Reader question, asked September 2026
Short answer: Probably not. A gun that fires while you lower the hammer usually means the hammer slipped from your thumb while the trigger was pulled. Stop using it until a gunsmith checks it.
The details
- Shells loose in the barrel are a separate, serious danger. Anything stuck in the bore when you fire can bulge or burst the barrel. Run a cleaning rod through to be sure it’s clear.
- On a break-action like the Rossi, the safest way to unload is to open the action and take the shell out. Don’t lower the hammer on a live round.
- If you have to lower the hammer, keep the muzzle pointed somewhere safe and use both thumbs.
- If it fired without your finger on the trigger, the sear or transfer bar may be worn. Have a gunsmith inspect it.
Bottom line: Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times. That’s why this ended as a scare instead of an injury.
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