So much this.
I'd also like to see a rimless 16ga or 20ga shell with a rounded nose and a stiffer case material, something ideally designed for feeding out of box magazines.
Printable View
https://images.app.goo.gl/53k6i7qJLAmeR1LR7
From the link earlier. 12 gauge though.
I myself would be happy just for Federal to offer a reduced recoil Flite-Control loading in 20 ga. Or Tru-ball slugs.
It's not in this site, but I did have an idea a few years back for an AR-10 analogue to the .300 Whisper/BLK notion, using a .358 Win case necked up to take 9.3mm bullets. I figured you could go as low as 185gr with some of the South African antelope projos, up to 320gr Woodleigh solids if not higher.
Then I found out some German company already made it, called 9.3x51mm Roedale. They apparently love the 9.3, as they've wildcatted it into everything from 7.62x39mm cases up to .338 Lapua cases...
Especially in a box magazine where where you pay a much higher price in magazine size /length due to the width of the shells and height of the shell stack.
In tube mags you just don’t gain as much in form factor of the gun which I think helps explain the popularity of the 12.
I do think there could be an argument made though for a standard size shorter shell that is designed to operate at what we consider “reduced recoil”, like the aguilla’s, but not Aguilla. If we we could get mini actions to go with mini shells that would be a pretty compelling little blaster; in 16 or 20 gauge it would be like the Winchester ‘92 of shotguns.
I'm just now finishing setting up my 12ga 870 for the HD role, and am now (im)patiently waiting for 20 ga parts to start reappearing so I can do the same for my dads old 20 ga Wingmaster. Though it will be set up more as a general purpose woods gun than strictly HD.
I know people have had little luck just getting more non-00 buck FC out of Federal, so 20 ga 'tactical' loads from them is a pipe dream absent a major shift in the market, but you would think the relative success of those mini-shells would show there is a market for lighter, low recoil options.