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< 16ga. General Discussion ~ Hammer guns |
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Posted:
Thu Dec 19, 2024 10:09 am
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Joined: 08 May 2018
Posts: 230
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I broke a spring and maybe my fault.I carry port arms with my thumb across both hammers so when a bird rises I cock both hammers firmly and quick.What is your prefered method when you hunt with hammer guns?…….Thanks Aurelio |
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Posted:
Thu Dec 19, 2024 10:42 am
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Joined: 17 Oct 2019
Posts: 480
Location: New Jersey
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Have the hammers cocked with the action open. When a bird flushes just close the action. |
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Posted:
Thu Dec 19, 2024 1:05 pm
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1488
Location: Denver, Colorado
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Hammer-guns are so-neat, but they do have limitations.
Hunting with a dog eliminates much of that problem but...they're never as fast a hammerless gun to use. If I'm alone and in "safe" conditions (easy waking: meaning no trip hazards or uneven ground) I hunt with my tubes "hot" (hammers cocked). This certainly adds to the "thrill" of things (I freely admit). But it does eliminate all of the time-loss issues on a flush. I don't do this when hunting with others as I accept that they will likely be faster on the birds than I can be and that's ok. |
_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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Posted:
Sun Dec 22, 2024 9:12 am
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Member

Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Posts: 1868
Location: Wisconsin
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I’ve seen Nick hunt with hammers cocked, breach open, loaded tubes, over his shoulder and drop birds before I had a chance to swing. Reno |
_________________ If you speak ill of farmers, don't do it with your mouth full. |
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Posted:
Thu Jan 30, 2025 3:00 pm
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2909
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Gentlemen,
Looks like Swampy 16 and I were raised in the same manner, breech open, Hammers cocked, when the dog goes on point, I simply close the Breech work and fire the gun.
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
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_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Thu Jan 30, 2025 5:14 pm
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Joined: 21 Mar 2013
Posts: 119
Location: Northern New Jersey
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I have heard of two tricks you might try with an open hammer gun although I have not tried them. Maybe next hunting season I will take a hammer gun with me.
1. scotch tape the shell or shells in place. Hopefully you have enough head space and can close the gun.
2. deform the shell slightly into an oval shape and the shells will not fall out with an open hammer gun. |
_________________ So many guns, so little time! |
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Posted:
Thu Jan 30, 2025 5:45 pm
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Member

Joined: 02 Feb 2007
Posts: 1772
Location: Central Missouri
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Dave your never going to forget that , smiling .
Had some excellent times on the reservation, haven't we all.
Regards Nick |
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Posted:
Fri Jan 31, 2025 2:48 pm
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Joined: 08 May 2018
Posts: 230
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Dave I sent the gun to briley to make a new hammer spring and also getting a set of 28 ga. Tubes.Guys thanks for all the suggestions but I think I will carry with the hammers down. |
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Posted:
Sat Feb 01, 2025 4:40 pm
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2909
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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AC,
Good move on your part sending the gun to Briley for repair, my 20 Gauge #2 L.C. Smith was fully sleeved for 28 gauge by them long ago and still works perfectly today.
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:41 pm
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Member

Joined: 02 Feb 2007
Posts: 1772
Location: Central Missouri
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But Dave the hammers were not cocked , the tubes were loaded with gun broke open over shoulder , practice will teach one to pull the barrels over the shoulder with left hand thus closing the shotgun .
One learns with practice to cock hammers quite fast .
I love the hammer guns with light springs , heavy springs such as the old Schilling just kill you on time with a rising bird.
Regards Nick |
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Posted:
Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:00 pm
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2909
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Charles Hammack,
Lots of good different techniques for using a Hammergun, I like walking with the breech open and the Hammers cocked the best. Have killed lots of Grouse, Woodcock and Pheasants in this manner thru my life time of hunting birds, killed a few rabbits and Squirrels also using this thehnique.
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
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_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Fri Feb 07, 2025 9:13 am
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1488
Location: Denver, Colorado
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[url=https://imgur.com/YzSGOhw]
[/url]
Some hammers you can "bridge" with your thumb and some you can't. This British Lang backaction gun is a "non-rebounder" from 1866 and it could conceivably be used in such a way (after 1875, almost all hammer guns were rebounding). The 1901 LC Smith above it is cocked one at a time, with no questions asked. The Elsie is a "rebounder" (meaning that you don't have to cock it to open it) but it is something of a battle to cock it, each and every time (there are "serious" hammer springs in the Elsie).
[url=https://imgur.com/O4YFVG6]
[/url]
Another view. As you might guess, there is significant weight difference between these two old 12 bores and accordingly... one is a spectacular Vintager clays gun (it just crushes 'em!), the other is a very "specific-use" game gun (used only on very nice and "unchallenging" days). |
_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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Posted:
Sun Feb 09, 2025 8:05 am
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Joined: 15 Jun 2010
Posts: 1360
Location: Twin Cities, MN
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I got to shoot with a guy who had a Piotti self cocking hammer gun with a safety. Best of all possible worlds. Worth more than my truck! |
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Posted:
Mon Feb 10, 2025 9:41 am
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1488
Location: Denver, Colorado
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Hammer guns are like all the rest of the "big boy" toys. "The sky is the limit" here as well. Early English Purdey and Pape guns still command big money, as do the later hammers with ejectors, safeties, self-cocking, etc.
Go on "Vintage Doubles" sometime and see what Kirby Hoyt has to offer. The variety there is amazing (& Kirby is great to deal with BTW). American hammer guns are more "rare" in that fewer seem to have survived intact.
I was actually shooting with a fellow in January at the local Vintager Polar Bear Shoot and he had a very neat Parker hammer "Lifter" with 12 and even 10-gauge tubes. It is a clay-busting machine with it's original 30-inch, tightly choked 12-bore "Twist" tubes, and...he evidently uses the slightly shorter (& more open) "Super" 10-bore (2 7/8th) tubes on pheasants. An incredibly cool gun! |
_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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Posted:
Mon Feb 10, 2025 2:36 pm
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Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 1387
Location: Western WA
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Does my newly acquired 16 ga Winchester Model 37 single shot count as a hammer gun? Or would it be too presumptuous of me to seek to join such a prestigious fraternity, even as a junior pledge, with such a humble gun?
B. |
Last edited by Brewster11 on Mon Feb 10, 2025 3:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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