Hammer shotguns

My neighbor and I were making a little run up to Kroger this morning. We saw a hand painted sign which said estate sale. I said aka junk sale. He challenged me and we stopped in. He had a 20 gauge single shot hammer shotgun on a table with a price tag of $170. I went looking for one of those for about three years, finally gave up and bought a new one at WM for $75. I wanted to use it as a training gun where, I would not have to clean my O/U. each time out. I didn't like it. I thought it could be dangerous. I gave it to NSTRA to auction off at a fund raiser.

What are your thoughts on hammer guns?

I've only owned one gun with a hammer (and I still own it), a Winchester Mod 94, 30-30. I agree with you, it could be relatively dangerous.

When I saw the thread title, I didn't picture a modern single shot, frankly; but an old side by side hammer gun. I'd love to have one of those for dove and pigeon shooting.

Curious, but why would a hammer on a single shot shotgun be any more dangerous than a hammer on a revolver, pump 97 trench shotgun, or a Sig 220 ?? Am I missing something?

I got mine for shooting pen raised quail when training dogs. I found it difficult and distracting to [censored] the hammer as the bird got up. I was never comfortable about the safety of a cocked shotgun while approaching a dog on point. The safety seems to almost go off automatically with the swing of my O/U.

I invited a friend who would throw his safety off when the dog went on point, but I invited him only once.

I have a 22LR over 20ga Savage Arms with a hammer. Never had single mishap with the safety device. Unfortunately the 20ga firing pin inside the body no longer functions, but the 22LR works fine. It was my first gun 50+ years ago.

Have a old H&R 410 break-open shotgun - (sweaty) thumb slipped one time while cocking, and it fired.
Of course I had it pointed safely (as all guns should always be), so no worries, but it sure surprised me - ; sure glad it wasn't a 12GA.

It's an old gun - and I've never looked into whether its supposed to be that way or broke; (it has no safety). Since then, I test every open-hammer gun I get (pistol or long-gun) to see if it will fire on 'slipped hammer', safety or not.

I have three hammer shotguns, one hammer centerfire rifle and three sidelock muzzleloaders. Somehow I don't feel particularly threatened by this type of ignition system.

only danger i see in them would be in thumbing the hammer down after cocking it.

I don't care for them. Most shotguns have a lot stiffer hammer than other guns it seems and oddly enough most are pretty flat and hard to get a grip on in a hurry.

My first gun at age 10 was an old .410 break open. Only safety was a half [censored], and the safety between my ears. Despite what lawyers say, an half [censored] IMO isan effective safety device.

The automatic censored feature on this site cracks me up!

Maybe if you use a hyphen, and quotes, like this ... "half-cocked".

Never had an issue with a hammer shotgun, or any other hammer gun. My first shotgun at age 6-7 was a crack barrel 4-10, then moved up to a crack barrel 20. Today I still have hammer shotguns, pistols, & rifles.

I kinda like them transfer bars these days

When do you guys pull the hammer back on s covey rise.

I have many shotguns but I still enjoy shooting a single shot H&R Topper model. I drop the hammer when a shot presents itself. I have never waited around with it cocked. Only a fool would. To my knowledge, all newer hammer guns have a transfer bar that would prevent accidents caused by the hammer slipping out of your fingers. I will eat fried chicken and immediately fire mine in full confidence.