Abstract: A pressure vessel in the form of a flexible bag contains a firearm and a shot discharged therefrom, as well as a gas blast associated with the discharge of the shot. The bag includes a body of flexible ballistic material made of several plies of a ballistic cloth, and includes sidewalls and a bottom portion opposite an opening in which the handgun is inserted within the apparatus. A cover, also of flexible ballistic material, encloses the open end so as to completely enclose the firearm, and any shot and gas blast discharged therefrom. The cover is attached to the body by releasable fasteners which are openable to relieve internal gas pressure generated within the apparatus after the shot contained within the bag has been stopped. A stop member is located in the bottom portion of the bag, opposite the opening, and the apparatus includes an arrangement for orienting the barrel of the firearm so that its muzzle is placed adjacent the stop member.