CHIAPPA LITTLE BADGER 9MM

Small-calibre shotgun cartridges have always interested me, as you have to have a real purpose to use them, and when used correctly, they can actually be very effective. They fall down when people try to stretch their limits, though. One such cartridge is the diminutive 9mm Flobert round. It’s a rimfire shotgun cartridge that’s only 1.5” long, and it usually holds a payload of 6.9g of No.6 pellets. It was originally designed for very close-range vermin work, where a normal shotgun would over-penetrate and be too noisy.
The gun on test is the Chiappa Little Badger in 9mm Flobert. It is a great lightweight and low-cost shotgun that folds down for easy transportation. Interestingly, this model is also manufactured in rimfire rifle calibres, including .17HMR, .22LR, and .22WMR. Distributed in the UK by ESR Distribution, Chiappa offers a really nice array of shotguns and rifles for shooters.
For those who don’t know, Chiappa Firearms is an Italian group specialising in all types of firearms, and it was founded in 1958 in Brescia, an area that has been involved in the production of firearms for centuries. The company offers a vast and constantly developing catalogue of pistols and rifles, which includes copies of historic American and muzzle-loading firearms, as well as lever-action hunting rifles. I like that it’s still a family-run business, allowing them to produce a more diverse range of firearms. They have the freedom to create what they like, and they tend to buck the trend somewhat.

Teeny, tiny, and simple
Well, there’s not a lot to this Little Badger from Chiappa, and that’s the beauty of it, as there is nothing to go wrong, and even an idiot can operate it. The overall length is only 38.5”, and due to its pivoting, fold-up construction, it can be folded to nearly half that. That’s why this type of gun was very popular with poachers—say no more. There is a small cut-out in the fore-end that allows the trigger guard to insert itself out of the way and thus complete the low-angled, folded-up configuration.
The barrel has a very slim profile, a matte-blued finish, and what looks to be a full-choke configuration at the muzzle end. Being 24” long, with a plain barrel profile and no rib, I would also be tempted to fit a small sound moderator, like the ones from The Saddlery & Gun Room, and then it would be seriously stealthy. Although aiming is largely instinctive, the small bead at the front is handy to help you draw a bead on your chosen quarry.
There is a small lever in front of the trigger guard that has to be pulled back to release the barrel, allowing it to tilt forward and open. It’s very simple and foolproof, and actually very safe and strong too, although the 9mm is not a high-pressure round. Instead of an ejector, you have a sizable extractor that pushes the cartridge up when the barrel is opened, with its lip catching the rim of the 9mm case. It can then be easily removed manually, allowing a new one to be inserted.
On the rear tang of the action is the external hammer, which has to be manually operated. It is very easy to use, clicks nicely to the rear, and allows you to see the trigger blade setting itself against the sear. The trigger pull is quite heavy at 4lbs 10oz but predictable, and there is a decent amount of space around the blade in the generous trigger guard. There is no safety as such, just a half-cock on the hammer that acts as a safety, blocking the trigger movement.

Furniture and finish
The Little Badger is available with either a skeletonised frame/stock or, as seen here, a more traditional two-piece beech stock. Yes, it’s very simple, featuring a matte-varnished finish with no chequering and, as previously mentioned, a cut-out under the fore-end to accommodate the trigger guard.
The rear stock has a very low comb, ensuring your head aligns nicely with the single sighting bead, and the short 13” length-of-pull is very comfortable. The plastic recoil pad is okay but a little slippery. The stock, however, is clearly ambidextrous, making it easier to shoot from either shoulder in the field. The overall finish is a matte blue on the metalwork and a dull matte finish on the woodwork, making the Little Badger well-suited for use around the farmyard.

Field test
My first impression was, “What a superbly lightweight, dinky little shotgun this is!” I had forgotten how much fun and how pure shotgunning can be—wandering around the farmyard, taking the occasional shot at a feral pigeon in the rafters, and later in the evening, at a scurrying rat. The gun is also very safe to use, as it can be carried fully open with a round chambered. Even with the action closed, the external hammer must be cocked to make it ready. It is also so light and nimble that it can be brought up into the aim in an instant, making it very handy in tight spots around the farm, such as near bales, tractor windows, or when wedged between grain sacks after rats!
I remember the 9mm Flobert as an underpowered round, as I had an Anschutz 9mm bolt-action, but if you use it correctly, its benefits as a close-range vermin control tool quickly become apparent.
I only had a box of Fiocchi 9mm Floberts for the test, and these were loaded with nearly 7g of No.6 shot in a brass casing. I was in Scotland, so I set up a thin, 8mm-thick piece of plywood at 20ft, 35ft, and 45ft.
The recoil, of course, was minimal, and even the muzzle blast from the 24” barrel was mild. Yes, there is a noticeable lock time as the trigger is pulled, the hammer falls, and the primer ignites to initiate the powder burn, but being a shotgun, the spread compensates for any movement that might cause a single bullet to stray from the aim.
The spread on the board at 20ft was a mere 6.5”, and it was really well confined, with a good, dense pattern. I counted 65 pellet strikes on the board, and very few had actually penetrated fully through to the other side.
Stepping back to 35ft, the spread opened up. Again, the pattern was really circular and dense, with the pellets forming a tight inner pattern. Only a few outliers widened the pattern to 9”. I counted a total of 62 pellets and two off-target strikes, but again, no penetration.
The 9mm Flobert round was never designed to perform at 45ft, but for the sake of completeness, I decided to test it at this distance anyway. Unsurprisingly, the spread measured 19”, and the pattern developed a few gaps, making it significantly more dispersed than those at closer ranges. The total pellet count was 50, with seven straying from the main pattern and some drifting off the board entirely. I also set up a small pumpkin at 35ft and shot it, and although the flesh was penetrated, it did not explode, as I predicted.
So, in what situations is the 9mm more useful than an air rifle or a .22LR? If kept to close ranges and used purely as a vermin control tool in areas where minimising collateral damage is essential, it certainly has its place. It also enables pest controllers to safely shoot moving vermin at close range, which is something an air rifle shooter would not do.

Conclusion
Well, it’s not your usual shotgun, but nonetheless, it’s still a credible performer for those of us who like lighter, smaller firearms and appreciate the 9mm’s limited performance. At under £300, it is good value, although ammunition is limited. GM