That moment where you realize you might be an idiot!

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twofewscrews

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For a bit of fun,

So, I recently bought a Maverick 88 as my first shotgun. I took her home, read the manual, racked her a couple times and went to bed. Over the next week I looked at the manual a few times over and then took her to the range. To my horror I found she only accepted two round instead of five. I searched the internet for how to fix what and what to replace parts with. I posted on this very forum and got an answer. A wooden dowel is used to plug the magazine tube for bird hunting. Removed the dowel.

Today I was trying to figure out if the tang safety on the Mossberg 500 makes it harder to disassemble then the Maverick 88 which has a cross bolt safety. I went to Mossberg's site and downloaded a 500 manual for the schematics and then I reread my 88 manual. I found this line on the fourth page of the 88 manual:

Note: to comply with U.S. migratory birds, six shot models are shipped with a wooden dowel inserted into the magazine tube which limits magazine capacity to two (2) shells.

Either I didn't read the manual as thoroughly as I should have or I think I am a better reader then I really am. It was at that moment that I realized I might be an idiot. Either way, next time I get a new firearm, I'm not only going to read the manual, I'm going to copy it word for word so I don't miss anything.

Thanks to all the people who refrained from telling me to just read the manual.
Remember, there are no dumb questions, but there are dumb answers.
 
Yeah but when I RTM, I find I have to skip the first 10 pages of safety nanny warnings before you get to any of the meat of it. And, then I sometimes find out that it is not as detailed as I need to figure out where to put the left over parts. Not implying I would disassemble and then RTM to figure out why I can't put it back together, Ok, well, maybe I have done this once or twice.

Remember experience is that thing you get, just moments after you needed it.

d
 
A wooden dowel is used to plug the magazine tube for bird hunting.
Thanks to all the people who refrained from telling me to just read the manual.
Yep, and not to be a wise guy, but it sounds like you'll need to read the "manual" (the hunting regulations) before using your new shotgun for "bird hunting" as well. A "plug" is required for some types of bird hunting, like migratory waterfowl hunting, but it's not required for all types of bird hunting. Here in Idaho, a "plug" is not required in your shotgun for pheasant, sharp tail, mountain grouse or chucker hunting.:)
For that matter, we're allowed to hunt mountain grouse with .22s or air rifles/pistols here, and I've legally killed a good many of them by using the big game rifle I was carrying at the time to "clip" their heads off. However, talk about feeling like an "idiot" - shoot a little low, catching a ruffed grouse in the chest with a 30-06.:eek: There won't be enough "bird" left to take back to camp.:oops:
 
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Been there, done that. Got the t-shirt and still didn't RTFM! :rofl: I recall taking apart my 1897 at the kitchen table one night to change a couple springs. Three hours and a lot of cursing later, I had it back together. And don't even get me started on replacing the mag spring in my Model 12! Probably shoulda read a schematic or some instructions... "we don't need no stinking manual"... but I did!

However, talk about feeling like an "idiot" - shoot a little low, catching a ruffed grouse in the chest with a 30-06.

That's sorta like shooting a squirrel or rabbit with a 30-30... you better be a damn good shot or you're gonna have mess! Ask me how I know....

Mac
 
My problem is never having the dang plug when I need one. I’m guilty of going to the hardware store a few times when away from home for a hunt. Now I keep 2 or 3 in the vehicle at all times. I hate to admit it but they occasionally put some interesting information in those manuals.
 
For a bit of fun,

So, I recently bought a Maverick 88 as my first shotgun. I took her home, read the manual, racked her a couple times and went to bed. Over the next week I looked at the manual a few times over and then took her to the range. To my horror I found she only accepted two round instead of five. I searched the internet for how to fix what and what to replace parts with. I posted on this very forum and got an answer. A wooden dowel is used to plug the magazine tube for bird hunting. Removed the dowel.

Today I was trying to figure out if the tang safety on the Mossberg 500 makes it harder to disassemble then the Maverick 88 which has a cross bolt safety. I went to Mossberg's site and downloaded a 500 manual for the schematics and then I reread my 88 manual. I found this line on the fourth page of the 88 manual:

Note: to comply with U.S. migratory birds, six shot models are shipped with a wooden dowel inserted into the magazine tube which limits magazine capacity to two (2) shells.

Either I didn't read the manual as thoroughly as I should have or I think I am a better reader then I really am. It was at that moment that I realized I might be an idiot. Either way, next time I get a new firearm, I'm not only going to read the manual, I'm going to copy it word for word so I don't miss anything.

Thanks to all the people who refrained from telling me to just read the manual.
Remember, there are no dumb questions, but there are dumb answers.
Men don't read manuals so this stuff happens
 
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