What do the colors of shotgun shells represent?

I'm not sure if it is the type of shot or the gauge

What do the colors of shotgun shells represent?
The 20 gauge shell is the only shell with a mandated color: Yellow. This was to help people not load the 20 ga shell into a 16 ga shotgun and cause a very dangerous situation. Other than 20 ga, the color of the shell is up to the manufacturer.



For all of these people telling you that any gauge other than 20 ga has a mandated color, they are just wrong. Example: They keep saying that 16ga is purple. Go to any sporting goods store that carries Remington 16 ga game loads and open the box. You will find that they are black. 20 gauge is the only shell with a mandated color: Yellow!
Reply:There are no set rules for color coding. Manufacturers code them as they please., some according to gauge, sone according to the payload, etc.
Reply:the load
Reply:It depends on the brand of shotgun shell (and to some extent, shell manufacturer). With Federal brand shotshells, the different colors represent the different gauges (red for 12, yellow for 20). In other brands, the shell color represents certain class of shells. I believe winchester uses red for basic older formulations and black for the new improved formulations. Remington uses green for all the shells that I have purchased (not that I have begun to purchase all the types of shells Remington makes, has made or will make).



Thus one has to investigate the brand and type of shell to relate color to function. If the shells have been reloaded, then all bets are off (except for the gauge relationships).



Hope this helps
Reply:It represents the color the manufacturer chose. Most color code their rounds by gauge, some by type of shot, etc. but some color them by product line.
Reply:there is no real convention.



There is one 'rule of thumb' that seems to be followed pretty closely, and that is yellow = 20 guage.



As far as 16 = purple, I have some purple fiocchi shells in 12 guage, and some red 16 guage shells.



you used to also be able to tell if it was a target load or a heavy field load by seeing if the brass foot was tall or short, but again, that convention isn't always adhered to anymore. I guess it is cheaper to use a little extra brass with each shell than have two expensive shellmakers.
Reply:it reffer to (nothing)
Reply:The shotgun shells are color coded according to their gauge. This was done to prevent someone accidentally putting a 16 or 20 ga. shell in a 12 ga. shotgun. This would cause a barrel obstruction and the gun would most likely blow up. The 20 ga. shells are yellow and if I remember correctly, the 16 ga. shells are purple. I have seen 12 ga. shells in more than one color so I guess they don't have a specified color code but they would not color them either yellow or purple for obvious reasons. I think .410 shells are like 12 ga. shells in that there is not a specified color for them but they, too, would not come in either yellow or purple.
Reply:Usually it's to let you know the gauge- or at least that's what it seems like.



20 Gauge is always yellow

16 Gauge is always purple

12 is any color but the above 2

.410 is any color but the above two.



I think it's so that 20's and 16's don't get loaded into a 12 Gauge gun. A 12 Gauge shell won't fit into either a 16 or 20 Gauge because it's too big and a .410 is so small that you should dang sure be able to tell the difference.