A friend was shooting a flush recently .
He wears ear plugs and electronic ear muffs.
He didn't hear an odd report from his gun , (friends standing by did)
He's right handed and shoots with his left thumb up the side of his barrels .
Apparently it seems that a fibre wad stuck in his barrel and upon reloading and firing, the barrel burst , blowing off the forend (which saved his hand ) but fifteen pellets went into his thumb . He is now recovering after having pellets removed . Always check your barrels are clear by getting into the habit of looking down the tubes before reloading , if there is smoke ,blow it out .
I always check my barrels but then, like you Peter, years spent coaching people in safe gun handling rubs off on one! In the rare occasions I have been in a 'hot spot' on a driven game shoot, I have lost some chances but still have all my fingers!
Hope you are having a good season, ABT Toby
