Sling or no sling

[WAB]

I absolutely believe @JG26Irish_2 has this exactly correct. A fellow by the name of Len Taylor in Zimbabwe would heartily agree.

@Ontario Hunter I read this twice and have no clue what you are trying to do or say.

Right handed, opposite if left handed, the only two carries that immediately set the forearm in position to fire as the rifle is mounted is either port arms, again very tiring very quickly, or the muzzle down left shoulder carry. Again, opposite for left handed use with a properly configured rifle. The bolt is away from the body in such a carry. The left hand palms the rifle forearm during carry. And because the rifle is tight against the left side of the body, it is, to me at least, far and away the easiest and quietest way to move through brush.

Because these are screen shots, This is not the best photography. We are hunting cape buffalo and I am using an R8 with standard profile barrel. I am right handed and six feet tall. Note the muzzle barely reaches past the knee.

Nothing faster and I know of no other carry better to maneuver a rifle in the thick stuff.

View attachment 762984
View attachment 762985

If you’re hunting with Len you ARE using a sling. Len uses the Rhodesian carry. That rifle is like an extension of him. It doesn’t matter now many miles you cover, it never moves. If you’ve seen some of the videos of him, he gets that rifle into action in a hurry when it’s needed.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Yes and sometimes...

Yes I bring them, sometimes I use them, and sometimes I take them of and leave them in the truck.

Depends on the circumstance..

 

[Flewis]

If you see my rifle slung on my shoulder look away because I’m peeing.

 

[375Fox]

I absolutely believe @JG26Irish_2 has this exactly correct. A fellow by the name of Len Taylor in Zimbabwe would heartily agree.

@Ontario Hunter I read this twice and have no clue what you are trying to do or say.

Right handed, opposite if left handed, the only two carries that immediately set the forearm in position to fire as the rifle is mounted is either port arms, again very tiring very quickly, or the muzzle down left shoulder carry. Again, opposite for left handed use with a properly configured rifle. The bolt is away from the body in such a carry. The left hand palms the rifle forearm during carry. And because the rifle is tight against the left side of the body, it is, to me at least, far and away the easiest and quietest way to move through brush.

Because these are screen shots, This is not the best photography. We are hunting cape buffalo and I am using an R8 with standard profile barrel. I am right handed and six feet tall. Note the muzzle barely reaches past the knee.

Nothing faster and I know of no other carry better to maneuver a rifle in the thick stuff.

View attachment 762984
View attachment 762985

You’ve brought the Len Taylor example up a few times. I don’t know of any other PH that carries their rifle this way. Most I’ve seen don’t use a sling. I wouldn’t know the term Rhodesian carry if it wasn’t used on this forum. If it’s a common carry method for hunting rifles it’s news to me. Regardless where the barrel is when walking upright, I can’t recall a tracking hunt I haven’t tripped and fell a few times. I’d rather the rifle fall on the buttstock than the barrel. On my most recent hunt, I watched the game rangers removed plugged mud from the barrel of their AKs more than a few times.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I absolutely believe @JG26Irish_2 has this exactly correct. A fellow by the name of Len Taylor in Zimbabwe would heartily agree.

@Ontario Hunter I read this twice and have no clue what you are trying to do or say.

Right handed, opposite if left handed, the only two carries that immediately set the forearm in position to fire as the rifle is mounted is either port arms, again very tiring very quickly, or the muzzle down left shoulder carry. Again, opposite for left handed use with a properly configured rifle. The bolt is away from the body in such a carry. The left hand palms the rifle forearm during carry. And because the rifle is tight against the left side of the body, it is, to me at least, far and away the easiest and quietest way to move through brush.

Because these are screen shots, This is not the best photography. We are hunting cape buffalo and I am using an R8 with standard profile barrel. I am right handed and six feet tall. Note the muzzle barely reaches past the knee.

Nothing faster and I know of no other carry better to maneuver a rifle in the thick stuff.

View attachment 762984
View attachment 762985

To clarify, I was referencing the image from first page which was clearly a left-handed hunter with a right-hand rifle. Poor example to illustrate this method. However, looking at your images of right-handed hunter using a right-handed rifle I don't see how Rhodesian carrying on the opposite shoulder would be any less uncomfortable than that guy's Rhodesian carry with wrong rifle. Instead of his bolt handle sticking that hunter in the side, the pistol grip on your rifle is obviously poking you in the back.

For the Rhodesian method, the rifle is unslung from opposite side and brought across the body to shooting shoulder. For conventional carry, the rifle is typically slung on the shooting shoulder and mounted to that shoulder. Left hand crosses the body, not the entire gun. The difference should be clear enough.

I can also locate my conventional slung rifle tight behind my back. Difference being the pistol grip is not sticking me between the shoulders.

Looking at your last image it would appear your left leg is about to kick the gun barrel. That's never going to happen with conventional carry.

And finally, most of the debris I encounter on the track is knee high or lower, particularly grass and bushes (e.g. blackthorn) or snow. When necessary, I push waist high+ obstacles out of the way with my free hand to protect my eyes and face. That's instinctive. And with conventional carry most of the gun is semi-protected on my side between my chest and waist. It's not instinctive for my hands to be clearing the way for obstacles below my waist. I usually step over or around them ... unless a gun barrel is dangling down there. And if I lose my balance, I prefer to have the gun situated higher rather than lower. Less chance of it getting banged up. If you can't see that, you're not opening your eyes.

The one obvious defect with conventional carry is it lacks the cool factor of Rhodesian carry. Cool factor is important to a lot of folks going to Africa. And that's fine. But one should not make more of it than it is.

 

[steve white]

Yes Steve, I am more than happy to share these, but there is just one issue, they are not available, sorry. I had these custom made several years ago, I had a Leather "Artist" that was located in California. He was a true Artist, and did the finest leather work I have ever seen, and I kept him damn busy making slings, holsters, belts, cartridge holders and anything else I could think of. I was fortunate, I had my own elephant and buffalo leather from my previous hunts, I always had the leather processed. He even got us some stamps so he could put the B&M Logo (or close) on the leather. Most of the stuff he designed himself and added extras once he knew the basics of what I was after.

The slings he did, some were elephant, some buffalo. He was also a dye expert, he would dye some of my elephant black, and then lace it with gray elephant. Brown or gray slings, he would lace with black buffalo leather....... just incredible....... I had a pile of them made, would give away for gifts and such as that....... Sometimes people that I really didn't know wanted one I would sell them one. I wish I had every one of them back......... LOL

They were adjustable as well, you could unlace the bottom and add length if needed, I needed to do that for my lever guns....

The cartridge slides he made for me were incredible. He lined the inside with pig leather, telling me that it would not stretch and get out of shape.... and it didn't, I used them for many years.

These are 10 round, the shorter ones are 5 round....he gave them a big of a round so they would wrap around you without trouble.

Sometimes he would just make something for me out of the blue, like these canteen wraps.......

He even made some Key fobs and sent......

And then one day he told me........."I am quitting the Leather business, closing shop and doing something else".............I begged, pleaded, told him I would be happy to pay more, but no, he was done, finished and out. That has been over 10 years ago now, and I have not found anyone to work with since......... He quit just when I got some hippo leather in too..... I never got anything made from the hippo...... OH, and some of the holsters... I nearly forgot them... OMG......

Terrible photos, sorry.... I need to do some new ones..........

Thanks! I can't do everything he did, but I can do those sling wraps. I have a hole punch and still know how to make a strip leather "machine"

 

[Red Leg]

To clarify, I was referencing the image from first page which was clearly a left-handed hunter with a right-hand rifle. Poor example to illustrate this method. However, looking at your images of right-handed hunter using a right-handed rifle I don't see how Rhodesian carrying on the opposite shoulder would be any less uncomfortable than that guy's Rhodesian carry with wrong rifle. Instead of his bolt handle sticking that hunter in the side, the pistol grip on your rifle is obviously poking you in the back.

For the Rhodesian method, the rifle is unslung from opposite side and brought across the body to shooting shoulder. For conventional carry, the rifle is typically slung on the shooting shoulder and mounted to that shoulder. Left hand crosses the body, not the entire gun. The difference should be clear enough.

I can also locate my conventional slung rifle tight behind my back. Difference being the pistol grip is not sticking me between the shoulders.

Looking at your last image it would appear your left leg is about to kick the gun barrel. That's never going to happen with conventional carry.

And finally, most of the debris I encounter on the track is knee high or lower, particularly grass and bushes (e.g. blackthorn) or snow. When necessary, I push waist high+ obstacles out of the way with my free hand to protect my eyes and face. That's instinctive. And with conventional carry most of the gun is semi-protected on my side between my chest and waist. It's not instinctive for my hands to be clearing the way for obstacles below my waist. I usually step over or around them ... unless a gun barrel is dangling down there. And if I lose my balance, I prefer to have the gun situated higher rather than lower. Less chance of it getting banged up. If you can't see that, you're not opening your eyes.

The one obvious defect with conventional carry is it lacks the cool factor of Rhodesian carry. Cool factor is important to a lot of folks going to Africa. And that's fine. But one should not make more of it than it is.

Since you are speculating from photos and have never actually employed it, I would suggest you should actually try the carry in the field. Of course, your lack of actual experience in a particular subject doesn't seem to moderate your critical opinions on any number of other issues either does it.

 

[Tintin]

For me, it depends.

Typically I carry a sling in a pocket or pack, to be fitted if required.

If hunting with sticks on my own, or when I expect to be doing a lot of glassing, I'll have a sling fitted.

 

[Parkerpusher]

No sling for me. If it’s possible for something to happen inside of 400 yards I’m carrying the rifle in my hands. If it’s not, it means I’m covering miles and the rifle is strapped to a pack. Method of hand carry depends on circumstances and weight of rifle.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Since you are speculating from photos and have never actually employed it, I would suggest you should actually try the carry in the field. Of course, your lack of actual experience in a particular subject doesn't seem to moderate your critical opinions on any number of other issues either does it.

Well, I have a right-hand rifle that I did sling upside down on the left side to see how that works. I practiced bringing it to my right shoulder several times and I just do not see any appreciable advantage. If anything, it seems awkward. I do not need to drag my rifle through grass, mud, brush, over logs, etc to see Rhodesian carry would be problematic in the field. I climbed my basement stairs repeatedly with rifle slung Rhodesian carry and no surprise the gun barrel was at least brushing on my leg with muzzle barely clearing the steps. Taking two steps at a time didn't work at all! And yes, with the gun pushed around behind me the pistol grip was poking. Would carrying it in the bush make it more comfortable? You'll have to explain how that would make a difference.

It is my understanding Rhodesian carry was originally developed for a special sling designed for a special purpose ... i.e. military/paramilitary duty. Am I wrong? But we are talking about single strap hunting rifle slings, right? Also, it would seem few military guns have 23-25" barrels and not many weigh 10+ lbs. Perhaps it's a method that was never intended for DGR hunting purposes? Or maybe I'm wrong. As you noted that has happened before. Once I think. 1973 if I remember correctly.

 

[gcbailey]

I put slings on both my rifles. My double weighs 10.5 pounds. Whenever we were coming up on game in bushes, I took it off. If we were in open country, I just left it hanging on the rifle.

 

[DaleGribble82]

I put slings on both my rifles. My double weighs 10.5 pounds. Whenever we were coming up on game in bushes, I took it off. If we were in open country, I just left it hanging on the rifle. View attachment 763047View attachment 763048View attachment 763049View attachment 763050

What sling are you using in the photos?

 

[45-70guy]

No sling, I carry a 9lb+ rifle
Loaded all day in my left hand and it doesn’t bother me.
What was worse was arm pump when I raced motocross so this is easy. Less to snag on

 

[Hogpatrol]

Bolt action rifles, flush cups fore and aft on the opposite side of the bolt.

Quake Claw 2.0 Flush Cup Rifle Sling QD Swivel Nylon Rubber Black

The Quake Claw 2.0 Flush Cup Sling With Swivels is widely known for having the best non-slip pad incorporated into a sling. The extremely durable and...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Hogpatrol]

For the DIY, 1/2 or 33/64 drill and 9/16-18 tap, epoxied.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Edit to the above, those tools are for the GrovTec push button bases.

 

[TTundra]

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.

If I read this correctly, you are walking and driving around with a round in the chamber and firing pin resting against the primer?

I'm wondering the same...Sling carry almost seems moot to that method of chambering and carry...


I use a sling on both PG and DG hunts, US and abroad. I don't know if its a 5 min back to teh truc stalk or 4 hours adventure. Id rather have the sling.

 

[BryceM]

Sling. It's a long walk.

 

[Sideshow]

Here’s my way.
When I’m staking here in the uk, I carry barrel down (Rhodesian carry) right shoulder. I shoot right handed. Sticks are in my left hand thermal spotter or bins on a sling around my neck but used with right hand. When spotting I use the sticks in my left hand to steady the bins or thermal. If I see something then quad sticks are set up using left hand.
Splayed, back end dropping down past chest height. I drop my right hand down and grip the fore end in one movement lifting and placing it on the front rest of the quad sticks. As soon as it makes solid contact I push the sticks forward with left hand and slide my right hand back to the pistol grip and at the same time lift and place the stock in the rear V of the quad sticks. Dropping my head to the stock. I never take my eyes from the target during this entire process. 4 seconds (I’m getting faster) from start to finish.
I hunt thick beech forest which is not much different to Mopane woodland. The deer I hunt Fallow, Roe, and Muntjac are very sneaky and won’t give you a second chance.
Never an issue with dirt in the barrel a black peace of electricians tape sorts that. But as soon as I bend my knees my right hand is controlling the rifle away from obstacles the forest floor etc.
The bolt isn’t catching on anything (It’s resting on my back just above my hip no pockets to catch on) the rifle is in control the entire hunt. It’s very fast. You don’t need to be a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist to master it nor do you need a basement to clamber in and out of to practice in

What you will need is an open mind and a little bit of patience and practice to adapt to this way of carrying your rifle.
A guy I hunt with who carry’s barrel up is always commented on how fast I am getting on the sticks.
If it’s a longer shot or technical ie through brush then I’ll rap the sling.

I must say if I wasn’t lugging my sticks then I’d give @michael458 carry style a crack.

 

[Sideshow]

Just on a side note my rifle is longer than most as I use a sound moderator. 24” barrel without mod so muzzle to ground 12” from barrel muzzle when carried this way with mod on 8”
My DG rifle is around 12”.
Just to be clear.
When dropping my right hand onto the fore end it’s like grabbing a baguette palm down, as I lift the rifle I roll my wrist so that the Rifle is right way up, palm up.
It’s one fluid movement from beginning to end and I never really notice where slingers apart from with my PG rifle I make sure that the sling stud is before the quad sticks front rest.
So that when I push forward, it lifts the butt up to the shoulder.
I hope that’s as clear as mud