If a 20-gauge shell is placed in a 12-gauge shotgun, what is the danger?

If a 20-gauge shell is placed in a 12-gauge shotgun, what is the danger?

• A. The shell could lodge in the barrel and cause serious personal injury.
• B. The shell will explode immediately.
• C. The shotgun will not fire at all.
• D. It will eject the shell without firing.

Answer: (A)

When ammunition doesn’t match the gun, the bore can be obstructed, creating a dangerous situation. A 12-gauge shotgun is designed to fire 12-gauge shells; a 20-gauge shell is smaller and can slip into the barrel or chamber and become wedged. If such a misfit is fired, the expanding gases have nowhere to go around the obstruction, causing a sudden, extreme pressure spike that can damage the barrel or cause serious injury. That risk is why this scenario is dangerous: the shell could lodge in the barrel and lead to severe harm. Always use the ammunition size specified for your gun.

When ammunition doesn’t match the gun, the bore can be obstructed, creating a dangerous situation. A 12-gauge shotgun is designed to fire 12-gauge shells; a 20-gauge shell is smaller and can slip into the barrel or chamber and become wedged. If such a misfit is fired, the expanding gases have nowhere to go around the obstruction, causing a sudden, extreme pressure spike that can damage the barrel or cause serious injury. That risk is why this scenario is dangerous: the shell could lodge in the barrel and lead to severe harm. Always use the ammunition size specified for your gun.