How to carry your Mod83 for "silent cocking"

[WL44]

When I was only lurking  and reading the occassional post here and before I even owned a FA I read something on this (in this forum, I think).

I've tried a few alternatives carrying the hammer in the half cock etc., but I'd like to hear from the guys in the know if there's a best alternative that I haven't tried. I'm looking to be able to silently cock the hammer on my Mod83, to ensure that the unsuspecting game animal remains unsuspecting!

Thanks.

Wim

[palgeno]

Wim---once you cock and lower the hammer to half cock, you have already advanced the cylinder (with a round in the chamber) and this is the noisey part. Now to go from half cock silently, all you need to do is pull the hammer back to full cock while holding the trigger rearward, release the trigger while still holding hammer in rearward position and you are again at full cock and ready to fire. This sounds harder to do than it really is. Practice this with all chambers empty. As long as you don't slip off the trigger or hammer, you are fine. When you do this with live rounds, be sure and point in a safe direction, just in case!  Gene

[Ken ONeill]

PLaying with fire.

[palgeno]

YUP! I agree this can be risky. I have used this procedure in the field a couple of times while in a tree stand (with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction) because previously the clicks actually scared away my deer. It is not that difficult, but if done incorrectly, one must be sure that making the animal run away while putting a loud hole in the ground is the only unintended consequence! Gene

[Dusty Miller]

"Hey Bubba, hold my beer and watch this"!!

[Ken ONeill]

"Hey Bubba, hold my beer and watch this"!!

Perhaps the funniest thing I've read on a gun forum. Thanks. " Dang, Bubba! How ya reckon that happened ?"

[shilo]

What palgeno said. I only do this when on stand - never walking or still hunting. This is no different than a lever gun at half-cock.

[WL44]

Well I do it the same as Palgeno. It's the only way of the various combinations that I tried that was silent.

Unfortunately stand hunting isn't really what we do here, so sometimes I'm walking around with the hammer in half cock on a loaded chamber. I don't do this all the time, but feel it's "necessary" pretty often.

I'm not that comfortable with it, which is why I asked! I was hoping for something else. I'm a firm believer in the safety between the ears though. A good holster can make a lot of difference to the safety aspect too.

I feel te risk is dropping the gun (I'm not sure how the FA is on that maybe someone knows?) - but you can lower the hammer and cock the hammer and do all the rest with the muzzle in a safe direction.

Thanks for the replies.

[Dusty Miller]

I was just practicing that technique and its pretty easy with a little practice and some understanding of how the gun works.  However, it'd not be a good thing for people who can't walk and chew gum at the same time. 

[WL44]

Yep. I generally stand still and stop chewing for the few secs that it takes to cock and lower the hammer! 

[Dusty Miller]

You're a wise man WL44!!

[SJPrice]

OUCH< I am picturing a full power load in a 475 or 454 going off while you do not have a good solid grip in your gun as you are trying to cock it silently.  I wonder where the gun will end up?

[Dusty Miller]

Do you wear a helmet while hunting?

[Zeus]

I understand the want for "silent cocking" but I still choose to carry my Freedoms with the hammer down on an empty chamber.  Knock on wood, in all the times that I've cocked the revolver in a tree, I've never had a deer bust me by the noise of the hammer cocking.  Now, I'm not going to say that I haven't scared a few off over the years with the noise that happened when the hammer fell and the bullet didn't go exactly where I wanted it     I usually cock the revolvers slow and while the game is moving if at all possible.  Usually the leaves they are walking on, the wind, birds, armadillos, etc.  will help you hide the sounds of the hammer.  Just take your time and do it slow.  If you have to do it REALLY fast, then the noise probably wouldn't make a difference anyway and the shot will be rushed and probably shouldn't be taken.  Good luck on your quest for silence.  GS

[MS Hitman]

I keep mine on the "safety" notch and don't worry about silent cocking.  This hasn't been a problem hunting whitetails nor was it in South Africa.  If one is so close the clicks of a slowly cocked revolver spooks it, you may just want to rap it over the head with the end of the barrel.