I'm not sure I understand this. If I understand this correctly, this scenario assumes fellows are walking on a grid, or a surveyed chalkline. In fact, in single file, or in a group where some are in front of others, the natural lay of land and the normal bumps and tangle presented by terrain and cover and the winding of a trail causes the constant sweeping of other people with the muzzle of a gun carried on the shoulder sharp end first, really no matter how hard a fellow tries to mind his "P's" and "Q's".

As for comfort, everybody has their own preferences based on their personal phyisiological soft and hard spots, bones and muscles. I don't own a double but find the muzzle grab position quite comfortable with a bolt gun as long as there is a front sight to grab. In fact, on a rifle I chopped the barrel on just last autumn, I added a front sight as much for a handle as for anything else since it doesn't have a rear sight.

Another carry that is just as dangerous in a crowd, tho in the opposite direction is another one I use a lot; grabbing the rifle at the pistol grip and more or less hanging the thing over the shoulder with the side of the gun at the magazine area in cotact with the top of the shoulder. I use this at least as many miles as the "AC" or whatever it's called but not, again, in company, as, though the trigger is in control, the muzzle more-or-less paints a broad brush anywhere behind you.

I carry one of these things almost every day and I find myself thinking about field accidents involving firearms and specifically gun carry from time-to-time. As much as I deplore any carry method that involves a finger on the trigger or the sweeping of buddies with the muzzle I wonder just how many people are shot due to poor carry methods. I'm no guide so I can't say. I do almost all of my gun work in the field by myself so have little experience mixing with others.

Maybe some guides can weigh in with examples of AD's resulting in injury/death due to dangerous muzzle position caused by poor carry methods? For example, a fellow can carry his rifle at a very safe "port arms" all day long, but if he trips and falls and somebody is in front of him, that somebody may get swept at just the WRONG time and, thus, injury or worse caused.

Another safety precaution I tell my kids: It's just fine to look at your gun, but don't let your gun look at you! NEVER drag a gun toward youreself by the muzzle.