Question on 12 gauge shotgun capacity

Quick question if one of you guys can answer for me. I'm reading that my Remington 870 currently has a 3 shell capacity. My question is does this mean that the capacity of "three total" means one in the chamber (correct me if wrong terminology) and 2 in the magazine? Or should the "capacity" listed mean 3 in the magazine which would mean it's really 3+1 if you load one into the chamber?

I picked up some dummy shells off amazon to just to practice safe loading and unloading with and I can only fit two shells in the magazine tube. The third one only goes in half way. The magazine plug was very long if I recall. I'm at work so I can't break down the whole thing and it was late when I opened the package of dummy shells last night.

EDIT
I know there are magazine tube extensions to go up to 7 + shells but I don't really need that personally. Just two in the tube and one chambered seemed a little light.

 

Should be 3+1. Capacity usually refers to mag size.

Make sure you're using 2-3/4" shells, longer ones will obviously not fit to full capacity.

 

That's what I thought on the shell size, but I checked the product and it said it's 2-3/4'' so I will take the mag tube apart and see what's up.

 

Check for a magazine plug in the tube. Most Remington's are 3 in the tube and one in the chamber. Also Remington added dimples to the tubes to make adding extensions a pain in the ass on the Express and some other models. Needs a gunsmith or someone with Dremel skills...

 

Thanks. Maybe I'll play it safe and just take it by a gunsmith if I can't clear the problem.

 

I thought most 870s were 4 in the tube and one in the chamber unless they were plugged to the federal waterfowl 3 plus 1

 

Just double checked your right should be 4 in the mag on most 870 models. My bad.

 

This is what I felt like the gun was set up for. Either way something is wrong.

I'll update with how it goes.

 

Unscrew the cap and look and see if there is a dowel or a plastic piece in there.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sho...ved=0ahUKEwjnz_PBr5fRAhXHJiYKHXtDBeMQ_AUIBygC

 

Yeah there's a long green rod in there, fitted inside the spring.

Looks like this.

 

Take that out unless you are hunting waterfowl

 

That's for hunting, you need the orange one.

 

I removed the green plug and now it holds four 2-3/4'' shells. Seems to be in line with info from Remington's site.

https://support.remington.com/02_PU..._shells_will_the_Model_870_Super_Magnum_hold?


Thanks for helping a newb out guys.

 

Buy a +3 tube extension

 

3 shells total or 2+1 is the rule for hunting migratory birds