Hunting With Your Rifle On a Sling

[rbrowning]

Sling Carry

Most of my hunting is for groundhogs in clear walking areas. Because I am constantly using my binoculars carrying with a sling is a must. I usually us the African carry, weak side, muzzle down. It is amazingly quick to get the gun to shoulder. But when in the woods deer hunting I us the American carry, strong side, muzzle up. It isn't as quick to shoulder but much less prone to get mud, snow or sticks in your barrel.

 

[Johnny Guest]

A mixture of ways - - -

I like to use a shooting sling of some kind. I've become very fond of the Ching sling on my Savage Scout.

Usually do the "African Carry," other things being equal. But I go muzzle up when carrying on right side. I learned about traversing steep slopes, with or without trails, some time ago: Carry rifle on downslope side. That way, if you begin to fall, your unemcumbered side is nearer the hill. You can put out your empty hand without rifle crashing into the slope. (If there is ONE rock or stone on an otherwise leafy mountainside, my scope will seek it out!!!)

I do believe the rifle carried in the two hands, or in the crook of the arm, is the way to be ready for a quick shot. But, in open country, I spend a lot of time using binoculars, and it is handy to sling the rifle while doing so.

Best,
Johnny

 

[H&Hhunter]

I usually carry my rifle in my hands sans sling in the hunting grounds with a sling in my pack. When I'm just travelling I carry the rifle slung over my strong shoulder muzzle up.

I also have an orginal safari sling that works real good and I'll use it ocasionally while hunting non dangerous game.

On dangerous game I always take the sling off the rifle when there is any chance of action. I just feel that it's just one more get killed switch that someone doesn't need hanging off their rifle and snaging on some piece of brush or stick or rock or whatever.

I always carry chambered with a safety on but only if it is a mauser type action with a sear block or some other type sear blocking action. NEVER NEVER NEVER carry a modern Remington chambered. And never allow people around you to do so with said rifle. The only thing between you and the great beyond is about .002 engagment on the trigger and sear with any trigger block safety.

I just won't trust them and have seen them misfire on safety release on two occasions.

 

[Frohickey]

Rifle with plain sling. Stock of the rifle has one of those strap-on cheek-rests with cartridge loops and a zippered pocket. Extra rounds in the cartridge loops, and also extra rounds in a ziplock bag in the zippered pocket. In the rifle magazine, there are 4 additional rounds, and one is in the chamber, with the safety on. Thats about 15 rounds or so. Over the muzzle is a small balloon, just in case something wants to crawl into or seep into the barrel during the rain.

Rifle is at 'port arms' when doing most of the walking on level ground. Its slung when climbing or walking down and I might need my hands to balance or reach up.



Hmm.... safety on a Rem700 is not that good, eh? Might need to rethink my routine here.

 

[Art Eatman]

From early years, I was raised to not trust the safety on any weapon. So, I mostly keep the bolt-handle up and a round in the chamber--particularly if I'm sitting or carrying the rifle in my hands. On many rifles, it's quieter to gently close the bolt than to have the safety go "snick".

Now, on some rifles, the bolt is just too smoothly finished, and walking with the muzzle up and the bolt-handle up means a lost cartridge. These, I tend to use the safety.

There ain't no "always".

Art

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I put a piece of plastic electrician's tape over the muzzle to keep snow and mud out (I keep a roll in each rifle case.)

For just hiking, I sling on the shoulder, butt down. If I sling the rifle while actually hunting, I sling it from the left shoulder, horizontal to the ground, muzzle forward, hand on the forearm.

Many times I hunt where you need both hands to get up or down a steep place -- then I sling the rifle across my back.

I like a sling with a suede patch, or I put dots of "shoe goo" on the sling -- to keep it from slipping while on the shoulder.

 

[Mannlicher]

when stalking, or still hunting, I tighten up the sling, and carry thie rifle in my right hand, or across my left forearm. If going from point A to point B, especially if it is before light, or at dusk, and the hunting is either not started or over, then the rifle is unloaded, slung behind my right shoulder , muzzle up. If I am up in a tree stand, the sling is off the QD Swivels, and laying on the ground or in a gear sack slung from a limb.