Any body use 12 gauge mini shells?

[Daniel Howe]

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.

 

[Bozz10mm]

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.

 

[toad67]

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....

 

[andyinlz]

Adjust A5

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.

 

[rockquarry]

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.

 

[Echo40]

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.

 

[trapper9260]

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.

 

[colt_saa]

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

 

[Nevada Ed]

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.

 

[Skeet 028]

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

 

[AZ2VET]

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

 

[Sistema1927]

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.

 

[BigBoy99]

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.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

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

 

[Maddog 521]

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.

 

[mdf9183]

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

 

[MRB1]

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

 

[Bozz10mm]

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.

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

 

[Bozz10mm]

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.

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.

 

[CH4]

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