Thread for discussing FN SLP products

CleverNickname · 2009-07-27 14:48:53

I'd rather not go with a competing brand of shotshell carrier, as I really like the Sureshell I have on my Remington 870, but it doesn't appear as if you offer a Sureshell for the SLP.

Last edited by CleverNickname (2009-07-27 14:49:30)

mitch · 2009-07-28 07:19:36

We've already come up with a couple designs for the FN SLP and prototyped one of them.

But the shotgun has very little market share. We might be interested in doing something if we could get the support of FN USA, but they so far appear to be lukewarm on the idea (we've tried to discuss it with them during the last two SHOT Shows).

We've also prototyped a nifty Picatinny rail system that replaces the front magazine shroud.

CleverNickname · 2009-07-28 17:10:31

mitch wrote:

We've also prototyped a nifty Picatinny rail system that replaces the front magazine shroud.

Well hey that's another thing that I'd like to see too. FN has their own design for a part like this, but they've pushed back the release date twice since January and I don't know if it's ever going to be released, even though it's still listed on their website.

Creeper · 2009-07-29 17:32:52

Hi Clever... just tossing out an idea for you.

This would be some work on your part, but perhaps you could track down enough SLP owners that would be willing to participate in a "group buy".

I don't know what Mitch's minimum numbers are to make a profitable, or at least "break-even-able" run of product, but I'm sure he'd be willing to toss out a ballpark quantity and cost for you to ponder.

If you've never organized a group buy before, all you need to do is...
1. start a thread in every forum you can think of asking for verbal commitments to the product.
2. see if you can find LEOs who's departments have purchased them as well and find out if they'd like to participate. This works better if you know some LEOs.
3. see if you can track down what dealers or distributors have purhcased them, have them in inventory... and might want accessories for them. (To be honest, I don't expect much from this last source)

Once you have commitments, Mitch might be more receptive to making what you want.

C

mitch · 2009-07-30 06:34:18

When we start making a new SureShell product, we begin by producing about 2,500 brackets, which we would like to go through in less than two years.

bianchi59 · 2009-07-30 16:33:42

Evening,I for one would be interested in a trirail and perhaps a side saddle. Spoke with Bob @ FN and Someone from Bert's gunshop in Md. they think there will be a tri rail out in Aug/Sept 09. Said they had a few but fn wanted them back for some unknown reason. Perhapse time to light the fire again? Keep me posted, please.

mitch · 2009-07-31 09:13:35

If we get some interest from FN USA we might move forward with something like this.

We angled the rails so that accessories didn't stick out from the sides so much. There's no need for a ventral rail, as the shroud is too far forward to mount a forward grip.

Last edited by mitch (2009-07-31 09:13:45)

mitch · 2009-12-23 10:07:50

We recently had a request from a Federal agency, so we put together a prototype SureShell carrier to see what they think. We're about to send it out today, but we took some photos before packaging it up:

The prototype is secured to the receiver using a couple of bolts, but if we go into production we will use our custom Chicago screws as we do with the SureShell carriers for Mossberg.

mitch · 2009-12-23 10:12:33

I'd like to make this a thread where we discuss the possibility of producing products for the FN SLP. Again, at this writing we have not committed to making anything, but if we get enough interest from LE agencies it will certainly prod us along.

We continued playing with the magazine shroud idea illustrated above. The Federal LE agency we mentioned were looking for something like that, but since the forend is so long they needed a rail that could go back further. So this was our proposal:

Even the plastic prototype is a little heavier than we like. We are going to send it to the agency to see what they think. It's a fragile piece, and we will probably never see it again.

Another idea we are toying with is a magazine shroud that simply features attachment points for rails as desired. This should reduce weight, since there won't be side rails except when and where you need them (the the bottom rail would be part of the extrusion).

CleverNickname · 2009-12-26 14:42:16

Is there not room for a 7th shell on the shell holder? It looks like there might be room for another shell on the front of the receiver in your picture.

I like the extended rails on the mag tube. Have you thought about attaching the rails to the handguard instead? It might be easier to attach them that way. Either make a complete replacement handguard with a shroud that extends forward around the factory mag tube and then rails attached to the shroud or just make rails that could be attached to the factory handguard. Also, making the rails part of the handguard would allow including an integral quick-detach sling socket on the rail, which I don't think you could do with the rails as part of the mag tube.

CleverNickname · 2009-12-26 14:54:45

Also, will any of your barrel and magazine clamps work with the SLP? The product page http://www.mesatactical.com/index.php?id=58 doesn't indicate which models/brands of shotguns they work with.

mitch · 2009-12-28 08:52:33

CleverNickname,

Our SureShell carrier system is based on three shell yoke designs, four-shot, six-shot and eight-shot. We machine hundreds or thousands of yokes every month and fit them to whatever application-specific brackets are required. This gives us economies of scale and also makes it relatively easy for us to support additional platforms: we just develop a new bracket.

Our six-shot carriers are the most popular size, on all platforms. The eight-shot is just a bit too heavy and bulky for most folks, and except with competition applications, six additional shells is pretty much all most folks need anyway.

We won't be supplying a "kit" for attaching rails to the handguard, as this would require drilling holes in the handguard and would go against our "no gunsmithing" principle. However, we offer a line of "adapter mount" Picatinny rails that are actually general purpose, any one of them could be mounted to any handguard or forend by drilling holes and putting #10 nuts behind the holes.

Our magazine clamps and barrel clamps are for the Remington 870 only at this time, though they also happen to fit the Mossberg 930 as well. We might start making some for other platforms in 2010.

There are a lot more details available about these and other products in our catalog, much more than can be found on the website, which needs to be updated.

You can download the latest catalog here:

http://www.mesatactical.com/index.php?s … load&id=45

cgilman4 · 2009-12-28 14:41:40

I got my SLP Mk 1 a few weeks ago and have been having incredible difficulty finding a side saddle and rail. The only company I've found that has ever made a rigid side saddle for the Win SX 2/Browning Gold (same receiver as the SLP) no longer produced them and FN has only ever shipped their tri-rail for the SLP Mk1 to Bart's Sports in Maryland, who is heavily backordered. If you guys were to produce any of these Sureshell carriers or rails shown above (but for the Mk 1), I would gladly buy one of each.

mitch · 2009-12-29 09:28:06

I am corresponding with the Federal agency about this (and they are reading this thread, I think). To be honest, we are just looking for an excuse to support a new platform with our SureShell carriers, so we don't need that much of a nudge.

We have an SLP here at the shop, not a Mk I. Judging from the photos, it would appear the shell carriers would fit on both, but our magazine shroud rail would be too short for the Mk I. Could someone with a Mk I measure the magazine shroud and tell us how long it is (not including the rear indexing lug)?

cgilman4 · 2009-12-29 13:56:57

The shroud on a Mk 1 is 9.5 inches.

mitch · 2009-12-30 07:55:38

cgilman4 wrote:

The shroud on a Mk 1 is 9.5 inches.

Thank you very much.

mitch · 2009-12-30 08:32:15

I started a new thread relating to securing our adapter mount rails to factory forends here.

cgilman4 · 2009-12-30 15:55:20

I actually managed to track down one of the FN made Tri-Rails for the SLP Mk 1 today. Still holding out for one of your SureShell carriers for it though.

mitch · 2009-12-31 10:30:14

cgilman4 wrote:

I actually managed to track down one of the FN made Tri-Rails for the SLP Mk 1 today. Still holding out for one of your SureShell carriers for it though.

What's it look like? Can we get a photo?

cgilman4 · 2010-01-01 12:50:02

I'll gladly post a picture for you guys once I get it. It's being shipped.

arizona98tj · 2010-01-09 17:35:49

Mitch,

I picked up a FN SLP Mk1 today.

Having previously purchased a SureShell carrier, for my Benelli SuperNova, from you, I look forward to being able to do the same for my SLP Mk1.

Nudge.....nudge.....

Thanks.......Stu
www.stu-offroad.com

Last edited by arizona98tj (2010-01-09 17:42:51)

cgilman4 · 2010-01-11 21:23:41

Pics of the FN made rail for the SLP Mk1:

mitch · 2010-01-12 06:53:06

Thanks for the pics!

Man, that looks expensive to machine, with those annular bosses that support the screw holes. We might be able to make the one prototyped above for an MSRP of about $80-90, from an extrusion.

We are still waiting to hear back from that Federal agency on what they think of our prototype. It's not something they really need very badly at this moment, though.

cgilman4 · 2010-01-12 08:41:42

It certainly isn't cheap to buy either. They go for $120. But it's worth it. I've almost got my shotgun finished. I've added the tri-rail, Surefire X300 light, Magpul single point sling, C-More red dot sight and a Trulock breaching choke. Now the only thing I need is a side saddle and I'll be all set.

Last edited by cgilman4 (2010-01-12 14:56:06)

rino451 · 2010-01-13 19:04:45

I too just got an SLP and am looking for a side saddle as well. Has anyone asked on the 3-gun forums about interest in a sidesaddle for the SLP, SX2/3 and Browning Gold? I bet that there's be some interest.

Mesa Tactical Forum

#1 2009-07-27 14:48:53

Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#2 2009-07-28 07:19:36

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#3 2009-07-28 17:10:31

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#4 2009-07-29 17:32:52

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#5 2009-07-30 06:34:18

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#6 2009-07-30 16:33:42

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#7 2009-07-31 09:13:35

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#8 2009-12-23 10:07:50

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#9 2009-12-23 10:12:33

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#10 2009-12-26 14:42:16

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#11 2009-12-26 14:54:45

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#12 2009-12-28 08:52:33

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#13 2009-12-28 14:41:40

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#14 2009-12-29 09:28:06

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#15 2009-12-29 13:56:57

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#16 2009-12-30 07:55:38

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#17 2009-12-30 08:32:15

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#18 2009-12-30 15:55:20

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#19 2009-12-31 10:30:14

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#20 2010-01-01 12:50:02

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#21 2010-01-09 17:35:49

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#22 2010-01-11 21:23:41

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#23 2010-01-12 06:53:06

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#24 2010-01-12 08:41:42

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

#25 2010-01-13 19:04:45

Re: Thread for discussing FN SLP products

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