16 gauge in 12

[Jim_100]

Will accidently shooting one 16 gauge in a 12 gauge 870 cause damage to the firearm? Thanks, and for the record it was not me.

 

[627PCFan]

Probably not but I wouldn't expect the shell to hold together to obtain full combustion ie damage, however I wouldn't shoot again until a trusted gunsmith had looked it over.

Whats the story?

 

[ArmedBear]

It's common for people to shoot 16s in 12s, 28s in 20s, etc.

And it can blow up a barrel.

When I shoot my 16 at a range, I tell people around me, if I'm not shooting purple hulls. I don't want to drop a shell that looks like one of theirs, have them pick it up and stick it in a 12.

 

[PotatoJudge]

A 20 ga will drop through the chamber and into the barrel of a 12 ga, where it's an explosive barrel obstruction. Same thing with 28 and 16 ga. A 16 might fire in a 12, depending on the construction of the gun, but probably wouldn't be catastrophic.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

They'll usually fire just fine without damaging the firearm, but you usually get A LOT of crud all over in the reciever and possibly your face. Seems a 16ga is just small enough to do a piss-poor job of sealing the bore of a 12ga..........

Don't ask. Just glad I was wearing safety glasses.

And if it happened to be one of the old paper hull units, it's done.

 

[austin360]

"It's common for people to shoot 16s in 12s, 28s in 20s, etc."

No way you could fit a 16 in a 20 or 28...

 

[4thPointOfContact]

Austin, I think you misunderstood what was intended.
I believe what he meant is, "...it's common for people to shoot 16's in 12's, (or) 28's in 20's, etc..."