I am not advocating walking about with a cocked hammer gun. The reasons are obvious and are the same reasons that indicate that walking about with a cocked hammerless gun with the safety on is just as dangerous and risky.
But when in an active hunting phase, such as standing at a spot when pass shooting or behind a dog on point or about to flush game, I think it is reasonably safe to cock the hammers. Naturally the hammers will be lowered and the gun opened when the active phase is over. And this brings us to actions that allow opening the gun when the hammers are cocked. Not all top lever hammer guns allow that. Side pedal and underlever actions do, as do very few top lever guns. It seems safer and wiser to lower the hammers on an open action.
Last edited by Shotgunlover; 05/07/22 05:00 AM.
