thoughts on minishells

[FalconLair]

starting to dabble with my shotguns a bit more and noticed these minishells on the market - yeah they've probably been around for a while but i wasn't when it comes to shotguns

i have a Maverick 88 and a Mossberg 500 and from what i've learned they run pretty well with both provided you have the mini clip that attaches to the loading chamber

i ordered the mini clip from a place in Texas, vet owned and operated, i guess they are the real deal, a few knock-offs floating around out there too

i'll probably be buying a few boxes of bird shot and 00 to try it out

what are some of the pros and cons to consider, you don't always get the best picture when you're watching videos

[billped]

My personal view is that the downsides (reduced reliability and shell energy) overwhelm the upside (increased number of shots).

If this gun will ever be used for HD, reliability should be priority 1, 2, and 3.

If it's just a toy, then go for it!

[Capybara]

I just bought the S&W M&P12, the only shotgun on the market designed for mini shells other than the new Mossberg 590S. I have zero experience with Mini Shells but the ballistics look more than high enough numbers for HD. I agree with billped, wouldn't use them in an HD shotgun unless I had ran hundreds of trouble free rounds.
Mini Shells in 2022, if you can find them, are also a complete ripoff, I see them here and there at $1.49 per round and up. When I can get regular buckshot 2.75" shells at .60 each, Mini Shells aren't looking very compelling although I'll probably buy a box or two just to try them. This new M&P 12 can hold 23 Mini Shells or 15 2/75" shells so it is intriguing but this will be a range toy, not my HD shotgun. My HD shotgun is a semi auto and mini shells are no good in semi autos.

[bohoki]

i liked using them for skeet but they cost more than birdshot

now that federal is making them they should be cheaper but they are not

[FalconLair]

My personal view is that the downsides (reduced reliability and shell energy) overwhelm the upside (increased number of shots).

If this gun will ever be used for HD, reliability should be priority 1, 2, and 3.

If it's just a toy, then go for it!

the idea is for plinking, having fun in the desert - loading up the regular shells for HD after would still be on the table, don't plan to make these my main cartridges

i've done no price checking or anything like that at this point, maybe it'll still be cheaper to run the full sized shells i can't say right now

[FalconLair]

i liked using them for skeet but they cost more than birdshot

now that federal is making them they should be cheaper but they are not

yeah, i've done no price checking on the shells yet - i got like 4000 rounds of various birdshot, 00 shot and slugs so it might be a while before i even get around to trying them

the mini clip is ordered, on the way but it might be on the shelf for a spell

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

I have an old beater Mossberg 500 into which I've pinned an Opsol adapter. It's my HD shotgun. I have a Shockwave with the same adapter, just not pinned in place. It's always fun stuffing 10 minishells into the beater (it has a full-length mag tube) and going to town on a swinger or dueling tree. The only malfunctions I've noted were during combat loading a round through the ejection port - if you don't turn the shotgun onto the left side so that the port is straight up, on occasion the minishell will bounce and become misaligned enough to prevent feeding. It might even turn 180 degrees. With the port straight up, it's never happened. I've had no other malfunctions.

On the other hand, minishells are hard to find and when you do cost a mint. Glad I stocked up before the Covid theater got started.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

Forgot to mention that Mossberg is now offering a 590 that runs minishells up to 3" without any modifications. IIRC, you can even mix them up in the mag tube although I might be mistaken.

[sigstroker]

Yes, the non-shotgun "firearm" Shockwave comes that way too now.

[Capybara]

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/mossberg-s-590s-short-shell-specialist/

[Quiet]

The mini-shells work great in the Kel-Tec KSG.
Kinda nice having it loaded with 23 mini-shells.

[BajaJames83]

I perfer 2-3/4 for reliability and i really like the 27 pellet #4 loads. If i ever have to use my shotgun for HD I am very confident it will be a one or 2 shot scenario.
Last thing i would want would be less than 100% reliability and weaker ammo.

[Capybara]

I perfer 2-3/4 for reliability and i really like the 27 pellet #4 loads. If i ever have to use my shotgun for HD I am very confident it will be a one or 2 shot scenario.
Last thing i would want would be less than 100% reliability and weaker ammo.

For me, it all depends on your location. I live in a townhome with shared walls on both sides so the lower FPS on the Minis would mean that the load would likely still be effective if you examine the ballistics/gel tests, yet the chances of some pellets going through a wall would be less than the more powerful loads.

I will be buying some real ballistics gel and trying out the difference myself between the Minis, regular 2.75" low recoil buck, full power buck, 00 buck vs #4. When it comes to a weapon and shell you are staking your life on, IMHO, it's worth the cost and hassle to actually try your shells, through your gun and see what kind of results you actually get in real life because in the end, that's all that matters.

I've looked at a lot of articles and videos, most by some legitimate, recognized gun writers and the results are interesting but I have to try it myself.

[FeuerFrei]

For me, it all depends on your location. I live in a townhome with shared walls on both sides so the lower FPS on the Minis would mean that the load would likely still be effective if you examine the ballistics/gel tests, yet the chances of some pellets going through a wall would be less than the more powerful loads.

I will be buying some real ballistics gel and trying out the difference myself between the Minis, regular 2.75" low recoil buck, full power buck, 00 buck vs #4. When it comes to a weapon and shell you are staking your life on, IMHO, it's worth the cost and hassle to actually try your shells, through your gun and see what kind of results you actually get in real life because in the end, that's all that matters.

I've looked at a lot of articles and videos, most by some legitimate, recognized gun writers and the results are interesting but I have to try it myself.

Good for you. I have done that very thing except I never use the jello mold. I use pork meat covered with old clothes at justifiable defense distances. Shotgun and my CCW ammo.
It really forces and open mind approach. You may find results surprising and unpredictable. I know I did.

*for apartment dwellers I found turkey loads are very good because of the shared walls.
*bird shot should also be tested. 1 1/8 oz bird shot makes a significant rat hole at apartment distances.

[newbutold]

I like 3 1/2" shells for HD.........more lead.