Dangerous Fire - Shotgun

[jetski]

I have a general question about somehting that happened at my range.
I bought a new Remington 870 with the rifled barrel on. The guy I bought the gun at gave me the sluggers for a 16ga.
The 870 is a 12ga!!! I shot once, which was ok, but went for the second and it wouldnt release the spent shell. Thats when i found out it was 16ga. and not 12ga.
What if anything could of happened? And what should I tell the guy who sold me the gun.

BTW, I purchased the gun in a very reputable store.

 

[thumbody]

No damage should have occured from firing a 16 ga in a 12. The main danger is having a smaller guage shell slip down the barrel and then chambering another round and firing.The obstruction would likely destroy the gun and probably cause serious injury to the shooter and anyone else unfortunate to be standing nearby.
I would be having a serious heart to heart with the salesman!

 

[Eyesac]

Oh man, I had a friend unknowingly load up 20ga in a 16ga and fire two before the third got jammed coming out of the tube... Pretty scary...

 

[tuna]

Sure, but the stars have to be aligned just right in order to find a box of 16ga when you're looking for them! Or at the larger stores, to find someone who knows what a 16ga even is.

 

[SDC]

The same thing as when you put diesel in your regular gas auto; it's YOUR property, and YOU'RE supposed to have the common sense to make sure YOU'RE putting the proper ammo in it. The proper gauge is marked on the barrel, the box of ammo, and every shell in that box of ammo. In short, look out for yourself, because no-one else is going to do it for you.

 

[jetski]

SDC,
I totally agree with you in that I am suppose to care for my stuff and all that. But, when you sign off on a gun safety sheet explainig that the salesman explained all the safety rules and then gives you wrong ammo, somehtings wrong.

 

[Mr White]

He shouldn't have given you the wrong ammo, but its ultimately your responsibility to make sure that you load only the right ammo in your gun.

 

[SDC]

But, when you sign off on a gun safety sheet explainig that the salesman explained all the safety rules and then gives you wrong ammo, somehtings wrong.

There's no doubt that he screwed up here, but he didn't load and fire your shotgun for you, YOU did.

 

[Fred Fuller]

jetski,

Back when I was a yout and the earth was cooling, the ammo companies started color coding shotgun shells. Last I knew 12 a shells might be most any color, but 16s were purple and 20s were yellow.

What color where the shells you got handed?

Glad everything is still OK with both you and the gun,

lpl/nc

 

[TN Shooter]

Jetski:

Glad to hear you're all right. My brother did the same thing with 16 ga. shells in his shotgun. The shell chambered but didn't fire, and the next shell wouldn't chamber because the previous 16 gauge shell was jammed about a quarter of an inch down into the chamber.

The real danger comes when you place a 20 gauge shell in a 12 gauge shotgun because the shell will slide all the way in and the rim will catch on the 12 gauge forcing cone inside the barrel. Then, another shell will fully chamber behind it with obvious consequences when it is fired. I saw this happen at a trap range when I was a young 'un.

The lesson I've learned is to double check all of my shells before taking them to the range with me and again when I dig into the box when it's time to shoot.

Thanks for talking about your experience because it helps us all to be on guard against a slip-up that can have catastrophic consequences.

Good shooting,

TN Shooter

 

[mswestfall]

The store clerk was wrong and....
I would let them know that they were wrong.
I would let my friends and neighbors know that the store was wrong.
I would appreciate a PM telling me who the store was so I don't shop there.

but....

You are responsible for making sure....
The gun is safe
The ammo is safe
And the direction in which you point the gun is safe.

This might be a little harsh but (until I screw up) I hold people to things like this. I practice, every day I shoot, the expectation that I do not become part of an accident.

 

[dfaugh]

Not to be too harsh....But no matter who gave me the gun and ammo, I'm quite sure I'm gonna check (and double check) that its the correct ammo for the gun.

 

[Henry Bowman]

And you learned a lesson (without tragic consequence) that will stick with you the rest of your life.

 

[jetski]

I went to the store last night and spoke to the "manager" on duty. He called the guy a dumbass and all. Truth is, it is my fault for not looking, but when I purchased this gun, I let him know it was the first time, I had done this and that I am an extreme newbie to this sport. This should have made him more aware to pay a little more attention to the stuff he was giving me. Ultimately, yes, it is my fault, but....let me not digress.
Anyways, he gave me allot of ammo and sent me on my way.

Very good learning experience.