[nickinga]

I have a Mossberg 88 Maverick and I'd like to be able to fit more than 3 shells in it (2 in the mag, 1 in the chamber). I've tried unscrewing the the cap under the barrel to see if I could take the plug out but it just removed the barrel. Is there a kit available for this or am I missing something very simple?

Thanks!

[Gary A]

When you screw the cap off, that should expose a retainer which has to be removed to release the magazine spring and the plug. When you remove this, do it slowly and carefully and keep your hand in place to catch it and the spring so they don't just shoot out like a jack-in-the-box. Once the spring has raised, you should be able to see and remove the plug. Then carefully work the spring and retainer back in place and replace the magazine cap. Someone else might explain it better. I don't have a Maverick, but I'm sure it is the same as my Winchester and Remington. Does your owner's manual shed any light? Hope this helps.

[Smitty in CT]

Easiest way to remove the mag plug:

1) Make sure your shoutgun is unloaded.
2) Remove the barrel.
3) Grab the gun by the stock and point it towards the ground.
4) Shake, Shake, Shake, and keep shaking until the mag plug falls out.

The gag plug should just fall out, if it doesn't it may stick out the hole where the barrel screws into, it that case grab it and pull it the rest of the way out.

Make sure if you go hunting to put the plug back in....

[rantingredneck]

I don't have a Maverick, but I'm sure it is the same as my Winchester and Remington

It's not. The Mossberg 500/Maverick 88 has a thumbscrew setup for retaining the barrel. Think of it as a big bolt with the end of the mag tube being the female threaded part. Turning it upside down and shaking is the easiest method. If that fails for some reason, you can strip it all the way down, removing forend and action bars, and then unscrew the mag tube from the receiver. If it doesn't come free by hand pressure or using a rubber strap wrench then heat the receiver area slightly to release the locktite holding it in place.

[Yehen]

Make sure if you go hunting to put the plug back in....

Is there some regulation about ammo capacities during hunting?

[rantingredneck]

For migratory birds, yes. In some states there are capacity limits for other game as well.

[Regolith]

Is there some regulation about ammo capacities during hunting?

If you hunt duck or geese federal law states that your gun can only have a three round total capacity, which means your magazine is limited to two rounds for a tube-fed gun. This is why pretty much any shotgun with a tube magazine ever made comes with a magazine plug.

[Gary A]

"Shake, Shake, Shake, and keep shaking until the mag plug falls out."
"It's not...Turning it upside down and shaking is the easiest method."

Thanks, you guys. I have never used a Mossberg/Maverick. Didn't mean to steer the fella wrong. Just assumed it would be similar. Learn new things alla time.

[foghornl]

Waterfowl and some other gamebirds fall under Federal Rules...3 shots total capacity of your shotgun.

Doves come under the federal rule of 3 shots. Some states also require the 3-shot capacity, too. Ohio rules are 3 shots, slugs only for deer, unless in muzzle-loader season OR handgun hunting, but that is another can-o-worms.