If you dont shut it all the way it might fly open... but I dont see how that happens, with the two locks on the cylinder. I have a RB .454 with a 6.5" barrel, and it has been an excelent gun, no problems at all. Shoots well, very smooth, nothing bad at all to say. I also have a taurus .44 ultralite that has given me some problems... but its not a RB. I would say that the .454 has enough power that you don't need to use hardcasts for hunting deer and blackies, something that expands, but more slowly. For bear protection, I do use hardcasts though.