Question about shotgun

[LiENUS]

I have a mossberg 930 spx that I am in the process of converting to a hunting gun (yeah I know silly but there are a few things i like about it like the extended tube for a flashlight mount.)
In my state I am required to have a plug limiting to 2 shells in the mag so as to limit the gun to 3 shells. This applies to any hunting. My question is in fabricating my plug do i plug the gun to one shell in the mag or two. The 930 if you're not familiar with it is capable of having an additional shell below the bolt. So I can have X many in mag one in chamber one below the bolt. So technically with a plug allowing two rounds in the mag i could have 4 total in the gun. But loading that 4th shell is rather difficult so to plug my mag tube down to one shell seems rather silly as in order to get 3 shells in the gun I'd have to do a silly little dance with it (and risk a ND) every time I load it. So which do I plug it to, 1 in the mag or 2 in the mag?

 

[Magwa45]

Where are you hunting? Even in the People's Republic of Maryland, you get 5 rounds for deer and then you have to use the plug for 1 in the chamber and 2 in the tube for everything else. Sounds kind of funky, why don't you just get a good old 870. I don't know what you are talking about, Mossberg 930 spx?

 

[LiENUS]

the 930 spx is a tacticool autoloader. I have a ithaca model 37 featherlight if i want old school pump (even slamfires). the 930 spx has a m-16 style front sight with fiber optic insert picatinny rail and ghost ring rear sights. Barrel is 18.5" and of course the object of my question extended mag tube capable of holding 7 rounds. I intend to have the barrel threaded for a choke and possibly get the forcing cone reworked if whatever gunsmith I settle on thinks it would be of benefit. I know I could get better accuracy out of an 870 or my model 37 but I want something a bit more fun for my autoloader. Plus the mag tube is of benefit for night coyote hunts (I've got a light mount for it).

I hunt in Louisiana relevant statute for quadrapeds and wild bird
http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=104867

B. No person shall do any of the following:

(3) Take or kill any game bird or wild quadruped with a firearm fitted with any device to deaden or silence the sound of the discharge thereof; or fitted with an infrared sight, laser sight or except as provided in Paragraph (A)(8) of this Section any sighting device which projects a beam of light to the target or otherwise electronically illuminates the target, or device specifically designed to enhance vision at night; or with or by means of an automatic loading or hand operated repeating shotgun capable of holding more than three shells. Any shotgun capable of holding more than three shells shall be plugged with a one-piece filler incapable of removal through the loading end, so as to reduce the capacity of the gun to not more than three shells at one loading.

The law seems to imply I need to plug my mag tube for 1 shell, but that seems kinda silly as loading a shell under the bolt is just asking for an AD.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Virginia just recently changed the law about 3 shells in a gun. It used to apply to all game, now only migratory birds. I would say most certainly you need to plug it to 1 shell in the magazine. I know in Virginia, the Game Wardens would manually check to see how many it can hold.

 

[LiENUS]

hoofan of course the weird thing is from the factory it seems mossberg plugs them to 2 in the magazine. I do intend to ask a game warden here just not sure that I'll ever get a good answer and I hate the idea of doing the dance to get a shell under the bolt every time.

 

[Magwa45]

To each his own. If that is the type of shotgun you like, go for it. But I think an 870 is much better suited for hunting. Recently I got a hold of an old double gun and talk about nice! It is the cat's meow. It is not a slug gun, but for bird shooting or squirrels, it is much nicer than a heavy old pump gun.

 

[LiENUS]

Well I have the auto gun, I have more than one pump and my next purchase will be a H&R Handi Rifle which I intend to get a shotgun barrel for so I'll have a single shot breech loaded shotgun. I like variety and I like having multiple shotguns ready in case friends want to come hunting. The 930 spx isn't that great for hunting with the shorter barrel but I would like to have it ready for hunting and try it out myself. It does have a few advantages, since it's an auto loader and heavy it absorbs a lot more of the recoil so it shoots softer whereas my Ithaca model 37 featherlight kicks like a mule. I'm not particularly afraid of kick but I've got a friend who is always tearing up his shoulder but otherwise can carry the extra weight of the 930 just fine. So a lighter recoil heavier gun would be easier for him to shoot than the lighter gun but heavier recoil pump (or worse, the single shot)

 

[jmr40]

I'd buy a piece of 3/8" dowel rod and cut it to the length that limits your gun to 2 rounds in the magazine. I wouldn't load another below the bolt while hunting. You are following the law by doing this. If you load the fourth round you are not. I have a Benelli that will do the same, but I never load the extra round while hunting.

If you limit the mag to only 1 round you will regret it as soon as the ducks, dove, or whatever you are hunting start coming in fast and you are trying to keep the gun reloaded.

This way you are following the letter (and spirit) of the law.

 

[HOOfan_1]

actually the law as he quoted it says the shotgun cannot be capable of holding more than 3 shells.

 

[Pigspitter]

In Georgia a shotgun can't have more than 3 shells in it unless hunting coyotes or hogs. OP, I'd suggest plugging it so that you can have two in the mag and just not using the extra space.

 

[oneounceload]

You might call Winchester (Browning/FN) and see if they'll simply send you one

 

[Johnny_Come_Lately]

LiENUS

I’m a deputy sheriff in SE Louisiana. FWIW, first my interpretation of the law:
From LRS 56:116.1, sect B, sub (3)

…… or kill any game bird or wild quadruped with a firearm …… or hand operated repeating shotgun capable of holding more than three shells. Any shotgun capable of holding more than three shells shall be plugged with a one-piece filler incapable of removal through the loading end, so as to reduce the capacity of the gun to not more than three shells at one loading…….

Having never held a Mossberg 930 SPX and from your description alone, I make the following assumption:

There are three places on this gun where a round can be considered loaded, though not necessarily ready to shoot, A) One round chambered, ready to shoot, B) One round held in some integral repository in the action assembly and not capable of immediate discharge, C) x number of rounds in a magazine tube not immediately capable of firing.

If my assumption is correct and I happened across you hunting:

I would count one in the chamber as one regardless if one is chambered or not as it is capable of holding a round.

I would count the one within the action assembly as one for the same reason as stated above. Unfortunately, you can’t plug it and the magazine tool as only one plug is allowed.

Then I would check the magazine tube. Any capacity over one would result in a citation.

Now for my feelings about the law:

Within the same statute I don’t seem to recall anything restricting the number of rifle or pistol rounds. That being said, I would guess that the nature of the language is that it was inserted a long time ago to address some forgotten problem real or simply perceived and needs to be revisited.

And finally something to think about:

Would you smash a square peg into a round hole?
Would you squirrel hunt with buckshot,
Would you power a kayak with a merc crusier?

None of those examples really fit, nor does your gun. Outlaw quadrupeds are not only a nuisance but they are dangerous. Be on the safe side and match your gun to you quarry, not for its coolness factor, but its abilities.

My 2 ¢

 

[LiENUS]

Johnny, the design of the gun is the same as a mossberg 935 or 930, the extra spot for the shell isn't specific to a 930 spx. However it occurs to me that the gun is not designed to have a round loaded under the bolt. There is effectively no safe way to load a round there, It's sort of like saying you can fit an extra round by dropping a 20 gauge shell down the barrel then loading an extra 12 gauge round behind it. It's very easy for a nd to happen and ruin your day while loading the extra round. If you're near baton rouge I'd be happy to show you the firearm in question. It's really no different from a mossberg 930 other than the shorter barrel and ghost ring sights though. In fact iirc some people take base 930s and convert them with the sights for hunting. I just also have the extra benefit of having a tube for mounting a light to for night hunting come march.

 

[Johnny_Come_Lately]

In that case I'm not sure. Perhaps your best bet is to call LWF and ask them. It seems like a quick phone call is worth investing verses risking a citation, loss of weapon, etc….
BTW, not blowing you off on seeing the gun and offering an opinion, but an opinion is all it is. However, I highly recommend a call to LWF. As you probably already know SD's don't usually enforce game laws. As a general rule, we leave that to game wardens. If I were to come across a violator, I would probably hold them until LWF arrived. They would then issue any relevant citation.

HTH

 

[LiENUS]

Well I know someone who's brother just finished up academy and I plan to ask him Just haven't run into his sister that I know in a bit. tbh the places I hunt its unlikely I would get a ticket, I hunt on my family's land where the only law enforcement that steps foot on there are people my father knows very well, and I hunt in pointe coupee parish with the local sheriff's family. As long as I'm not doing something grossly illegal, it's unlikely I'll get more of a reaction out of law enforcement in either area other than a chuckle at using a shotgun with such a short barrel for hunting. I just want to be able to loan the shotgun to a friend for a weekend of hunting and not have to worry about him going someplace he'll get it confiscated. Plus being legal is cool.

 

[Johnny_Come_Lately]

If it is the Basic Police Officer P.O.S.T. Academy (the one taught by EBRSO at the LSP headquarters is and it's called CARTA) forget about asking. The only law covered in that course is LRS 14, LRS 32, a smidgen of LRS 40. Been there done that.

You need to talk with someone who knows LRS 56 which is LW law.

As far as hunting with kin folk of the sheriff, if you recall it hasn't been more than a few days since a south Louisana sheriff himself, a police chief and quite a few others like them were arrested.

That being said, this has gone from asking for friendly advice to figuring out how to skirt the law. That being said, I wish you well as you need no further advice as you seem to have everything figured out.

My 2 cents

 

[LiENUS]

Just an update, got ahold of the guy with LA DWLF. He's got a few more weeks till he finishes academy (much longer academy than most law enforcement positions he entered In the beginning of November iirc) but he said they covered it already. the LA DWLF is aware you can float an extra round but as long as the mag tube is plugged for 2 and they don't catch you floating an extra round they don't issue citations for it.