Upland hunting with hammer guns

[Autumn Daze]

Okay fine...Just squeeze the shell until its a little out of round....Feel better?....

[AmarilloMike]

I thought Bill advised biting the crimp end of the shotshell. That is what I do anyway. It then wedges in the chamber and won't fall out.

Best,

Mike

[Bill Murphy]

Scott, the preferred method to cock a hammer gun at the rise is to cock the left barrel as you start the mount and the right barrel as the gun comes to the shoulder. You are performing the most difficult maneuver first, and the easier one as you are ready to pull the trigger.

[scott porter]

Thanks Bill. I guess I am just too slow and need to practice.

[Harry Collins]

I carry my gun closed with hammers down. If hunting over a dog and it comes on point I will cock both hammers while the barrels point skyward. If in the comapny of others I will carry the gun open and hammers down. When dove hunting I will cock the gun on the way to my shoulder with muzzels up. Same thing in the duck blind.

When I lived in Italy in the early 70's I shot two flats of shells a week at skeet. I shot a Barnardelli Brescia 20 gauge hammer gun. I shot International with gun down and hammers uncocked. On doubles I would cock the right hammer for the first bird then take the gun off the shoulder and cock the left barrel for the second bird. I shot in the mid 90's as I had an awful time of it at station 8.

Harry

[Blind Dog]

A few years ago at a NSTRA trial, I was using my 1884 lifter and attracted some attention, especially from an eastern European gentleman who told me of a European hammer gun that was equipped with a safety. Anyone seen one of those? At a trial, of course, carrying the gun with the hammers down (or even unloaded) is no problem as you don't shoot till the dog has established his find and point and you flush the bird.

[Hammer Gun]

Scott, where are you located, I am only 30 min from Primland. Gary

[AmarilloMike]

Originally Posted by Fred Preston

A few years ago at a NSTRA trial, I was using my 1884 lifter and attracted some attention, especially from an eastern European gentleman who told me of a European hammer gun that was equipped with a safety.

Fred I field trial in NSTRA too. I use an old beater VH 12. Get lots of comments and questions - mostly "What is that?"

My shooting student and double gun mentor Joe Wood has a near pristine London flintlock sixteen double with a grip safety. And Henry Crank in England has a percussion gun with a grip safety on his website - http://www.henrykrank.com/dps103.html

I know that is not what you are looking for but I think it is interesting that they were doing safeties way back then.


Best,

Mike

[ch]

I would rather hunt with someone with cocked hammers gun closed (because he is beeing extra careful) than someone with his off safty because he forgot to put it back on safe. I suspect that happens more than one knows. Caring the gun a certian way I can cock both hammers in one motion on the way up.

[charlie cleveland]

never really thought about how to carry a hammer gun when in the woods till this post...i carry my hammer gun with hammers down...but ive always hunted alone and then the quary was squirls or crows....i dont know what i would do hunting quail over dogs with other hunters...this would be new for me with hammer gun... charlie