What specific safety concerns are you having? I'm no expert on SBSs and AOWs, but I've shot plenty of different loads out of a 7.5" barreled 12 ga. Serbu Super Shorty AOW; buckshot and slugs were just fine (though we were using the low-recoil loads). Sure, you get a huge fireball and it's a little painful to shoot (especially with slugs), but those guns are normal shotgun designs just with shorter barrels and actions.