It's NOT a good idea to let either a barrel (on a break-barrel) or an underlever "dangle"!

Keep a firm grip on either the barrel or the lever with one hand while loading with the other. Tucking the stock under your arm or into the top of your inner thigh helps.

Anti-bear traps are mechanical devices and they CAN fail. Even if you don't lose part of your thumb or a finger, being smacked in the forehead by a length of steel pipe is no fun. At the least you can end up with a bent barrel. I've even seen stocks cracked when the barrel has slammed shut.

Stay safe.

Paul.