doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Hammer Gun Ettiquette ?

I know to many a hammer gun with a safety is taboo, but I like mine.
terc

I rabbit hunt with the hammers cocked some but I am very aware when they are cocked and with no one near me on flat surface ect.

It helps to get some basics right.All can be verified by dismantling various gun types and observing how they work.

The safety in the majority of guns blocks the trigger, it does not block the hammers. A fall that will jar the hammers off engagement will do so despite the safety.

Hammerless guns are cocked on opening, and remain cocked despite safety engagement.

Rebounding hammer guns have by definition a hammer blocking safety bent which will block the hammer unless the trigger is pulled and kept pressed. If the safety bent is in proper condition it is a more reliable hammer stop than the intercepting safeties on hammerless doubles, due to its robustness and simplicity.

Cocking both hammers is easy on well regulated hammer guns, but not all hammer guns are well regulated. It might be safer to precock the hammers than to fumble cocking with the hands near the triggers.

So from the above it is evident that falling, tripping etc is as dangerous or as safe, your choice, with a hammer or hammerless gun with the safety on, AS LONG AS THE TRIGGERS ARE NOT PRESSED.

An aside, but relevant, is the strength of some hammer gun V springs. They really need strength to compress. The hammers on autos and pumps do the same job, indent the same primers, yet they can be cocked with the little finger. There is no apparent or logical reason that hammer gun V springs are so tough. A little careful smithing can ease the spring, and make one handed cocking easier.

If one handed cocking is not an option pre cocking the gun when pass shooting or walking behind a pointing dog is no less safe than walking up with a cocked hammerles on "safe". The point being that the gun will be opened when the specific hunting phase is over, ie after the shot or the decision not to take the shot, and not waved around cocked when just walking in the field or to and from the shooting stand.

Some hammer guns can not be opened with the hammers cocked. The right side hammer gets in the way. Lowering the hammers with cold wet hands on loaded chambers is not something I would want to do regularly. As always safety is in muzzle control.
terc

Possibly it is easy for me to say but then I have had some fifty years practice, I was told and it was expected if you use a hammer gun the hammers should be in the safe down position or at half cock if you have that position at all times. The gun should only be brought full cock as you mounted the gun to your shoulder and I was expected to practice this until it became second nature. Now if you are unfortunate to miss with the first barrel and you are using a double you then part dismount the gun low enough for your eyes to help you place your thumb on the other hammer and at the same time keeping the barrels pointing skywards. Though after using the same hammer gun for such a long time my thumb automatically places its self on whatever hammer I wish to use.
But seeing that no person is perfect I have a ridge in the bone just under my thumb nail where the hammer has hit my thumb when the gun recoils on those very few and far between occasions I have dropped a hammer before it reached the full cock position. And finally if you are left with a gun and hammer or hammers at full cock open the gun before you try to lower the hammers to the safe position also it is worthwhile mentioning that guns with non-rebounding locks require each hammer to be brought to the half cock position before you can open the gun.

I've read all the replies. Have hunted with "hammer guns" for over a half century. Always hunted with the hammer down, on rebounding style, or on the safety notch with this style. This is how I was taught and never wondered about it, whatsoever. Should I be lucky enough to have a shot, I would cock the hammer and try. Many a day I would come out of the woods and not have to clean my gun. I guess I could say, "many, many days". What could be more fired important than
"having complete control" ? Martin 1940D28

"ANY" gun should never be carried with the hammer resting on the firing pin or percussion cap if a ML'r. A hammer gun should have a safety notch, not generally a "Half Cock". Half cock is really a carry over from flintlock guns. The safety notch on a rebounding hammer gun is generally much more robust than the safety notch of a non-rebounder. Any outside hammer is vulnerable to being struck if the gun is dropped or you fall with it. The safety notch on many older guns is quite delicate & easily broken if the hammer receives a blow, in that aspect a hammerless is "Safer". in my well over 50 years of traipsing around while carrying a hammerless double I have taken two or three severe falls & yet have one to jar off. That's not to say they can't of course, its just not automatic that they will. Again the thing to prepare for is the "UnExpected". If nothing out of the ordinary ever occurred then only a complete fool would ever have a gun fire unintentionally.
Some of us with small hands & short thumbs cannot safely sweep back both hammers of an outside hammer gun. This is why I personally prefer using a hammerless & I never push the safety off till the gun is on its way to my shoulder. I don't push it off when doves enter the far side of the field or when I see the dogs go on point up ahead, only as the gun comes to shoulder. I have absolutely no problem with a gun having a single hammer but simply cannot handle two efficiently in a safe manner.

I have the same issues as Miller with hammer doubles. Grew up with a hammer single, no problems (other than getting the hammer back with gloves on, and decocking if I didn't shoot). I suppose if I'd ever owned a 28ga hammergun or something like that, then maybe I could cock both hammers at once. Otherwise . . . nope, not with my hand.

I do a fair amount of grouse and woodcock hunting, and have taken any number of tumbles. (One of which resulted in a broken rib.) But I've never had a hammerless jar off safe and discharge as a result of a fall. I have had a couple that have fired on closing--guns I just bought, both on a skeet range. Helluva surprise, and really reinforces keeping the gun pointed in a safe direction. And likewise have had some double when the first shot jarred the second hammer out of the sear notch. So stuff can happen, but I've never had it happen due to a fall.

My thumb is neither long enough nor strong enough to get both hammers cocked on the rise, therefor I cock both hammers and often hunt with the action open but I tend to agree with Jawjadawg and Eightbore. I'll often be found in the coverts with the action closed, hammers back, and two fingers across the trigger guard bow to prevent a stick from touching the triggers but anything can happen I suppose, in spite of how safely one believes he hunts... even with a hammerless gun.
It is up to each man as to how he will hunt with his hammergun. Gun safety must be the preoccupation of each hunter and consideration of his companions, two-legged or four, must always be given.
If a man chooses not to hunt with me because of how I carry my hammerguns, that is his choice... but he can't accuse me for a moment of being 'unsafe' - his safety will always have been my first consideration.

Duck hunting if they've set their wings I'll thumb both hammers back and raise the gun when they drop their feet. Otherwise on ducks and in the uplands I thumb the right hammer back as I raise the gun and reach up after the shot for the second barrel, it is pretty much an automatic reaction for me and have taken enough doubles or birds with the second shot that I feel very comfortable carrying it uncocked and barrels closed. It is so automatic that when hunting with a hammerless sxs after the first shot I'll sometimes reach up and pull the safety back and can't figure out why the gun won't shoot.

I've taken way to many falls in slippery mud, moss covered rocks and leaves on a hillside to even want to think about having an open cocked gun slam shut under me.