Thoughts on the MINI Shells? Aguila? Federal?

[FNFZ4]

Hello All,

I was thinking about these mini shells. I believe they are 1.25 inch in length. Has anyone used them?

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

For most shotguns you need an adapter to install to avoid feed problems. The adapter aren't expensive but necessary.

 

[Bertfish]

For most shotguns you need an adapter to install to avoid feed problems. The adapter aren't expensive but necessary.

Even in the Mossberg 500 I've seen one of these installed on they weren't 100% reliable

 

[The Saint]

They're totally fun to shoot. I love the Aguila minishells in birdshot for shooting clays with a buddy. We hand throw em with one of the plastic throwers (if you were ever any good at pitching in baseball, you can wing em out there about as good as any fancy machine with any angle/curve/or pitch you want, and make it a WHOLE lot less predictable for the shooter, too!), and it's honestly just too easy with a 12ga...so shifting to minishells sort of mimics a .410 or 28ga, but without having to change guns.

Slugs make perfect sense for low recoil fun putting holes in paper; even in a single shot they aren't hateful. Buckshot would be a great home defense load for older folks who can't handle full recoil IF you can get them to run 100% in a slide/semi...but I've yet to see that happen.

 

[Clay]

In side by side/over under work great no mods needed. For Mossberg 500 the mini adapter works great. Just don’t forget and leave in there- messes up feeding regular shells. Less expensive, less recoil, fun to shoot

 

[The Saint]

Less expensive, less recoil, fun to shoot

I would argue the "less expensive" part, particularly. I've never seen minishells cheaper than standard shells, it was always the other way around. When Walmart used to have cheap birdshot for the $6 a box or whatever it was for 25 shells..minshells were actively $10-13 for 20. They are a niche round, but I don't think they were ever cheaper than standard loads.

Less Recoil, of course. Fun? Oh hell yes.

 

[FNFZ4]

well I was thinking of getting a Maverick 88 or a KSG. anyone have experience with those and the Minis? do I still need an adapter for those guns?

 

[jeganrocks]

The adapter works great in a Maverick 88. I have them installed in two Maverick 88, 100% reliable for me. My kids love shooting the mini-shots

 

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Worked okay in a Winchester 1300.

Do NOT use them in an Ithaca 37, they will flip around backwards and bind tge action-- you have to remove the barrel to clear it.

Sent from my SM-T733 using Tapatalk

 

[Biggfoot44]

I haven't tried them yet , but M1200/ 1300 are supposed to freed Mini shells stock .

 

[jimbobborg]

I've used them in an OU, recoil is super light, but they're dirty. Left a lot of residue in the barrels.

 

[FNFZ4]

I've used them in an OU, recoil is super light, but they're dirty. Left a lot of residue in the barrels.

Good Excuse to Clean more!

 

[BADSHOT]

I got a few boxes. Shot in a old double barrel at 40 yards and was impressed at how many pellets hit the 6x8 inch target.

 

[The Saint]

Furthermore...they are economical to reload if you have old hulls that are burnt and crispy at the tops. Trim them suckers down in the old English fashion and rollcrimp em. You'll eventually end up with 2" or 1 3/4" stubbies with a light shot load...and you can load them cheaper than cheap (well, the same cost as reloading .410 roughly). Or use a fiber wad and throw a caliber appropriate round ball and make mini-slugs for very little per slug.

 

[RJRjr]

Mossberg has the 590s that is supposed to be able to use mini shells and 2 3/4 and 3 inch shells with no adapter.

 

[Sirex]

They are neat, but not 100% in all shotguns. The prices of mini shells are insane now, so I wouldn't buy any more than you absolutely need.

 

[Muleskinner]

In side by side/over under work great no mods needed. For Mossberg 500 the mini adapter works great. Just don’t forget and leave in there- messes up feeding regular shells. Less expensive, less recoil, fun to shoot

Less expensive? I've never seem them less expensive...If you can find them they are running $1 a round for bird shot maybe $1.40 for slugs..

I just bought all the reloading components to load shotshells..I may make a bunch of these, but with #4 buck