Sport45 said:Not to minimize the potential risk, but really? Firearms are inherently safe in this regard. How many pictures have you seen of handguns that were destroyed by firing with a barrel obstruction, double charge, etc? Associated injuries are normally no worse than powder burns and abrasions. Shotguns and rifles are riskier since your supporting arm is usually out in front of the chamber unless you are firing from the bench. Even then you don't hear about a lot of serious injuries.
If you think your gun is capable of liquefying body parts and spreading them over half an acre that might explain your flinch.
I don't intentionally overload anything or use the wrong ammunition. But if I accidentally drop a .44 mag in my .45 revolver I'm not worried about losing body parts.
Depending on your .45, a mistake like that could very well catastrophically damage it... And you. Or an innocent bystander, perhaps your wife or kid. If you're the type of guy who habitually accidentally shoots .44 Magnum loads out of a .45 Colt, I'd respectfully suggest you set aside a little of your ammo budget for some new bifocals. Or learn to read with Braille... And your weak hand. But I think new glasses and a little prudence would be better.
As for your assertions on the safety of modern guns, doubtless you are right that quality construction prevents a lot of accidents from causing serious injury or fatalities.
Having said that, you won't find me risking my health or that of my loved ones, or my valuable guns proving it.
But you gents can continue this conversation without me. I feel at this point that even though some of us have actually slugged .410 chokes to determine the feasibility of shooting different projectiles through them, anyone who is hellbent on stuffing a .454 in the chamber and just letting 'er rip is going to do it anyhow. The luck of some of these other guys notwithstanding, We warned them. My conscience is clear.
And please, learn to use a lanyard and a tire to hold long guns while doing testing.