First of all, any
SAAMI/CIP approved 12ga shotgun may fire minishells, be it side-by-side,
over-and-under or pump action; however, the latter type will
not cycle them flawlessly. The out-of-the-box shotgun that we
have tested cycling minishells very well, is the Winchester
M1300 18" Defender. Winchesters 1897 seems to like the
shorter rounds, however not as much as the Winchester 1300.
We still have to test the Winchester 1887.
MOSSBERGS 500/590s
will cycle minishells pretty well once the shooter acquires
a "feeling" as to how to pump the action; however,
this will not prevent the occasional jam. To further solve the
problem, we have lengthened and widened the little short metal
bar (shell elevator), which catches the round to be subsequently
fed to the ramp and chamber. This modification will not prevent
you from firing regular size shot shells. The other modification
that would decisively help in the proper cycling, would be to
install the ejector in a more forward position to catch the
spent shorter shell and eject it, before it may flip and cause
jams. However, we DO NOT recommend you to do this, because you
will most likely no longer be able to fire regular size shells.
Any competent gunsmith
should be able to perform the modification to the elevator described
above.
REMINGTONS 870s seem
to require a more involved modification, which we have never
attempted. We have received calls from clients stating that
they have tried our minishells in their 870s with excellent
results, and that they did not understand why we have always
mentioned the potential cycling problems. To this, we would
like to state once more that minishells will not cycle flawlessly
in regular pump action shotguns, no matter how well some customers
are able to cycle them. Again, the Winchester 1300 Defender
would seem to be the one cycling minishells best.
