Some time back, I purchase an OPSol Mini-Clip so I could fire the Aguila mini shotgun shells in my Mossberg Shockwave without jamming. Because the dang shells were in such short supply, I never tried it, until now.
I finally laid my hands on six boxes of the 1-3/4-inch Aguila minishell buckshot, birdshot, and slugs and tested them out on six steel targets at 36 feet.
The OPSol Mini-Clip was a snap to install in the Mossberg. It pushed into place in seconds. Once installed, the minishells fed flawlessly, which was not the case before hand. After installing the OPSol Mini Clip, I fired 40 rounds without a single missfeed. This device does its job well and inexpensively. The only fault is that it worked its way partially out of the shotgun partway through our testing and had to be re-seated. This was noticeable during reloading and a firm push of the thumb solved the problem.
I understand there is a 2.0 version of this device available now. Maybe they cured that problem.
This clever device is only available for Mossbergs.
Minishells
The Aguila minishels fired just fine and they provided a good pattern at 36 feet, covering the face of my 10-inch steel plates. I found the slugs to be far less accurate in my Mossberg than they were in a full-size shotgun with rifle sights. They also shot low in the Shockwave. The only problem was that when used in a full-size gun like the Remington 870, they jammed. They also lacked the power to cycle my semi-auto combat shotgun. This gun cycles birdshot just fine, but not these small and weaker shells.
Using the minishells instead of traditional 2-3/4-inch shotgun shells offers two distinct advantages: higher capacity and lower recoil.
I like the minishells in the Shockwave and other weapons with no buttstock because it makes the firearm more controllable. (If you’ve seen those videos of people bonking themselves in the face when shooting their Shockwave, then you know what I mean!) In a full-size shot gun, recoil isn’t an issue for me, but I see how it might be for a shooter with less experience, of smaller stature, or who has some disability that prevents the use of full-strength loads. The minishells might also be good for training, kind of like practicing with .38s and carrying .357s. in a revolver.
Here’s the payoff for me: The minishells also raise the capacity of my Shockwave from five to eight rounds. From a home-defense standpoint where I am shooting at close range, I will trade the higher capacity for lower power.
Although I had no full-size Mossberg in which to test them, a Mossberg 500 with an extended tube would provide an impressive amount of firepower when stuffed with the shorter shells.
If I were to stumble onto some Aguila minishells again, I would buy only the buckshot. It has 4 #1 and 7 #4 balls in it, which is less powerful than the standard 9 pellets in a 2-3/4” 00 buck. It should still hit with more authority than your 9mm pistol.
The Shockwave
I don’t expect I’ll ever need to use my Shockwave like entry teams use short-barreled shotguns, to blow out locks and hinges on doors.
But that doesn’t make it any less fun. And a fun as it is with 2-3/4-inch shells, it’s just that much more fun with the minishells. They make it a pleasure to shoot unsupported. If I were using an arm brace and shooting the Shockwave one-handed, I would want to use the minishells for greater recoil control.
But does a weapon that shoots shotgun shells and has a 13-inch barrel have a useful tactical purpose? (Please note that under our tortured and twisted gun laws, the Shockwave is not legally a shotgun.) I can see it being useful in the following situations:
The Shockwave’s Tactical Niche
- If you need to shoot a shotgun shell one-handed, this is a much more powerful option than a Taurus Judge or Smith & Wesson Governor. For example, when you are riding a 4-wheeler, motorbike, or even a horse, the Shockwave will let you get off a shot with one hand. Remington has a semi-auto with a similar size, the Tac-13, which would be an even better choice in this scenario since you don’t need to rack it.
- It would be good for use in a vehicle where there is limited space. It is far easier to maneuver in the backseat of a sedan with a Shockwave than a shotgun with a shoulder stock and an 18-inch barrel.
- If I was in a sniper hide with a long gun mounting a scope, a Shockwave would be easy to pack in and out to provide close-in security.
- If I wanted to carry a compact but relatively powerful defensive weapon in a small pack or bag , the Shockwave would be an option. (Because of some arcane ATF rules, concealing your loaded Shockwave is a big no-no, even if you have a concealed carry permit. After the SHTF, this may no longer be an issue.)
- Most important for me: It’s compact size makes it easy to hide in your house for immediate access.
Good for Preppers?
Is the Mossberg Shockwave or a similar weapon something a prepper should buy? Not as your first shotgun. You should have your needs related to pistols, rifles and full size shotguns fulfilled well before you spend money on one of these. For example, a traditional shotgun would be better for hunting. But if you have a well-stocked pantry and 49 other guns, I see no reason not to make this your 50th.
As for the other components of this review, I am unlikely to waste my limited ammo money on more Aguila mini-shells. However, if you like them for any of the reasons we outlined above, then the OPSol Mini-Clip is a must have if you want to shoot them in your Mossberg.
Ratings
Shockwave
Nothing wrong with it, but not a critical piece of kit. If this is on your prepper list, it should be waaaay down the list.
Aguila Minishells
Ours worked fine, but they won’t function in many guns. They are also more expensive and less powerful than standard 2-3/4-inch shells, which are more plentiful.
OPSol Mini-Clip
A must have if you want to use any of the minishells out there on the market.
