Guns are by nature dangerous.And modern guns have been developed with safety features not invented when muzzleloaders were the only thing available.So of course replica muzzleloaders are more dangerous no matter how they are handled.After over 25 years that was the only situation that ever occured with my Hawkins.The gun was pointed in a safe direction as it always is and I attribute the misshap to hunting in a new situation,the ground blind,and it being darker in the blind than outside of it in the dark.To each his own and I don't believe I've asked any of you to put your lives in danger hunting by my side.