What is a potential consequence of using the wrong shotshell in your shotgun?

• A. The shell could lodge in the barrel and cause serious personal injury.
• B. The shell will automatically eject without firing.
• C. The shell will explode harmlessly.
• D. The shell will improve accuracy.

Answer: (A)

Using a shotshell that doesn’t match the shotgun can create a dangerous barrel obstruction. If the shell can’t travel through the bore properly, it may become lodged, and firing into a blocked barrel dramatically increases the risk of a catastrophic overpressure that can injure the shooter or bystanders and damage the firearm. This is the primary danger behind using the wrong shotshell. The other scenarios don’t reflect how shotguns actually function: shells don’t automatically eject without firing, they don’t explode harmlessly if they don’t fit, and using an incompatible shell wouldn’t improve accuracy.