How Safe Is Half Cock?

[musketman]

Just wondering, how safe is half cock, really?

Did you know that there is a "safe" and an "unsafe" way to put your muzzleloader at half cock?

UNSAFE: Lower you hammer from full to the half cock notch and do nothing else...

SAFE: Lower the hammer from full, going PAST the half cock notch, then draw the hammer up to engage the half cock...

This makes the sear engage the notch in the tumbler fully, making a safer conection...

Lowering it to half cock only, the sear has a chance of resting on the edge of the tumbler's notch, a slight tap to the firearm can send the hammer down to the firing position...

The main spring has enough power at half cock to pop a cap or even spark a flint, and that can be the difference between life and death...

And as we know, muzzleloaders will go off half cocked...

Just something to think about...

Added safty measures include removing the priming powder or percussion cap and using frizzen covers on flint locks...

 

[gordy]

Your certainly on the money about half cock,right and wrong way to secure the tumbler sear notch.I would only have to remind everyone that half cock is not a safety,and if the muzzle is pointing in a safe direction little harm will be done if it were to go off.Safetys in general can, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif and have failed,as with all things mechanical,failure is always a possibility (Murphy's Law).The only "positive" safety is the muzzle pointed in a safe direction! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Gordy

 

[Zonie]

Yes the half-cock should not be trusted to keep the gun from firing so the gun must always be pointed in a safe direction.

Musketman points out one reason for using his method of lowering the hammer down below the half cock notch and then bringing it back up and his reason is good, but this is especially important if your gun has DOUBLE or SET TRIGGERS.

Guns with set triggers have a small piece in them called a "fly". It's job is to make sure the sear doesn't engage the half cock notch when the hammer is falling. If you just lower the hammer and the tumbler fly is doing it's job the hammer will fall down below the half cock notch BUT if the fly gets stuck or hung up, it can stop the downward travel of a slowly lowered hammer making you THINK it is on half cock.
If this happens (and it has) the slightest tap or hit on the stock can cause the fly to release the hammer.

Always lower the hammer way past the half cock notch and then bring it back up until you hear the click. Then don't trust it with your or anyone elses life.