My Keltec KS7 before & after!

Paul is one of the guys I sub to. I like the meat target. And you gotta love his delivery since he is, what you call, a professional. I've also seen gel tests showing good penetration and damage. I just wish I could find some actual SD shooting performance data.

Terry

You're not going to find any because stuff like shell size isn't tracked. Gauge, yes, to some extent. The best you might find is hunting related data, but in most cases it will be anecdotal.  Gel blocks, torso analogs, and meat targets, and the like, give people a decent idea of how a round will perform.  Especially when other mediums like clothing are used to simulate real world conditions. I've seen enough tests of mini shells to know that they will penetrate far enough to do significant damage to a non-armored opponent. They're not as powerful as full sized shells, but inside a house they don't have to be. And if I'm worried about armored critters, a shotgun isn't the tool for the job, anyway.

I don't know who P&S is, but there is plenty of evidence available online that shows that mini slugs and buckshot are suitable for close range self defense. I wouldn't use birdshot for SD, mini shell or otherwise.

Here are two Paul Harrell videos where he tests Aguila Minishells. Note the results of the meat target.  Seems to be a lot more than just blood.





I use mini shells in my KS7 because it sucks to shoot with anything else.  Same for my Shockwave.  Both will get the job done with minis.

Harrel is a clown and FUDD idiot & not wort wasting time on

The small mini shotgun shells do absolutely nothing to a human other than some blood, they are not powerful enough to penetrate clothing and flesh/blood/fat to do any damage

How do you know that? Do you have any real world data on SD shootings with them? I’m not being snarky. In all the gel tests I’ve seen they seem to have good penetration and the slug is still a big chunk of lead. I’m always in search of real world data on SD rounds and how they’ve actually performed against actual bad guys. I have it loaded with the same reduced recoil 00 that’s in my other SD shotgun. I plan to test the minis for reliable feeding and POI before I consider loading them.
Terry
Yes, P&S Facebook groups have some of the very few actual real deal shotgun instructors & they all say to stay away from the mini shotgun shells. 
P&S has tons of videos also on YouTube 
I’ve still got about 200 mini shotgun shells left (started with 1k)and while they are fun and cute, everything I shot them in had a malfunction at one time or another and I’ll never trust them in a life safety role 

That's fine but is it based on any real life SD shooting data against actual human beings or is it just their expert opinion? Don't get me wrong. I am not enamored of or sold on the mini shells. I think it's an interesting concept. But, whenever possible, I base my ammo choices on real SD shooting data rather than gel or opinions.
When that data is not available, I listen to opinions, look at gel tests, perform my own tests and then make my choice. If you have any real world LE data on shootings with these shells I would be eternally grateful if you could share it with me. Thanks!
Terry
I purchased my Ithaca 37 from a very reputable shotgun instructor and asked him about mini shells and he laughed & said to not waste my time on them & try low recoil Federal buckshot and slugs if ya can find them 
im in southern Missouri and on my phone with hit or miss internet 

this is a good link about mini shells 

https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/are-m...tid=Zxz2cZ


another good article with links to more gauge info 


https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/dispe...tid=Zxz2cZ

I can’t find it, but here is a AAR talking about Rob Haught and if I remember right he was saying to avoid the mini shotgun shells as they only piss off the bad guy

Or was that Clint Smith…crap now I’m confusing myself

https://primaryandsecondary.com/aar-rob-...tgun-2017/

Did you read or watch anything you posted? None of them said that mini shells are inadequate for SD. They just don't prefer them for various reasons. To each their own. The Federal shorty shells performed quite well with buckshot and slugs. These aren't meant for long distances or for hunting, however. They are meant for close up work. And you need the right shotgun to run them; an Ithaca 37 ain't one.

In my Shockwave I can load 8+1 1.75" shells. My KS7 can hold 11+1. That's a lot of firepower in a relatively small package. I use an adapter from Defender Tactical in my Shockwave that allows me to load full size and mini shells without having to remove the adapter.

Not sure how you can call Paul Harrell a FUDD and then mention Clint Smith or Rob Haught. I've taken classes with Clint, and he's a wealth of knowledge, ornery AF, and about as set in his old ways as you're going to get. Rob isn't much better.

I got the Aguilas for practice. I got the Federal Shorty 1oz slugs for serious use if that's the way I decide to go. The Federal Shorty is still a 1 ounce chunk of lead traveling at around 1200fps. That, by the way, is the same slug and advertised velocity as their 2.75 inch shell. How is that inadequate?

Terry

I got the Aguilas for practice. I got the Federal Shorty 1oz slugs for serious use if that's the way I decide to go. The Federal Shorty is still a 1 ounce chunk of lead traveling at around 1200fps. That, by the way, is the same slug and advertised velocity as their 2.75 inch shell. How is that inadequate?

Terry

get a frozen turkey & let it thaw completely & take a old pair of denim jeans & drape over it & shoot it at the max distance you will encounter & see what it does