About the only ammo on the shelves at Wally World are 1-3/4, 12 ga, #8 shot. Anybody used them, and will they feed dependably in Auto's and Pumps??

I'm sure you meant 2 3/4". I haven't bought any myself as I don't usually buy any other than 6 shot or lower. Doesn't your Wal Mart have any steel shot on the shelves? I read a rule of thumb is add 2 to the shot size on steel. Maybe that's wrong I don't know but I'm sure someone will be along to correct me. Using that, #4 steel would be like #6 lead.It's not hard to find steel shot up here in about any size most of the time. Lead doesn't stay on the shelf long other than 7.5 or 8 shot.

All autos and most pumps, no. Some pumps can take an adapter to make them feed. Some pumps can but need to be cycled either vigorously or in a certain fashion or both to do so.

The most likely design to feed without issue is the M37 Ithaca.

NO, I didn't, the box said 1-3/4, and that's what was inside when I looked.

they were designed to feed in Winchester 1200 and 1300 as a solution to low capacity shotguns used by the mexican police which are Win 1200 1300 pump guns

Aguila was the first to make them they have been around a while

Mossberg now makes a 590s line of pump guns that feed them well also

they are hit and miss in 500 and 870 the 500 there is an after market plastic piece that can make it better

semi autoes , function is unlikely to let it be more than a single shot

in the 590s it turns an 8+1 round gun with 2 3/4 into a 13+1 gun with 1 3/4 shells almost doubling the capacity

I have a Mod 37, and I don't know if it would feed or not, you could be correct. Be pretty easy to screw up and not have the 3 round limiter in the magazine.

Wow, I can honestly say I've never seen a shell like that that. On any shotgun barrel I've looked at it's stamped 2 3/4 or longer. What use would 1 3/4" shells even have??? How much powder and shot would even fit?
I feel bad that it's all you can find down there. You may have to branch out out of St. Louis and see what the rest of the country has or order online but every one is so expensive on that.

one ounce very little for wad space like a card wad or two then most of the powder

your mostly taking the unused space out of a one ounce shell your not going for super high velocity but at across the room distances you don't need high brass or magnum rounds

so one ounce of lead and a typical target load worth of powder.

Federal started making them then as I understand it worked with Mossberg as the ammo supply for the 590s
https://www.federalpremium.com/shotshell/federal-target/shorty-shotshell/11-SH129+8.html

as I understand it M37 with mini shells is hit and miss

also while you don't give up much power to 1 ounce #8 target loads , you definitely give up power and pellets on buck shot loads.

Not sure if online is option, or how close they are to you in MO. Roger's usually has a good selection.
https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/

They can turn one of the shorty 14" shockwave types or 18" room clearing gun into a higher capacity weapon with less recoil.

I seem to recall reading an article where unlimited capacity dove shooting over crop fields south of the border was done with the minis much like spring snow goose here.

They have their place as a tool for certain applications.

I bought a couple box’s.mine are loaded with 48 pellets of number 7 shot and 4 pellets of number 1 buckshot. The cycle perfect in my 870 and a fun lol

I've never seen such a thing. Interesting, but of little use, I think.

Would be perfect for indoor work

They are a lot of fun to waste at a old farm dump

Be tough to reload.

I have shot a couple boxes out of a modified choke single shot. They kick harder than expected. I had #8 shot, quite a big spread at 15 to 20 yards. Keep them at the cabin for yard work.

Nope, not tough at all. I have been making them as self defense loads for long before I ever saw a commercial one.

You can get a lot in a pump, especially with a mag extension tube.

The only caveat is they do need to be roll crimped.