Well described DAM,
There are two design flaws in some hammer guns that bear correcting.
One is the mostrous power of the springs. Cowboy action shooters have proven that it is possile to lighten the springs so as to allow cocking BOTH hammers in one easy swipe of the left hand.
Second is the inability in some HG to open the gun with the right hammer at full cock. This too can be corrected.
The hard hammer springs must be a carryover from flintlock days when the hammer was extra heavy, laden with the flint, and had to overcome friction with the frizzen to fire. Modern shotgun primers are not that hard to ignite, evidence of that are the soft springs in autos and pumps, you can cock them with your little finger and they fire OK even though they push much longer and heavier firing pins and springs.
