What is a common reason for a shotgun to fail to eject the spent shell?

A common reason for a shotgun to fail to eject the spent shell is often due to a dirty chamber. When the chamber, where the shell sits immediately before being fired, becomes fouled with dirt, debris, or residue from previous shots, it can impede the smooth operation of the ejection process.

In a functioning shotgun, the spent shell casing needs to be freed from the chamber after the round is fired. If the chamber is too dirty, the spent casing may stick and not come out properly, leading to failure in ejection. This situation could cause jams or malfunctions, making regular cleaning and maintenance of the firearm critical for reliable performance.

Improper ammo type, a broken firing pin, or too high brass may influence other aspects of firearm operation but are not as directly correlated with the ejection issue as a dirty chamber. Proper ammo selection is crucial for function, but many types of ammunition work fine if the gun is clean. A broken firing pin typically prevents the gun from firing at all, while the "too high brass" issue relates more to loading the shell into the chamber, rather than the ejection process itself.