Author Topic: Aguila Minishell Misfires (Read 333 times)

Halo · « **on:** March 16, 2007, 09:32:13 PM »

I was doing a routine periodic firing with my Stoeger 12-gauge double barrel coach shotgun at the indoor range, when 3 of 5 Aguila 1 3/4-inch Minishells (seven No. 4 Buckshot and four No. 1 Buckshot) failed to fire in the left barrel while all 5 fired in the right barrel.

I should have tried refiring the misfires from the right barrel, but didn't think of it at the time. The firing pin impacts on the misfires appeared not quite as deep as those Minishells that fired okay from the right barrel.

I fired another 10 or so assorted American brand 2 3/4-inch shells (No. 8 birdshot, No. 1 Buckshot, 00 Buckshot) from both barrels and none of them misfired, nor have any other of the 200 or so total shells I've fired from this gun.

Unless any of you recommend otherwise, I'll keep the Stoeger in its usual home defense role where it would use No. 1 Buckshot, which has never failed to fire in practice rounds.

Aguila Minishells will load only in breech loader shotguns and maybe the Winchester 1300 pump from what I've read. I've only shot them indoors at paper targets, but until I see some kind of test about their lethality, I'm assuming they are primarily an interesting novelty unsuitable for home defense.

Aguila Minishells emit more black smoke than U.S. shells I've shot, and certainly crud up the breech end of the barrel because of their short length, the way .38 shells crud up .357 cylinders in revolvers. Takes a lot of scourering to get those barrels clean.

Do any of you have any experience or thoughts about misfires like this and/or Aguila Minishells?

Xargos · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2007, 09:33:57 PM »

Have you been using corrosive primers? If you have you'll need to really clean your firing pins.

P.S. If you have family living at home I would not use Buckshot for home defense because it can go through the walls and hit one of them, I use magnum bird shot.

Halo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2007, 09:51:21 PM »

I only use stock commercial ammo. Many sources do not recommend birdshot for home defense, e.g., http://www.theboxotruth.com/

Xargos · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2007, 09:56:10 PM »

Bird shot will cut a man in half at close range, plus if you hit him in the face with it it will go into his brain through his eyes.

P.S. Bad link, does not take me anywhere.

P.P.S. I also keep 00Buck on my 12 gauge in case I need anything bigger.

Halo · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2007, 10:01:31 PM »

Sorry, fixed the link. Try it now. From what I read, birdshot can cause ugly wounds but has insufficient penetration to stop a determined attacker.

Xargos · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2007, 10:12:55 PM »

He didn't say anything about magnum birdshot. I live in a trailer so I am very weary of using anything that will go through walls and still be able to kill.

P.S. Nice website find.

namvet · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2007, 01:26:17 AM »

Dunno about the minishells but their IQ ammo is garbage.

Maverick · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2007, 11:29:07 AM »

If the ammo is dirty, unreliable or inaccurate, dump it. It's not worth dealing with and certainly nothing you should pit anything important on.

Corrosive primers are very scarce now and you won't find them in modern loads or supplies. That does not mean to say the firing pin area is not dirty. Clean the shot gun and especially the pin areas.