Safety on a break-action shotgun? When broken open, doesn't the safe always go to "on" position to prevent accidental discharge?

On most any SxS and O&U yes, the safety moves to "ON" automatically when the gun is broken open, and the hammers c0ck. Never ever seen one that did not. In fact some even "know" if one barrel is fired, and the other is still loaded with a live shell. The ejector or extractor only kicks one of the shells, leaving the other. AND some do this with a "selective" choice of which barrel will fire first.

NOW on the other hand, a single shot break open of the lower end market does not have a safety actuator in most case, they have a "half c0ck" notch on the hammer. ABSOLUTELY that half cock should be in use when carrying any single shot break open shotgun.

*Of special notice, a higher grade single shot break open actions such as most trap guns, NO the safety DOES NOT automatically engage. Most these have no exposed hammer. They are internal Box Locks, so do have the safety actuator slider. The reason is, you only close the gun when on your designated shooting position, AND you are about ready to call for the target. This way the shooter does not accidentally forget to take the safety off, and thus be scored for a missed target.

This will always depend on the make and the model..... and if the feature is still enabled.

It is a 'feature' the is desirable on a youth model break open shotguns and rifles, but, is not wanted on a hunting model where having an automatic safety just slows you down from getting a quick second shot off. And on some models it can be enabled or disabled by simply removing a part. Just because Joe's Model XYZ has the safety automaticlaly come on - does not mean your model XYZ has not had a small feature part removed that doesnt invoke the safety.

I have a 22 from the mid 1960's where the safety comes on after each round is chambered, however, by removing a small lever and this is disabled. The lever is easily removed by the owner when taken apart for cleaning..... and easily lost. Mine still has the feature - but - every identical model I have seen in a gunshow the past 50 years it has been removed/missing.

I haven't had a break action shotgun with a safety on it before. Trigger discipline is what prevents accidental discharge, manual safety's can't compensate for improper handling.

No, not always. Some shotguns have an auto-safety and some do not. However, typically, hunting guns will have an auto-safety and guns made for target shooting will not have an auto-safety. When hunting you are carrying the gun loaded with the safety on. When target shooting you do not carry the gun loaded but load it only when you are at a shooting station.

One of my SxS never had that feature, nor do my single shots. The SxS that I use for SASS competition USED to have that feature, but SOMEHOW (It's a mystery) that feature just stopped working somehow.

Yes, it's still legal for competition, or it wouldn't have stopped working.

only if it has an automatic safety, some cheaper ones have a manual safety

That depends upon the gun, older guns may not have that feature and some of the modern competition guns are made so that that function can b disabled.

Both my breaks have safeties (1-sxs, 1-O/U) and both are activated when opening the action.

You have a safety?

mine just relies on a transfer bar

The ones I've used had no safeties.