AhaBulbStuff Everyone Should Know
AhaBulb: Stuff Everyone Should Know · ahabulb.com/hunt-20-gauge-in-12

What can happen if a 20-gauge shell is loaded into a 12-gauge shotgun?

It can slide down the barrel and become an obstruction.

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  1. It fires normally with less recoil
  2. It can lodge in the barrel as an obstruction ✔
  3. The gun simply will not close

Why: A smaller shell can drop past the chamber and stick in the barrel. If a proper 12-gauge shell is then fired behind it, the barrel can burst. Check every shell you load, and never mix gauges in your pockets.

Huh, didn't know that: Hunter education says the only ammunition you carry should match the gauge or caliber you are shooting.

The dad joke
Why did the 20-gauge shell feel small? It was always measured against a 12.
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References

Answer: It can lodge in the barrel as an obstruction. A smaller shell can drop past the chamber and stick in the barrel. If a proper 12-gauge shell is then fired behind it, the barrel can burst. Check every shell you load, and never mix gauges in your pockets.

  1. NSSF, Firearm Safety: 10 Rules of Safe Gun Handling www.nssf.org/safety/rules-firearms-safety
    can result in the smaller cartridge falling into the barrel and acting as a bore obstruction when a cartridge of proper size is fired.
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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Test yourself in the game

Hunting SafetyYou slip and fall while carrying your shotgun. What should you check before shooting again?Hunting SafetyMud is stuck in your barrel and you cannot get it all out. What should you do?Hunting SafetyWhy is an open break-action shotgun easy for others to inspect?

That's stuff everyone should know.