Open guns stressing the hinge (cross) pin.... target shooters are obliged by the range rules (In Europe at least) to carry their guns open, closing only when ready to call for the clay. Their target guns do not show signs of premature wear.
Gun handling in the field is indicative, yes. Like when a hunter bends to deal with his dog retrieving and does so with a closed gun on safe, the muzzles pointing all over the place, one cartridge still live in the gun.
But he is on "safe" so his buddies are all protected.
More hair raising is the carrying of a cocked, loaded gun on a sling feeling OK because the little button indicates "safe".
Well it aint safe! A fall of a slung A5 killed a man in my area. Inertia is more powerful than we think, it can disengage a sear, and that is why the safety is an illusion.
