Sling or no sling

[SETH RINGER]

SLING WITH QUICK ATTACH ALL THE WAY UP TO AND INCLUDING GETTING ON THE STICKS FOR THE FIRST SHOT.
FOLLOW UP, TAKE IT OFF AND HAND TO ONE ONE THE "GUYS" IN YOUR GROUP.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

For me I’ve trained for my leopard hunt with no sling. Even if I were going to be hunting leopard or lion from a blind id not have a sling on my rifle or I’d remove it before placing it in the cradle.

For my double? No sling.

For everything else with a bolt rifle I use a sling with the rifle carried thusly:View attachment 762382
Except, because I’m a right handed shooter, I train to carry in this manner slung on my left shoulder and can swiftly and smoothly unsling and present for the shot in one motion.

100% - This carry method, known as the Rhodesian carry is the best way to carry a heavy hunting rifle safely. The rifle is slung muzzle down on the left shoulder (for right handed shooters) and when time to take a shot, you slide your left hand down to grasp the forearm or bbl as in the photo and pull it up and off of your shoulder and rotate it until it is right side up and guide it to your shoulder and onto the sticks. You can easily place the sling over the front yoke of the sticks and grasp both the front of the sling and the forearm and sticks with your left hand so the recoil does not cause the gun to jump out of the sticks. This is fast and smooth as silk with a bit of practice.

The African carry on the other hand is UNSAFE for all hunters except the one hunter in the front of the conga line. Everyone else is pointing a loaded rifle at that poor blokes back. It looks cool and is the only way to lug a 12lb rifle all day that does not break your back but it is not safe and cannot be made safe IMO. Anybody who would rather look cool as follow accepted firearms safety practices is free to do so, but if you are hunting with me, you have to go to the front of the line. In case I was not clear - put a sling on your rifle. If you are wading into the long grass tracking a wounded lion, you can take the sling off in about 5 seconds and drop it into your day pack. If you are the PH and have a 12lb double and want to carry the cool way, be my guest. You earned the cool factor and you will be in front anyway.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Does anyone have a brand name for the rubber slings?

Slogan Outdoors — Slings — Slogan Outdoors

Home of The Best Slings Made. Period.

www.sloganoutdoors.com

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Slings are attached to both my plains game and dangerous game bolt action rifles, but they can be detached quickly. In fact, I now only take one sling to be used alternately for both rifles. In heavy brush on the final stalk for buffalo I'll always detach the sling. For plains game I never detach the sling. In heavy cover I unshoulder the rifle, pull the sling back tight against fore end with my right hand, grip the rifle with right hand (sling still held tight under that palm), and with elbow bent I trap the butt of stock between my right armpit and ribs, barrel pointing down. This way the muzzle is pointed safely to the ground, sling can't squeak or rattle, my left hand is free to assist with navigating difficult terrain and/or brush, and scope's ocular lens is somewhat protected under my armpit. Both guns are balanced right at front of floorplate.

Here's a photo of how I carry my rifle with sling attached when I'm on the track. Look closely and you can see the edge of the leather sling between my fingers and stock. The rifle butt is resting on my right hip and held against my right side by elbow. Admittedly this method may not work as well for rotund hunters. But a regular routine of minor physical exercise can fix that ... push-outs ... from dining table.

I'm not carrying my heavy DGR or my heavy upland A-5 magnum shotgun in port arms/ready position except when contact with game is eminent. It is without a doubt the most awkward and energy consuming method of carrying a gun in the field. Especially when negotiating heavy cover or rough terrain, I prefer to have at least one hand free to help with balancing my body or moving debris out of my way ... especially thorny debris. And it seems everything that's green in South Africa wears thorns! Gun is either slung on my shoulder or carried in this fashion.

During final stalk for dangerous game my sling is detached and in the tracker's daypack. I now use Titan detachable sling swivels. They do require some degree of manual dexterity to detach ... about the equivalent of picking my nose. Uncle Mike's detachable swivels are crap. Noisy, scratch the stock, and they fall apart.

When walking out at the end of the hunt/day, I often sling the gun across my back so I can swing both arms. The pendulum effect conserves a surprising amount of energy. Also, having both hands free to maintain balance can save one from a trip ending ankle or knee injury in rough terrain.

The advantages of carrying the gun slung on shoulder are 1) Conserves energy = less fatigue. 2) Safest method ... period. 3) Sling can be useful for steadying on target. 4) With rifle slung on shoulder the hunter presents a slimmer vertical profile which can be important when negotiating thick cover and 5) It frees up one hand to assist with maintaining balance, etc. That's a helluva lot of pluses.

 

[Scott CWO]

Slogan Outdoors — Slings — Slogan Outdoors

Home of The Best Slings Made. Period.

www.sloganoutdoors.com

Yes, same sling.

 

[ARHinAK]

I carried a 12 lb double rifle on my first buffalo hunt and I wished it had a sling. Port arms to the left then port arms to the right, over one shoulder then the other, left hand carry then right hand, gets old pretty quick and I’m not particularly weak. A good length adjustable, detachable sling makes good sense on a heavy rifle. My plains game rifle had a sling and it was never in the way. Just be aware that it’s there and practice/rehearse getting on the sticks with it.

 

[375Fox]

100% - This carry method, known as the Rhodesian carry is the best way to carry a heavy hunting rifle safely. The rifle is slung muzzle down on the left shoulder (for right handed shooters) and when time to take a shot, you slide your left hand down to grasp the forearm or bbl as in the photo and pull it up and off of your shoulder and rotate it until it is right side up and guide it to your shoulder and onto the sticks. You can easily place the sling over the front yoke of the sticks and grasp both the front of the sling and the forearm and sticks with your left hand so the recoil does not cause the gun to jump out of the sticks. This is fast and smooth as silk with a bit of practice.

The African carry on the other hand is UNSAFE for all hunters except the one hunter in the front of the conga line. Everyone else is pointing a loaded rifle at that poor blokes back. It looks cool and is the only way to lug a 12lb rifle all day that does not break your back but it is not safe and cannot be made safe IMO. Anybody who would rather look cool as follow accepted firearms safety practices is free to do so, but if you are hunting with me, you have to go to the front of the line. In case I was not clear - put a sling on your rifle. If you are wading into the long grass tracking a wounded lion, you can take the sling off in about 5 seconds and drop it into your day pack. If you are the PH and have a 12lb double and want to carry the cool way, be my guest. You earned the cool factor and you will be in front anyway.

This is one method I wouldn’t remotely consider using with a hunting rifle. It looks like a great way to plug a barrel with dirt. Most hunting rifles the barrels are too long for this to be practical. Also most members aren’t in good enough shape to carry like this all day. Someone on a long track tired at the end of the day isn’t watching their barrel as closely as at the start. Barrel facing up is a lot more forgiving. Barrel bands move the rifle down on your shoulder considerably as well.

By all objective measures the African carry looks unsafe but I know of no accidents from carrying it that way. All the accidents I’ve been made aware of have occurred when someone’s finger was near the trigger when it shouldn’t be and Blaser safety’s.

 

[coyote wacker]

I have always used a sling. It can always be takin off a rifle but if you are not set up for one you cat use one. Plus in very heavy brush you can use both hands to clear a path.

 

[Tanks]

In regard to sling getting in the way on sticks or a cradle in a blind. One can pull the sling back tight against the stock. It actually acts like a cushion. Here is the sequence.

First picture is getting ready to go on sticks.

On the sticks, you can see the sling flat against the gun.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

This is one method I wouldn’t remotely consider using with a hunting rifle. It looks like a great way to plug a barrel with dirt. Most hunting rifles the barrels are too long for this to be practical. Also most members aren’t in good enough shape to carry like this all day. Someone on a long track tired at the end of the day isn’t watching their barrel as closely as at the start. Barrel facing up is a lot more forgiving. Barrel bands move the rifle down on your shoulder considerably as well.

By all objective measures the African carry looks unsafe but I know of no accidents from carrying it that way. All the accidents I’ve been made aware of have occurred when someone’s finger was near the trigger when it shouldn’t be and Blaser safety’s.

Agree. Anyone who hunts the Great White North and uses the Rhodesian carry method will be blowing snow out of the barrel constantly. Gad, I stumble and tip over maybe a dozen times or more every hunting season. I cringe at the thought of shoving a gun barrel in the dirt.

Not a fan of barrel band swivels. I want my backpack's center of gravity up on my shoulders not low on my back. Same with my rifle. I also don't care for buttstock slapping me in the arse or low on thigh. Barrel band swivels are 90% period costume decoration. Theater props.

Maybe there hasn't been a recorded accidental firing from rifle carried African style. But I personally don't like a muzzle pointing at me even if I KNOW the gun is unloaded. Just not done where I come from. All the broke open O/Us at the range carried on shoulder just plain bugs me to no end. Besides looking down someone's tubes, there's their stocks hitting me in the face when we're lined up to shoot a skeet station. I do shoot my O/U at the range occasionally but it's NEVER carried on my shoulder. My grandson now shoots it regularly and I have impressed on him why that is unacceptable. Carrying a broke open gun in hand is a bit awkward but doable.

 

[farmer_john]

Does anyone have a brand name for the rubber slings?

I use one by turner saddlery aws sling.
Onky downside they have like a forever backlog currently and not taking new orders.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

Brownells Latigo Sling with Quick-Detach Swivels.

 

[migrabill]

Many of you have made sling recommendations. If I decide to use a sling, it will be this one.

 

[steve white]

In regard to sling getting in the way on sticks or a cradle in a blind. One can pull the sling back tight against the stock. It actually acts like a cushion. Here is the sequence.

First picture is getting ready to go on sticks.
View attachment 762438

On the sticks, you can see the sling flat against the gun.

View attachment 762439

So, a sling on a double--cool. Is the forward swivel attachment held on by screws, or solder?
That is exactly how I have always placed a rifle onto sticks, and I don't see how it can ever get snagged up.

 

[steve white]

I have a carry sling on every long arm I own except one. (and I'm investigating how to sling it, lol) I never aim with more than a hasty sling, and I carry most firearms in the Rhodesian manner. If something is inordinately long, and I begin to worry about mud plugging the bore, I will either carry it what I call "Rhodesian up" barrel up with my left hand pushing out on the forearm, else shoulder carry. I am always conscious of where the bore is pointing and what it has been doing with regard to the ground I'm walking on. Been doing it this way too long to change, probably.

 

[Red Leg]

I think it is ridiculous to carry a heavy rifle without a sling - or a light one for that matter. In open country, on any continent, mine is on my right shoulder muzzle up. In thick stuff where it could be needed quickly it is on my left shoulder muzzle down. I can have it up and ready to shoot as quickly as port arms (in a hasty sling rest if desired). And no one can maintain port arms indefinitely. Ask any infantryman. Unless wading in the Zambezi Delta or snow drifts (in African brush?!?) there is virtually zero chance of plugging a barrel - unless of course one might be height challenged or using a musket.

The over the shoulder "African carry" is an accident waiting to happen. Show up at the local clays range or a quail hunt and try carrying your shotgun that way. Even your friends would send you packing.

 

[fourfive8]

I always use a sling. Have learned over a lot of years how to take a rest on whatever, including sticks, with a sling without issue. In overhanging brush, I simply lift butt with hand and lower muzzle. With hand holding butt the rifle is under more control. With fairly loose sling, muzzle is already pretty low anyway. Occasionally sling carry muzzle down if needed. I always tape the muzzle to prevent junk from entering bore. A few wraps around barrel is handy for carrying extra tape.

 

[BruceS]

I have previously posted pictures of my new (to me) Dakota 76 African in .416 Rigby. I am taking this rifle to SA for my first Cape Buffalo hunt. I have read conflicting guidance on Sling or no Sling. The pro sling guys say that these rifles are heavy (mine is at 11 1/2 pounds) and after long foot stalks lugging this around without a sling I will be that much more tired from carrying it without a sling and the less winded I am when I shoot the better. The no sling guys say that when the rifle goes up on the sticks the sling sometimes gets in the way and you lose valuable fractions of a second. So.. convince me... sling or no sling.

Definitely in the no sling camp for me when it comes to DG. Especially if hunting in the thick. I find them cumbersome. Just my preference.

 

[Traveler1]

I have used a sling and not used a sling. I all depends on the terrain and what your hunting. Absolutely no sling in heavy cover. When on my shoulder and the muzzle pointed at the ground, I have my Winchester decoked for added safety. When I need to shoot, I have to just lift the bolt and recook the firing pin. This how my rifle sits in the truck when driving in the ranch as well. In all I would say 70% of the time with no sling, unless we were on an elephant march, then always a sling.

When hunting with my Thompson Contender it's in a cross the chest holster, unless the game is close then it's carried close the chest military style. So no sling for it, even though I have one for it.

 

[Nhoro]

I have done both over the years. I have settled on using a sling. I want to be involved in the bush and in the hunt. I don't want to be watching my barrel all day. Safety first. I know a PH who got shot in the ankle by a client. How would you feel if you shot someone by accident ?