Approved method for limiting shells for hunting

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Mum-O-Killowe

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Hi guys. I'm an American with permanent residence in Canada. I was looking at buying a shotgun (just passed my restricted and non restricted) and the 3 shell waterfowl limit got me to wondering. What is the approved method for limiting the number of shells in a shotgun for hunting use? Back home I seem to recall guys just cutting a wooden dowel rod and inserting it into the pumps tube. What is done (and legal) here?

Thanks,

Mum-O-Killowe
 
When I bought my Rem. 870 new(about 40 years ago), that's how they had it plugged.
I don't think they've changed the way since then.
And welcome to CGN.
 
This will likely be covered in your hunter education course. I can't speak for your province of hunting, since you have not stated it, but around here, a shotgun would have to be plugged as standard procedure. Most new shotguns actually come with the plug when you buy them. If you need one, they are very inexpesive. (Plastic is better than wood for this, as wood absorbs moisture, encourages rust, and can warp/twist/crack inside the gun).
 
Wooden dowels are fine.
Cut to length.
Uncle Mikes or some such suppliers have the plastic
ones for around $5.00.
Cut to length also.
 
I'm in Alberta. I have no plans for hunting but it just came in in conversation with a friend who advised against me purchasing a Remington 870 Express Tactical 12 Gauge as it "held too many shells for hunting." I more had intro level 3 gun in mind myself but I was curious of the answer.

Thanks again,
 
Pretty much any shotgun out there with a magazine will hold more than you're allowed for hunting. The simple, old fashioned plug is the universal solution, has been since basically forever ago.

Legally, they don't really care HOW you do it, so long as the magazine's capacity is correct.
 
Legally, they don't really care HOW you do it, so long as the magazine's capacity is correct.
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I think most Conservation Officers will be looking for a limiting method that involves some dis-assembly of the gun (magazine tube), not necessarily with tools. Plug behind the follower is the gold standard.

For instance, if you put a couple of empty shells or dummy rounds in the mag. and then the live ammo on top, that's a no-go. Too easy to pump out the limiters and load up extra, either accidentally or not so much.

A lot of it is up to the mood and discretion of the particular CO who finds you, and the vagaries of the Provincial Regulations plus how they train the COs there; the Hunter Safety Course for the jurisdiction should have accepted practices. An extra hard-ass CO can look at you shooting 3,5" shells, but your buddy in the blind has 2,75" on his vest, so that puts *you* over because you can fit an extra one of those in.
 
Mum-O-Killowe said:
I'm in Alberta. I have no plans for hunting but it just came in in conversation with a friend who advised against me purchasing a Remington 870 Express Tactical 12 Gauge as it "held too many shells for hunting." I more had intro level 3 gun in mind myself but I was curious of the answer.

Thanks again,
Click to expand...

If you aren't planning on hunting then there is no reason to worry about magazine capacity in a pump shotgun.
 
Just buy a length of dowel, remove the magazine tube cap, load 2 shells, insert the dowel and cut to fit. But as mentioned before, plastic would be better.
Clint
 
Wooden dowels work but can attract moisture and rust the inside of your magazine tube. Most new hunting shotguns come with a plastic plug already factory installed. Any hunting store should sell plastic plugs that can be cut to suit your gun.
 
This was quite a few years ago but my dad got stopped by a warden when they were heading in duck hunting.The warden actually checked to make sure the magazines would only hold the 2 shells and when he got to dad's,no plug.They were out skeet shooting the weekend before and he forgot to put the plug back in.The game warden was very good about it and told him he either somehow plug it or go home and he wouldn't charge him.The warden than even gave him a pencil and helped him cut it the right size.That being said they don't care what you use as long as it's plugged.
 
A few years back, I was holding the fort at a local detachment one evening. A fellow from the US came in and told me he had been given a ticket by a game warden because his old pump held the third shell in the magazine. The plug had become worn down over the years and would actually take the third shell.

Nothing would convince the warden to make an allowance. The fellow explained that he had not even thought to try a third round. He knew the Canadian regulations and certainly didn't want to lose his hunting privilege in Canada. He also explained something to do with Ducks Unlimited and a supper coming up. I forget now how that went. I marched him over to the Justice of the Peace and had the ticket withdrawn and canceled.

One happy American hunter. Probably a game warden somewhere not so happy.
 
Mum-O-Killowe said:
I'm in Alberta. I have no plans for hunting but it just came in in conversation with a friend who advised against me purchasing a Remington 870 Express Tactical 12 Gauge as it "held too many shells for hunting." I more had intro level 3 gun in mind myself but I was curious of the answer.

Thanks again,
Click to expand...

here is the thing , as long as your are NOT hunting migratory game birds , you do not have to limit the mag capacity of your shotgun .

in other words if you happen to be hunting deer , or just packing a shot gun for protection ( ie bears ) or just shooting targets , your can have as many rounds as your shotgun will hold ( assuming it isn't a semi auto ... )

as soon as you use it for hunting migratory birds it needs to be limited .
 
Moose308 said:
I can't speak for your province of hunting, since you have not stated it, but around here, a shotgun would have to be plugged as standard procedure.
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The limitation of a maximum capacity of shells being three 2 3/4" shells is in the Federal Migratory Game Bird regulations. If the firearm is a 3 1/2" super mag then the Canadian ones are limited to two 2 3/4" or two 3" or one 3 1/2" in the tube from factory. I know, I had one. I was able to remove and shave the plastic dowel so that two 3 1/2" barely fit (and I mean barely) while still being unable to ram a third 2 3/4" shell in it (the three combined was 3/16" too long).

The best option for a limiter is to look at the gun first: the Maverick I just sold only had a tiny hole in the tube end and thus could only take a factory plastic 'pencil' while a Remington I had was totally open after barrel removal, and thus a large plug came from factory. Once you know: use a plug... or pencil dowel.
 
kennymo said:
Wooden dowels work but can attract moisture and rust the inside of your magazine tube. Most new hunting shotguns come with a plastic plug already factory installed. Any hunting store should sell plastic plugs that can be cut to suit your gun.
Click to expand...

This ^

There is a purpose built plug.
 
Aniest said:
The limitation of a maximum capacity of shells being three 2 3/4" shells is in the Federal Migratory Game Bird regulations. If the firearm is a 3 1/2" super mag then the Canadian ones are limited to two 2 3/4" or two 3" or one 3 1/2" in the tube from factory. I know, I had one. I was able to remove and shave the plastic dowel so that two 3 1/2" barely fit (and I mean barely) while still being unable to ram a third 2 3/4" shell in it (the three combined was 3/16" too long).

.
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huh?

ummmm.....no.
 
burnt_servo said:
here is the thing , as long as your are NOT hunting migratory game birds , you do not have to limit the mag capacity of your shotgun .

in other words if you happen to be hunting deer , or just packing a shot gun for protection ( ie bears ) or just shooting targets , your can have as many rounds as your shotgun will hold ( assuming it isn't a semi auto ... )

as soon as you use it for hunting migratory birds it needs to be limited .
Click to expand...

this is not correct for ontario. even when hunting deer with semi or pump they must be plugged not to hold more than 3 rounds in total.

regulations below page 25

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@fw/documents/document/239841.pdf
 
svergas said:
this is not correct for ontario. even when hunting deer with semi or pump they must be plugged not to hold more than 3 rounds in total.

regulations below page 25

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@fw/documents/document/239841.pdf
Click to expand...


I took a look at it , and this is what I saw "

You must plug a semi-automatic or repeating shotgun so
that it will not hold more than a total of three shells in the
chamber and magazine combined "

I read it this as a restriction only on semi auto's , not bolt action , slide action / pump , and lever action shot guns .

no offense intended , but Ontario is special , in a short bus kind of way , in many of their regulations and how things appear to be enforced over there .

besides the op is in alberta
 
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