Using 870HD for dove

Status
Not open for further replies.
3

308win

Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2003
Messages
2,919
Location
Ohio - The Heart of it All
I am going to try my 870HD with cylinder barrel on dove; what is length of magazine plug required to reduce capacity to two 23/4" or 3" shells? I am going to use 5/8" dowel rod and am looking for approximate length of plug as a starting point; too lazy to measure I guess. I also bought a rifled barrel and will using same gun with that barrel for deer season.

I figure this will be a good way to get a lot of practice with how this gun points, shoot, etc. and kill two birds with one stone so to speak.
 
Last edited:
You will be very disappointed with the rifled barrel patterns.

Big holes in the center due to the rifling spin.

rcmodel
 
The barrel that I will be using on dove is the cylinder barrel that the gun comes with. So, the question du jour is: Approximately how long should I initially cut the plug to reduce the magazine capacity to two 23/4" or 3" shells?
 
308win,
I do not have the exact measurements.
Being honest, I am not real keen on trusting measurements as if a honest mistake was made, one is still in real trouble if a Game Warden were able to get another shell in the chamber.
Now one not only gets popped for Federal, also State regulation violations.

With so many folks using extended mags now-a-days, it is just too easy to make a honest mistake.

I suggest:

Following safety rules of course.

PVC or Wooden Dowels make great plugs.
Get two 2 3/4" shells or Dummies or Snap caps
Remove Mag spring.
Drop in both shells and then PVC/ wooden dowel.

Measure twice, cut once.

Now function check gun for reliability.
Triple check you cannot get another shell in the Mag.

Plug fits inside mag spring of course.

We always kept PVC with cutters handy , or Dowels with a small saw, to deal with folks needing plugs.
PVC is actually better and easier to mess with.
Especially in regard to Waterfowl Hunting.

HTH
 
By trial....and error.

308Win,

While there are tabled specifications, just give it a go by trial and error; I've shot the hair off of a couple of 870s; I'd start with 7" and cut from there til you get the mag to accept no more than 2 @ 2 3/4. SM's recommendation for PVC is a good one; I choose hot water line as it's thicker.

Regarding the cylinder barrel, by my humble opinion, cylinder is a broadcast pattern. Brother, I shoot LOTSA dove; they do not regularly present ranges inside of 30 yards. At 25+ yards, you will have precious few pellets left in any central concentration. I don't know if you've options beyond that cylinder, but a modified accords pattern density sufficient to knock the bird down at 25 to even 45+ yards while opening it up enough to optimize your likelihood of hit.

If you want more recommendations on how I fill my bag, I'd gladly share. I shoot a LOT of dove, Brother.

--Bryant
 
AA - I normally use a 20ga with a modified choke. But, I need to shoot this 870 and I won't be pass shooting, I will be shooting over a water hole or jump shooting in a weed field so the cylinder bore should be OK. I am going to take my 20ga along as back up if I am not knocking them down. The pvc is an idea as it wouldn't attract moisture.
 
I usually end up grabbing one of the wife's plastic coat hangers and using a section of the bottom of the triangle. Works great and they are abundant around the house.

I'd start with 7" and cut from there
Click to expand...

For the 870HD with the extended magazine still installed 7" seems a bit short. Or am I misunderstanding and the OP will be switching out to a regular magazine cap?
 
Ranting - I had one of those in my hand this morning and it never clicked but it would work. The magazine holds 6 3" shells so it seems to me that if I started with a 121/2" plug I should only have to trim it once. SM is right, I don't need the hassle of a game warden being able to gorilla three 23/4" shells into the magazine as I suspect the extended magazine will draw their attention if anything would. The more I think about it the more the PVC solution seems the way to go; I may even fill it with the expanding foam insulation to add some rigidity and cap both ends.
 
Yup.

.308Win,

The RantingRedNeck is correct; I failed to read in your post that twas the 870HD; 7 inches will not cover a 7 shot mag; regrets.

As for jump shooting and over a water hole, yup, I got it. Enjoy. :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top