I would say my flinch started when I started reloading about 15 years ago. I decided to try some Ruger Only .45 colt loads in my Blackhawk and soon after developed a flinch. If I really focus, am shooting on a fairly regular basis and am shooting a gun with a light trigger, I can overcome it. A year ago, I went through a mid-life crisis and bought a Super Blackhawk in .454 Casull. Using my reloads of 335 cast lead at 1400 FPS, I have fired the gun around 30 times. It's a stiff recoil but not at all painful or scary. But using the method of "one round in the cylinder and not knowing when it will fire", the flinch is pretty noticable. I finally got to where I was hitting a couple inches low and left at about 15 yards, but certainly not acceptable. I've tried dry firing, but since I know it isn't going to fire, I don't move. I use a shooting glove and good ear protection, so no fear of pain or hearing loss. Mine is all mental. I told my wife maybe she could stand behind me and every time I flinch she could whack me upside the head with a stick. I think she liked the idea. Outside of getting a knot on my head, any other ideas?