thoughts on minishells

[FalconLair]

**SECOND UPDATE**

i got the minishells we used straightened out with my sons help - they were his minishells and he brought all of them in several zip lock bags, no shell boxes

i got the slugs part right, they're easily enough to identify but the #4 and the #00 the i wrote about were both wrong - what i thought were two different loads were actually the same

the 40 rounds of 7-1/2 mini birdshot shells was correct - the #4 buckshot and the #00 mini rounds i thought i was shooting were actually both the same loads which were the 4B(7) 1B(4) minishells and all the rounds were Aguila shells

sorry for the huge error, my first time dealing with minishells and like i said my son had them all packaged in zip lock bags that weren't marked, and i think he misidentified them to me (im thinking he took a wild guess himself)

i still stand behind those minishells though, they ran flawlessly in my Maverick 88 with the OPSol adapter attached and having that much less recoil while out just having fun at the dry lake is worth it

[FeuerFrei]

**SECOND UPDATE**

i got the minishells we used straightened out with my sons help - they were his minishells and he brought all of them in several zip lock bags, no shell boxes

i got the slugs part right, they're easily enough to identify but the #4 and the #00 the i wrote about were both wrong - what i thought were two different loads were actually the same

the 40 rounds of 7-1/2 mini birdshot shells was correct - the #4 buckshot and the #00 mini rounds i thought i was shooting were actually both the same loads which were the 4B(7) 1B(4) minishells and all the rounds were Aguila shells

sorry for the huge error, my first time dealing with minishells and like i said my son had them all packaged in zip lock bags that weren't marked, and i think he misidentified them to me (im thinking he took a wild guess himself)

i still stand behind those minishells though, they ran flawlessly in my Maverick 88 with the OPSol adapter attached and having that much less recoil while out just having fun at the dry lake is worth it

I am wondering if you ever ran a mix of ammo thru your 88? 2 3/4 and mini's stacked in the mag together.

How much of each and did it cycle without limping/tripping on itself?

[FalconLair]

I am wondering if you ever ran a mix of ammo thru your 88? 2 3/4 and mini's stacked in the mag together.

How much of each and did it cycle without limping/tripping on itself?

not possible to run a mix with my Maverick 88 or any other shotgun that needs the adapter inserted - the 2-3/4" shells won't cycle with the adapter inside the loading chamber

however, any shotgun that doesn't require the adapter and will still feed the minishells could most likely be mixed without issue

i know the Remington 870 will load the minishells without a need for the adapter so im guessing mixing the shells wouldn't matter with that shotgun

as far as the cycling i had no issues at all with the minishells - i had one misload but that was due to me racking too soft and the spent round didn't fully eject - that had nothing to do with loading a shell, my arm just got a bit tired

you can see the adapter inserted in my Maverick and it makes the loading chamber too small to fully cycle a 2-3/4" round

[FeuerFrei]

Thanx for the photo and details.

I'm not suggesting any mix of HD ammo in the mag, I was just wondering what it can do if required.

[jyo]

FalconLair says the Remington 870 will cycle mini shells without adaptor (?)---I hear the 870 is not reliable feeding with mini shells---so who has experience shooting mini shells in 870s and what are your observations? I have two nice older 870s (2 3/4" only) and one older Police Magnum (takes up to 3" shells)---all three are 100% reliable with all 2 3/4" I have used---I will not use an 870 for HD that is not reliable... So, how's about some mini shell info for the 870? Thanks.

[plumbum]

I do really like the Federal mini shells with 15 pellets of #4 buck, and I don't have an issue leaving them in my Maverick 88 Security for standby.

[FalconLair]

FalconLair says the Remington 870 will cycle mini shells without adaptor (?)---I hear the 870 is not reliable feeding with mini shells---so who has experience shooting mini shells in 870s and what are your observations? I have two nice older 870s (2 3/4" only) and one older Police Magnum (takes up to 3" shells)---all three are 100% reliable with all 2 3/4" I have used---I will not use an 870 for HD that is not reliable... So, how's about some mini shell info for the 870? Thanks.

i don't own a Remington 870 and all i've been able to do with my research is listen to people who do own them - i came up with a couple of videos found on YouTube, pick your poison

im not really a shotgun guy for HD purposes, im more likely to find a spot in the desert and have some fun with them but when it comes to HD im more of a handgun guy

now take note in the first video he's ejecting cartridges that haven't been spent so they still have their full weight - can't say how well it would go ejecting a lighter, empty cartridge - safe to say i had no problem with ejecting spent shells with my Maverick except one instance where i soft racked the forearm grip - hope these videos help a bit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djk6Kn_MBhQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RotxtLqSYtg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo5CnWkBV34

[onelonehorseman]

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

This ^^^^

My KSG is the only reason I have mini-shells!

[Dirtlaw]

Mini shells are the best! Super cheap and easy to load. A local range lets me call in on Sundays (when they shoot lots of skeet) and I volunteer to haul the garbage cans from the lines out to the dumpster in exchange for getting all the free hulls I could ever want.

I use the "all-plastic on the inside" shells. After sizing, depriming, and trimming, I put them in a laundry bag and run them through the wash. They come out looking like brand new since the original crimp gets cut off. I have a set of various length pieces of copper tubing that I use to cut to proper length for which ever load I'm putting together.

I also have a cutter to make my own over-shot cards which is how I keep shot loads contained when using a roll-crimp tool.

I'm surprised that the high cost of short-shells hasn't gotten more people into loading their own...

I'm exploring ways to reload or make minishells. Would you be willing to share the procedures you use and possibly recipes as well?

[C.Bronson]

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

Just got back from the range with a KS7. Ran 100% on the minis! Was very impressed

[Dirtlaw]

Recipes Please!!! And your procedural steps as well. This can be done. I know it.

[JagerDog]

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!

That follows my thoughts. Round count is well down my list. Most "tactical" shotguns hold 6-7. I'm not fighting the cartel.

If my capacity is severely diminished or a shooter is very recoil sensitive, then maybe.

[Dirtlaw]

That follows my thoughts. Round count is well down my list. Most "tactical" shotguns hold 6-7. I'm not fighting the cartel.

If my capacity is severely diminished or a shooter is very recoil sensitive, then maybe.

Jager ... this is Californika. Sometime not too far in the distant future you MAY be fighting a Cartel! They're migrating this way.

[whutsup40]

Shoot the bad guys with big shells I say!!

[Dirtlaw]

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