Anybody using a gun with hammers?

Ive always been fascinated by hammer guns. Perhaps its the mystique of older times; but they are just cool to me. Ive used both single shot rifles with hammers and double shotguns with cartridges. Ive also used flint and percussion muzzle loaders; but Ive never used a double rifle with hammers.

Its hard to beat a hammer gun for a quick visual safety check, either the hammer is back or its not. Plus with a double, theres no extra effort to open the barrels, as cocking isnt part of the equation. Cocking is an extra step but its just part of the fun.

Edelweiss, the only hammer guns I have now are handguns and an old Double Shotgun that it a wall ornament!
A buddy used to hunt with a 10 gauge side by side and when he had finished missing the whole day long with his 12 gauge he would pull "Grampa" out and finish the day with one last shot with both barrels set off at once.
Not the smartest way to hunt but that was his insane ritual.

I don't mind that mystique on my wall. Too scared to run after anything but birds with one though.

I've got several DR's that are hammer rifles. The A Hollis 500/450 3 1/4 NE might be going to Oz. next year after buffalo. I like the silent Jones lever and hammers for stalking.

Got to love a hammer gun! I have a Golcher 10 bore with damascus Lindner barrels which is proofed for the old 1 1/4 ounce load. I have taken it to Canada twice and with bismuth loads it is lethal on geese and ducks much to the chagrin of fellows in camp armed with the latest plastic multiple-shooter. My Triebell 16 bore has steel barrels and is proofed for 2.5 inch nitro loads. It is a great clays and dove gun. Finally, I have killed two deer with a German double rifle dating from the 1850's. It shoots a LxR 50 cal round balls into 3 inches at seventy yards with 70 gr of black powder. Very cool things.

Hi Mike,

The Hollis you own must be fine rifle, could you share some pics of the same with us ? was a very popular caliber in India during the hay day's of Shikar during the British rule ...

Monish

I surely can.
This rifle is from 1906. And as a funny turn of events a second 500/450 only 3 serial numbers away turned up here in Anchorage owned by a friend. Over 100 years later they were again side by side as they surely were in the rack at Hollis.

Graeme Wright's book was right on the money for the load also! 102grns of IMR4831 and a 480-500 grn Hornady works great.

I should add that this rifle was buit by Leonard the same folks that made the Jefferies rifles. A. Hollis was only the retailer.This is a "best" quality rifle.

Im such a fan of Hammer guns, that I toyed with picking up one of the Pedersoli SxS 45-70s and having it reamed out for 450No2. Ive seen it done for 45-120; but Im not sure that 450No2 is do-able and who knows what the heck to expect with regulation once you start a project like that. In the end the cost of the Pedersoli plus just finding a smith that knows his way around a project like that, was enough to turn me off (well cool me down anyway).

Ive been thinking about a short barreled shotgun project to turn a 20 or 28 gauge hammer gun into a Howdah pistol; but thats on hold till I can find a suitable doner gun.


Are there any modern builders making Double Rifles with hammers besides Pedersoli?

This is my hammer gun and I have much fun with it..

CZ-USA -> HAMMER COACH S/S (Case Hardened)

It goes with me on all my hunts.

Originally Posted by DOCMAN

.....

It goes with me on all my hunts.

Hmmmm thats cool. I have one of the Bakial Coach Guns with rifle inserts. I wish I had thought to spend the few extra bucks and bought the hammer version. At least it would sorta be a DR with hammers.

The Bakial double rifles in 45-70 and 30-06 dont have that option and it seems a mistake on their part. They arent in the same class as the Pedersolis but it would give them a run for their money.

Siace is still building hammer rifles. IIRC 9.3X74 and 45-70.
FYI I had a 9.3X74 Pedersoli and it was a very good shooting rifle. But 'Tarawa' sweet talked me out of it.