Modification & Testing of Mossburg®™ 500A 12 ga Pump Shotgun
12 ga Shotgun Mini shells – Manufacturer Data
Photo of Regular Rifled Slug compared to Aguila mini slug
- This new type of 1-3/4″ 12 ga shot shell (1-1/2″ OAL loaded) was developed as part of the innovation drive carried out by Industrias Tecnos SA de CV from Cuernavaca, Mexico, manufacturer of “AGUILA” ammunition. The original idea was to create a new shot shell with law enforcement and military applications in mind. The new cartridge would generate a milder recoil (less shoulder punishment and faster reacquisition of the target after the first shot is fired), would provide more firepower (being able to load 12-14 rounds in a 20″ bbl shotgun) and would be ergonomically friendlier (being able to grab a big lot of shells with one hand and comfortably place them in the pocket). Due to its smaller size one police officer/soldier would be able to carry about 40% more rounds than regular shot shells. All this, while providing the necessary power for Police/Military work.
- Early in our development work, it was clear that this new round would hardly cycle semi-automatics while also having difficulties in feeding some pump-action shotguns flawlessly. This leads us to consider the development of a weapons system which would include a new shotgun (more about this later) specially designed for the Mini shell. In the meantime, after some testing, we realized that the WINCHESTER™ 1300 series cycles MinishellS flawlessly (12 rds in an 18″ bbl “Defender”); MOSSBERGS™ and REMINGTONS™ needed a minor modification in their elevators to produce similar results.
- All Types of MinishellS are loaded to SAAMI specs according to 12ga shotshells of regular size, namely 2-3/4″ or 3″ in length. This means that regular shells and MinishellS generate the same pressure in the chamber of 12ga shotguns.MinishellS should NEVER be used in signal/flare guns or any other firearm other than 12ga caliber SAAMI approved shotguns. Failure to comply with this may result in injury or death to the user or others.
- While we were producing shooting prototypes and focusing in the law enforcement/military markets, information about this project was somehow leaked to the civilian market in Mexico which became intrigued by the new cartridge. Due to this, we decided to do some merchandising by selling MinishellS in a 7-1/2 birdshot load; results turned out to be quite encouraging. The reason was that the milder recoil encouraged female and young shooters to fire the same 12ga shotgun carried by their older more experienced shooter, who in turn found the lighter shot load (18 grams) a bigger challenge to shoot skeet than with regular loads.
- CENTURION ORDNANCE, INC., TECNOS’ U.S. wholly-owned subsidiary started importing and selling MinishellS in birdshot and slugs loads in the U.S. market. The reaction was similar to that in Mexico, plus CAS participants who found the tiny shotshell very convenient to reload. “Coach guns” with automatic ejectors are normally not permitted; WINCHESTERS M1897 cycles them fairly well.
The Above information comes from the manufacturer. Please see their site for more information.
A small plastic/ nylon spacer attached to the receiver with set screws. The Mossberg-Mini-plug was designed out of nylon. Easy to cut and mold with a Dremel tool. Then attached to the Mossberg receiver with two self-tapping screws going through 2 undersized holes in the receiver, which in turn taps into the Mossberg-Mini-plug.
With the spacer in place, you can still load regular size shells one by one if needed. This is a removable feature. Requires 2 holes drilled through the receiver. Once in place, everything performs in real-world situations. The matches I have used the mini shells have a total round count of at least 60 rounds. Way more ammo then you will ever use in a home defense situation.
Like any modification, it will void your warranty. I will not be held responsible for your modification.
This company has a product that appears to work but I have never tested it. https://www.opsolmini-clip.com/
Dimensions for the Mossberg-Mini-plug.
Picture of Mossberg-Mini-Plug
Pictures in receiver
CYCLE TEST
First Test was a basic cycle test. I used a foam block with heavy metal foil tape as a prototype.
Cycle test with nylon Mossberg mini-plug passed with flying colors with 200 rounds cycled.
RANGE TEST
1- Cycle Test. Holding shotgun down, up, and at different angles.
2- Shoot 10 shots total waiting 15 sec between each shot.
3- Shoot 10 shots total rapidly as possible.
4- Shoot 10 shots total rapid as possible, mix shot, slug, then reload 10 and shoot rapidly as possible.
5- Shoot 15yds shot for pattern test twice
6- Shoot 25 yds slug for analysis using Modified cylinder and rifled choke
All tests passed. No misfire of any kind. No miss feeds due to Mossberg-Mini-plug
Pictures of the 25-yard test of the Slug, below
Pic 1a.
25 Yard Sandbag rest Mossburg Shotgun 12 ga Pump
Modified Choke Wolf 12 ga slug Standard size.
Not too bad of a group 3.5 Inches.
Pic 1b.
25 Yard Sandbag rest Mossburg Shotgun 12 ga Pump
Modified Choke Aguila Mini shell Slug
It seems to open up a bit. 11-inch group.
For personal defense works fine out to 25 yards.
But for the long shots in USPSA, there is a margin of error.
Pic 1c.
25 Yard Sandbag rest Mossburg Shotgun 12 ga Pump
Rifled Choke Aguila Mini shell Slug
It seems to tighten up a bit. to 9 inch group.
For personal defense works fine out to 25 yards.
But for the long shots in USPSA, there is a margin of error.
I came out to the range to shoot a shotgun match. Everyone took bets from; It won’t have enough power to knock down the steel, ha ha ha… Sure they work? it will jam just watch …etc.
Time to put up or Shut them UP!. In a quick test in front of the Range Officer, crack-a-towa- the Mini shell shot did have the power to take down the steel.
The Minishells shot worked great all match. The slugs have no stabilizers, ie. rifle grooves. so once you get out to a distance the slugs tend to spread a good bit compared to regular rifled slugs. I even tried a rifled choke to add some spin. In a match, I missed or had a low D ring score on the targets at 80 feet. I did some tests and took photographs. The difference is obvious.
A regular size shell can be inserted as needed one by one. For example, add a regular size rifled slug for the far away shots.
I no longer use the mini shells in matches due to the new rules on the power factor. The matches I did shoot showed the modification worked in the heat, dust, repetitive firings, and staged scenarios of those days.
More testing as to the (FTF) failure to feed or jams needs to be performed by independent multiple sources. I did not have any FTF, even in rapid pumping mode.
- More testing as to the design of the Mossberg-mini-plug, and improvements needs to be performed by independent multiple sources.
- Change the two screw system in the prototype to a punch pin.
- The manufacturer should investigate the diameter of the slug compared to other manufacturers’ slugs to tighten the fit to decrease the spread at 25 yards.
- The manufacturer should investigate the addition of rifling on the slug compared to other manufacturers’ slugs as to decrease the spread at 25 yards.
- The manufacturer should investigate the use of more 1 buck and less 4 bucks in the buckshot round. 1 buck is considered the smallest round to use to be effective.
- Additional test photos of shot pattern and buckshot pattern to be included in the next revision of the document.
| Shotgun, Rifle, handgun | ||||
| By USPSA Power Factor | ||||
| Min Power Factor to knock down steel is 125 | ||||
| SHOTGUN | ||||
| Aguila Mini Shot | Reg 3 Dr Shot | |||
| FPS speed | 1175 | FPS speed | 1145 | |
| Projectile Weight | 277.78 | Projectile Weight | 492.00 | |
| Power Factor | 326.39 | 57.94% | Power Factor | 563.34 |
| Aguila Mini Slug | Reg slug | |||
| FPS speed | 1250 | FPS speed | 1600 | |
| Projectile Weight | 385.808 | Projectile Weight | 438 | |
| Power Factor | 482.26 | 68.82% | Power Factor | 700.8 |
| Aguila Mini Buck | Reg OO Buck | |||
| FPS speed | 1200 | FPS speed | 1200 | |
| Projectile Weight | 304.2 | Projectile Weight | 484.2 | |
| Power Factor | 365.04 | 62.83% | Power Factor | 581.04 |
| Buck Shot Pkg | size | wt grains | ||
| four 1buck rounds | 0.3 | 40 | ||
| seven 4buck rounds | 0.24 | 20.6 | ||
| Total Wt grains | 304.2 | |||
| RIFLE Round | ||||
| 7.62×39 123g | 5.56 | |||
| FPS speed | 2400 | FPS speed | 3100 | |
| Projectile Weight | 123 | Projectile Weight | 55 | |
| Power Factor | 295.2 | Power Factor | 170.5 | |
| HANDGUN Round | ||||
| .45 cal HG | 9mm cal HG | |||
| FPS speed | 920 | FPS speed | 1125 | |
| Projectile Wt | 230 | Projectile Wt | 124 | |
| Power Factor | 211.6 | Power Factor | 139.5 |
The testing and matches proved the rounds are manufactured well and offer reliability.
There are limitations for the Slugs, which come into play once you get past 60 to 75 feet range.
The difference I found was the diameter of the slug. Regular slugs fit tighter in the barrel. The factory
might be able to improve this. 25 yards is well within a practical home defense parameters.
The ability to load regular rounds is a plus. Especially for a 100-yard shot.
I personally opt for more ammunition. In this case 40% more for a total of 10 rounds at the same weight as 6 rounds.
The rounds are 30 to 40% less powerful, less recoil, still effective at home-defense ranges.
This set up could work for the Military or Police.
So take a look at your shotgun, and if it is a pump, you may be able to make the modifications and up your onboard firepower by 40%. The Aguila site has information on other shotgun modifications and an actual Shotgun designed from the ground up for the mini shell.
Mossberg, 500A, 590 Mossburg®™ O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. – Firearms, Shotguns, Rifles
Aguila®™ Ammunition Aguila Ammunition / Centurion Ordnance, Inc.
Wolf®™ Ammunition WOLF Performance Ammunition
Federal®™ Ammunition federalpremium.com/shorty-shotshell/