Lever Action Magazine Capacity

[Catpop]

How many lever action hunters fill their tubular magazines to full capacity at the beginning of each deer hunt.
I’ve thought about a number of things if only one round were put in the magazine
1. Less forward weight
2. Ability to use pointed projectiles
3. Less projectile tip damage
4. Less effort to unload after each hunt to make rifle safe at end of hunt.
5. You may have more/ different reasons
I’m just curious
Thanks

 

[Bazoo]

I load to capacity. I often don’t unload if I plan to hunt more. I don’t have to travel to hunt, or hunt with buddies so that plays into my decision. Bear possibility is a factor in loading to capacity. Though remote.

 

[troy fairweather]

5 in the tube because it's the law, probably full if I could. A few rounds in the pocket just in case.

 

[jmr40]

I primarily hunt with bolt rifles that are 4+1 or 5+1 capacity. That is plenty and on the rare occasions I do hunt with one of my lever guns I only load 4 or 5. But I have always carried 10 cartridges with me even though I know I'll never need all of them for hunting.

Never really gave it much thought other than it is faster and easier when it comes time to unload.

There just isn't much advantage to using pointed bullets vs round or flat nose bullets when fired at the speeds you will be getting from any rifle using a tube magazine.

 

[3Crows]

How many lever action hunters fill their tubular magazines to full capacity at the beginning of each deer hunt.
I’ve thought about a number of things if only one round were put in the magazine
1. Less forward weight
2. Ability to use pointed projectiles
3. Less projectile tip damage
4. Less effort to unload after each hunt to make rifle safe at end of hunt.
5. You may have more/ different reasons
I’m just curious
Thanks

This is not going to gain anything really. The Hornady FTX gummy tip bullet is already pointed and is a good deer/hog killer. I load up my Marlin 336 or 1895 to capacity. Pushing the gate down lets the rounds out easy enough. Some feller on the www-tube thinks that a new feature, hmmm. I am okay with and prefer 405 grain HCL in my 1895 rifles but for the 336 .30-30 the FTX is now my preference.

 

[jrmiddleton425]

5 in the tube because it's the law, probably full if I could. A few rounds in the pocket just in case.

That capacity restriction only applies to detachable magazine semi-autos.

CORRECTION: Five in the magazine limit applies to all centerfire semi-autos when hunting.

The limit otherwise is ten rounds, with the exception that there is no capacity limit for tubular magazine .17 and .22 rimfires.

Thanks To @Speedo66 for pointing that out.

 

[Big_Al]

I load up the tube on my 336. No reason for me not to.

 

[Jim Watson]

I like the looks and balance of the half magazine lever actions.
Ought to hold enough to hunt.

 

[.455_Hunter]

My Miroku 1892 button mag carbine in .45 Colt holds 5+1.

Very handy to handle!

With my OCD, it mates up well with the 6 in a .45 Colt Vaquero and an Uncle Mike's ammo holder with 12 spares.

24 rounds of .45 Colt should get you through most situations out exploring the boonies.

 

[Jim Watson]

Henry Stebbins wrote of his father standing by as his hunting companions filled their magazines and strapped on cartridge belts.
He made do with his rolling block and an old glove with a .40-50 in each finger, stuffed in a coat pocket.

 

[Bazoo]

If I hunt the 30-30 rifle, I take 8 in the gun plus extra in my belt slide, either on my belt or in my bag. Do I need them on the farm...no. But I do it because it makes me feel better.

 

[Hokkmike]

How many lever action hunters fill their tubular magazines to full capacity at the beginning of each deer hunt.
I’ve thought about a number of things if only one round were put in the magazine
1. Less forward weight
Maybe a problem. I don't think so much. Most lever guns are short and handy to begin with.
2. Ability to use pointed projectiles
Leverevolution allows you to use pointed cartridges. I have them in 45(LC) I have used them in .30-30 and .32 Win Special. Pointed are unnecessary anyway,
3. Less projectile tip damage
Negligible if any. The recoil of these calibers is not that great, especially the pistol calibers.
4. Less effort to unload after each hunt to make rifle safe at end of hunt.
Some people don't like cross bolt/tang safeties, but they do allow you to also safely unload lever action rifles. I might also add, though not for beginners, pointing the gun in a safe direction while cycling rounds out through a rifle with no safety has been done for years and years.
5. You may have more/ different reasons
My standard practice is too load 5 cartridges, The rifle holds 10. I actually think and competent hunter should be OK with 3.
I’m just curious
A fun topic - thanks...
Thanks

 

[FL-NC]

My rifles get 3-4 rounds in them when I hunt, regardless of type or capacity. Except when pig hunting with the AR. A full 20.

 

[Speedo66]

That capacity restriction only applies to detachable magazine semi-autos.

No mention of detachable magazines in the NY laws, when I inquired I was told my SKS with a non detachable magazine would be legal if restricted to 5 rounds in the magazine.

From the NY official site:

Manner of Taking
It is illegal to take or hunt wildlife:

• with any semi-automatic firearm with a capacity to hold more than 6 rounds, EXCEPT the following semi-automatic firearms:
  1. firearms using .22 or .17 caliber rimfire ammunition, or
  2. firearms altered to reduce their capacity to no more than 6 shells at one time in the magazine and chamber combined

 

[greyling22]

To the op's point, how many times have you gotten a 2nd shot when hunting, much less a 3rd or 4th. (Excepting getting in a whole mess of hogs)

 

[Risky buisness]

If using my lever guns, the magazine is full.
The only 1 rnd using spitzer thing does not interest me, as im qute happy with using a repeating rifle and with the flat, or round nose projectiles i use Im quite confident of their abilitys. And, if a spitzer was nessasary, for what ever reason, the Hornady flex tips are fine. Im not concerned with a bit of extra forend weight, as for me a, little muzzle heavy rifle tends to be more accurate. Using less effort to unload the rifle? If that's really a concern, Browning sells a magazine fed lever action that essentially fits the counter point of your post, having less forend weight, it's able to use spitzers, and that ever popular, less effort to unload.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I'm about to pick up a single-shot lever action - simply because I don't have one... .

 

[jrmiddleton425]

No mention of detachable magazines in the NY laws, when I inquired I was told my SKS with a non detachable magazine would be legal if restricted to 5 rounds in the magazine.

From the NY official site:

Manner of Taking
It is illegal to take or hunt wildlife:

• with any semi-automatic firearm with a capacity to hold more than 6 rounds, EXCEPT the following semi-automatic firearms:
  1. firearms using .22 or .17 caliber rimfire ammunition, or
  2. firearms altered to reduce their capacity to no more than 6 shells at one time in the magazine and chamber combined

Yeah. So I had a brain fart.

 

[BigBlue 94]

No mention of detachable magazines in the NY laws, when I inquired I was told my SKS with a non detachable magazine would be legal if restricted to 5 rounds in the magazine.

From the NY official site:

Manner of Taking
It is illegal to take or hunt wildlife:

• with any semi-automatic firearm with a capacity to hold more than 6 rounds, EXCEPT the following semi-automatic firearms:
  1. firearms using .22 or .17 caliber rimfire ammunition, or
  2. firearms altered to reduce their capacity to no more than 6 shells at one time in the magazine and chamber combined

To my understanding, 5 rounds total is KS law. Only 3 in shotguns for doves.

Which means my ruger 96 with 10rd detachable mag is out... As is my 1873 in 32-20 with a 30" magazine tube. It holds 17 rounds!

 

[Speedo66]

To my understanding, 5 rounds total is KS law. Only 3 in shotguns for doves.

Which means my ruger 96 with 10rd detachable mag is out... As is my 1873 in 32-20 with a 30" magazine tube. It holds 17 rounds!

I took a quick look at KS regulations, and it looks like when they okayed any certerfire rifle or pistol cartridge for hunting some years back, they also did away with magazine restrictions.

Again, this was just a quick look, but a few people talked about that.

 

[BigBlue 94]

I took a quick look at KS regulations, and it looks like when they okayed any certerfire rifle or pistol cartridge for hunting some years back, they also did away with magazine restrictions.

Again, this was just a quick look, but a few people talked about that.

I knew of the allowance of centerfire 22 caliber for deer. I havent looked at the regs for a while.

 

[adcoch1]

I usually only load three in any rifle except a single shot, but that's because I commonly hunt little patches of woods and then hop in the truck to the next clearcut or woods patch. No loaded guns in the vehicle in Washington, but I always have at least 10 rounds on me in case I lose a magazine or something. I hate levering 10 rounds out of a lever gun every couple hours. It sucks.

 

[Remington1911]

For some reason I just can't get any in the tube on my Savage 99, not sure why. Also never had an issue with pointy bullets.

But like others said 5, with a few in my pocket. Not really sure why, I have only ever needed 1.

 

[jmorris]

The only one it seems I ever hunt with has been full of ammunition since I bought it. Shoot, refill, repeat.

Even full of ammunition it’s like carrying a fishing pole vs the suppressed AR with a thermal on it, that I would normally have.

 

[Varminterror]

To my understanding, 5 rounds total is KS law. Only 3 in shotguns for doves.

I took a quick look at KS regulations, and it looks like when they okayed any certerfire rifle or pistol cartridge for hunting some years back, they also did away with magazine restrictions.

Again, this was just a quick look, but a few people talked about that.

I knew of the allowance of centerfire 22 caliber for deer. I havent looked at the regs for a while.

Kansas law for at LEAST 22 years has NOT included any magazine restriction for any firearm with the exception of compliance with the FEDERAL law limiting magazines for migratory birds (dove, geese, ducks).

For some reason, there remains a Mandela Effect popular in KS that we have mag limit laws. This is a common discussion point which comes up in almost every Hunter’s safety education class in which I’ve ever participated - and guys will stand tall claiming such a law exists to our other students, when it simply doesn’t (same way with 223/5.56 not being legal, semi-autos not being legal, suppressors not being legal…)

I mention 22 years here not because the mag limit law changed 22yrs ago, but rather that it was the first time I confirmed in the “big book” that no such limitation existed, as well as calling the Law Enforcement HQ in Pratt. Knowing there was no such law, I hunted with an SKS at the time, but unfortunately, an under-educated warden spotted me in a stand with the rifle, then walked out into the field to make an unlawful stop. Challenging his knowledge in the field, he quickly realized no such limit was listed in our annual tri-fold regulation summary we used to issue, so he dug out his “big book” which also confirmed no such law existed, and further called Pratt to confirm before finally yielding - the LE division director responding at the time stated no such law had ever existed during his tenure, despite so many folks believing it to be true.

You can read KS 115-4-4 online right now on the KSoutdoors.com site. We don’t even have minimum case length or minimum caliber requirements for big game any more in KS, which we DID have prior to the 2000’s. Life is pretty simple in Kansas.