Magazine capacity for big game hunting.

[Ripper]

I recently purchased an AR style rifle in 308 that I intend to use for hunting. It came with a 20 round magazine and the person at a local firearm dealership said that it is illegal to use a 20 round magazine and that I would need to find a 5 round mag for hunting. I certainly don't need a 20 round mag for hunting but I looked it up in the regs and it says that there is no restriction on magazine capacity for big game hunting. Am I missing something? I don't want to break any laws for sure. I have 2 20 round mags now and I don't want to spend the extra money on a 5 rounder if it's not necessary. I only plan on loading 4 or 5 cartridges anyway since it usually only takes 1. The other 3 or 4 are just for yotes and cougars.        Thanks for any info.

[grundy53]

No. There is no capacity limit. The person who told you that doesn't have a clue.

[deerhunter_98520]

 

[JimmyHoffa]

No limit in Washington.  If you got it in Oregon or if they thought you were hunting as a tribal member of certain tribes in Washington, then semi-autos are limited.  But not under WDFW regs.

[jeffro]

Spend 15 bucks on a 5 or 10 rounder, just to save on weight and bulk if nothing else.

 

[jackelope]

Spend 15 bucks on a 5 or 10 rounder, just to save on weight and bulk if nothing else.

 

Agreed. I don't think I'd want the additional bulk of one of those big mags getting in the way of everything.

[Halo]

One of my hunting partners had a semi-auto Remington .308 and he got a 10 round mag for it. I gave him a hard time about it telling him it just takes 1 round. His reply was ya and it might be that one right there at the bottom of the clip.  I was with him once when I wasn't counting but I think that may have been the case.   

[Bigshooter]

No. There is no capacity limit. The person who told you that doesn't have a clue.

 

[JimmyHoffa]

Maybe the gun guy was trying to fool you so he could sell you a 5 rd mag.

[MooseStock]

I believe that was a regulation many years ago (5 round max) but it apparently changed a number of years ago.....Les

[Falcon]

The shotgun  rule is 3.
And if you break that rule and get busted the fine is really steep as it should be.

[bobcat]

The 3 shot limit in shotguns is only for bird hunting. If you're using a shotgun for big game, go ahead and take the plug out.

[kentrek]

Spend 15 bucks on a 5 or 10 rounder, just to save on weight and bulk if nothing else.

 

Agreed. I don't think I'd want the additional bulk of one of those big mags getting in the way of everything.

  packing around ten bullets on the rifle is no fun....i dont even like 5....

[bobcat]

Might be handy if you're hunting in wolf territory!

[YoterHunter]

Get a 5 or 10 round clip. I have both for my 6.8.   But if your a bad shot then go with the 20 rounds

[Ripper]

No, I'm actually a pretty good shot. I would never lug it around the hills with 10-20 rounds in it, way to heavy. 3-5 would be plenty. I think I will shop around for a 5 round mag just to save weight.

[Dan-o]

I believe that was a regulation many years ago (5 round max) but it apparently changed a number of years ago.....Les

That's what I remember.   It was a bunch of years ago that they dropped this rule.

[GrainfedMuley]

Believe it or not but an AK with open sights makes a great brush gun., .30 cal bullets and a short barrel, yes I have used a full thirty round mag. It's really not that heavy. I have never even come close to using thirty rounds, but where I hunt there are big cats and bears. You never know if you may need to take care of an aggressive kitty.   

[Jingles]

The shotgun  rule is 3.
And if you break that rule and get busted the fine is really steep as it should be.

Brings up the question WHY is the shotgun limited to 3 rounds when bird hunting?

[magnumb]

The 3 shot limit in shotguns is only for bird hunting. If you're using a shotgun for big game, go ahead and take the plug out.

...."big game".....to include home defense..... .

[magnumb]

Less is certainly better when more ends up not being needed, but how many of us carry around extra mags for either our CCW's or while big game huntin'......?  I do.

Whether a 'good shot' or not, the time that you've completely convinced yourself of your exceptional shooting abilities and you only carry the 3 of the 5 that you earlier considered, will be the time that buck, bull or bear turns to stone and an additional few rounds would now come in real handy rather than an empty and a few ounces  lighter shirt or pants pocket.

Not advocating for a full 20 or 30 rounder, but since part of the issue seems to be not wanting to put out the extra $ for a 5 or 10 rounder, at least load and/or carry twice what you might consider a liberally sensible, minimum amount of rounds. 

You'll possibly appreciate those few extra rounds as you're hunkered down with that animal you shot just prior to 0 dark thirty while you now find yourself waiting for the first light of a new day to navigate your way out or perhaps an animal will appreciate the fact that you carried along those several extra insurance rounds when he's down, but far from out, and he's waiting on you to do him justice.

Never a good or prudent reason to only carry as few rounds as the last 20 seasons might have shown necessary, but all the reason in the world to believe that Murphy doesn't feel like taking that particular day off.

[BigGoonTuna]

The shotgun  rule is 3.
And if you break that rule and get busted the fine is really steep as it should be.

Brings up the question WHY is the shotgun limited to 3 rounds when bird hunting?

i know in most states that it only applies to waterfowl, because of the migratory bird treaty(federal regs).  for some reason washington limits you to 3 for ALL bird hunting.

[Bofire]

  :)I have a 5 round and like it for hunting, not the weight but it dosen't stick out so far, the 20 and thirty are cool but bulky.
Carl

[Ripper]

Good points magnumb. I do carry extra rounds with me in my pack always and a 9 round bullet holder on my stock. I've been hunting with a Thompson Pro hunter for so long now that the thought of having more than one ready to go is foreign to me. I guess if I had 10-20 in the magazine then I wouldn't have to carry the extra in my pack. Something to think about.

[Smoke]

any responsible hunter won't take a questionable shot and will wait for the right time... one shot one kill...  yes carry a few extra rounds if you feel the need, or for that kill shot when that first shot doesn't quite do the job....  but if ya need 20 plus rounds???  put the gun away and go home...

[GrainfedMuley]

any responsible hunter won't take a questionable shot and will wait for the right time... one shot one kill...  yes carry a few extra rounds if you feel the need, or for that kill shot when that first shot doesn't quite do the job....  but if ya need 20 plus rounds???  put the gun away and go home...

Carrying extra rounds, like stated above, is not always for the animal you are hunting. Lions and tigers and bears oh my...........................oh and a pack of wolves

[Dan-o]

any responsible hunter won't take a questionable shot and will wait for the right time... one shot one kill...  yes carry a few extra rounds if you feel the need, or for that kill shot when that first shot doesn't quite do the job....  but if ya need 20 plus rounds???  put the gun away and go home...

I think if I hunt with my AR, I'll use my 40-round magazines and a doubler.

Plus I can have 1 in the tube.

I should be able to get it with the first 81 shots.

Of course, I'll take a spare mag or two, in case a kill shot is needed.

[birddogdad]

clip may come in handy when that pack of wolves attacks you coming off the mountain.....

nah that would never happen..   

[luvmystang67]

Shhh... just dont tell everyone.  Its better if people think its already a rule.  Restrictions suck.

I shot my bear this year with a 26 round clip.  Shot twice, hit it once in the heart (first shot).  The rest was just weight and got in the way when I was trying to find a good rest.

[JimmyHoffa]

any responsible hunter won't take a questionable shot and will wait for the right time... one shot one kill...  yes carry a few extra rounds if you feel the need, or for that kill shot when that first shot doesn't quite do the job....  but if ya need 20 plus rounds???  put the gun away and go home...

Do bow hunters carry more than one or two arrows?

[luvmystang67]

any responsible hunter won't take a questionable shot and will wait for the right time... one shot one kill...  yes carry a few extra rounds if you feel the need, or for that kill shot when that first shot doesn't quite do the job....  but if ya need 20 plus rounds???  put the gun away and go home...

Do bow hunters carry more than one or two arrows?

I usually rock a hi-cap quiver (bow clip)

[csaaphill]

I recently purchased an AR style rifle in 308 that I intend to use for hunting. It came with a 20 round magazine and the person at a local firearm dealership said that it is illegal to use a 20 round magazine and that I would need to find a 5 round mag for hunting. I certainly don't need a 20 round mag for hunting but I looked it up in the regs and it says that there is no restriction on magazine capacity for big game hunting. Am I missing something? I don't want to break any laws for sure. I have 2 20 round mags now and I don't want to spend the extra money on a 5 rounder if it's not necessary. I only plan on loading 4 or 5 cartridges anyway since it usually only takes 1. The other 3 or 4 are just for yotes and cougars.        Thanks for any info.

The guy was obviously stateing his opinion through what he thought is the law or wants it to be. I hunted with a mac 90 once and did use a 5 round magazine, but could of used the 30 round I had.

[sled]

clip may come in handy when that pack of wolves attacks you coming off the mountain.....

nah that would never happen..   

or tweekers......

[GrainfedMuley]

I recently purchased an AR style rifle in 308 that I intend to use for hunting. It came with a 20 round magazine and the person at a local firearm dealership said that it is illegal to use a 20 round magazine and that I would need to find a 5 round mag for hunting. I certainly don't need a 20 round mag for hunting but I looked it up in the regs and it says that there is no restriction on magazine capacity for big game hunting. Am I missing something? I don't want to break any laws for sure. I have 2 20 round mags now and I don't want to spend the extra money on a 5 rounder if it's not necessary. I only plan on loading 4 or 5 cartridges anyway since it usually only takes 1. The other 3 or 4 are just for yotes and cougars.        Thanks for any info.

The guy was obviously stateing his opinion through what he thought is the law or wants it to be. I hunted with a mac 90 once and did use a 5 round magazine, but could of used the 30 round I had.

A MAK-90 is just an AK imported during the Clinton ban. Mak-90 stands for modified AK after 1990. Like I said before, an AK makes a great brush gun. I now a guy who killed a deer with a SKS which is the same caliber. They use a .30 caliber bullet.

[Ripper]

I agree that if you need 20 rounds to kill your intended quarry then you should stay home and watch ice skating. There are a lot of other critters out there as mentioned that you need to be prepared for. I will use a 10 round clip, that way I will have a few coyote killers in the mag plus bear and cougar rounds, wolf protection and the thing that scares me the most..............thanks sled,.......tweeker protection! Those guy's are walking zombies and they seem to be multiplying at an alarming rate!

Yup, a 10 round mag with another in my pack. Thanks for all the input guy's, huntwa comes through again.

[Biggerhammer]

"Clip".



"Magazine".




 

[GrainfedMuley]

A magazine is something you read.......................................

[cbond3318]

I always make a perfect first shot and they drop like a bag of 50 cal rounds but I usually pack anywhere from 15 to 25 rounds, not because I need them but because I like to stand my deer back up and shoot it again. Been that way since I can member...

[Biggerhammer]

I always make a perfect first shot and they drop like a bag of 50 cal rounds but I usually pack anywhere from 15 to 25 rounds, not because I need them but because I like to stand my deer back up and shoot it again. Been that way since I can member...

Way cool!

[Ripper]

 Biggerhammer,  That clip needs to be orange or camo. Pink wont cut it in the woods.   

[Biggerhammer]

Biggerhammer,  That clip needs to be orange or camo. Pink wont cut it in the woods.   

I thought it went well with my muzzle brake attire? You know "Muzzle brakes being for wusses" and all.

[coachcw]

accuracy by volume !