If you don't want to spring for the pliers, you can clamp the cap in a vise and turn the gun. You can see the padded jaws easily grasp the magazine cap with no damage to metal or finish.
August 29, 2011
By Reid Coffield
Question: I've run into a number of pump and semi auto shotguns with magazine caps that are extremely tight. How can I remove them quickly and easily without damage? I don't want to use any pliers or tools that will ruin or mar the knurling or finish on the magazine caps.
Answer: There are a couple of ways you can approach this problem. You definitely don't want to use regular pliers with serrated steel jaws as that will definitely damage the magazine caps. Goodness knows you see a lot of older shotguns with scarred, beat up magazine caps where someone used the wrong tool to try to take m off.
The best solution is to use Brownells Magazine Tube/Cap Pliers. These are pliers with special curved cushioned jaws. The cushions are made of a tough plastic that last forever or so it seems. The pliers I own have been in use for many years and I have yet to replace the cushioned jaws. These pliers sell for less than $40 and are well worth the price.
The other option is just to place the magazine cap between the padded jaws of your vise and then turn the gun. When I do it this way, I use vise jaw inserts that are covered with leather. It works like a champ!
