For some time Aguila has offered a mini-shotshell in 12 gauge that has found use for personal defense in smaller shotshell-firing firearms such as Remington’s V3 Tac-13 autoloader and Tac-14 pumpguns based on the 870 platform, and Mossberg’s Shockwaves based on the 500 pumpgun mechanism. The mini-shells use reduced powder and shot charge, and as a result, recoil is decreased and capacity increased in repeaters. Federal Cartridge Company recently introduced its own line of mini shells. Nobel Sports offers a short shell that they claim is just enough longer to ensure good feed reliability, which made us curious to try all three out.
After testing these short shells, we find two of the three types unsuited for personal defense based on reliability. It is true that the loads are more powerful than handgun loads, but we are concerned about penetration with the lighter shot in two of the shells. More problematic, feed reliability is a problem. A special device that clips into the loading port and offers perfected feed is available for the Mossberg pump action, but not the other pumps, and there are plenty of Remington, Ithaca, Winchester, and foreign pump-action shotguns. The single-barrel or double-barrel break-action style would seem to be the natural home for these shells.
We began the test with a proven shotgun, a Remington 870 with XS front sight and Advantage Tactical stock. This fast-handling and compact 12 gauge retains the original four-shot magazine. After initial testing we also attempted to use the shells in a Winchester SXP and a Mossberg 590A, with the same results. For function firing, we also ran some shells through a Benelli Super 90.
As we verified during the shooting tests with these firearms, the pattern, payload, and energy of the shorties is considerably below that offered by full-power buckshot rounds. Recoil is also greater with full-power buckshot. But then Federal, Fiocchi, Hornady, Remington, and Winchester offer reduced recoil buckshot loads. In these rounds, recoil momentum is curtailed noticeably by a smaller power charge and by using eight balls instead of nine, and No. 4 buckshot is also available in a reduced-recoil loading. When the recoil of the standard-length reduced-recoil loads is compared to that of the short shells, the raters found little practical difference. The advantage of an extra shell or two was negated by a lack of feed reliability. The Nobel Sports load is a counterpoint. They work as designed and offer a real advantage. We would load the Nobel Sports shorty shells with confidence.
Here’s how three mini-shells performed in head-to-head shooting.
| 12-GAUGE Range Data | ||||
| Reduced-Length Loads | Rated Velocity | Measured Velocity | Muzzle Energy | Pattern Size @ 10 yards Horizontal x Vertical |
| Aguila Minishell 1.75 inch, 5⁄8-oz., 7 #4s; 4 #1s | 1200 fps | 1080 fps | 788 ft.-lbs. | 6.8 x 7.7 inches |
| Federal Shorty Shotshell 1.75 in. 1.75 inch, 15 #4s | 1200 fps | 1125 fps | 926 ft.-lbs. | 6.75 x 4.75 inches |
| Nobel Sport Italia (NSI) MiniBuck 6P 2.25 inch, Six 00 Buckshot | 1250 fps | 1320 fps | 1249 ft.-lbs. | 6.5 x 7.5 inches |
| Full-Length Loads | Rated Velocity | Measured Velocity | Muzzle Energy | Pattern Size @ 10 yards Horizontal x Vertical |
| Remington Managed Recoil 20282 2.75-inch 00 Buckshot 8 pellets | 1200 fps | 1109 fps | 1174 ft.-lbs. | 1.8 x 1.5 inches |
| Hornady Critical Defense 86240 2.75-inch #00 Buckshot 8 pellets | 1600 fps | 1254 fps | 1501 ft.-lbs. | 4 x 3 inches |
Aguila 12-Gauge 1.75-inch Minishell 5⁄8-Ounce No. 4 and No. 1 Buckshot
We bought packages of 20 Minishells for $18.99 each at VenturaMunitions.com. The Aguila loading consists of a payload of seven No. 4 buckshot and four No. 1 buck, an interesting mixed 5⁄8-ounce load. The logic behind the shells is twofold. First, the loading is intended for personal defense for those who have a difficult time controlling 12-gauge recoil. The second goal is to provide greater magazine capacity in shotguns that already have a limited payload. As an example, with standard 2.75-inch shells, the Remington 870 riot gun used for this test has a four-shell capacity. The mini shells increase capacity to seven, a significant upgrade. Also, senior citizens and younger shooters may handle the shotgun without bone-jarring recoil with this 1.75-inch-long 1200-fps load. This may allow a larger segment of the population to successfully use the shotgun for personal defense, providing the shell’s payload is adequate for the chore.
Most of the time, if we worked the action vigorously we could convince the first shell to feed and fire. But after that, we seldom made it through a magazine without either the shell failing to completely eject or failing to feed. The last shell in the magazine was especially prone to a nose-up failure to feed. Though the shotshell is rated at 1.75 inches in length, that’s the expanded length of the case after firing. Crimped length of the unfired shell was 1.36 inches, compared to the 2.75-inch shotshells’s 2.32-inch unfired length. The shell elevator did not properly feed the Aguila shells, and often they would hang up in a nose upward attitude that was difficult to clear. While shotgunners sometimes short-cycle a pump, this tie up is relatively easier to clear than a short shell cammed sideways in the action.
We tested the shells’ pattern at 10 yards and its velocity was clocked from 1050 to 1136 fps, though rated from 1200 fps from the manufacturer. Patterns were averaged with some at 6.5-by-9 inches and others 7.5-by-6.2 inches. While some may feel that this wider pattern is a good thing for home defense and hit probability, we prefer a tighter pattern.
Our Team Said: After firing 40 shells, we felt the Aguila Minishells are not suited for home defense. The first demerit is the failure to feed in pump-action shotguns. Self-loaders would not function with the low recoil impulse, as confirmed with three shells in a Benelli Super 90.
GUN TESTS GRADE: D
Federal 12-gauge 1.75-inch Shorty Shotshell No. 4 Buckshot
We bought this round for $8.13 for 10 shells at VenturaMunitions.com. The 12 gauge is a formidable shotgun, and shooters are constantly trying to achieve good performance with less recoil, as the lower-recoil law-enforcement shotgun shells attest. While #00 buckshot is proven as a personal-defense performer, even with lower-recoil loads, the consensus is that No. 4 is less proven. Federal Cartridge Company has introduced a line of mini-shells to compete with Aguila.
The Federals have an advantage in price at every outlet we checked. In common with the Aguila loading, they are designed with the premise that the lowered power level is adequate for personal defense.
During our shooting, the Federal shells failed to feed during the same test as the Aguila shorty shells. In common with the Aguila shells, the Federal short shells increased magazine capacity in the Remington riot gun from four shells to seven. However, one of the raters managed to fire a full tube in the Remington by aggressively racking the action and with concentration.
The technique is to use a smooth, deliberate action and work the action as sharply as possible. After attempting to teach the other raters the same action, malfunctions were reduced but never completely eliminated, even in the hands of adept shotgunners.
Moving to ballistic testing, the Federal shells were also fired at 10-yard distances. At 1145 fps (rated by the manufacturer at 1200 fps), the shells were low recoil compared to most buckshot loads. Velocity was very consistent, with a standard deviation of 20 fps. The load of No. 4 buckshot was 16 balls compared to a 24- to 27-ball payload in a standard 2.75-inch load.
The patterns were good and tight in the center of our point of aim, but stragglers spread the pattern at an average of 6.5-by-5 inches with some at 7.5-by-4.5 inches.
Our Team Said: The shells fed no better than the Aguila overall. The pattern, however, was better.
GUN TESTS GRADE: C
Nobel Sport Italia (NSI) MiniBuck 6P 2.25 inch, Six 00 Buckshot
We bought the Nobel Sports short shell for $7.42 per 10 shells from J&GSales.com. The advantage of the Nobel Sports load is that the slightly longer shell is intended to cure the feed problems experienced with short shotgun shells. While this is fine as far as it goes, the advantage gained is only one shell in the Remington’s four-shot tube, and the payload increases to nine shells in a seven-shot magazine. The shell is advertised at 2.25 inches in length for the fired case, and unfired, it comes in at 2.19 inches, or 0.13 inches shorter than the unfired length of 2.32 inches for a 2.75-inch shell.
The Nobel payload travels at an average of 1320 fps, and it is very consistent and produced higher velocities than its rated speed of 1250 fps. Recoil was greater than the other mini shells, but lighter than the full-power Hornady Critical Defense buckshot load, which uses eight #00 buck pellets.
The pattern was noticeably better than the other mini shells at a 6.5-by-7.5-inch average. We feel that the #00 buck load at this velocity will offer good penetration; after all, many of the reduced-recoil #00 buckshot loads with eight #00 pellets are considerably slower.
Our Team Said: The bottom line, however, was reliability. The NSI load worked flawlessly. There are no hang-ups of any type. It is definitely the best of the minis.
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
Written and photographed by Gun Tests Staff, using evaluations from Gun Tests team testers.
I highly encourage GT to retest the Aguila and Federal minis with a Mossberg Shockwave that has the OPSol Mini-Clip installed. None of the problems mentioned in your article would appear, I believe. The minis have always been reliable for me through the Mossberg equipped this way. Plus, if you attach a brace to the Mossberg, you have a neat “mini” house/truck defensive shotgun to go with your mini Aguilas or Federals. Heck yeah!!
The last time I fired a shotgun was in Cuba in the late fifties, during a stint as a base policeman. Back then the Navy still used the Winchester Model 97. I loved that old gun. Especially the rapid pump fire with the trigger held back. I don’t suppose these short shells would work any better in this old faithful. Thanks for the article. Chief Boring
I would have loved to have just seen results shot out of a single barrel shotgun with different chokes rather than grading on how well they cycle through various guns. Let the consumer try out his own firearm.
In”coming up in Gun Tests” February,March& April 2021 issues it reads,
“Shotgun Buckshot for Personal Defense”. But the article Never Appeared !
Was told by person at Gun Tests that the story was written years ago and was
Mistakenly put on the back cover page in the issues mentioned in my comments earlier. So now my question is what month what year was the shotgun buck shot article written in ?
I bought some police trade-in 12ga Federal 2 3/4 00 buck w/fight control wads. I can see why they were traded in as they literally could injure a small-statured person with the very heavy recoil. Although I can shoot them quite a bit out of my gas gun, a Remington 11-87 set up for multi-gun shoots, out of my 1960s former NC State Trooper Ithaca Feather-Weight Pump Action, NO WAY. It literally hurt with every shot causing the inevitable flinch. Even after shortening the 20″ barrel to 14.75″ and having a large compensator permanently attached and had the stock shortened and fitted to me with a decelerator pad installed, it STILL hurt more than I willing to endure.
My Ithaca has a 2 3/4″ chamber only so that might be the reason I have, nearly, no issues with the Aguilla or Federal Mini-Shells. I can load it with at least 7 shells and the recoil is easy on my 20 years on Airborne status shoulder. The only issue I have is if I rack the action with the Ithaca muzzle straight up, then, on occasion, one of the short rounds will flip causing a jam. This has never happened when firing but only when I pump a round with the muzzle pointing straight up. Super-fast follow-up shots are easy with these rounds.
But I prefer the Centurian 2″ 00 Buck loads I got from MidwayUSA. Their recoil is also very mild for a 00 buck load, I can still load 6 into a normally 4 round magazine tube, they pattern around 8″ to 10″ at what could be considered any normal home defense ranges, and hit steel-poppers with a *lot* more authority than the mini-shells. They have given new life into my very light old patrol car workhorse.
BTW, that huge compensator will certainly amplify the intimidation aspect of a 12ga shotgun and maybe even cause a come to Jesus moment for any adversaries rather than an awkward meeting with Saint Peter.
I have to agree with Dennis Jones. My 590 Shockwave has been 100% dependable and reliable with the Aguila mini shells using the Opsol Mini-Clip. I have a few boxes of the NSI short shells but I haven’t tried them yet but they seem to feed well in my Maverick 88. The problem with those is finding more of them.
Also a user without a single misfeed of the Aguila short shells in my shockwave with the adapter. Next time try some slugs and advise if you have a similar issue.
In the future, please consider evaluating as well Canadian-made Challenger Super Shortshells. These 1 3/4 inch shells advertise 1200 fps and recently became widely available.
Where can I get the OPSol Mini-Clip for Mossbergs?
On google.
The question seems to be “Where can I find Mini shells?”
My S&W MP 12 shoots shortys mixed with long shell perfectly.no feed problems,I wouldn’t use long shell but shorty buck shot is hard to find.
Having trouble finding the NSI minis for sale… Where can they be purchased?
Yes, I am having trouble finding the 1.75 buckshot Aguila mini shells where can I buy them by bulk.?
This test is flawed in as much as it did not include the KSG shotgun made by Keltec.
We’ve only tried the Aguila loads in our guns, (3 different KSG guns) and found them as-reliable as shells of the “normal” length of 2.75″ without exception.
The KSG is often accused of unreliability with any type of shell and we saw some failures to feed when the shooter worked the action like a wuss, (like any Mfr will do.)
We’ve been so favorably impressed with the performance of mini-shells that we’ve begun trying to work out a loading process for making them ourselves.
Operated properly the KSG should ALWAYS be included in tests of this type.
Here at OPSol Texas, we appreciate you taking the time to evaluate the different minishells. The Nobels blues are not really minis, but they are definitely smaller than regular shells. Having been doing the work on getting these minis to work since 2012, there are some things that we have experienced that may help. 1. KSGs will flip shells. Not often, but they will. I have a ksg, and have flipped minis. A customer of our experienced the same thing. 2. All shotgun will flip minis at some point, if they don’t have an adapter. There is too much energy from mag tube ejection, and too much “rattle around” room in the receiver. Yes, you can develop a technique to feed minis, but that technique has to do with getting past the 870/Winchester elevator mechanics, not the rattling around problem.
3. When we developed the OPSol Flex adapter, we dry racked while shaking the gun, upside down, sideways, fast, slow, etc etc. The idea being that in use, you could be doing any number of things other than just standing there, racking your gun.
4. A good test for this is a slow rack, with the ejection port facing down.
Nobel sport 2.25” mini buckshot with 6 pellets of 00 Buck is a big winner for me. I’m trying to find a batch in stock, but for any IWI TS12 Bullpup owners out there, it feeds and cycles fine (unlike the shorter mini shells out there). You’ll get 6 shells per tube, meaning 18 in the tubes, one in the chamber, and one ghost loaded on the lifter for 20 rounds total.
Thanks I was wondering about that!
It would go tom show that the low recoil mini (shorty) would not work well in semi or most pump shotguns: howver for home defense they are well suited in a short double barrel.
This is a SERIOUSLY flawed test.
1) Worried about penetration from two of the mini-shells? HA! Try shooting ballistic gel with a mini-shell at home defense distances (~ 5 yards) and see what it does. Just ONE load from an Aguila mini to an attacker will immediately stop the attack – and much more.
2) Anybody who knows pump and semi-auto shotguns knows that unless the gun is designed for mini shells, such as the Mossberg 590S – they will not feed properly. There are adapters for Mossberg pumps that will feed the minis with good reliability. Why didn’t you install one and demonstrate that fix?
3) Never saw nor heard of FTEs with the minis. Your test gun probably had an extraction problem.