A shotgun shell magazine configured for use in a lower receiver of an M16/AR-15 military specification a.k.a. mil-spec firearm , the lower receiver of the mil-spec M16/AR-15 firearm configured to strip a shotgun shell from the magazine and load the shotgun shell into a chamber , the magazine comprising: a) a magazine body including a front panel , rear panel , forward edge and rim edge defining an open top end and a cavity proportioned to slidably receive one or more nominal 6.35 centimeter (2.5 inch) long .410 bore shotgun shells , an external step formed on the front panel , rear panel , forward edge and rim edge , the step dividing the magazine body into a magazine well portion and an external portion , the magazine well portion configured to be detachably received within a mil-spec magazine well on the lower receiver of the mil-spec M16/AR15 firearm , a feed lip extending upwardly from each of the front panel and rear panel , each feed lip configured to partially occlude the open top end proximate the rim edge , a feed lip wall joining each feed lip on its respective front or rear panel to the rim edge , the rim edge including a vertical edge strip extending from the feed lip walls to the external step on the rim edge , the vertical edge strip , feed lip walls and each front and rear panel defining a closed gap in communication with the cavity ; and b) a follower resident within the cavity and having a ramped upper surface, the follower being biased toward the open top end whereby, when the magazine is loaded with one or more shotgun shells , a top most shotgun shell is angled with respect to the open top end and at least a portion of a closed end of the top most shotgun shell lies above a plane created by the open top end of the magazine body . a) a magazine body including a front panel , rear panel , forward edge and rim edge defining an open top end and a cavity proportioned to slidably receive one or more nominal 6.35 centimeter (2.5 inch) long .410 bore shotgun shells , an external step formed on the front panel , rear panel , forward edge and rim edge , the step dividing the magazine body into a magazine well portion and an external portion , the magazine well portion configured to be detachably received within a mil-spec magazine well on the lower receiver of the mil-spec M16/AR15 firearm , a feed lip extending upwardly from each of the front panel and rear panel , each feed lip configured to partially occlude the open top end proximate the rim edge , a feed lip wall joining each feed lip on its respective front or rear panel to the rim edge , the rim edge including a vertical edge strip extending from the feed lip walls to the external step on the rim edge , the vertical edge strip , feed lip walls and each front and rear panel defining a closed gap in communication with the cavity ; and b) a follower resident within the cavity and having a ramped upper surface, the follower being biased toward the open top end whereby, when the magazine is loaded with one or more shotgun shells , a top most shotgun shell is angled with respect to the open top end and at least a portion of a closed end of the top most shotgun shell lies above a plane created by the open top end of the magazine body . <EOS>