I keep scrolling thru Rocket's complete "embedded" page. Haven't seen that before; a new level of html manipulation there. Afraid I'm beginning to see the light on this pressure as bad actor short of catastrophic destruction thing (of course I did bump my head on the fridge so could be that). Thanks for staying on the pot and labouring mightily, Don! I've assumed all along that the release of pressure is nearly instantaneous owing to the forward movement of the shot charge but perhaps a lot of mechanical devilry can occur in the very short duration of peak pressure.

Now, Bill, if high-quality [break action] shotguns are designed NOT TO flex under reasonable loads, why do so many, antique and contemporary, have the radiused root at angle between water table and standing breech. Is this attempt to avoid a stress riser a precaution against the anticipated effects of unreasonable loads only or those of all loads, reasonable and unreasonable?

jack