Just so that the correct information is available to someone happening upon this thread: Any slug labeled as "12 GA" can be fired through any 12 GA barrel & choke, even a full choke; however, "improved cylinder" or "cylinder" chokes typically provide the best accuracy results. Additionally, if you have have
interchangeable choke tubes you should only fire the shotgun with a choke installed as this protects the threads. The OP says that he had a choke screwed in so he's safe there.
I personally don't feel that this was related to the skeet shooting that he was doing earlier. If he had a one in a million "squib" from factory ammo it would have been immediately apparent to the shooter. With a squib, there's zero recoil and nearly no sound. Now, perhaps this actually occurred but I can't imagine even a new shooter not checking the bore after such an event. That would defy logic and push the boundaries of the "Darwin award" as we've come to know it.
I think Diesel Bomber was spot on in his diagnostic thoughts, one being that the key to understanding this lies in the time frame between shooting skeet day/s prior and firing the slug on the day of the incident. Where was the gun and what could it have been exposed to? Was the gun stored muzzle up and uncased and if so what are the likely possibilities? Was it stored in a case and was there anything else in the case with it? Perhaps something entered through the chamber? Was it left outside or did a large beetle crawl down the barrel? Obviously you may never find out without the professional resources of a forensics team but if nothing else it will heighten you self awareness when cleaning or storing your gun.
Honestly, I don't typically check my bores unless I've just cleaned them, not to look for obstructions but to see if it's clean. If light didn't pass through the barrel I'd know something was wrong. The only other time I check my bore is if the gun goes click (not bang) and I eject and empty case. This scenario practically guarantees an obstruction. New shooters who are moving to quickly after a malfunction can blow up a gun if they're not careful. Once as a range officer at a local match I stopped a guy who had just fired a squib. This one happened to be reloaded ammo with a primer but now powder. The primer usually has enough force to push the projectile into the rifling and that's about it. He quickly tapped the mag and racked the slide of his open class pistol but the ejected cartridge looked awfully low on mass when it came out (no bullet). He started to extend the gun again and I yelled "STOP!" When you do that as an R.O. you just pray that you stopped the stage for a legitimate reason. Sure enough, there was a 130gr bullet stuck about a half inch into the rifling. The next +P+.38 Super into the chamber would have grenaded with injury to the shooter and perhaps myself. Instead, he saved his hands, face, and firearm and we used a cleaning rod to push the projectile though. That's a good ending.
Here's a perfect example of a time to stop and inspect the bore. Rifle goes "click" shooter ejects an empty case which you can clearly hear. He assumes it's a "bad primer" as he calls it without even looking at what ejected during the initial failure. In fact, the primer was fine but the reloaded case had no power (first mistake). He's on camera, he's cocky, his friends are ribbing him effecting his judgment so he hurriedly tries to chamber additional rounds. After several attempted chamberings the bullet that stuck near the back of the rifling is eventually seated far enough to allow a round to move fully into battery. The trigger is pulled and you can see the results. (warning video contains language)
Why is this thread so wide css........learn to post pics.
