How to plug your shotgun magazine
Installing a plug in a pump action shotgun
Although firearms vary greatly, this advice applies to most pump action shotguns.
Since most firearms are built for the American market, most shotguns come with a plug to limit your shotgun to three shots.
If you don’t have a plug, one can be made from a wooden, plastic or fiberglass dowel. Your shotgun owner’s manual will also describe how to insert a plug.
If you don’t have an owner’s manual, you can usually find one online.
- Remove metal forend (part of gun underneath the barrel, where it's supported by the hand) end cap.
- Insert plug inside magazine spring (If making your own plug measure the magazine and allow for two shells and cut your plug to the appropriate length).
- Reattach metal forend cap
- Check with different-sized dummy (i.e. unloaded) cases to ensure no more than two can enter the magazine.
Installing a plug in a Remington 11-87 semi-automatic
Firearms vary greatly, but this example may help explain what is needed.
Remove metal forend end cap and then forend.
- Remove plastic magazine end cap by inserting a screw driver blade into slot, depress about 50mm, then rotate 90 degrees, then withdraw slowly, (WARNING: contents are now under spring pressure). Detatch plastic cap from magazine spring.
- Insert plug inside magazine spring.
- Insert spring and plug into magazine.
- Secure plastic magazine end-cap. Push it well in again then give it a 90-degree turn to lock it in place. Withdraw screwdriver carefully until you are sure the magazine end-cap is secure (WARNING: contents are again under pressure).
- Assemble forend back onto magazine and screw on metal forend cap to secure it in place.
- Check with different-sized dummy (i.e. unloaded) cases to ensure no more than two can enter the magazine.