Shotgun charger

A charger for a firearm, comprising:

• a body having defined therein at least first and second cartridge holding areas, the first and second cartridge holding areas being arranged parallel to each other, wherein each of the first and second cartridge holding areas is configured to receive and store cartridges in an end-to-end orientation;
• a first end of the body having a cartridge opening through which cartridges can be loaded into and unloaded from the charger, the first end having a receiver insert shaped to fit into a receiver of the firearm;
• a movable internal diverter positioned in the body and extending at least partway between the first and second cartridge holding areas to separate the first and second cartridge holding areas from each other;
• and
• an advancing member accessible from an exterior of the body, the advancing member having an engaging member extending within the body and configured to contact a cartridge in one of the first and second cartridge holding areas, wherein the advancing member is movable toward the first end in an advancement direction to urge cartridges from a selected one of the first and second cartridge holding areas and out of the cartridge opening and in a reverse direction toward a second end of the body to withdraw the engaging member and move the internal diverter so that the engaging member is aligned with the other of the first and second holding areas.