![]() ![]() In other words, Aguila Minishells transformed my Mad Max 12 gauge from a wall-hanger into a practical tool. Each load offers nearly the same performance as standard shells with a fraction of the recoil. 1 pellets at closer to 1,200 fps, and the Minishell slug launches a 7/8-ounce, pure-lead projectile even faster. The Minishell buckshot load tosses an eclectic combination of seven No. 7½ birdshot throws 5/8 ounce of shot at more than 1,100 fps. At only 1¾ inches long, they are undeniably adorable. The Terminator: Guns From One of the Coolest Movies Ever Filmed Sizing DownĪguila Minishells look like standard 12-gauge shotshells that you squished lengthwise in a vise. That chance encounter changed everything. Then I serendipitously tripped over Aguila’s Minishells. I had invested a lot of time and money in this project only to find that the gun was absolutely miserable to shoot. That sharp triggerguard isn’t your friend when you light off both tubes at once. One buddy actually tried touching off both barrels one-handed and ended up bleeding for his trouble. The little gun actually patterned surprisingly well at close range, given its diminutive architecture, but no matter how I held it, the experience remained lightyears away from comfortable, recreational or fun. The muzzle flip was obscene, and the recoil impulse was simply horrendous. I felt the recoil from that horrible thing all the way down to my toenails. The experience was like touching off a bomb in my hand. I then realized all my effort had been utterly wasted. I dropped a single 2¾-inch shell in place, took careful aim and squeezed the trigger. When the project was finally complete, I took the gun out to my favorite shooting spot along with several boxes of 12-gauge birdshot. To strengthen the whole assembly, I sank short dowels crosswise and sanded everything smooth. Also, I laminated three slabs of wood together to interface with the receiver geometry. ![]() I built five different pistol grips, but the final iteration was roughly patterned after that of a Colt Peacemaker. I filled the ugly void left between the barrels with J-B Weld and pronounced the snout complete. Then drilled and tapped a new mounting hole. I built a new front sight bead by spinning a brass screw in my drill press and dressing it down with a file until it looked right. Once the paperwork returned complete, I cut the barrels down using a cutoff wheel on a table saw and dressed the ends carefully with a Dremel tool. I filed a BATFE Form 1 and then waited roughly forever. This rugged shotgun was cheap and had the same slanting forend architecture I needed to replicate Max’s blaster. My Mad Max 12 gauge shotgun began life as a Russian-made Baikal side-by-side coach gun. ![]() Once I hit my 21st birthday, however, it was time for the real steel. My first iteration was a non-firing workshop project that I used to launch bottle rockets. Featuring a post-apocalyptic story arc that spawned legions of knockoffs, The Road Warrior featured an older, more battered Max wielding a similar but not identical side-by-side shotgun in his bloody crusade against homicidal highwaymen.Īfter seeing the sequel, I resolved to someday craft for myself a replica of Max’s iconic handheld howitzer. The sequel to Mad Max, The Road Warrior, enjoyed substantially better resources. However, things were so tight on the set that the inexpensive shotgun apparently had to be repurposed. This makes Mad Max the most profitable motion picture ever produced. DOUBLE BARREL SHOTTY MOVIEThe movie subsequently grossed more than $100 million worldwide. Mad Max was shot on a scant $400,000 AUD budget. This same gun appears to have been subsequently cut down and used as Max’s sidearm later in the movie. The specific details have been lost to history, but a standard long-barreled sporting version of a VG Bentley 12-gauge, side-by-side shotgun was featured early in the film. The shotgun in the original 1979 film Mad Max hailed from pretty humble stuff. Drop a brace of those adorable little rascals down this unusual gun’s gaping gullet and you have a man-portable WMD for close-quarters battle. The secret to gleaning practical utility from my post-apocalyptic Road Warrior blaster is Aguila’s revolutionary 12-gauge Minishell ammo. However, even running low-brass birdshot through the thing will absolutely rock your world. I built my own Mad Max 12 gauge shotgun that will reliably start a party anyplace two or more gun guys are gathered. Why Thomas Magnum Is the Quintessential American Badass ![]()
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