Mini/short shells in Winchester M12

imaoldcowhand · Dec 26, 2019

Update: Thanks to all for the information.

Are there any modifications required when shooting mini/short shells in a shotgun?
Specifically a Winchester M12. Does anyone know?

Thanks in advance for any info.

28Shooter · Dec 26, 2019

I have no real experience with them but I've read and been told that they don't function well in most pump guns.

Good question!

Bertfish · Dec 26, 2019

The Mossbergs require some extra part to make them work and even then my friend who has one said it's not very dependable

Jimbob2.0 · Dec 26, 2019

They wont hurt the gun so the only way to find out is to buy some and try.

Frankly I usually only use them with my coach gun for lighter shoulder impact. Someday I am going to try them in my KSG.

engineerbrian · Dec 26, 2019

Bertfish said:
The Mossbergs require some extra part to make them work and even then my friend who has one said it's not very dependable

Its the OpSol mini clip. 100% reliable in my Mossberg

Mini shells wont work in a model 12

6Den · Dec 26, 2019

I tried them in my Mossberg. Even with the mini clip insert, feeding was not reliable. It's a shame I can't trust them, as they shot accurately with very mild recoil.

28Shooter · Dec 26, 2019

This thread is confirming what I've been told.

Thanks fellas!

engineerbrian · Dec 26, 2019

Minis are cool for certain things but not others. I really just use them for blasting steel plates at the range. Here is a quick pattern test with a few different loads.

mtlcafan79 · Dec 27, 2019

The Nobelsport 2.25" shells feed just fine in the two 870's I've tried them in. They've been great to introduce new/recoil sensitive shooters to 12 gauge.

rj1974 · Dec 27, 2019

Jimbob2.0 said:
They wont hurt the gun so the only way to find out is to buy some and try.

Frankly I usually only use them with my coach gun for lighter shoulder impact. Someday I am going to try them in my KSG.

I have a friend that runs them in his KSG .He claims they run with no issues but I have not been at the range with him to confirm .

Jed195 · Dec 27, 2019

I'll have ro try those noblesport 2.25" shells in my 1887 clone...the 2.75" hang up sometimes because the gun were designed around 2-1/2 inch shells back then. At least that is what I've read.

jimbobborg · Dec 28, 2019

Jed195 said:
I'll have ro try those noblesport 2.25" shells in my 1887 clone...the 2.75" hang up sometimes because the gun were designed around 2-1/2 inch shells back then. At least that is what I've read.

The 87 clones were built using the 10 gauge version as the example. Supposedly, they're only really reliable with Winchester AAs. I have found this to be the case. I will be trying this shotgun again when I get the gumption to load up the brass shells I have.

imaoldcowhand · Dec 28, 2019

Quote: Jed195

I'll have ro try those noblesport 2.25" shells in my 1887 clone...the 2.75" hang up sometimes because the gun were designed around 2-1/2 inch shells back then. At least that is what I've read.

I think this is mainly 16ga and 20ga shotguns.
The shells coming out may have hung up because they are to long for the ejection port, and that is caused by shooting 2 3/4 shells in a 2 9/16th chamber.

https://www.google.com/search?clien...99212...1.0..0.195.290.1j1......0.OI6Vtlo0mME

imaoldcowhand · Dec 28, 2019

I will add, my M12 is a 12ga made in 1933, and the barrel is marked 2 3/4” chamber.
I have had shells hang up on ejection. I’ve read it’s because, paper shells are more forgiving than plastic shells.

Jed195 · Dec 28, 2019

Have Winchester AAs but haven't hit the range to check. Never had problems with Remington slugs...just kicks more with slugs being on the lighter side of my 1w gauges.

imaoldcowhand · Dec 31, 2019

imaoldcowhand said:
I will add, my M12 is a 12ga made in 1933, and the barrel is marked 2 3/4” chamber.
I have had shells hang up on ejection. I’ve read it’s because, paper shells are more forgiving than plastic shells.

Since my M12 is not a collectible, having the Full Choke barrel cut down to 20" due to rust and pitting, I am going to take it to a gunsmith and have the ejection port enlarged by 1/8", to see if that will alleviate the plastic shells from hanging up.

Boats · Dec 31, 2019

I would try replacing the ejector and extractor springs and possibly the extractor itself and giving it a good cleaning before going the major surgery route. Those springs are probably 80 years old.

I would reckon, based on how the feed cycle of the model 1912 works that mini shells will bind in the chamber and not feed. not sure about 2.25".

glad you got your m12 back.

imaoldcowhand · Dec 31, 2019

Boats said:
I would try replacing the ejector and extractor springs and possibly the extractor itself and giving it a good cleaning before going the major surgery route. Those springs are probably 80 years old.

I would reckon, based on how the feed cycle of the model 1912 works that mini shells will bind in the chamber and not feed. not sure about 2.25".

glad you got your m12 back.

Hi Boats,
Yes, I got the M12 back. Just what I said would happen did, my friends wife wasn’t happy. You know, happy wife - happy life.

So I decided to keep it, and fix the shell hang up’s.
I think the problem is that the plastic shells are a hair longer than paper shells. This didn’t happen on every shot, more like one or two in a magazine.

Mini/short shells in Winchester M12

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