mini shells are fun, but i personally find them to have a slightly less pleasant recoil impulse than standard low recoil buckshot.
i don't know about the new federal shells, but the aguila shells are shorter because the wad has been cut down, and provides no shock absorption. i can't remember the pattern size, but i wasn't very impressed, even compared to cheap S&B 00 buck.
reliability was ok, but i am hesitant to trust a piece of rubber that is just stuck in the loading port, not without making totally sure it will stay put.
i prefer an AR for home defense, less recoil, more capacity, more accurate, easier to operate, etc, but if you must use a shotgun, it doesn't get any better than federal flite control.
https://www.sgammo.com/product/12-gauge-ammo/50-round-brick-12-gauge-federal-low-recoil-8-pellet-buckshot-flitecontrol-wad-
i prefer the #1 buck load, but its hard to find, and 00 8 pellet is more than good enough
huh?