I've always wondered if anyone has ever experienced a shotgun shell being set off by something other than a firing pin. I always wonder if someone could accidentally drop a shell in the boat and in a one in a million chance have it hit the firing pin.

Anybody ever hear of something like this happening, or a primer going off by something other than a gun firing pin?

A primer can definitely go off by hitting something other than a firing pin. The good news is that without a chamber to focus the explosion it's not quite as dangerous. I shoot with a guy who dropped a shotgun shell on a gravel road and had it exlpoded. It scared the bejeebers out of him, but nothing else.

I used to shoot them with a .22 when I was a kid.

Also, back a couple years there was an explosion at a gas station in St. Cloud. I pulled a couple people out of the fire - and when the Fire Department showed up they found out that there was shotgun shells in one of the vehicle. Talking to them later they said it was not that big of a deal they just go "poof."

I have heard of those that would tape a ball bearing, or rock, etc, to the primer and throw it on the pavement...never heard of any that lived though...

I do know of some kids, that took some of Dads .22 shells down to the tracks one 4th of July, set them facing away toward a dirt bank, and started cracking them off with a hammer...'til one of them ended up with Brass Shrapnel deep in his fingers...hurt like Hellfirendamnation Razorblades...that was the last time that feat was performed...a durn sorry explanation was concocted, and because of the obviously unbearable pain...was pretended to be believed...

LOL!!!!!

Fifty years ago, an uncle of mine told about his days in country school. They brought .22 shells, put them on a rock and hit them with another one, and set them off. One of the kids brought a 12 ga. shell. He carved a hole part way into a wooden fence post and put the shell into it. He held a nail to the primer with his left hand and hit it with a rock with his right. He went through the rest of his life without his left thumb and forefinger.

Any loose shells have a pretty minimal explosion since there is no chamber to direct the energy. The same thing happens with pistol and rifle shells. The bullet doesnt go anywhere but the case turns into shrapnel and that can get somewhat dangerous. Primers themselves are actually quite dangerous, especially in bulk. Commercial trays are designed to prevent propagation but as soon as reloaders bulk them again the risk returns. We keep them "wet" as long as possible in manufacturing to minimize risk.