a Saturday, I’m not trying to die while reloading.

The dummy rounds do most of the job anyway when reloading shotguns. Loading the cards is tough because the elastic loops are freaking tight. But once in place, they stay there. When it comes time to peel one out and slap it into the loading port, it won’t challenge you. Grip, rip, and load. The Velcro sticks tight and doesn’t give out when peeling a round from the card.

The real magic is obviously removing the carrier from the ModuLoader and slapping it onto the gun. I wish the elastic card had the little paracord pull loops Esstac uses on their cards. Even without the loop, though, it’s easy to tear the card off and replace it with the spare carrier.

At that range, that much ammo allows me to lay down what’s effectively suppressing fire as long as I don’t fat-finger a reload. Ten spare rounds is a lot of ammo for a shotgun, and it’s nice to see more modern and modular reloading options.

Shotgun Nerds Unite

The ModuLoader is an awesome option that provides a way to carry not only spare ammo on your belt, but the ability to take that spare ammo and slap it onto your firearm. I love the idea and think I need at least four more to deck out my battle belt. I guess I better dial in those credit card digits before Dan hits publish.