fortune Posted December 25, 2007 Report Share Posted December 25, 2007 This is nothing new but it might be to someone, resulting in disastrous consequences: I was given a bag of cartridges of various kinds and shot sizes, so I had a bit of a sort out in the cupboard and used them to top up part boxes. I was toping up a box of twenties but I couldn’t get them all in. This was the reason Here in this picture there are a mix of twenty, sixteen and twelve bore cartridges. Colours used to be standardised with the twenty being yellow, sixteen being blue and twelve being the Indian orange. As manufacturers now sell cartridges in random colours how long will it be before someone puts a yellow twenty into the chamber of a twelve with disastrous consequences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodmedod.one Posted December 26, 2007 Report Share Posted December 26, 2007 I know someone who did exactly that. He blew his hand up quite badly. Luckily he wears glasses and the plastic lenses saved his eyes from being damaged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisNicholls Posted December 26, 2007 Report Share Posted December 26, 2007 Sadly that's all too common. The thing is it should never happen. Normal safety procedures dictate that 12's and 20's should never even be close to being mixed together. Accidents? negligence some might say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted December 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2007 I've never actually seen an accident of this type and I'm sure that if I loaded an incorrect cartridge I would notice the it had dissapeared right into the chamber. But the possibility is there. Obviously the yellow ones are a possibility but I recon it's the odd colours that are the most dangerous. look at the green one on the right. If you had one left over in the bottom of your pocket or bag !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodmedod.one Posted December 26, 2007 Report Share Posted December 26, 2007 I've never actually seen an accident of this type and I'm sure that if I loaded an incorrect cartridge I would notice the it had dissapeared right into the chamber. But the possibility is there. Obviously the yellow ones are a possibility but I recon it's the odd colours that are the most dangerous. look at the green one on the right. If you had one left over in the bottom of your pocket or bag !! I think it usually happens when things are a bit hectic. You stuff a couple of cartridges in and then get a mis-fire. You break the gun and the chamber is empty, so you assume that somehow you didn't put one in. That is when you drop a 12 guage shell on top of the 20 guage that is already sitting in the bottom of the "empty" chamber. I couldn't agree more that going away from the old colour coding system was a very bad idea. Stick to a 12 guage only, it's safer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGalway Posted December 26, 2007 Report Share Posted December 26, 2007 Could happen if a person was lamping with an O/U or SxS as well, two into the barrels, Hmmmm ****! Did I drop one? Where did it go? Can't see it, Sod it stick in another... All well and good to say here and now that 100% attention should be paid, and rightly so that it should, but it isn't always the case. I wasn't into shooting when the carts were different colours like that but it's a very good idea and should go back to that system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hwr Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 Great post I didn't realise that they used to be color coded, shame it stopped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted January 2, 2008 Report Share Posted January 2, 2008 All modern 20 bore cases I have seen are yellow but like previously mentioned that's no use if other gauges are manufactured in yellow as well. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashcmt Posted January 2, 2008 Report Share Posted January 2, 2008 its a wonder that the hse doesnt have something to say about this in todays ever more safety concious environment. but then again employing simple, common sense solutions like colour coding doesnt fit the bill in todays red tape society where every law or british standard needs an 80 page guidance document that takes a few years to write. gordon brown has promised that his government will strive to reduce the introduction of complex and confusing legislation, do you reckon thats another promise by the by? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nav54 Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 It is a accident that happens all to often i have seperated my carts completly 20g on one side of the room and twelves on the other all my cartridge bags and belts i have wrote on with a permament black marker as well you really can not be to careful. All my 20g cases are yellow though and the 12g are green and red. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 FM, I was shooting some old RC 36g #5s in my 12-bore the other day, which were yellow. I had to be really careful, as I usually shoot a 20-bore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Yes, it's the sodding Italians spoiling it for the rest of us..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 FM, I was shooting some old RC 36g #5s in my 12-bore the other day, which were yellow. I had to be really careful, as I usually shoot a 20-bore. I have picked some of those yellow 12g shells up. Also at the Westcountry game fair last year a reloader asked me what was wrong with the 12 bore cartridge in his hands. I was able to give him the answer that it was yellow. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted January 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Yes, it's the sodding Italians spoiling it for the rest of us..... Not really !! I've got Eley grand prix in 4 different colours and only one of them is the standard Indian orange colour. WHY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Cant understand why the cartridge companies dont get together and sort it out. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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