My Father, who shot Remington Model 1894s and a 1902-vintage Parker Bros. was stearn in his admonishing to hold the toplever to the right, gently close the gun and then gently let the toplever over!
In one of his books I seem to remember reading that Elmer Keith said one should do an underbolted gun that way, but a rotary bolted gun should be snapped shut so the bolt firmly seats. Tony G's minions have told me that about their Fox guns, to snap them shut.
My Superposed manuals state "let the toplever snap into position--do not retard its action with your thumb.
I'm greatly conflicted by Dad's teaching and the contrary points of view!! I think letting the toplever go home gently has some merit in guns with 100 year old V toplever springs. Guns with a coil toplever spring like a Fox or late Parker Bros., I'm not so sure it matters.
