Cosmoline
Member
I've seen many photos from WWI and a few from WWII showing German private soldiers carrying their Mausers across the *front*, muzzle up. It always seemed like a strange way to carry it, but if you try it with a backpack on, it actually works very well. The weight of the rifle balances against the weight of the pack.
The problem is, it's extremely difficult to get on and off when carried in this fashion. I've altered the method and found a way to have both a comfortable carry and an *extremely* quick access to the rifle. Here are the steps to what I shall deem "The Cosmoline Carry":
Start by putting on a standard padded hunting sling on the rifle, only do it upside-down, with the padded bit toward the butt of the rifle.
Next, hook a lockjaw "quick release" onto the front end of the sling. This should work with most slings. You can find these for about $5 at most tack shops. They are used for horses and to "launch" attack dogs.
Clip the lockjaw end of the strap onto the rifle.
Sling the rifle over the shoulder you fire with, muzzle *down*, not up. The rifle should sit so the bolt faces away. If not, adjust the strap connections. The side-slot mausers work best in this respect.
When you need to fire, simply click the lockjaw open with your off hand, and PRESTO the rifle snaps up to your firing shoulder in a split second, ready to fire!
The problem is, it's extremely difficult to get on and off when carried in this fashion. I've altered the method and found a way to have both a comfortable carry and an *extremely* quick access to the rifle. Here are the steps to what I shall deem "The Cosmoline Carry":
Start by putting on a standard padded hunting sling on the rifle, only do it upside-down, with the padded bit toward the butt of the rifle.
Next, hook a lockjaw "quick release" onto the front end of the sling. This should work with most slings. You can find these for about $5 at most tack shops. They are used for horses and to "launch" attack dogs.
Clip the lockjaw end of the strap onto the rifle.
Sling the rifle over the shoulder you fire with, muzzle *down*, not up. The rifle should sit so the bolt faces away. If not, adjust the strap connections. The side-slot mausers work best in this respect.
When you need to fire, simply click the lockjaw open with your off hand, and PRESTO the rifle snaps up to your firing shoulder in a split second, ready to fire!