Does the KelTec KS7 12 Gauge Pump Shotgun Need a Magazine Plug?

As this correspondent considered the Keltec KS7 as a potential hunting shotgun, it became evident that a magazine plug would be required to legally hunt migratory game birds, such as ducks, geese, and mourning doves.

KelTec KS7 12 Gauge Pump Shotgun

Shotguns, which are used to hunt migratory birds, are limited to three shots, including shells in the magazine. As the Keltec KS7 will hold seven 2.75-inch shells in the magazine, a magazine plug is necessary for legally hunting those birds.

Three loaded 2.75-inch shells require about 7 inches of magazine space. Two 3-inch loaded shells require about 5.6 inches of magazine space. A 12-inch plug made from a 1/4 inch wooden dowel in the magazine tube of my Keltec KS7 blocks the third 2.75-inch loaded shell with about a 1/4 inch to spare. It allows two loaded 3-inch shells with room to spare. A dowel between 12 and 13 inches long and 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter appears to work very well. They are narrow enough to fit inside the magazine spring, and both long and short enough to allow two three-inch shells and block three 2.75-inch shells.

There is not much stress on magazine plugs. They can be made from a variety of materials. Wooden dowels, plastic rods, plastic tubes, aluminum tubes, and fiberglass rods have been successfully used. Because the plugs are relatively loose in the tubular magazine, they can move and make noise. This is one reason to use wood or plastic instead of metal. Metal-on-metal makes a more distinct noise, which is undesirable in the hunting field. The material best suited to the author’s Keltec KS7 was made from a damaged plastic Lee cartridge case feeder tube. It is light, sturdy, and makes little noise when installed.

Commercial magazine plugs are available for those who prefer not to create their own.  The Allen Universal Shotgun Plug has good online reviews.

Installing a Plug in the KelTec KS7 Shotgun

When removing the magazine cap from the Keltec shotgun, be careful. The magazine spring is under tension. Be sure to keep control of the cap as it comes off.

Any shotgun can be used for hunting. The Keltec doesn’t have a choke from the factory, but people used cylinder bore for hunting for hundreds of years before chokes became common. Chokes on shotguns became common after breechloading shotguns became common.

With a cylinder bore, this correspondent would limit shots on birds to 25 yards or less. For dove, using #9 shot is sufficient, and would extend the practical range to 30 yards. The Keltec may not be the ultimate hunting shotgun. Many hunters are willing to handicap themselves a bit to increase the challenge. This is one of the reasons bow hunting and handgun hunting are popular. The Keltec adds a certain “wow” factor that draws attention to those who find pleasure in such things. Using specialty shot, such as Tungsten Super Shot, is said to give excellent long-range patterns, even with a cylinder bore.

To increase the practical range without spending $10 per shot, there are aftermarket choke adapters and a choke adapter from Keltec. With the use of a red dot sight and a choke adapter, the Keltec KS7 has the practical range of any shotgun using the same ammunition.  One of the advantages of hunting with a self-defense shotgun is testing the firearm and becoming familiar with it in practical use. This is difficult to do in the confines of one’s abode, at least with live ammunition. When hunting pests or non-migratory birds, or perhaps squirrels or rabbits, that do not require the 3-round minimums, a hunter could make full use of the KS7’s magazine capacity and practice reloading under field conditions.

Most states do not limit magazine capacity for hunting big game. Some only limit magazines for auto-loaders. Several hunters tout the KS7 for hunting feral hogs. Many find the sights that come with the Keltec KS7 to be adequate for hunting. The old eyes of this correspondent did not. An optical sight would overcome that disability.

A career of testing military equipment revealed that much can happen in field conditions that is not found on the target range.

Live Inventory Price Checker

	Kel-Tec KS7 Pump-Action 12 Gauge Shotgun - Black	Rainier Arms	$ 530.00
	Kel-tec KS7 18.5" 12 Gauge Shotgun 3" Pump Action, Parkerized Tan - KS7TAN	Palmetto State Armory	$ 699.99 $ 599.99
	Kel-tec KS7 16" to 18.99" 12 Gauge Shotgun 3" Pump Action, Green - KSG7GRN	Palmetto State Armory	$ 692.99 $ 629.99
	Mossberg 590 9-Shot 20" 12 Gauge Pump Shotgun, Black - 50695	Palmetto State Armory	$ 658.99 $ 598.99

About Dean Weingarten:

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

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