Hello Guys (particularly Idaho Sharpshooter)

I've started a new thread so as not to hijack the Woo-Hoo thread (and it is indeed "woo-hoo", IS's project is fantastic and I am very envious).

I'd like to hear from folks who have hunted with a single shot that has a manually cocked hammer like the Wesson . . . is it much of a disadvantage, what habits did you have to change to make it work for you? and anything else you can think of directly relevant to hunting with such a rifle

Please note that I already hunt with a Browning 1885 Low-wall replica so I am completely familiar with the self cocking hammer type single shot action.

Thanks
Foster

not I the same class as the Wesson owned by rich. I have hunted deer here with rolling blocks along with an assortment of other single shots. the only thing I do a little different with hammer guns is pull back on the trigger while cocking it to keep noise to a minimum when the critter is close. with the hammer at full cock you just ease the trigger forward to engage the hammer notch. my current rolling block is 50 AK so terminal ballistics are not an issue.

Since the mid-80's hammer guns are just about all I've hunted with. There is one drilling and one stalking rifle I own that are not hammer guns but they don't see much use, except for fun shooting.

I've never felt at a disadvantage or been in a situation where a hammer gun was a disadvantage. I don't know that anything has changed other than a higher level of satisfaction in the firearm I am carrying.

I've used a lot of lever rifles, 3 different Shiloh Sharps, several flint and percussion muzzleloaders, one British double rifle, one German double rifle, one Ballard 1 1/2 Hunters rifle and a slug of drillings and combination guns and two single action revolvers. All with exposed hammers and all chambered to different cartridges. The latter has led to my opinion that it doesn't take near the horsepower to kill a deer most folks think it does.

Almost everything I have ever hunted with was a hammer gun whether pistol, rifle or shotgun. Most of them have a way of minimizing cocking sounds when trying to be quiet but there are sometimes safety concerns with some of them as well.

I've hunted Africa twice with a Shiloh Sharps. When you're accustomed to shooting these rifles, cocking the hammer (and setting the set trigger) is almost automatic. I didn't miss any opportunities for good shots at game when hunting. To minimize/eliminate the sound, just hold back the front trigger until the hammer is at the full-cock position, then release it. The hammer remains at full-cock.

Clarence

Practice makes simple. I am not even aware I'm doing it, but the stick goes bang when I pull the trigger.

It's little different than flicking off a safety.

So what are you going to hunt Foster and what are you going to hunt it with? Sounds like an intrigueing project

I began hunting in Idaho in early 1979. I had a Hawken Rifle, a true copy of Jake's early rifles built by a friend; so cocking the hammer is a natural thing. Then, Sharps and T/C's.

As many of us pass the half-century mark, we begin to enjoy the process of selecting (to buy factory) or building rifles, and the external hammer single shot is about the apex of the art.

There is a lot of sound advice from those who hunt with an exposed hammer single shot rifle. I hope to hunt Leopard with the Wesson when it is finished.

You will enjoy the process a lot...

Welcome to the forum!

Rich

"the external hammer single shot is about the apex of the art"

That is probably the most true statement I've read in a long time...and that includes billboards along the highway!!

billboards H-A-V-E gone downhill since the old Burma Shave ones...

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
billboards H-A-V-E gone downhill since the old Burma Shave ones...

Boy ain't that the truth!!! And unfortunately have become too numerous.

Steve makes a quality product. Here is one I worked over.

That is the Wesson #1 Long Range action. Mine is sitting at Roger Green's shop being barreled and chambered as I type. He was hoping to have it done before heading to Africa at the end of this month.

Dave Crossno did my stocks. He does great work.

These may be T-H-E most beautiful external hammer actions ever made.

Thanks for posting the picture for everyone to enjoy.

Steve Earle also makes the Wesson Mid-range action, and is now offering a true copy of the big Fraser action.

We live in the third golden age of custom gunsmithing...