First I've heard of a 1.75" mini shell, wondering how the terminal ballistics is on them. I inherited my Grand Father's Browning A5 years ago and got a magazine extension from Novak. It will hold 12 rounds but if I use these mini shells that I just learned about it should hold 17 rounds. I'll have to give them a try.

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Daniel
SWHF 616

I have shot them through my Mossberg 590. The Mossberg pumps are about the only ones that will reliably feed them with the Opsol adapter. They definitely won't cycle a semi auto, but they sometimes will feed in an 870.

Aguila has been making them for several years, but Federal just came out with their 1¾" shorties. Aguila buck shot is loaded with a combo of 7 #4 buck and 4 #1 buck pellets. The Federal shorties are loaded with 15 #4 buckshot.

They both claim muzzle velocities of 1250 - 1300 fps. These mini shells are very soft shooting compared to the 2¾" buckshot shells. Feels more like a 410. I can load 10 of them in my 18½" 590 compared to 6 of the regular shells.

The main draw back, besides not feeding in some models, is their cost. I don't know how a shotgun shell with less of everything would cost double or more than a regular shotgun shell. While the Aguila shells have come down in cost, I've seen them as low as $12.99 per 20 online, the Federal shorties seem to be priced at about 2 bucks a pop. MSRP is around $20 for a box of 10.

They might not have enough power in them to cycle the action, and cause feeding issues. A 17 round single shot doesn't sound that effective for home defense IMO....

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Todd

If you are not yet aware, the A5 ring system can be adjusted/oiled to attempt to make these shells cycle.

But, I doubt this flyweight load can be used regardless of how you set up the A5.

Try and report back.

Other than the novelty factor and reduced recoil, is there some advantage to these short shotgun shells? Looks like if they cost more and don't feed reliably in all guns, those would be good reasons to avoid using them.

I've thought about trying them out in my Mossberg 590 Shockwave as a low recoil alternative for fun at the range, but then my range decided to ban the use of shotshells.

They might have some application for Home Defense, but their sketchy reliability when it comes to cycling and reduced payload practically turns your 12 Gauge Shotgun into an unreliable .410 Bore Shotgun.

That being said, if there is a way to ensure reliable cycling of Mini Shells, then they could definitely have some utility because they still should have plenty of stopping power (for lack of a better term) yet greatly increase the capacity of your shotgun.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I came up with my own load to load some . Fold Crimp and roll crimp. They would be good in over and under or single shot. Some pumps will work like stated .It will work for who ever want a load light and short with out getting a smaller GA shotgun. also work for when teach someone on shoot the shotgun.

I have been using then for at least 3 decades now.

The ones that Remington produced for the 870WP shotguns were actually 1 1/2" shells and required that we have a special elevator in the gun to prevent double feeds. That also meant that it would not run conventional shell when in this configuration

However on our 12" guns this meant having almost double the rounds in the gun.


Now that the 1 3/4" shells are becoming more popular I have bought some of those

The other nice point is that the short shells have much less of a recoil pulse. This is good when women, children or novices want to start with a shotgun

If I want to protect my family from an intruder with a shotgun....

I want the meanest, badest load possible that might stop a person with one shot..........and have no feeding problems.

I use 2 3/4" shells in my old Browning "Hump Back".
However I will load the longer 3" for goose hunting.

I tried 'em in my M1 Super 90 Menelli. Even when the gun is super clean it will not reliably cycle the action. But if it worked right it holds 16 rounds. I keep it loaded here for coyotes....10 rounds of # 4 buck. Kills yotes to 50 yards

The mini-shells are supposted to run well in the KSG-12

I run the Aguilas in my K-T KS7. They also work in my Win 1300, and also in my Mossberg Shockwave (590) with an OpSol adapter.

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Only a cold warrior

Not to steal the thread, but do you think some manufacturer would be making a shotgun specifically for the 1.75" shell? It would feed and chamber only the 1.75" shell.

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Bill

They are expensive and don’t function reliably in most Shotguns?
I’m in!
Where can I get some?

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I've shot many of the Aquilas in a Winchester Defender without any problems at all. They are accurate and shoot problem free. As said above, they are expensive.

They are a hoot to shoot in my 12 Ga. coach gun.

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Dogs are better than people.

Probably wouldn't want to have any on you during migratory bird season - those required three shot plugs would allow for a infraction.

There absolutely is a way to make them feed 100% reliably in the Mossberg 500 series pumps, including the Shock Wave and Maverick 88. The Opsol adapter installs or uninstalls in about 5 seconds. The latest version is the 2.0 Flex.

OPSol Mini-Clip – Home of the Original Mini-Clip

Probably not, unless the mini shells become super popular. I can see Remington possibly getting into that market tho.

The Mossberg Shock wave is the perfect candidate for the mini shells and, as stated previously, there are adapters available that make them totally reliable with mini shells.

Unfortunately, there are no adapters available for the Remington Tac-14, the counterpart to the Shock wave. So a dedicated "shorty shooter" might provide the confidence in reliability needed to promote and sell such a model. On the other hand, you would lose the versatility of opting for full size shells if you wanted.

Never heard of them until this post.
Answer to a question not asked?
Great capacity?
Less recoil?

Aguila Mini slugs cycled ok in my Mossberg 500 with Opsol adaptor till receiver got warm and opsol kept slipping out. I only tried them because indoor range only allows slugs and I'm no Hickok45 for a slug fest. I have 2.75 shells and 5+1 capacity is enough don't plan going to war anytime soon

I think that I saw some at Ron Peterson's, but you an probably get them cheaper online.

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Only a cold warrior

If recoil is a problem why not shoot a .410? Larry

I don't understand why ? I don't feel the recoil of the 12ga is a problem . I have a SXS double 12ga with exposed hammers. It's a very comfortable gun to shoot . I have to admit though , I grew up shooting my dad's 10ga magnum , an Ithica SXS starting at the ripe old age of 15. Regards, Paul

Ah well, I don't own a 410.

For those situations when 6, 7 or 8+ rds of 12GA just isn't gonna cut it.

At over $1 a round they can keep 'em. I'm happy with my 2 3/4" reduced recoil vermin controllers.

I still have some of the Aguilla 12 ga. mini-shells.

I tried them (with an adapter...OpSol I think) in my Remingto 870 Express Magnum, my Mossberg 590 and my Mossberg 500.

I never could get them to feed reliably in either of the guns and gave up on them.

The two Mossbergs have birds head grips and the mini shells really helped with the recoil.

Great idea if they could be trusted in a SD situation.

For what it's worth, I picked up a box of mini shells a couple years ago (forget the brand) just out of curiosity. They would not feed thru my mid 1950's Browning Auto-5 with the 2 3/4 inch chamber. Shot fine in my O/U, but really found no practical use for them in that application. I do see the advantage of mini shells in a repeater that can feed them reliably.

Larry

The idea that there is a real world use for a shotgun loaded with 10+ rounds of any kind seems quite fanciful.

I suppose that if you found yourself magically inserted into a zombie movie script, being armed with such a device would be nice. But that’s an event limited to a fantasy writer’s world.

For those of us who’ve experience using a shotgun to kill stuff, more than a couple shots is just extra weight.

I’ve had a few boxes for several years. I find that they won’t feed in anything but a Winchester 1300, which I don’t have.

While aguialas are 1.75", I think the Nobels are 2.25" and have heard they will work in an 870, how well... I don't know??? Can anyone confirm this?
If not so expensive, I might try them.

The Nobels are the only mini that works in my 870. Reliably. But there isn't much gained as far as load count.

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Bob P.

They don't feed in my Ithaca model 37 pump gun.

Yeah, very likely JMB didn’t contemplate whimpy 13/4 shells when designing the A5. I think the adjustable rings are good for 2.5” to 3” shells.

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213th FBINA

you could load them without a buffering wad and get full power, just an inch shorter, couldn't you? buckshot or slug loads?

In my area the federal mini #4 buckshot sell for under $7.00 for a box of 10.
In my Maverick 88 they would not feed so I got the Opsol adapter but still will not feed 100%.
So for home defense I'll stick with the 2 3/4 shot shells.

When I was looking for a reduced recoil 12 gauge buckshot I bought some 2.25 inch shells made by Nobel Sport. The cycled fine in my 870. With that extra .5 inch you lose capacity compared to the 1.75 inch shells but gain a lot of reliability.

But I decided to go with reduced recoil 2.75 inch shells. When it comes to reliability nothing beats a stock gun firing the ammo it was designed for.

jbtrucker,

None of us want to go to war. Unfortunately, the opposition bad actors never gave us LEOs much choice. Unfortunately, I have seen the day I would take all the round capacity I could get in a 12 gauge. Especially in the days when policy was a 6 shot 38 vs. the new wonder nines, etc. I love revolvers but a handgun is to fight your way to your long gun. I kept a lever action 357 rifle in the car also.

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

I cant think of a bigger waste of money to buy something unreliable for 3x the cost of for something that is reliable. The thought of using these for home protection surely puts you at a huge disadvantage.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

Gentlemen, good comments but this thread is well over a year old and started by a now Absent Comrade, so closed.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220