Shiloh Rifle Forums

On a 1874 Hartford 45-70: let's say I am at a public rifle range, a round is in the chamber, the hammer is fully cocked, and the rear trigger has been set, so the rifle is ready to be fired. Then a cease-fire is called. What is the best way to lower the breech block, remove the unfired round, and return the hammer to the safe position ? Thanks.

You answered your own question.[quote] lower the breech block, remove the unfired round, and return the hammer to the safe position /quote]

Or do like a single action and let the hammer down slow, put it at half cock and take the shell out,,,

I do it like Kirk said.
When the trigger is set it does not take much for the hammer to drop when you lower the block.
I did it once with the trigger set and lowered the block and the hammer dropped. I must have bumped the trigger when I reached for the lever. I'm glad the barrel was on the sticks pointed down range.

Kurt

The ML club I belonged to had rules for that scenario. The RO asks if all is clear twice. A shooter in the described condition yells no...got a hot one here. Under the RO supervision the shooter is allowed to fire off the round then the range is declared cold.

What I've done is to put my left hand/palm between the hammer and the firing pin and drop the hammer, make sure it's on 1/2 cock then open er up.

Frank

My long distance provider is Sharps.

Lower the lever-THEN-if the hammer slips, nut'n will happen.
BTW-Suggest to this club, that they give a 1 minute warning before a 'cease-fire' is called.
LG

I do it like Kirk said.
When the trigger is set it does not take much for the hammer to drop when you lower the block.
I did it once with the trigger set and lowered the block and the hammer dropped. I must have bumped the trigger when I reached for the lever. I'm glad the barrel was on the sticks pointed down range.

I did the exact same thing. It can happen - thank God the rifle was sitting in its bench rest pointing down range. If I get in your situation, I now do it like Kirk said - much safer. I would also put a thumb or finger between the hammer and pin while lowering the hammer... especially with the set trigger engaged. Our range gives a two minute warning which is enough time for one more shot, then I open the action, wipe the barrel, and wait for cease fire. That way I am not hot at the cease fire and the barrel is clean and dry when we start up again.

Glad you asked the question before an inadvertent discharge.

Thanks to all for your responses.

The RO is not running the range properly if you have a loaded round and is going to line cold and not allowing for any loaded rounds to be fired. Never seen it happen at any range I've ever been on. What if there's a loaded muzzleloader on the line? Your scenario should never happen but I guess if it does than read above posts.

Thanks. This was a hypothetical. My concern was what to do if an unscheduled cease fire was called.

There have been several good suggestions. And I think it would depend on "why" an immediate "cease fire" command was given. If it was because of something down range, (person walking out on the range, wild life walking out on the range, target setter coming out an above the berm, and etc...... shooting off a "hot one" would not be a good idea. So learning to drop the lever safely, lowering the hammer and going back to safety notch are good things to practice at home. Muzzleloaders, pull the cap off? Flint, blow the pan dry, but all and all, have the barrel in a safe direction. Your first safety is your shooting finger and second, is keep your whits about you, third, keep the barrel in a safe direction and then inform the range officer that you have a loaded round. He can tell you what he would like you to do for that "cease fire" command, whether to shoot it off or to unload it safely or make your rifle safe by other means than shooting off.