2 3/4" Shells in 3 1/2" 870

be2man

be2man

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So I was out sighting in my 3 1/2" chambered 870 "Max Gobbler" for the upcoming December Controlled hunt and discovered I can put 3 of the 2 3/4" Challenger slugs into the magazine. This is with the magazine plug in that came with the gun. I assume this is possible because of the room required to hold 2 x 3 1/2" shells in the magazine tube. I sometimes do use and carry 3 1/2" OOO buck, and yes that's a whole other discussion.

So now I'm thinking technically I'm illegal carrying this gun with 2 3/4" slugs with a magazine capacity of 3 even with only 2 in the magazine?

Apparently this is an issue with 3 1/2" 870's and maybe 1187's. Check yours and see. Maybe unlikely but, if you were checked while hunting and the Game Warden was having a bad day, if he could get 3 of 2 3/4" shells into the magazine you may be having a bad day as well.
 
Thats wierd, It should not be able to do that.

Simple math tell us that 2 of the 3 1/2" shells are 7" total. 3 of the 2 3/4 are 8 1/4", so someone must have really sh*t the bed on that one.

Fix it with a piece of wood dowel cut to 7 1/2" and stuff it behind the follower. It should get you buy.

This isnt a problem with my Supernova.
 
be2man said:
So I was out sighting in my 3 1/2" chambered 870 "Max Gobbler" for the upcoming December Controlled hunt and discovered I can put 3 of the 2 3/4" Challenger slugs into the magazine. This is with the magazine plug in that came with the gun. I assume this is possible because of the room required to hold 2 x 3 1/2" shells in the magazine tube. I sometimes do use and carry 3 1/2" OOO buck, and yes that's a whole other discussion.

So now I'm thinking technically I'm illegal carrying this gun with 2 3/4" slugs with a magazine capacity of 3 even with only 2 in the magazine?

Apparently this is an issue with 3 1/2" 870's and maybe 1187's. Check yours and see. Maybe unlikely but, if you were checked while hunting and the Game Warden was having a bad day, if he could get 3 of 2 3/4" shells into the magazine you may be having a bad day as well.
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Not in NB. We are only restricted to 3 rounds or less for waterfowl. Upland and large game have no such restrictions. You would only be at risk hunting waterfowl.

Have you checked with Remington to see if they offer a longer plug?

If no such plug is offered I'd find a piece of dowel or broom handle (something roughly the size of the inside of the mag tube) and cut an appropriate length to put in front of the factory plug (probably an inch would do it). That should solve any potential problem for just pennies!
 
EvilDezel said:
Thats wierd, It should not be able to do that.

Simple math tell us that 2 of the 3 1/2" shells are 7" total. 3 of the 2 3/4 are 8 1/4", so someone must have really sh*t the bed on that one.

Fix it with a piece of wood dowel cut to 7 1/2" and stuff it behind the follower. It should get you buy.

This isnt a problem with my Supernova.
Click to expand...


I think the shell size describes the length of the empty hull after firing. So a two and three-quarter inch shell is shorter than two and three-quarter inches in the magazine.
 
2 3/4 shells are 2 1/2 inches long, unfired, no?

Still, 2 x 3.25 = 6.50
3 x 2.5 = 7.50

Seems like your plug may be an inch too short?
 
X2, never had that issue in my 835 Ultimag. CO's use some kind of measuring device don't they? (Haven't been checked in years). If so even without 2 3/4 on you, you could still be in trouble?
 
Yes, shotshell lengths are for a fired shell. This is because there has to be enough length in the chamber not just for the shell to fit in, but to allow the crimp to open up.

Think more in terms of chamber length than shell length and this will seem more intuitive. For example, 3" shells are so called because they are made to fit a 3" chamber, despite the loaded shell being shorter than 3".
 
I had a friend charged for this same thing in Alberta 25 years ago. He had a 3in 1100 and when he was checked the officer could get a third 2 3/4 shell up the magazine. He had never shot a 2 3/4 shell out of it and was unaware a third one would fit. In the end the crown withdrew the charges because he was not hunting at the time. Get youself a pencil and make a little longer plug.
 
gyates93 said:
Seems like your plug may be an inch too short?
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Makes perfect sense to me. The plug only has to stop that third 3.5" round, the manufacturer leaves a bit of extra room in the mag to be sure you can seat the rounds properly without considering that the extra room is enough to allow a third 2-3/4" round. Make a longer spacer and carry on, I think.


bedrock said:
In the end the crown withdrew the charges because he was not hunting at the time.
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What a pissy CO. That's like busting me for speeding before I leave my driveway in the morning. At least they saw the light and dropped the charges.

Mark
 
MY 870 super mag came with the factory 5 inch plug. It will only allow 2 of the 2-3/4 shotshells to fit in the mag tube. I can also fit only 2 of the 3-1/2 shells if the plug is in.
 
The first thing the wildlife officer checks here is your ammo then he tries to put 3 in the mag of your shotgun. It's routine here in Newfoundland (in my experience).
 
Different brands of shells often have different unfired lengths. As an example, I just measured a few;

2 3/4" shells;

Challenger #7 1/2 Target 2 1/4"
Imperial High Base #5 2 3/8"
Federal 000 Buck 2 5/16"
Imperial SSG 2 1/2"
Federal HP Slug 2 1/4"

FWIW a Federal Steel #4 3" shell is 2 1/2" surprise!!

Hugh
 
So, I did what I should have done in the first place took it apart and had a look. The plastic spring retainer under the magazine cap was cracked on the inside, allowing the tapered end of the plug to push into it an extra 1/4". Likely too many 3.5" Turkey loads. Turned the plug end for end and back to legal.
 
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