This topic originated with a question about which of the two was better as a hunting rifle. I have not hunted for many years, but IIRC, the operation of the hammer & safety are the principal concerns, with ejection perhaps a secondary concern. The Ruger with its concealed hammer works as any modern hunting rifle. The safety is mechanical and separate. You can either carry the rifle loaded and trust the safety or if you are less trusting, you can walk about with a cartridge in the chamber and the action open.
With the original Winchester 1885, the action came up to full cock, but the hammer could be lowered to half-cock. That functioned as the safety. (BTW, I have 2 coil-spring Winders. One leaves the hammer at full cock and the other drops the hammer to half-cock. Both appear to have flies in the slot in the hammer. I have been told that reversing the fly will change the way the hammer operates on closing.)
But how does the Browning "1885" work? Is there a half cock notch? Or is one compelled to trust a safety while walking about with the rifle at full cock? And if you choose the open action approach, will the hammer be cocked when the action is closed?
