Plug mandatory?

[Schuetze]

I am sure this has been discussed but I couldn't find the answer after a few minutes of searching the forum. I recently moved to California and was told that the 3-round max. plug is required to be in a shotgun at all times. I thought that was only the case when hunting. Can someone clarify for me?

Thanks!

[RAMCHARGER]

Just for hunting.

[ysr_racer]

Yep what he said.

[raven290]

It's just for hunting, but it doesn't matter what your hunting like in some states. Plug must be in for all types of animal.

[edgerly779]

plugged for two in magazine 1 in chamber for hunting in Ca, 3 max. capacity

[mjsweims]

If you are shooting in an area where hunting is going on it's better to be safe and have the plug in, just in case.

[edgerly779]

^^^^ second this.

[Baxter]

Not all types of hunting. Coyotes it can be out

[crackerman]

It's just for hunting, but it doesn't matter what your hunting like in some states. Plug must be in for all types of animal.

plugged for two in magazine 1 in chamber for hunting in Ca, 3 max. capacity

If you are shooting in an area where hunting is going on it's better to be safe and have the plug in, just in case.

Not all types of hunting. Coyotes it can be out

Now I am not going to say FUD persay but lots of inaccurate or guessing information is floating around in this thread.
The maximum capacity for “normal” shotguns is 10 rounds. That is from the Large capacity magazine law. (Normal = tubefed lever actions since those have some other rules I don’t know much about)

None of the hunting rules apply if you are not hunting. So shooting in an area where hunting is going on is vague at best and wholly unnecessary. If the warden thinks you are hunting and don’t have a license the plug ticket is the least of your worries, have fun with the poaching charges. There is an wilderness area that I hunt that has BLM backed right upto it, but the warden is going to know what you are doing regarding shooting targets or birds.

Back to capcity, no where in the general Fish and game code does it specify a maximum capacity for a hunting gun. What IT DOES DO is place limits depending on the type of anumal you are going for.

incapable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined holding not more than three shells firing single slugs may be used for the taking of deer, bear and wild pigs. In areas where the discharge of rifles or shotguns with slugs is prohibited by county ordinance, shotguns capable of holding not more than three shells incapable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined

So that whole wall of text gives you that 3 shells only matters for Migratory Birds, Resident Small game and Big game (all defined elsewhere in the FGC). So unless 1) you are hunting and 2) only hunting those 3 things, capacity in a shotgun in CA is 10 rounds max.

That said everyone of my shotguns except my HD guns wears a plug all the time so I am never caught with my pants down out there, because I would rather make a warden contact boring and short then have them need to ask more questions then hello and check the plug.

TL;DR 10 round max in shotguns unless hunting, if hunting do more research.

[YZINGERR]

Δ nailed it

[ysr_racer]

So no plug, right?

[YZINGERR]

So no plug, right?

Correct, unless you are hunting as specified above

[ysr_racer]

So yes plug?

[Newshooter]

I have a hell of a time getting that 3rd shell in my over/under

[crackerman]

So no plug, right?

So yes plug?

Butt Plug

I have a hell of a time getting that 3rd shell in my over/under

Put a 20g shell in first then the 12 (NEVER REALLY DO THIS!)

Sometimes I hate you guys