Bruce,
I think we are in agreement. If a shot column acutally bridged into a solid mass it would open up the barrel like a flower, i.e. steel shot casualities of around 1980.
A bridge is a momentary glob of shot in which the individual pellets do not move. The expanding gas has to go somewhere so it takes the path of least resistance and seeps between the wad and barrel at the weekest point. Much like a shaped charge the gas suddenly reaches an extremely high velocity and cuts like a water jet! The cut weakens the barrel and it splits. No telling what happens to the wad and shot.
Mark
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