Half-cock safety on lever actions: can someone explain why it works?

[BC_bush_man]

I can't seem to get my head around the half cock safety on my win 94. Someone said it's the safest position to have the rifle in. Why is that?
Is it not safer to have it completely un-cocked?

What is the best way to carry a lever action with a chambered round? Half cock or un-cocked?

I am thinking that if it's un-cocked, you may rub against a branch and accidentally fire a round by lightly pulling back on the hammer a little and releasing? Is this correct or possible?

Thanks for any help.

BC_bush_man

 

[Jim Watson]

If you wish to carry a lever action with a round in the chamber* the hammer should be in the safety notch. Lever actions do not have inertia firing pins, at least not until the recent Jap copies of Winchesters and nontraditional rifles like BLR. So if the hammer is all the way down, it is holding the firing pin against the primer. Would not take much of a lick against the hammer to fire it.

*But why? If you are experienced with a lever action, you can swing the lever as you shoulder the gun, just like disengaging the safety off a hammerless.

 

[ArmedBear]

Half-cock has a much deeper notch in the hammer. The sear fits deep into that notch and doesn't come out when you pull the trigger, or when you drop the gun. (A brittle sear CAN break when dropped hard, though).

The notch for full-cock is just a little flat spot. The sear disengages easily when you pull the trigger.

If you ever take apart a simple single-action revolver like an 1873 or any black powder revolver, or look at how a flint or percussion sidelock works, you will see how this works and it will be clear.

 

[MrDig]

I'm never completely comfortable with my Marlin 336 in the half cocked position. I also pop the lever open a little if I carry it with a live round in the pipe. Maybe I'm being a nellie but it makes me a little more comfortable.

 

[Z_Infidel]

The half-cock position is the traditional "safety" for lever action rifles. It works well and is easy to use. When I am simply carrying a loaded levergun and not expecting to fire it, I carry it hammer down on an empty chamber. But If I'm expecting to fire, I'll chamber a round and go to half-cock. Cocking the hammer the rest of the way as I bring the sights on target is easy and quiet -- more so than working the lever.

Do what works best for you, but I don't recommend carrying a levergun with the hammer down on a loaded chamber, or fully cocked unless you also use a cross-bolt safety.

 

[rbernie]

If you are experienced with a lever action, you can swing the lever as you shoulder the gun, just like disengaging the safety off a hammerless.

And if you're silently trying to pop a hunk o' lead-n-copper into Bambi's boiler room, this is the WORST thing you can be doin'.

Cocking the hammer from half- to full-cock is far less obtrusive while still-hunting.....

 

[vmfrantz]

I stopped using my marlin 336 for that reason. I chamberd a round, went to put the hammer to the half cock and bang. I thought my dad was going to put a boot in my a$$, but he was just glad I had it pointed up in the air in a safe direction. He seemed more proud. Also had a friend loose a big toe to the same thing. It happend 20 years ago and it is a lesson I will remember forever.