What might cause a shotgun to explode?

• A. A misfire
• B. Insufficient gunpowder in the shotshell
• C. Using the wrong choke for your quarry
• D. Using the wrong shotshell in your shotgun

Answer: (D)

Using the wrong shotshell in your shotgun can cause a dangerous overpressure event. Shotguns are built to handle a specific gauge and shell dimensions, and the powder charge, wad, and case all work together for that design. When an incompatible shell is fired—such as the wrong gauge or an improper length—the chamber pressure can spike beyond what the gun was designed to withstand, potentially leading to a barrel or receiver failure and injury.

The other scenarios don’t typically create that explosive pressure. A misfire is simply an ignition failure, not an overpressure event. A shell with insufficient powder tends to produce too little pressure and a weak shot rather than an explosion. A choke affects how the shot spreads, not the internal pressures of firing.