Mesa Tactical SureShell Aluminum 6-Shot Sidesaddle (Remington 870)

The Mesa Tactical SureShell sidesaddle is the most-installed receiver-mounted shell carrier for the Remington 870, 1100, and 11-87. It puts six 12-gauge shells on the left side of the receiver where they can be stripped for an emergency reload without breaking the firing grip or fishing through a pocket. With the factory 5+1 magazine on an Express Tactical, a Wilson +2 extension, and a six-round sidesaddle, total on-gun capacity reaches 14 rounds without any belt or pouch storage.

Installation uses the factory trigger pin holes: pop out the trigger pins, slide the sidesaddle plate over the receiver, and reinstall the longer pins included in the kit. No drilling or permanent modification is required, and the carrier is fully reversible. The 870 SureShell is available in two body materials. The aluminum version (model 90460, ~$87) is the standard for duty and high-volume range use because the rigid aluminum plate does not flex under recoil and the shell loops are mechanically anchored. The polymer version (model 94740, ~$64) is roughly $20 cheaper and 2 oz lighter, and is the right choice for casual home-defense builds where weight savings matters more than absolute rigidity.

Both versions use the same elastic shell loops, which grip 12-gauge hulls firmly enough to survive recoil but not so tightly that you can't pull a shell one-handed under stress. Loop life is roughly 2-5 years of regular use; replacement loops are sold separately for around $15 if a card wears out. Mesa also offers the SureShell with an integrated Picatinny scope mount (model 94730, ~$119) for shooters who want optic mounting on top of the receiver, although this duplicates the rail real estate that the Aridus CROM provides at lower height.

For most 870 builds, the aluminum 6-shell SureShell is the right pick. The polymer version is the budget alternative; the rail version is for specific use cases. Add an XS Big Dot tritium front sight and an Aridus CROM and the gun has a complete shell-management, optic, and backup-iron-sight setup for under $300 total.