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An old friend taught me to always cock both hammers at once, this was on double barreled shotguns, but the principal is the same for rifles. If you are righthanded, you hold the gun in your left hand with the muzzles pointing upwards and off to the left side, you then catch both hammer spurs with the web of the right hand with the index finger on the outside of the right hammer and the thumb on the inside of the left hammer, pushing down sharply will cock both hammers instantly with a minimum of force. If only one shot is needed you should return the left hammer down till it engages the halfcock notch, open the gun quickly, reload the right chamber, close the gun and put that hammer back on halfcock.
You should always carry the gun with the chambers loaded and the hammers at halfcock. When you are done shooting it is a simple matter to open the gun, clear the chambers, and always carry it back in the broken open state. That way everyone in the party knows it is safe and can't hurt anyone. You should always open the gun and hand it off to your hunting partner when crossing fences, ditches, or other dangerous obstructions. Then your partner should hand you over both guns and cross over empty handed.
I hate to see anyone, professional or not, carrying a loaded gun with the barrels over the shoulder with the muzzles facing forward. PH's have been shot that way by an accidental discharge. If you are too lazy to hand carry the gun while hunting, either get a lighter gun or quit hunting. The only other option is to break it open and carry it on your shoulder empty, but that can get you killed in a dangerous game hunt. The best way is to carry it is at port arms with the barrels facing upwards and to the left, that way nobody gets shot and it is fast and easy to bring the gun to bear on game.
Bob

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