RE: Do you leave the hammer cocked back??
 

I have had my old Traditions (double safety)half-cocked in the"notched"bolt safety position and the trigger safety on. But that is just with that particular style of bolt action. I now shoot an Omega Z5 and it has a safety similiar to a half cock. I will NOT have it cocked in a stand. On the ground sitting in a blind...maybe. But like others have said it only takes a second to cock anyway. The Omega isn't very loud cocking anyways. I seldom stand hunt anymore because of my back problems. But I wouldn't have any gun cocked & ready to firein a stand. That's how people get killed. I read about it every year. JMO


chris

RE: Do you leave the hammer cocked back??
 

This may be the way to go as long as I do it slowly. I have done that with other rifles and it works. With my luck I will fire off the round and the buck of my dreams will be gone. [:@]

I wonder if they make some type of rubber like another poster mentioned to put over the trigger. I hunt in a heavily wooded area and they are right on top of you before you know it.

RE: Do you leave the hammer cocked back??
 

Rifles are designed different. Some are made tosit on half cock, or cocked with the safety in place. If that is the case, the rifle was designed that way, the rifle is in good working order, and you are aware of how everything operates, then I personally do not see a problem with it. Someone hunting with you might get a little worried though.

Make sure that your rifle is not the kind that when the hammer is down, if it were to be bumped hard, there is a possibility that it could cause the rifle to fire. Some have a half cock which actually brings a trigger shield up in place until the safety is taken off, or the rifle is cocked all the way to the rear lock position. Others have a half cock that takes the pressure off the cap. For instance, if the hammer was down over the cap,all the way on your Hawkins, what do you think would happen if that rifle fell from a tree stand and landed as luck would have it, on that hammer? It might fire, it might not. I must admit I do not know your rifle, and how it fires.

I have a single shot .45 long colt derringer that is carried that way. You cock the hammer and when you put the safety on, it sends a cross bar across the path of where the hammer would fall, so the derringer can not be fired until the safety is removed nor can it be bumped in a pocket, and made to fire.

Would this run the risk of exposing the primer or cap to the elements? If so, then this might not be a good idea. The idea with a muzzleloader is keep them dry. Exposing the cap, primers, etc to the elements only increase the possibility that something could contaminate that cap. Something to keep in mind.

What's the difference of a open breech design like the White, Black Diamond XR, Buckhorn Magnum, Staghorn, and others that have the hammer striker cocked and all that holds that back is a safety and the fact you have not pulled the trigger. There was a Tradition's E-Bolt I believe it was I purchased that decided to fire on its own when you simply cocked the hammer striker. That went back to the company real fast.

On a traditional rifle, I cock the rifle and cap the nipple. I then place a tire valve stem cover over that nipple and lower that hammer down onto that. The rifle is not cocked, there is no pressure on the spring, but the hammer holds that valve stem cover in place over the #11 cap, keeping it safe and dry and me safe.

You can do the same valve stem cover cap trick on some of the open breech rifles. Then lower the bolt down onto the cap. Again, all is covered, no pressure is on the hammer spring, BUT you do increase the time it might take you to fire that rifle should a sudden chance at something occur.

I hunted one afternoon with a young man who had a Winchester Model 94 30-30. Twice I noticed he had moved the rifle from half cock to full cock on the hammer. After warning him twice, I madehim carry that rifle on an empty chamber or the other option I offered him was, I walk you out of here.

I am glad to see a person ask these kind of questions. We can never be too safe out there. Accidents do happen granted, but with a little fore thought, many of them can be avoided. And that is the goal. Have fun, enjoy the outdoors, maybe fill the freezer, but most of all come out of the woods safe and sound.

RE: Do you leave the hammer cocked back??
 

Another great post cayugad!!! You are the personwho did a great write up for me, and it allowed me to know what to purchasefor my traditions black powder rifle. I do feel it would be mostly safe to keep the hammer back and the safety on (I do believe there is a bar blacking the hammer from coming down for my traditions pursuit xlt) I'll just play it safe though I don't want to take a chance.

However, I do have one last dumb question about my rifle. Should I get a plug for the end of the barrel in case it rains when I'm out in my stand?

RE: Do you leave the hammer cocked back??
 

They claim the Omega is pretty water tight, BUT you can go to Wal Mart or any Pharmacy and get the extra large finger cots. A box of them is a couple bucks and I think you get 40 of them. These are a rubber/latex finger cover for when you want to keep dirt out of cuts. Just roll that over then end of the barrel. And you can leave it there and shoot right through it. Watch the front site as they like to tear them, but that will seal the muzzle. Never PLUG a muzzle.

You should be waterproof at that point. Be sure and take that finger cot off at the end of the day. And with oil on a patch wipe the outside of the rifle off. If you leave that finger cot on, it will rust under it over night.

Some people use electrical tape, condoms, plastic baggies & a rubber band (especially if they hunt with scopes where the sights are not important). There are lots of ways to keep the water out. Just never put anything in the barrel that would plug it.

RE: Do you leave the hammer cocked back??
 

Sounds good, I will get some of those finger cots tonight. Thanks a lot!!!

RE: Do you leave the hammer cocked back??
 

I use electrical tape and any rifle I take out hunting has a couple of pre-cut lengths of it wrapped around the barrel or on the side of the stock. Just pull it off and stick it on when it's raining or snowing. I think every rifle I have ever owned was capable of getting to full cock silently by pulling the trigger at half cock and pulling it all the way back and letting the trigger go to get it to stay at full cock. The muzzle is ALLWAYS pointed safely no matter what you are doing or unload it.

RE: Do you leave the hammer cocked back??
 

:eek:Uh if you unprime it there is no way it is going to fire.Always Unprime before getting in Stand,Crossing Fence or anything where I would Unload on a Modern Firearm.

big rockpile

RE: Do you leave the hammer cocked back??
 

i never use the safety on my rifle, i just leave the hammer UNcocked until i'm ready to shoot. once i'm ready to shoot, i'll cock the hammer

RE: Do you leave the hammer cocked back??
 

Well this would be all fine and dandy,but I don't like letting the Hammer down on a Primer of a Loaded Rifle,no matter how easy you do it.Seems you always stand the chance of slipping and hitting it too hard.

big rockpile