Make sure you know what kind of gun you have.

[atxgun]

I never tried it but I wonder how a 28 ga shotshell would work in a 20 ga. Anybody know?

I know one way you can find out....

[WildBill]

I used to limit my choice of gun calibers so I wouldn't have to buy different/more bullets, molds, loading dies, etc. Since, I stopped reloading, it doesn't seem to make much of a difference.

[Oldgringo]

I never tried it but I wonder how a 28 ga shotshell would work in a 20 ga. Anybody know?

I know one way you can find out....

Uh uh, I ain't absent-minded!

[The Annoyed Man]

Trying to use incorrect ammunition for a firearm is not just a mistake made by novice shooters - many experienced shooters have accidently loaded the wrong round in a firearm. Making sure that you pair the proper ammunition with the correct gun requires constant diligence, the same as making sure that your finger is off the trigger and your muzzle is pointed in a safe direction.

Especially for those of you who like foreign military rifles, there are many variations and varieties in rifle cartridges. Checking to verify compatibility of rifle ammunition is just as important as for pistols.

I agree that loading an incorrect round into a gun is not a mistake only made by novices. I stated that telling the difference between calibers (upon inspection) would be. Someone experienced with particular rounds would know the difference when identifying the rounds before loading them. Not paying enough attention to what one is doing is the common mistake in these situations, not the inability to tell the rounds apart. I think that a push for "constant diligence" - as you stated - is more practical and beneficial in ensuring firearms safety, rather than recommend people not get similar caliber guns. The emphasis on diligence when handling and loading firearms carries over to preventing mistakes in many more areas than just mistakenly loading the wrong round into a firearm.

A week ago, I took my wife to the range, and we were shooting pistols chambered in .45 ACP and .40 S&W. She was reloading a 1911 magazine and asked me which box to load from (since it didn't occur to her to read the box...). I pointed to the box on the left. What I didn't know was that about 2 minutes before, my son had switched the boxes around - I don't know why - and so my wife loaded that 1911 mag full of .40 S&W from the box on the left. Naturally, it stovepiped when she tried to drop the slide. Fortunately, they called a cease-fire just then, and it was while safe-ing the gun for her that I discovered the magazine loaded with the wrong cartridges.

Shame on me. I assumed the boxes were as I had left them, and since I was in the middle of doing something else, I didn't take time to read the box myself either.

[WildBill]

How many people have more than one caliber of ammo in their nightstand drawer?

[NcongruNt]

Trying to use incorrect ammunition for a firearm is not just a mistake made by novice shooters - many experienced shooters have accidently loaded the wrong round in a firearm. Making sure that you pair the proper ammunition with the correct gun requires constant diligence, the same as making sure that your finger is off the trigger and your muzzle is pointed in a safe direction.

Especially for those of you who like foreign military rifles, there are many variations and varieties in rifle cartridges. Checking to verify compatibility of rifle ammunition is just as important as for pistols.

I agree that loading an incorrect round into a gun is not a mistake only made by novices. I stated that telling the difference between calibers (upon inspection) would be. Someone experienced with particular rounds would know the difference when identifying the rounds before loading them. Not paying enough attention to what one is doing is the common mistake in these situations, not the inability to tell the rounds apart. I think that a push for "constant diligence" - as you stated - is more practical and beneficial in ensuring firearms safety, rather than recommend people not get similar caliber guns. The emphasis on diligence when handling and loading firearms carries over to preventing mistakes in many more areas than just mistakenly loading the wrong round into a firearm.

A week ago, I took my wife to the range, and we were shooting pistols chambered in .45 ACP and .40 S&W. She was reloading a 1911 magazine and asked me which box to load from (since it didn't occur to her to read the box...). I pointed to the box on the left. What I didn't know was that about 2 minutes before, my son had switched the boxes around - I don't know why - and so my wife loaded that 1911 mag full of .40 S&W from the box on the left. Naturally, it stovepiped when she tried to drop the slide. Fortunately, they called a cease-fire just then, and it was while safe-ing the gun for her that I discovered the magazine loaded with the wrong cartridges.

Shame on me. I assumed the boxes were as I had left them, and since I was in the middle of doing something else, I didn't take time to read the box myself either.

I'm glad you and your wife were unharmed.

This situation is akin to checking a gun when picking it up. It is a very good practice to check the gun anytime it has been outside your direct control - there are several folks here that are so-called "press-check junkies" for this reason. You never know if the weapon has been handled or loaded/unloaded while you weren't looking, and checking the state of the gun as soon as you pick it up is a very good habit. The same thing applies to ammo, and making sure you're loading the right ammo into a gun is just as critical.

It seems you learned a lesson from this incident, and I thank you for sharing it with us. Stay safe!

[NcongruNt]

How many people have more than one caliber of ammo in their nightstand drawer?

Technically speaking, I do - however they are already loaded into mags. Double-stack Hi-power mags (9mm), single-stack PA-63 mags (9x18), and single-stack LCP mags (.380). None of them are mistakable for the other, though.

I do keep two boxes of carry ammo in my car - 9mm and .380.

[WildBill]

How many people have more than one caliber of ammo in their nightstand drawer?

None of them are mistakable for the other, though.

At least not during the day and when you aren't under stress.

[NcongruNt]

How many people have more than one caliber of ammo in their nightstand drawer?

None of them are mistakable for the other, though.

At least not during the day, when you aren't under stress.

Well, a Hi-Power mag is certainly not going to be going into a LCP, or vice-versa. The LCP and PA-63 mags are somewhat close in size, but the only one that could mistakenly be inserted into the wrong gun is the LCP mag into the PA-63. Even then, the length is not sufficient to get a round into the chamber.

The PA-63 is kept in a lower drawer, while the other two sit up on top, so there's no mingling of magazines between the two smaller guns. The PA-63 is more of a last-ditch gun for me, or available to my girlfriend when she's there and I'm not home.

For my planned order of use, the 870 shotty or the Hi-Power are my primary go-to guns, with the LCP serving as a backup. The PA-63 is there if needed, but pretty much just visits the range every couple of months.

[Oldgringo]

How many people have more than one caliber of ammo in their nightstand drawer?

I have .22 mag and a .45acp in the same drawer in loaded weapons. There is no call for loose ammo in the night stand that I can think of. Do you really think a nightime episode will allow time for loading and/or require reloading of either gun?

[WildBill]

How many people have more than one caliber of ammo in their nightstand drawer?

I have .22 mag and a .45acp in the same drawer in loaded weapons. There is no call for loose ammo in the night stand that I can think of. Do you really think a nightime episode will allow time for loading and/or require reloading of either gun?

If not, then why do you have extra ammo?

[Oldgringo]

How many people have more than one caliber of ammo in their nightstand drawer?

I have .22 mag and a .45acp in the same drawer in loaded weapons. There is no call for loose ammo in the night stand that I can think of. Do you really think a nightime episode will allow time for loading and/or require reloading of either gun?

If not, then why do you have extra ammo?

I'm not sure I understand the question. I have extra ammo in another place/s for those times I don't have to shoot people in our bedroom. Similarly, I have weapons stashed near every entrance. Is that the right answer?

[.45mac.40]

Indoor range, shooting ...
After afew shots, this shooter calls for the RO...
Hey, take a look at this ...
The RO (safely) took the hand gun (XD .45) and looked at the action...
Half loaded magazine, slide was back, you could see the round WAS JAMMED ...BACKWARDS up/into the ramp.
BUT... wait a minute... The RO laid the gun down, went and returned with a screw driver, inserted it into the muzzle end, and made an attempt to push the round ( primer end ) out of the chamber ... HOLY SASA FRAS !!!!
After the yelling STOP !! (Everyone on the range ... heard )
With a little finger poking ... the round came out. ( The remaining rounds in the mag. where loaded correctly )
Nervous shooter for awhile, but he got back into the fun.
Bet he will pay attention next time he loads his mags. ?!
Mac .40 >>>>>> #%%#

[joe817]

Good grief! That would have given me a stroke, if I'd been there.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

My CHL class had a husband/wife team in it. Their neighbor was a federal LEO
of some stripe and he recommended that they get a Sig. So for their 1st weapon
they bought a brand new Sig, model unknown to me. I didn't get to examine it.

The wife was to shoot 1st for her CHL qualifying round.
She immediately says "The gun won't shoot."

My CHL instructor takes the weapon from her, drops the magazine,
and the rounds are pointing back at him.

Brand new Sig - Loaded with the correct ammo, but she had inserted the magazine
backwards.

The magazine was inserted the correct way and the gun did not hiccup in any fashion
through both of their qualifying sets.