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Posted: 8/22/2026 9:19:26 PM EDT
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It’s been a couple years, but I searched “mini” and nothing came up, so I hope I’m safe to ask, I know 870’s and some other guns requires mods to work reliably with mini shells, but for some reason I think I remember the Mossberg 500 worked pretty well without mods, or am I completely wrong? I never actually modded anything back in the day because I always wanted to be able to use regular shells, but picked up a 7+1 Mossberg version recently, and was thinking about making it a mini-dedicated for the capacity. Thanks |
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Make it "Idiot Proof", along comes a better idiot.
Official Site Nickname, given by NorCal - "Smack"
Make it "Idiot Proof", along comes a better idiot.
Official Site Nickname, given by NorCal - "Smack"
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Now that Mossberg offers a mini shell compatible shotgun, I usually advise to buy one of those. That being said, I installed a Defender Tactical (?) conversion on a Maverick 88 defender and it runs perfectly. 10-11 mini shells. It works with any size shells. A deal at $25 |
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Yeah. I just saw those, and the reviews are fantastic in being able to mix shells. For 25 plus tax and shipping that’s a great deal. Question - can you uninstall it and move it from shotgun to shotgun? |
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Make it "Idiot Proof", along comes a better idiot.
Official Site Nickname, given by NorCal - "Smack"
Make it "Idiot Proof", along comes a better idiot.
Official Site Nickname, given by NorCal - "Smack"
|
I've run the Opsol and Defender Tactical adapters on Mosberg 500 and Maverick 88's. The Opsol worked much better for me. Defender Tactical, even with their lifter would flip a round backwards every now and then. I also had a Defender tactical adaper tear apart on me. DT did replace it for free. |
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Originally Posted By dogtired: Now that Mossberg offers a mini shell compatible shotgun, I usually advise to buy one of those. That being said, I installed a Defender Tactical (?) conversion on a Maverick 88 defender and it runs perfectly. 10-11 mini shells. It works with any size shells. A deal at $25 Due to pricing, availability and some other life BS, I've only blasted thru a few boxes; but my KSG runs the "Hater Tots"  no problem. Love those things. (20+1 I think)
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Get the opsol and forget about the defender one. https://opsolmini-clip.com/product/opsol-mini-clip-2-0-flex/ I started out with the defender tactical one and you have to remove the trigger group to install it. Once installed, regular shells are a pain in the ass to load because of the flap. You might as well completely forget about trying to load a 3in shell. It causes jams on regular shells. It stops them from coming back far enough and they jam. I ended up throwing mine away. I then tried the opsol. It is just a rubber block that slips into the mag well. No disassembly needed, It only takes a couple seconds to push it in place. Mini shells run perfectly. Then when ready to go back to regular shells, just pull it out and stick it in your pocket. Stupid simple and easy, no disassembly required and no jams. |
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Originally Posted By Jeeps-And-Guns: Get the opsol and forget about the defender one. https://opsolmini-clip.com/product/opsol-mini-clip-2-0-flex/ I started out with the defender tactical one and you have to remove the trigger group to install it. Once installed, regular shells are a pain in the ass to load because of the flap. You might as well completely forget about trying to load a 3in shell. It causes jams on regular shells. It stops them from coming back far enough and they jam. I ended up throwing mine away. I then tried the opsol. It is just a rubber block that slips into the mag well. No disassembly needed, It only takes a couple seconds to push it in place. Mini shells run perfectly. Then when ready to go back to regular shells, just pull it out and stick it in your pocket. Stupid simple and easy, no disassembly required and no jams. Yeah, I just watched videos on both of them, both seem to be under 30 bucks. And the Opsol really looks easy to push in and push out when going back to regular size shells. Now I guess the question is if the increase in rounds is really worth it or needed. It holds 7+1 now, so going to 10 or 11 isn’t all THAT big of an increase. But when you look at it numbers wise it’s a 50% increase. |
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Make it "Idiot Proof", along comes a better idiot.
Official Site Nickname, given by NorCal - "Smack"
Make it "Idiot Proof", along comes a better idiot.
Official Site Nickname, given by NorCal - "Smack"
|
Mossberg makes the 590S that will do both but I could not find one in 18" so I got the 590A1 and put the Defender Tactical guts in it. this mimics the 590S lifter and plug. 100% reliable with "tator tots" and 2 3/4 shells. https://defendertactical.com/products/mini-pro  Attached File 
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We've had several threads on these but I guess the search engine is working as per usual.  I had the OpSol in one of my 500s and it worked for the handful of mini shells I fired through it. I put the Defender kit including the lifter in a Shockwave and it's also been fine with everything I've tried in it. After installation I worked the empty action repeatedly while watching a video. After that I cycled it with a couple of tubes with of 2 3/4" shells, again per their recommendation. After that I tried all minis then all 3", then just started randomly mixing shells in the tube. Again no issues. Finally got a chance to shoot it and did essentially the same thing, couple tubes full of 2 3/4", then some minis (mostly Federal #8) but also some buckshot and slugs, both Federal and Aquila. I tried a couple of 3" shells but they're no fun when you have a busted up wrist and have a harder time holding the gun. Lastly I was picking up shells randomly off the tailgate and loading them, again several magazines worth. At this point I've got probably 80rnds of minis, mostly birdshot, through the gun, including mixed loadings. I'm confident in the firearm at this point, reduced wrist supination is my biggest issue with any pump but especially the hard recoiling Shockwave so I plan to put a Magpul stock and at some point. With all of that in mind I removed the OpSol from the 500 and installed the Defender kit in it too. Same break in routine and same results on the range. My Shockwave barrel is still the factory cylinder bore while my 500 has been threaded and has an improved tube in it. With no shot cup the minis do not group as tightly in either gun. Still perfectly usable from the top of the stairs to the front door, but door to mailbox I'd want the longer shells, especially with the buckshot rounds. I don't know why Federal uses the split shot in their buckshot, I would prefer solid 00 for weight retention and to reduce the chances of deformation in flight (without a high speed camera I can only speculate as to the possibility of this as the shells are pushed into each other in flight). They're also expensive to practice with. The Aquila is a mix of 4B (7p) 1B (4p). As already noted, they are easier to fumble as well, especially grabbing them out of a pouch or waist pack and orienting them in your hand as you try to load the gun without looking at what you're doing, i.e. keeping your eyes on your target instead of looking at the gun or working in the dark. One thing I've noted, don't expect the recoil of the minis to be reduced from their longer counterpart, I actually noticed it to be worse. It's not much worse, but with old ortho injuries it's something I can feel. My fault for not actually thinking about it; simple really, similar payloads at ~1200fps is still similar payloads at ~1200fps no matter the shell length. When I mentioned it here someone quickly explained that the longer shells have a wad or crush section on the shot cup whereas the minis just have a shot card. Doh, simple physics when you think about it, same principle as crush compartments in a vehicle. I just hadn't even thought about it. I have thought about buying a roll crimper and making my own loads at around 900-1000fps which would be easier to practice with (those ortho injuries) and still be perfectly serviceable for things like rabbits, field rats or snakes that might get hit by the bushhog (I usually carry a single shot H&R on the tractor to dispatch anything wounded). |
| Yeah, I wasn’t figuring the recoil would be less, just that more rounds would fit, possibly negating any reloading due to the extra capacity. |
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Make it "Idiot Proof", along comes a better idiot.
Official Site Nickname, given by NorCal - "Smack"
Make it "Idiot Proof", along comes a better idiot.
Official Site Nickname, given by NorCal - "Smack"
|
Originally Posted By CA_TX-Cop: It’s been a couple years, but I searched “mini” and nothing came up, so I hope I’m safe to ask, I know 870’s and some other guns requires mods to work reliably with mini shells, but for some reason I think I remember the Mossberg 500 worked pretty well without mods, or am I completely wrong? I never actually modded anything back in the day because I always wanted to be able to use regular shells, but picked up a 7+1 Mossberg version recently, and was thinking about making it a mini-dedicated for the capacity. Thanks As far as I know, there is no way to get mini shells to work in a 870. Only the Mossbergs. If I’m wrong someone will be along to point that out. |
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Just as a point of reference, bone stock 870's will run 1-3/4" OAL shot shells with no issues. That's a standard 2-3/4" shell cut off 1/2", loaded and crimped as normal to equal 1-3/4" OAL. I rolled my own mini's years ago before they were commercially available. Great thread. |
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Originally Posted By Johnny_C: Just as a point of reference, bone stock 870's will run 1-3/4" OAL shot shells with no issues. That's a standard 2-3/4" shell cut off 1/2", loaded and crimped as normal to equal 1-3/4" OAL. I rolled my own mini's years ago before they were commercially available. Great thread. Everything I can find says the 870 doesn’t work for commercially available mini shells due to the inability to put anything behind the lifter, allowing the shells to flip up, with your home loads it sounds like they are just long enough to not have room to do that. |
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Make it "Idiot Proof", along comes a better idiot.
Official Site Nickname, given by NorCal - "Smack"
Make it "Idiot Proof", along comes a better idiot.
Official Site Nickname, given by NorCal - "Smack"
|
Originally Posted By CA_TX-Cop: I'm Everything I can find says the 870 doesn't work for commercially available mini shells due to the inability to put anything behind the lifter, allowing the shells to flip up, with your home loads it sounds like they are just long enough to not have room to do that. Originally Posted By CA_TX-Cop: Originally Posted By Johnny_C: Just as a point of reference, bone stock 870's will run 1-3/4" OAL shot shells with no issues. That's a standard 2-3/4" shell cut off 1/2", loaded and crimped as normal to equal 1-3/4" OAL. I rolled my own mini's years ago before they were commercially available. Great thread. Everything I can find says the 870 doesn't work for commercially available mini shells due to the inability to put anything behind the lifter, allowing the shells to flip up, with your home loads it sounds like they are just long enough to not have room to do that. Yes. I was just trying to add little info on getting some "shorter" shells to work in an 870. This thread made me remember that I have some mini's stashed around here somewhere, but it might take days to find them, or maybe not ever...  I loaded my short shells for 3 gun matches, way back when. They are pretty easy to load, if anyone is interested, but I don't want to thread slide. I had good success with bird shot & #1 Buck... |
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Originally Posted By sandboxmedic: Or mine. Originally Posted By sandboxmedic: Originally Posted By VaFish: Mini shells don't run in my 870. Or mine. I never had any issues with short shells. I have used federal and Agulia without issue. The funny partis my buddy shooting my 870 with my purchased short shells epuld run into a problem. I think it was how different we were racking the shotgun. Using short shells I would ve a bit more aggressive then standard length shells. I noticed he dod not add any umph to racking the shotgun. Maybe that is why the same shotgun with the same rounds ended differently for us. |
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