Koos Custodiet
Member
So is there any really safe way to lower a hammer on a loaded gun, or does letting the hammer slip mean your going to fire it?
With my Taurus and Astra 357 revolvers, I can put my left thumb into the gap between the cocked hammer and the frame. Then I pull the trigger, release the trigger, and then remove my left thumb while letting the hammer down with my right thumb.
Both of these revolvers use a transfer bar type of mechanism, where pulling the trigger all the way back pushes a bar up which completes the contact between the hammer and the firing pin. When the trigger is not pulled the hammer hits the frame without the force being transferred to the firing pin. (OK, I lie, on the Astra the "transfer bar" blocks the hammer, but the principle's the same).
In silhouette shooting we also make a habit of keeping your off hand thumb in the gap between the hammer and frame when moving from loading the revolver into the Creedmore position (lying down). This is with five shot single action revolvers, all chambers loaded as per silhouette rules. And very light triggers, and stout loads, as per silhouette standard practice