doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Hammer Gun Practice For Upcoming Grouse Season

I've owned a number of hammer guns over the years and still own five - one each in 10, 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge. The only gun on which I was ever consistently able to cock both hammers on the mount was a Bernardelli Italia 12 gauge, which I sold when I acquired my Charles Moore in the same gauge. The guns range in age from the 1880s (I. Hollis 10 gauge) to 2013 (S.I.A.C.E. 28 gauge). Cocking both hammers simultaneously consistently is a lot harder than you think.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...mer-gun-by-t-h-king.cfm?gun_id=102579024

above is link to images and description of rare 20 ga T&H King hammer gun...

new owner plans to use it in the foot hills north of spokane, wa in pursuit of several species of game birds...

wishing him every success...

I have done the same. I still think the best looking SXS has hammers and sidelocks…

Rem 40x: Like you, I have not found cocking on the flush to be simple or efficient (at least yet). I might be able to develop something with my non-rebounding Lang, but that Smith is a handful, especially the left-side hammer. Per David Williamson here, this particular variant is the 2nd type of bar-action used at Fulton (where the hammers dip below line-of-sight) and they have substantial springs (at least this one does!).

In looking at my earlier photography, the width of that Elsie action is substantial as well. "Sweeping" them both with one motion to cock them would take a far-larger (& stronger) set of hands than I currently posess.

Shrapnel, the gun you picture with the breech spewing smoke is probably the nicest hammer gun I have ever seen. Makes my Purdey pigeon gun look like a Mossburg. Can we see some other views of that gun with the maker identified. Thanks. Murphy

I do not have the strength or the dexterity to mount my hammer gun when a bird flushes and to simultaneously pull back both hammers. If I am alone I hunt with both hammers cocked, always keeping the gun pointed away from the pups. I know this is an unsafe method. When hunting with friends I have kept the barrels open slightly with both hammers cocked. I can then quickly close the barrels while mounting the gun if a bird is moved. This method can be problematic, however, when hunting in heavy cover. In short, I really don't have a good and safe way to efficiently hunt upland birds afield. As a result, I rarely bring my old London, "Best" hammer gun afield these days, and that is a shame.

I wonder if some of the cocking difficulties could be in technique rather than strength and dexterity.

When I carry a double for pheasants, my thumb is over the hammers and my entire hand is probably rotated slightly towards the top of the gun, and the barrels are held higher than the wrist. Cocking happens while the barrels are still fairly high relative to the wrist and is almost the first part of the mounting process. My thumb cocks the left side but it is as much the web between thumb and first finger that is cocking the right barrel at the same time. As the barrels come down and butt comes up, the gun is cocked, and the right hand rotates slightly to the shooting position. It is very quick and simple. But if I mounted first, then cocked, I think it would be quite a bit more difficult.

While some guns are easier than others, it does not take much strength or dexterity to do this with any of them, which is why I think that it may be technique that is the issue.

Maybe this will help someone.

As I posted earlier, I prefer to cock the left hammer on the mount, and unlike Brent, not worry about cocking the right hammer until the mount is complete or the first shot is made. The right hammer cock is almost instantaneous and second nature, so I don't worry about it.

one thing that has not been mentioned in this exchange is that, in addition to physical strength, the size of one's hands plays a significant role in the process. if you're 6' 4", and wear size 13 boots, there is much likelier chance that you can sweep both hammers in a single motion. i'm 5' 7", and wear size 9 boots, and the only gun that i could single motion cock was a sauer modell 4 in 16 gauge - and it was dependent upon technique.

of course it doesn't help that in 1975, i trimmed about 1/2" off my right thumb in a power jointer - but even if there were not the case, it would still be a tall order for me to single motion cock any typical double.

best regards,

tom

Curious. What is the difference between cocking both hammers when stalking and believing game is near, and taking the safety off a box lock under the same circumstances?