Hunter Safety 3 Practice Test

A 20-gauge shell is placed in a 12-gauge shotgun. What is the danger?

The shotgun will not fire. The shot will not fly true, causing the hunter to miss the target. The shell could lodge in the barrel and cause serious personal injury. The shell could cause a misfire.

Correct Answer:

The shell could lodge in the barrel and cause serious personal injury.

Explanation:

Using a shell that is smaller than the gun’s bore creates a dangerous obstruction in the barrel. A 12-gauge shotgun is designed to chamber and seal a 12-gauge shell; a 20-gauge shell is narrower and can slide into the bore and get wedged. When the gun is fired, the expanding gases push against that blockage, directing a large overpressure toward the barrel walls. That can cause the barrel to bulge or rupture and throw dangerous fragments, potentially injuring the shooter and bystanders. So the key danger is a blocked bore from a mismatched shell. Always use ammunition that matches the gun’s gauge and never force a shell into a chamber or bore that isn’t designed for it.

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