Flush Cup Swivel on 375 H&H - Good, Bad, or Ugly?

Curious is anyone has experience using flush cup swivels on a heavy caliber rifle, and could opine on the merits or faults of this style. My current 375 does not have classic styling and sits in a McMillan stock. I am considering having the standard sling swivels replaced with rotating flush cups. Any thoughts or help is appreciated.

I might not understand what you are asking, but A 375 doesn’t recoil enough that you can’t have swivel on the stock. 458+ (maybe 416+) you are running risk of swivel hitting your hand. That’s why they have barrel bands for sling. You can use whatever you’d like to hold sling with a 375.

I am not concerned about the swivel hitting my hand under the recoil of the 375, and prefer this type of connection point in other rifles. I have considered adding a barrel band to this rifle, but was just curious if anyone has used this type of connection on a rifle intended to hunt buffalo.

Standard sling swivels don't belong on double rifles or heavy recoiling rifles. A 375 doesn't have that much recoil and can have whatever style of sling stud fits the style of that rifle. Run what you like and fits your preferred style.

Those recessed tactical type sling attachments are good in theory, makes getting a sling on and off quiet and quick,.....but they really don't look good on a traditional type safari rifle.....on a plastic and more utilitarian type rifle , why not, they do work.

If you find advantages to having this type of connection, go for it. As others have pointed out, the 375’s don’t recoil enough to warrant a barrel band sling swivel.

I wouldn’t put those on a timber stock, but it’s not my rifle. You are the person who needs to be happy with it. Everything else is just noise.

I believe you are referring to the quick detachable flush cup sling swivels where the sling can immediately be attached and detached by the push of a button. I’ve acquired a couple used rifles in the past with this feature. I do not like these on a DG rifle. The chance of dust getting inside the mechanism and failing would deter me from using one when hunting DG where you may get dust, debris by belly crawl, etc that could later cause it to fail. I prefer a more traditional sling swivel or barrel band that is more secure at least for DG.

I use them on my 375 H&H that was used in SE Alaska to take the bear in my avatar. No issues at all in the rain, although I make sure to keep a drop of CLP on the bearings to prevent rust. It sits in a Manner's PH stock. I much prefer them in a synthetic stock for easy on and off.

They work great, no reason they wouldn't work on your rifle.

I always have seen the biggest benefit of a barrel band to be the fact it lowers how high the barrel sticks up above when walking through brush. So it isn't as likely to hang up on limbs that I'm ducking under. That's why I like it on any rifle I can get it on. Protecting your hand in recoil is somewhat secondary.

BJH65 said:

I believe you are referring to the quick detachable flush cup sling swivels where the sling can immediately be attached and detached by the push of a button. I’ve acquired a couple used rifles in the past with this feature. I do not like these on a DG rifle. The chance of dust getting inside the mechanism and failing would deter me from using one when hunting DG where you may get dust, debris by belly crawl, etc that could later cause it to fail. I prefer a more traditional sling swivel or barrel band that is more secure at least for DG.

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jaydoc12 said:

I use them on my 375 H&H that was used in SE Alaska to take the bear in my avatar. No issues at all in the rain, although I make sure to keep a drop of CLP on the bearings to prevent rust. It sits in a Manner's PH stock. I much prefer them in a synthetic stock for easy on and off.

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This is very helpful. Thank you.

Russ16 said:

They work great, no reason they wouldn't work on your rifle.

I always have seen the biggest benefit of a barrel band to be the fact it lowers how high the barrel sticks up above when walking through brush. So it isn't as likely to hang up on limbs that I'm ducking under. That's why I like it on any rifle I can get it on. Protecting your hand in recoil is somewhat secondary.

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Definitely agree with the barrel band lowering the rifle while carrying.

Slings are a very personal decision but as you get more DG experience, you will see DG rifles that have no sling at all. I don't sling any of my DG rifles. I don't want any accessories flopping around and keep the DG rifle free of any misc that could distract or get in the way or make noise or get caught on brush. The one exception I make with great intentionality is having a lighted reticle on any DG rifle scope I use. I've never seen a sling on a PHs DG rifle.

I have contemplated buying one set for two guns. On the sticks or on the rest at the range bench the front sling swivel on my 404 gets caught during recoil. My shotgun is usually equipped with sling swivels so I can pull out the sling at the end of the hunt. Very handy when the temps are below freezing and I want to put my hands in my pockets or when I need both hands to carry birds. But the swivel stud on the butt kept getting caught in my vest armpit when mounting the gun on a flushed bird. So I'm thinking of installing one flush mount swivel on the fore end of the rifle and the other one in the butt stock of the shotgun. Right now I'm unscrewing the stud in rifle fore end when at the range and the stud for shotgun stock butt is unscrewed and hooked up to the shotgun's sling inside my vest's game bag. I screw it back on when needed (but rarely bother). The shotgun's forward sling swivel is permanent in the magazine cap.

I am also not enamored with barrel band studs. Don't want the butt slapping against my thigh. I'm not worried about dust plugging up a push button sling swivel. No more a problem with them than any other design detachable sling swivel. Anyway, if I'm crawling in the dirt on a stalk, the sling would already be detached and out of the way.

I'm not really concerned about making my guns or myself look like some prop for King Solomon's Mines. My 404 will still look nice enough. Somehow I don't believe one detachable sling swivel on the fore end would make much difference to Ernest Hemingway or Wally Johnson.

Ontario Hunter said:

Anyway, if I'm crawling in the dirt on a stalk, the sling would already be detached and out of the way.

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Yes, of course, most would remove the sling when crawling through thick brush, but with the open hole on a flush type QD push in and out sling swivel, debris, dust etc. can get inside the open hole then when you finish crawling around and later plug the swivel back in and you are on your long trek back to the bakkie, it may not be snapped all the way in and your precious 404 will tumble to the ground.

BJH65 said:

Yes, of course, most would remove the sling when crawling through thick brush, but with the open hole on a flush type QD push in and out sling swivel, debris, dust etc. can get inside the open hole then when you finish crawling around and later plug the swivel back in and you are on your long trek back to the bakkie, it may not be snapped all the way in and your precious 404 will tumble to the ground.

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Ah, I see. Good point. I'm sure I could make some kind of rubber plug to stick in the hole. Or a half dozen of them. I'm surprised the outfit that makes the swivels doesn't make dust plugs. Maybe they do?

Ontario Hunter said:

Ah, I see. Good point. I'm sure I could make some kind of rubber plug to stick in the hole. Or a half dozen of them. I'm surprised the outfit that makes the swivels doesn't make dust plugs. Maybe they do?

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Those things are used on tactical guns that are drug through the mud. I’m guessing they’re pretty confident that they don’t get clogged up.

You can get plugs for flush caps, how good they are I can’t say, PRS shooters often use them. But why someone would crawl through the dirt to stalk is beyond me. I’ve watched someone do it like the hero he thought he was and the deer he was after trotted away spooked after his failed shot, right into my line of fire where I was sitting and I promptly put a bullet through its neck which resulted in the rest of the mob running around and him having a tantrum, my other friend, who was there, and I have never hunted with him again nor talked to him
For general carrying and so forth , flush cups are good things, quick to detach when needed
Gumpy

My custom 375 has both flush cups and reg barrel band and stock sling attachments.

NOT traditional and I do not care. I do me and I like having both.

My other three DG rifles all just have barrel band and regular stock attachments.

I say do what you want.

It may indeed be quick detach--I am afraid it might also be quick to UN-detach itself! If it lets go, your scope will likely hit the ground...

I considered the same sling mounts for my 458. But I have never had a problem with the factory mounts on my CZ. As for barrel mounts, again I have never needed them so why bother. I used to carry my rifle in my hands with no sling but find it easier to be safe and I am less fatigued with a sling. That makes me more alert and quicker into action. Last month we were hunting impala and a sleeping rhino jumped up at about 40yards behind and to the side.My slung rifle was in my hands and ready to go in a second. More about practise, training and awareness than whether you have a certain sling mount. I have quick detach swivels and can take off the sling when needed and I hold the rifle in my hands in thick Jesse. People often imply that when you are a real hunter, you will use certain brand names or equipment. Do what works for you try it and test it. I think those mounts are less in your face than a normal sling mount but normal mounts work for me so I didn't bother.