|
|
|
-
This
new type of 1-3/4" 12 ga shotshell (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 shotshell 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 shotshells.
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 lead us
to consider the development of a weapons system which would
include a new shotgun (more about this later) especially designed
for the MINISHELL. In the meantime, after some testing we realized
that the WINCHESTER™ 1300 series cycle 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 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 skeets 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 ejector are normally not permitted; WINCHESTERS
M1897 cycles them fairly well.
|
|
