[loader]

Anyone tried these for defense work? I've tried the 12 GA 4B+1B (7 4s and 4 1s)and they are impressive. Mine mike 1.34 inches COL and clock 1150 fps with remarkably low recoil. Essentially, they double the capacity of your magazine.

Catch is that they don't cycle well in all pumps - good in Win 1300 and less than perfect in Rem 870. Since I have an 870, I'm wondering how it might be modified (Aguila instructions say this is a simple fix).

 

[imashooter2]

What trouble are you looking at that can't be solved with 5 rounds of 2 3/4 inch 1 buck? I think I'd prefer my defensive weaponry to be more tried and true...

My understanding is that the elevator must be modified to prevent the shell from tipping down in the front. With the Mossberg this means lengthening the tab in the center of the elevator. Does the 870 have a similar arrangement? Anyway, what does Aguila say the fix is? They have more experience than anyone.

 

[loader]

Just trying to get a round out of the 12 GA that my wife and kids will shoot. Strictly home D for the non-shooter. These are about like a 410 for recoil, but more authority.

 

[Fireplug]

Loader,

Doubles are the way to go for non or limited experience shooters for defence shotguns, since they remove nearly all the functions that repeaters require. Manual safety, rather than auto safety, would be preferrerable and store open and loaded. The neophyte then can see that it is loaded, and knows open is safe closed is ready. An untrained shooter will either solve their problem with the two shots available or be in more trouble than they can solve so additional rounds matter little.

Fireplug

 

[DMC]

I haven't tried the Aguilas, but a short shell kind of interests me. Hodgdon has a short blurb in the Annual Manual on making them and some loading information for some fairly authoritative loads. Got to try it pretty soon.

DC

 

[Bill Lester]

My own limited experience of one box of Minishells parallels loader's. I got about 50% feeding with them in my 870HD. I don't know all what it entails to modify the gun for 100% reliability, but since recoil isn't a grave concern for me I'm not worried. It would be nice though for the urban gunowner in riot-prone areas to have the capability of 11 shots in an 18" barrelled shotgun. Hopefully someone will come up with a drop-in shell lifter that can do the trick.

 

[loader]

They do cycle through the Winchester 1300. Apparantly, they were originally designed for police use, which makes sense. They fall into the reduced recoil category which is becoming popular, and is quite effective.

 

[Bill Lester]

One would think that Aguila would've made sure their baby shells work flawlessly in the 870, considering its virtual domination of the LE pumpgun category both here and abroad.