Shooting hammer guns

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Steve McCarty

Probably...or maybe the most dangerous shotgun is the '97 Winchester. The safety is the half cock position of the hammer. When placing the hammer on half cock or taking thumbing it back to full cock it is easy for the hammer to slip off one's thumb and set off the charge.

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

My first deer rifle, a Winchester 94 in .30-30 was the same wat regarding the hammer and half-cock.
.

Unless the safety sear slot has been broken off the hammer, it is not possible for the hammer to drop all the way UNLESS you are simultaneously pulling the trigger. The upper end of the trigger is the sear on both the '97, and the 1894 rifle. The hammer must be pulled, moving the sear away from the hammer safety slot. Give the boys at Winchester a little credit.