I have heard so many times over the years about how hammer guns are almost useless for grouse and woodcock, and it always makes me smile. I have been hunting grouse and woodcock my entire life, with many different styles of guns, and can probably count on one hand where not having both hammers cocked when mounting the gun has cost me a GOOD shot at a bird.
When I was younger I've had autos that have jammed after the first shot that have cost me more shots at birds than not being able to have both hammers cocked on mounting the gun. I don't know where you guys hunt, but in my experience if a grouse or woodcock is not hit with the first barrel, the chances of hitting it with the second barrel are slim to none. Now I do get ready to cock the second hammer as soon as I fire the first. A second flush is a common experience, and I would rather have a loaded second barrel than an empty gun due to wasting two shots on a fleeing bird.
Point is, don't be put off by a hammer gun, the handicap is not nearly as drastic as some people describe.
