Explain magazine capacities to me.

Nickel Plated · August 14, 2012, 06:51 PM

This is gonna be a noob question.

I've been looking at shotguns recently and I'm getting kind of confused at how manufacturers label their magazine capacities. For instance, manufacturers will label their gun as having a capacity of 6 shots. However some mean that as 6 in the mag and 1 in the chamber (6+1) whereas some mean that as the total capacity (5+1). Also I'm sure the type of shell (2 3/4" or 3") will also affect how many you can fit in a mag, and they never specify which size they use when advertising the capacity.

So if I wanted a shotgun with a capacity of 6+1 using 2 3/4" shells that would be an 18" barrel with a mag tube flush with the muzzle?

Dfariswheel · August 14, 2012, 08:03 PM

Most companies list capacity with 2 3/4" shells.

You have to read the fine print on magazine capacity versus magazine AND chamber capacity, manufacturers may list it differently.

"Usually" a 6 +1 shot capacity gun will be flush with an 18" barrel.

Lee Lapin · August 15, 2012, 06:52 AM

So if I wanted a shotgun with a capacity of 6+1 using 2 3/4" shells that would be an 18" barrel with a mag tube flush with the muzzle?

That will differ from manufacture to manufacturer, as action/receiver lengths also have some influence on this equation.

Worrying overmuch about magazine capacity in a shotgun is a 'noob' thing too 8^). No magazine is ever big enough. One of the critical skills with a fighting shotgun is learning how to load the thing on the fly, and developing confidence in your ability to load under pressure will alleviate most concerns with magazine capacity.

EAJ702 · August 15, 2012, 01:15 PM

Example - Remington 870 with 18" barrel and mag extension. Magazine capacity is six 2 3/4" shells, +1 in the chamber.

Nickel Plated · August 15, 2012, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Worrying overmuch about magazine capacity in a shotgun is a 'noob' thing too 8^). No magazine is ever big enough. One of the critical skills with a fighting shotgun is learning how to load the thing on the fly, and developing confidence in your ability to load under pressure will alleviate most concerns with magazine capacity.

"Worrying" is too strong a word. I'm well aware that skill is much more important than an extra round or two in the gun, and that without skill, all the ammo in the world won't save you. But this isn't for a fighting gun, more of a "just for fun" shotgun. And I always felt that a shotgun is "supposed" to have 6+1 rounds. Just like a revolver is "supposed" to have 6 rounds. Anything else is just weird. Call it OCD if you want, but I want 6+1

August 14, 2012, 06:51 PM	#1
Nickel Plated Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NYC Posts: 610	Explain magazine capacities to me. This is gonna be a noob question. I've been looking at shotguns recently and I'm getting kind of confused at how manufacturers label their magazine capacities. For instance, manufacturers will label their gun as having a capacity of 6 shots. However some mean that as 6 in the mag and 1 in the chamber (6+1) whereas some mean that as the total capacity (5+1). Also I'm sure the type of shell (2 3/4" or 3") will also affect how many you can fit in a mag, and they never specify which size they use when advertising the capacity. So if I wanted a shotgun with a capacity of 6+1 using 2 3/4" shells that would be an 18" barrel with a mag tube flush with the muzzle?

August 15, 2012, 06:52 AM	#3
Lee Lapin Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2004 Location: SE NC Posts: 1,239	So if I wanted a shotgun with a capacity of 6+1 using 2 3/4" shells that would be an 18" barrel with a mag tube flush with the muzzle? That will differ from manufacture to manufacturer, as action/receiver lengths also have some influence on this equation. Worrying overmuch about magazine capacity in a shotgun is a 'noob' thing too 8^). No magazine is ever big enough. One of the critical skills with a fighting shotgun is learning how to load the thing on the fly, and developing confidence in your ability to load under pressure will alleviate most concerns with magazine capacity. __________________ Mindset - Skillset - Toolset. In that order! Attitude and skill will get you through times of no gear, better than gear will get you through times of no attitude and no skill.

August 14, 2012, 08:03 PM	#2
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Most companies list capacity with 2 3/4" shells. You have to read the fine print on magazine capacity versus magazine AND chamber capacity, manufacturers may list it differently. "Usually" a 6 +1 shot capacity gun will be flush with an 18" barrel.

August 15, 2012, 01:15 PM	#4
EAJ702 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Posts: 448	Example - Remington 870 with 18" barrel and mag extension. Magazine capacity is six 2 3/4" shells, +1 in the chamber.