NITRO-X were you kidding when you said this? - "I was riding a motor bike with the rifle in a handlebar Y rest when the cap came off. The vibrations might have been too much. The rifle had the hammers in half cock. Therefore my question about the safest way to have the hammers."
: I can see having a load down both tubes, uncapped (no cap on nipple) or unprimed (frizzen open), riding a bike or resting in a vehicle, moving or stopped - such is allowed by the law here & is quite safe. Having a loaded gun on the bike, capped or primed is quite unsafe, I feel. The vibration could cause the knotch to break, hammers to drop, discharging the piece - worse case, senario, right into the guy or vehicle you were driving past.
: You cannot trust the 1/2 cock knotch, unless you are in control of the muzzle. When strapped to the bike, loaded and capped, you are not in control of the muzzles. Over the years, I have seen a good number of 'accidental discharges with production guns and 1/2 cock knotches breaking as well as one accidental discharge from a good custom lock's 1/2 cock knotch breaking - all shots went 'down range' so no safety concern - just rattles some people up a bit. 1/2 cock with a primed gun can only be trusted when walking and you are in control of the muzzle. That way, if one went, it is 'down range'. Down range is a safe direction of fire, not matter which direction it actually is.
: I'm sorry if this post seems rude - not meant that way. Be careful out there.