First Look: Federal Premium Shorty Shotshell

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posted on January 27, 2019
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Federal Premium added new Shorty shotshells to its ammunition lineup, becoming a growing number of manufacturers that offer shortened, 12-gauge shotshells, providing added options and benefits to shotgunners. The company joins Aguila and Challenger ammunition as providers of these 1.75-inch shotshells.

According to the company's initial release ammunition, Federal Premium aimed to provide performance from these Shorty shotshells that measured up to full-length counterparts in terms of patterning, energy production and accuracy. Three loads are offered in the new lineup: one No. 8 shot load, a No. 4 buck load and a shell loaded with a rifled slug.

In terms of performance specifications, these Federal Premium Shorty offerings are listed with Federal-provided details. The No. 4 buck and rifled-slug loads are listed as providing 1,200 FPS, while the No. 8 shot load offers 1,145 fps. Rounds are sold in 10-count boxes, with suggested retail pricing starting at $5.95 for the No. 8 shot load and $11.95 for the buck and slug loads.

In recent years, short, 1.75-inch shotshells have become popular for a number of reasons. First, their shortened length somewhat reduces the recoil impulse felt by shooters, allowing small-statured shotgunners to better-handle a 12-gauge shotgun.

Second, with the innovative development of the OpSol MiniClip adapter, owners of Mossberg shotguns, including the unique Shockwave platform, can reliably feed and fire shortened shotshells from their tube magazine with ease. Other unique platforms, like the SRM Arms 1228, have been developed to take full advantage of these low-recoil, shortened shells. In particular, this allows for an increased magazine capacity over standard-length shells.

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