bothbarrels Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 I am writing this as a word of warning to anyone shooting two different calibre guns, either on the same day, or even a few weeks later. i know i'm probably setting myself up for ridicule and scorn, but, if it stops someone else from doing what i did then it's a price worth paying. I was out recentley bolting rabbits over ferrets, using a 20 bore for the best part of the day, later in the afternoon, we decided to settle in the woods to do some roost shooting, I changed guns, to my 12 guage, I removed, or thought...... i'd removed all the 20's out of my pockets, and replaced them with 12g sixes.the wind was howling, and the birds were coming in like rockets, it was fast and furiuos for the first hour, then we had a lull, after re-loading i sat down with my back against an Oak tree and had a smoke,i broke my gun, and laid it acros my leg, and noticed the bottom chamber was 'empty' i knew i'd put two shells down the barrels, so i lifted the barrels up to look through, and a 20 bore shell slid back down towards me, if i hadn't done what i did, and checked, and slid another cartridge in, and fired the gun the consequences would have been catastrophic, and i probably wouldn't be here writing this.it makes me shudder even now thinking about it. life is all about making mistakes, and learning from them,with shotguns and firearms you have little margin for error. It's a lesson i will NEVER forget my.... moment of mistake, i thank god i got away with it, and live to tell the tale. Never put different calibre shells in your pockets,if you do then check double check, and check again you haven't mixed then up! BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 God or the devil don't want your services at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSA-airgunner Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Sort of makes you go cold . A mate of mine has just this week started with 20g .....I will warn again as he has both now.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 And they say smoking is bad for your health! A close shave there indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brown Sauce Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Go buy a lottery ticket, as you be one lucky chap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Aren't all 20 bore carts yellow for this reason? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TbirdX Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 I shot my 20g for the first time today. I didn't take the 12g so no chance of mixing the shells but it's a timely and very worthwhile posting for me Glad it resulted in no more than a scare for you, be careful out there folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Aren't all 20 bore carts yellow for this reason? They're not all yellow either!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 your god was with you, although the force was nearly with you as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bothbarrels Posted March 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Aren't all 20 bore carts yellow for this reason? No mate theyr'e not, and i hasten to add,it was very dimly lit in the woods, and like i said i thought id removed all the 20's from my pocket BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 glad you got away with it,you wont do that again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 No mate theyr'e not, and i hasten to add,it was very dimly lit in the woods, and like i said i thought id removed all the 20's from my pocket BB All mine are yellow. Sorry, thought I read somewhere that they were. Anyway, glad you got away with it and reminded us about it. I did already know and I am careful about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobt Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 I have seen yellow 12 bore, and blue red 20s, one reason I only shoot a 12, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 stupid question but what would have happened if you left the cart in and then fired? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 stupid question but what would have happened if you left the cart in and then fired? Take a wild guess..... :ouch: Seriously if you google burst barrels 20 bore etc you'll find some info. I wouldn't want it going off with me around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabbers Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) Reloading your own cartridges gets you into the safe habit of checking your bore is clear everytime you reload your gun, I've found the odd wad in there before now! That Chris Green fella says the same thing at Country shows when he's doing his demos, check your bores could be plugged with mud or whatever. Check it everytime and then when you do have a problem you find it. Used to think those dudes at clayshoots blowing the smoke from their bores were doing it for dramatic effect, hopefully not, just being safe Edited March 3, 2012 by nabbers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Seriously if you google burst barrels 20 bore etc you'll find some info. I wouldn't want it going off with me around. I googled it. Found no pics and only item I read said mythbusters tried it and nothing untoward happened. Not going to try it myself all the same. Then again....... I do have an old Cooey I don't particularly want any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bothbarrels Posted March 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 stupid question but what would have happened if you left the cart in and then fired? 2 senarios.. the 12 bore cartridge would have hit the obstruction, and the charge would have either came back through the breech into my face or blown a hole throught the barrels taking my hands off, or both, or, the shot from the 12 bore would have struck the detonator on the 20 cartridge and both would have blown up in my face, either way it doesn't bear thinking about. and thanks guys for taking this seriousely, i hope we all learn from this. BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) Its not good and its not recommended and I have no desire to try it, but it doesn't always end in tears! I'm sure it was here I saw it, someone posted a 20g being blasted with a 12 behind it and everything was fine! I'm sure someone can find it, Stateside somewhere I think, they were surprised as well! Edited March 3, 2012 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSA-airgunner Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 seen this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddan Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Ive made the mistake of trying to load a clipper lighter a few times. I dont buy them anymore. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 stupid question but what would have happened if you left the cart in and then fired? What happens is that the smaller diameter 20 bore cartridge gets stuck in the forcing cone, right where it can't be seen unless you look down the barrel properly. Therefore when people put in a 20 bore cartridge, try to shoot it and find it didn't go bang, they assume they forgot to put a cartridge in - so they then put a 12 bore in. The 20 bore blocks the barrel, resulting in the 12 bore gases/shot having no escape but they have to go somewhere, ending up in the barrel exploding. If you load a 12 on top of a 20 and don't lose either your life, arm, hands, face, eyes etc then it's a good time to enter the lottery, as you're a very lucky person. I did watch a video on YouTube with a Remington pump action which had a 20 loaded followed by a 12, it actually survived with no damage. You wouldn't want to be near it at the time though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG 5 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) You can get yellow 12 and 20 bore carts just to confuse you. Edited March 3, 2012 by BIG 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) You can get yellow 12 and 20 bore carts just to confuse you. Fair comment and I have no issue with that. I don't have a 20 although I am still in the market for one, but I was under the impression 20's were all yellow, but from the odd comment above I see that is not necessarily the case! Edited March 3, 2012 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG 5 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 I can't recall seeing any 20 bore carts other than yellow for a very long time. I had some black paper cased ones someone gave me once. No problem with 20 carts being yellow but realy stupid for 12 bore carts to be. RC's are superb carts but obviously don't care much for safety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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