What is your "safe direction" to point a gun?

[Wise1]

I made me a “safe direction” by filling a box with thick cards. The cards are thick enough that they will stop a .40 caliber round (I tested it). Prior to this, if I was dry firing, I would aim at my brick fireplace. Then I got to thinking what would happen if I did accidently fire a round at the fireplace? The round would ricochet sending fragments of bullet and bricks back at me or somewhere else in the house. So I made the box. Where is your safe place?

[Keykutter]

Sounds like you only handle your gun in your house.

My safe directions are too numerous to list.

KK

[walt629]

Excuse me for being the 300lb butt-head in the room, but I would assume you would make darned sure the gun is clear before you dry fire?

The only safe direction is towards something you don't mind destroying.

[CharonPDX]

When in my house, it's in my basement at a wall that has drywall, insulation, an air gap, more insulation, concrete, then dirt. When outside, it's down the hill in my yard, pointed at the hill diagonally. (So that I'm not pointing back at my house, but rather at the empty lot between my house and the next - although from where I stand, a pistol round would have quite a ways to travel to reach there (it's a 200' vertical climb at about 30 degrees, about 1000 feet from my standing point to where the usual-use "back yard" begins.) I could probably get away with firing a .22 or subsonic 9mm in my backyard into that hill, and at most, neighbors would think it was a firecracker.

And, yes, I make 100% sure it's empty before pulling the trigger. Including re-checking if it's been more than two minutes since last verifying, even if it's been in my hand the entire time. I'm paranoid that way.

[Iam2Taz]

At the window! I hate that window any ways! Besides, there is always a squirrel there! LOL

At night it looks like some guy with a gun about to shoot me! YIKES!

[Phillip Gain]

I've actually considered something similar to Wise1's idea, since I live in an apartment complex. I have a couple of directions is "safe" for others, since the 2 walls plust the floor and ceiling are concrete bulkhead. But that whole ricochet thing does give me a bit of pause. I was thinking about maybe using phone books, ala Mythbusters Episode #139:

Filling the cavities of a car’s doors with phone books will make the car bulletproof.

busted

The Build team filled several car doors with phone books and fired various firearms at it. The phonebooks were able to stop 9mm, .357 magnum, and .45 caliber rounds. However, the more powerful deer slug shotgun rounds and the M14 assault rifle were able to pierce the door and the phonebooks easily. Since the phonebooks could not stop all of the bullets, the myth was declared busted. However, the Build Team continued the experiment to see how many phone books behind the door would be needed to stop a deer slug and rifle round and found that only two phonebooks were needed.

MythBusters Episode 139: Dive to Survive

[50SR9]

At anyone I don't like!!! Actually at the floor inside the house (straight down for ricochet prevention), straight down at the ground outside.

[B2Tall]

Straight down for pistols, straight up for long guns.

[50SR9]

Straight down for pistols, straight up for long guns.

Straight up??!! HUH? I do hope you are kiddin

[djmastawillyb]

The direction that your Target is in