[Tokugawa]

I could use some info from you vets and combat shooters- How do you sling a rifle to keep both hands free to work, and still have quick access? I am not talking about patrol work here, but doing physical work in the yard, digging, etc.The old muzzle up, over the shoulder is slow and awkward to me. Also, the conventional sling swivel points on the underside of the forarm amd butt seem ungainly with the vepr., with the long mag hanging down. I did notice the butt had a spot for a swivel on the top, is this a better place for the sling?

[ClarkEMyers]

Look at Biathlon rigs

[Commissar Gribb]

The old muzzle up, over the shoulder is slow and awkward to me.

FYI

muzzle down is recommended. Safer and easier to get to (IMO)

[Sleeping Dog]

If you're doing yard work, "muzzle down" will get you a plugged muzzle and an exploded barrel.

I think the best way is to sit in a lawn chair, rifle across your lap, iced tea at your side, and hire a kid to do the yard work.

And wear black flip-flops so you look tactical. :neener:

Regards.

[Zak Smith]

3-point sling from TheWilderness or Spectre Gear.

[Correia]

Agree with Zak. Tac slings are the way to go. The Vepr is actually very single point sling friendly as well. You just need to screw a swivel into the stock above the pistol grip.

[DMK]

I agree a Tac sling is the way to go and it will allow you multiple ways to attach a rifle to your body to free both hands. However, I think that doesn't really answer the question.

"How do you sling a rifle to keep both hands free to work(around the yard), and still have quick access?"

ie. If you are fixing a roof, mending a fence, filling sandbags, rigging trip wires(for lights!), etc, slinging your rifle in front of you CQB style is certainly good for quick access, but doesn't really work well as the rifle gets in the way and your muzzle may be pointing in unsafe directions as you work. Slinging it muzzle down across the back is still fairly quick, but leaves the muzzle vulnerable to damage, could get a clogged bore(maybe that risk could be reduced by a condom over the muzzle) and depending on the work, you still might be pointing the muzzle in an unsafe direction. Muzzle up across the back seems the safest and puts the rifle more out of the way, but makes it harder to bring to bear if needed. Still, it's better than leaving it in the truck.

Every method seems to have it's compromises. You could always sling it across the back, muzzle up, and wear a sidearm.

Here's some examples:
http://www.spectergear.com/carryoptions.htm

http://www.spectergear.com/akmeda.gif

[Commissar Gribb]

If you're doing yard work, "muzzle down" will get you a plugged muzzle and an exploded barrel.

sorry- Just what the military told me to do.

I suppose nobody thought about getting a plastic shoot-off muzzle cap huh?

also- gravity tends to lend to things falling out when the barrel is pointed down.

[Too Many Choices!?]

:D ,My factory Bushie sling is too short to comfortably use this way :banghead:,but I rigged it to work :o ...It points at a 45 degree angle to the down to the rear, with the pistol grip vereeeeery accessable to my right hand. Basicly, it is a normal muzzle up"over the shoulder carry", simply flipped upside down, witht the sling,"stretched', to almost full length. Grab the pistol grip OR handguard and the rifle swings upward in an arc straigh to line of sight, if the sling is,"stretched" properly. Only problem is it tries to walk off my shoulder.

[Commissar Gribb]

basically, if the muzzles up, there's still a chance that if the firearm goes off it could come down on someone and hurt them. A reason why 21 gun salutes are done with blanks!

[Vern Humphrey]

Use ordinary electrician's tape over the muzzle. Sew a button on each shoulder of your jacket to keep the sling from sliding off, and carry the rifle muzzle down on the left side.

Personally, I always feel if you are working it's best to put the rifle aside, someplace where it's protected and handy, rather than sling it. In combat, we always put out security before we started digging, and the weapons of the work party were stacked nearby, on a poncho or sandbags.