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Shotgun Flechetts were a failure in Vietnam tests.
In order to pack the shell full of Flechetts, 1/2 of them have to be packed backward to allow proper stacking of the tiny fins on the rear.
Since the Flechetts stabilized very poorly, many of the backward needles failed to turn point first.
Stabilization was a major problem with even the point-first needles failing to stabilize, and far too many hit the target sideways and failed to penetrate.
Due to the low mass, many of the Flechetts that did hit point first failed to penetrate and were buried only point deep, producing very minor superficial wounds.
Last, even those that did perform as intended lack enough mass to provide any real trauma and there were many cases of enemy soldiers hit with the needles who while they were bleeding out internally failed to realize the seriousness of the wounds and continued to run and shoot until blood loss dropped them.
The official finding was that as a shotgun round the Flechetts were a failure and they were withdrawn from use.
In other words, if they were of any value as a shotgun round the military would still be using them..... they aren't.
Bottom line: To date, no shotgun round yet discovered is better than a load of lead buck shot.
The Flechetts were one of those great ideas that simply failed to pan out in the real world.
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