Waterfowl Plugs

[Fatherroger]

I have a recently acquired Remington 870 Wingmaster, 20 gauge. It does not have a waterfowl plug. I think I should be aboe to make one with a piece of dowel rod--but I am wondering if someone out there can give me dimensions--i.e diameter and length of dowel rod. You can reply to me at [email protected]. Many thanks.

 

[ArmedBear]

That's not a good idea.

The Remington part costs a few bucks and is usually available at Wal-Mart.

A dowel holds water and rusts the magazine tube if it gets wet.

That's one reason they switched to plastic.

 

[MCgunner]

I've used dowel. Just measure the length of the number of rounds you wish to take up, 2? Cut to length, install, and test. 2 of the 2 3/4" rounds would be 5.5". Actually, that'd work for 3", too.

Yeah, plastic is better. Waterfowling is often wet and usually over water.

 

[rcmodel]

Get a plastic dowel rod?

Small PVC pipe = Most excellent.

But I'd check at Wallyworld sporting goods first.

They only cost three bucks.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduc...ce=froogle&utm_medium=free&utm_campaign=10636

rc

 

[oneounceload]

If you're not going to go the factory part, then a pvc piece to the correct length would be the second best idea........

 

[foghornl]

I lost the plug to my Maverick 88. I found a Butler Creek brand that had the dimensions on the package to cut-to-length for many shotgun brands/models. Less than $5.

Bets the heck outta what it will cost you if the Game-N-Fish Guys catch you with an un-plugged gun.

 

[Bailey Boat]

Let's make sure we stay on the right side of the green man, the plug isn't just for waterfowl, it's for ANY migratory bird....... Doves, Geese, swans, etc. etc.

 

[juk]

My buddy has been using a twig for 4 years now...

 

[Virginian]

For the first 25 years the plugs in 1100s and 870s were wood anyway, and none of mine are a bit rusty.

 

[batex]

+1 on what Virginian said...I purchased an older Wingmaster earlier this year and it has a nicely turned wooden plug in it. This gun was probably at least 25-30 years old with no rust whatsoever. I think a wood plug finished with a poly or oil finish would work just fine.

 

[Pete409]

A wooden plug will work just fine. Plastic will work too. The plug needs to be small enough in diameter to fit inside the coil magazine spring. It's nice if the head of the plug fits just outside the spring (but inside the tube) since that will keep it from sliding up and down in the tube when the magazine has fewer than 2 rounds in it.

The plug needs to be long enough to prevent more than 2 rounds of either 2 3/4" or 3" or 3 1/2" shells from being inserted into the tube. If you don't have a wooden dowel handy and don't want to take the time to whittle one from a tree limb or broom stick, try a BIC ballpoint pen. It's just under 6" in length with the plastic cap on it. A Sharpie pen should work too and it's about 5 1/2" long.

Whatever you use, be sure to check that it prevents the insertion of more than 2 rounds into the magazine before taking the gun hunting for migratory birds.

 

[PCGS65]

Waterfowl hunting isn't always wet.

 

[Badger Arms]

For the first 25 years the plugs in 1100s and 870s were wood anyway, and none of mine are a bit rusty.

+2 on this.

 

[Virginian]

Or, you can use an unsharpened wooden pencil 5" long and slip it thru the hole in the spring retainer. If you keep your eyes open you should have plenty of time to do that before the game warden walks out to your pit blind. Just something I heard of.

 

[MCgunner]

Waterfowl hunting isn't always wet.

True. An' I ain't gotta worry about plugs shooting an H&R single shot 10 gauge.

 

[Pete409]

Or, you can use an unsharpened wooden pencil 5" long and slip it thru the hole in the spring retainer.

If the plug can be inserted or removed without at least partial disassembly of the gun, then it is not properly plugged. If all you had to do was remove the magazine end cap to insert or remove the plug, then I'm not sure that would be properly plugged.

Whether the game warden would check this or not is anyone's guess. Personally, I'd rather be on the safe side and use a plug that required removal of the spring retainer and forend in addition to the magazine cap.

That's just my cautious nature. You can do as you like. Personally, since I can load additional shells into an autoloader very quickly, I don't see the need in taking a chance on getting a ticket and perhaps getting your gun confiscated.

 

[MCgunner]

I've had my pumps checked many times in the field and all they've ever done is stick shells in it to see if it'll hold more'n 2 in the mag. I plugged my 870 Wingmaster with a small dowel and I've even seen guys use sticks as previously alluded to. LOL

To me, taking the cap off is partial disassembly. On my Mossberg, a little plastic plug fits through the hole where the barrel screws on, designed that way. You pull the barrel screw, or mag cap nut on an 870, the barrel is loose and will come off.

I've never had the plug out of my Mossberg. It's my main marsh gun, duck shooter. My Winchester auto only holds 2 in the mag by design.

 

[rcmodel]

My buddy had a corn stalk plug in his Model 12 for years.

Finally an over-zelous fish & game agent managed to force three shells in it by breaking the corn stalk!
Then wrote him up.

F&G Guy must have had a Super-Thumb was all we could figure.

rc

 

[waterhouse]

I use a Bic pen a few years ago when borrowing someone's shotgun for a duck hunt.

The factory part is cheap and it works, but in a pinch lots of things will satisfy the law.

 

[MCgunner]

Don't expect to have time to plug the gun when you see the GW, let me tell ya that! I was on a pothole one year, finished up with my last bird of a 6 bird limit (at the time) by 8:30, unloaded, set the gun down in the grass and started picking up deeks. Last deek I turned around to walk back and there stood a federal warden. It was like the guy materialized via star trek transporter.

He checks the gun, the birds, the license, the steel shot rounds, yadda, yadda. I'm cool, he says "Anyone down there on three?" to which I replied yes. He walked on off to pull the same thing on that guy.

Lots of tall reeds and marsh grasses out there like Spartina alterniflora to hide in, I guess.

 

[rcmodel]

IMO: Anyone who feels the need to hunt waterfowl without a plug in the gun, thinking they can outwit a game warden, needs to enroll in the next Hunter Safety class for kids in your area.

They teach a little thing called Hunter Ethics & Sportsmanship, along with gun safety.

rc

 

[MCgunner]

Well, and besides, a third shot is rarely successful. I mean, why have 6 rounds on tap? Dumb. I find a double barrel or even a single shot about as productive on waterfowl. The second shot is sometimes useful and successful, but a third is rarely necessary or needed, just a waste of ammo.