Does anyone ARC here?

[Timitus]

Assume=0 for anything like this!!! always.

ie, don't assume anything.
The reliable rifle in your hands is one you have shot many, many times and it always goes bang, no matter what the circumstances.

edit to add, The (great) lion flick Ghost and the Darkness, with Michael Douglas, and Val Kilmer... you did see that one scene, right? Kilmer never proved the rifle (loaned to him) himself personally, almost got eaten by the lion...

Great movie and a very valid point.