Shooting hammer guns

[Lloyd McKissick]

The better English sidelocks (& their clones) might be the safest (with their intercepting safeties) but Mr. Romig is correct, if the hammer cannot reach the shell, it can't go off.

If you can safely bridge the hammers and cock them upon mounting the gun then that would be the superior way to do it but...most cannot do it safely or effectively. All I can muster is one hammer quickly, which is usually sufficient (if I'm hunting with a partner or partners w/dogs). Safety is paramount here and no bird is worth an accident.

[Seth Mackay-Smith]

I can see I haven't been clear; sorry. (Or maybe the question flew by as people read it lol)

My question arose because I saw several responses explicitly saying that they hunt with hammer guns cocked and open, while I just haven't run across much of anyone noting that they hunt with their hammerless guns open - which amounts to the same thing as having a hammer gun cocked and open.

What I specifically asked was for a response from people who hunt with their hammerless guns closed, but their hammer guns open. Haven't seen any replies addressing my question in the short time since I've asked, but maybe no one falls into that category.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Seth Mackay-Smith

I can see I haven't been clear; sorry. (Or maybe the question flew by as people read it lol)

My question arose because I saw several responses explicitly saying that they hunt with hammer guns cocked and open, while I just haven't run across much of anyone noting that they hunt with their hammerless guns open - which amounts to the same thing as having a hammer gun cocked and open.

What I specifically asked was for a response from people who hunt with their hammerless guns closed, but their hammer guns open. Haven't seen any replies addressing my question in the short time since I've asked, but maybe no one falls into that category.

Seth, I hunt with hammer guns and hammerless guns closed. Hammer guns get cocked over points when ready to flush. I always tell any companions the status of my hammers, especially careful to let them know when I uncock them (and encourage them to ask me if I forget to say something). Hammerless guns are carried with the safety on until I mount the gun for a shot. It’s a natural movement to slide off the safety as the gun comes up.

I don’t generally use hammer guns for grouse, but I’m sure that if I did so in the tangles we hunt, I would forever be dropping shells and doing extra gyrations to maneuver a broken gun through brush.

[Seth Mackay-Smith]

Nice range of responses here. Thanks, gents. Appreciate the insights.

As far as Parkers go, I only own one hammer gun but I will never own a gun that I'm unwilling to take in the field, so it's useful to understand why these are discussed differently. Also useful to have different methods ready if they're required for different quarry, as discussed here re grouse.

[Phil C]

I now hunt with all of my double shotguns SXS and OU’s open. I did not always do this but it’s a habit I have gotten into. Most of my hunting partners also hunt this way.
The main reason is almost all of my hunting is done over dogs and generally when one of our dogs goes on point we will work our way to them as quickly as we can.
Many of the points, are over a hundred yards out and require moving swiftly to the dogs. In the difficult terrane we hunt, this results in a higher chance for a slip or fall.
When we get to a point where the birds will flush we close our guns.
We also train the way we hunt.
There is a lot going on when you are training young dogs or tuning up old ones.
I really can’t think of a time off hand where I missed an opportunity for a shot due to struggling to get my gun closed unless it’s after firing both barrels and a late flush comes up while I am struggling to reload.
When closing our guns and it may seem so obvious, make sure the barrels are pointed in a safe direction and barrels are then pointed up when approaching the dogs.
I always go over this with guys I take out that are not familiar with bird hunting over dogs.
Many have been taught to keep your gun barrel pointed safely down. Unfortunately walking up on the dogs on point with the barrels down especially with other hunters results in a person raising the barrel through the dog's position on the flush. Increasing the chance for a dog to be shot should an accidental discharge happen.

Missed birds just add to the great memories of the hunt. An accident with a dog or a hunting partner is a scaring memory none of us want to experience.
Different types of hunts may require different safety measures but this is the way I do it.

[Seth Mackay-Smith]

Yes. The number of times I've gotten an unexpected adrenaline rush from hunting with guys who "know guns", be they cops or just longtime hunters, I couldn't count. I really like seeing what other folks do to keep safe, as it helps show that is not about how much you've shot - it's about respecting the situation and those you hunt with.

[Bill Murphy]

I have hunted with people who didn't know how to handle guns, I have shot skeet with people who didn't know how to handle guns, I have shot competitive box birds and Columbaire with people who didn't know how to handle guns. If any of those people look like they are going to harm someone, it is up to me to handle the situation, and I always have. I know people who have shot dogs, and if I had been on the same hunt, they never would have shot a dog. The fellow who shot a dog was a friend, a friend who didn't know how to handle a gun, even though he owned hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of shotguns. I can't imagine what a Columbaire thinks of the gun handling that sometimes goes on when he is throwing birds.

[Lloyd McKissick]

Mr. Hanson: has the seller provided you with a tracking number for your for shipment or a least a confirmation that the gun is in transit?

[Dean Romig]

Steve McCarty - you’re going to really enjoy that gun!





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[Lloyd McKissick]

Hammerguns are arguably the most artistic version of a fine double. The British really evolved the form on these types of guns and their examples can be pretty spectacular (go look on Vintage Doubles sometime, Kirby's got some great examples there). Domestic hammers were not commonly produced to that level here, but we came close with several makers (Parker seems to be the most prominent, followed by Smith). When my larder is full-enough and the weather supports it, I put away my "modern" weapons and drag my hammer guns afield to add another component of interest to the hunt.

Everything has to be nearly perfect to succeed (the aforementioned weather, field conditions, & you), but when it works it is very satisfying...



This very early Lang started life as a pinfire.

Hammerguns can also be alot of fun on a sporting clays range. They do need to be fairly substantial (to handle the shot volume and to sop-up all of that recoil) but when a proper version is found, they will really stand out amongst the guns of your fellow shooters.



This big & heavy Ithaca NIG has a 32-inch tubeset that weighs 5-lbs all by itself.



This gun closely mimics the weight and dimensions of my far-more conventional stackbarrel target gun.