Lever action hunters sling or no sling?

[EIB0879]

Sling.

 

[Laphroaig]

My Model 94 doesn't have swivels, so no sling. But its so svelte that i can grab it by the receiver easily. Its a 25-35 so I don't hunt with it often even though I killed my #4 best whitetail buck with it.

My other lever is my Dad's M88. Not your typical lever gun and it has swivels. I personally like the stretchy neoprene slings for hunting. Light weight and they stick to your shoulder pretty well.

 

[cdb1]

I don’t use a sling on my 336. I also don’t still hunt. There are five properties I hunt, mine, my Mother’s, my sister and BIL, and two good friends. On all of the properties I walk from the house or vehicle to a stand. If I still hunted with my Marlin I’m sure it would be slung. I have a sling for it, kinda of a cheesy looking cloth camo job. It came with the rifle. Though cheesy looking I’ve used it on other rifles and it works fine. At least I don’t use faux leopard skin slings like LoonWulf.

 

[Charlie Martinez]

The moment you mention the word "hunters" the sling to me is a must. In a hunt the sling isn't just for carrying the rifle around, it serves a lot of useful purposes.

 

[troy fairweather]

The moment you mention the word "hunters" the sling to me is a must. In a hunt the sling isn't just for carrying the rifle around, it serves a lot of useful purposes.

I used the sling a few times to drag deer, mostly when it's raining. Used one time to hold a branch out of the way for a better shooting lane.

 

[Skylerbone]

Ah but it’s nice to have a sling once you’re dragging a deer, let’s me use both hands. Mine get slung, no matter the rifle, except my squirrel gun, as I use the sling as a shooting aid and I walk with it at ready to my blinds.

Edited to note: I do not squirrel hunt from a blind, but I am too lazy to correct my own sentence structure.

 

[Skylerbone]

At least I don’t use faux leopard skin slings like LoonWulf.

Saw him use underwear once in a gator print. Called them his Crocodile Undees.

 

[The Bushmaster]

1949 Winchester .30 WCF. No sling. Browning BLR .308. Sling yes.

 

[CraigC]

Used to be that I HAD to have a sling on everything. Hunting with long barreled muzzleloaders has taught me two things. Slings on hunting rifles aren't 'that' important and short barrels are overrated.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Slings are absolute necessity here in CO when hunting elk.

 

[mcb]

My Winchester 9410 (24-inch barrel) has a sling. My Rossi M92 16-inch does not. If I need my hands free with the Rossi I can quickly and fairly easily slide it butt first through my pack's shoulder straps and it's such a short gun I can continue to walk in all but the thickest cover.

 

[cdb1]

Used to be that I HAD to have a sling on everything. Hunting with long barreled muzzleloaders has taught me two things. Slings on hunting rifles aren't 'that' important and short barrels are overrated.

I’m with you though I can see how the terrain I hunt influences my preferences.

 

[OneFreeTexan]

I can’t believe there have been 36 posts on this.

 

[Speedo66]

No sling, I find holding a lever action just in front of the lever creates a perfect balance point and the gun just feels good in your hand.

When dragging a deer out I used to tie the front legs to the head so they didn't catch on everything, then wrap the additional rope around my waist several times, leaving my hands free to hold the gun in case another shot presented itself. This was for eastern woods hunting.

 

[Trey Veston]

A wide sling with grip is essential for comfortable carry for miles of hiking in the mountains...

 

[WrongHanded]

I haven't hunted with a lever action, but I have spent some time woods walking and hiking in the back country with one.

Unless the terrain is unforgiving (steep, rocky, slippery, or all three) I just take a sling with me in my pack. Gun in my hands, and a sling available if I need it.

 

[hawg]

I have a cheap leather sling on my 94. I don't use it much but it's nice to have when I need it.

 

[Seedy Character]

Sling on lever? Yes
Sling on shotgun? Yes
Sling on bolt action? Yes
Sling on .22? Yes

 

[Tirod]

Sling on the '64 Win 94 carbine (saddle ring) yes. Barrel band and rear stud swivel, quick detach, with a simply Uncle Mikes leather strap. Leather lace wrapped on the saddle ring to quiet it down. It's my gesture to tradition.

No sling on the AR's, Infantry School 1984. Never a sling in the field, even if hiking miles every day.

 

[Rexster]

As I answer so many internet forum questions, “Well, it depends.” There are places where vegetation tends to grab slings. We live in well-watered SE Texas, not far from the Big Thicket, which is a rather self-explanatory name for a place.

 

[GNP]

I have a sling on my 1895, I don't find it to really be in the way and it does come in handy occasionally.

 

[MTNSTRYDER]

I have safari slings on my scoped bolt actions and saddle rings on my lever actions.
This year I bought a Henry Model X 45-70 and tried the safari sling it’s great holds the rifle upright and very quick to mount and shoot

 

[Rexster]

I can’t believe there have been 36 posts on this.

A larger number of responses results in a sample size that is statistically more meaningful.

 

[whughett]

No longer hunt due to age but for years I carried a 94, and my son after did the same with the same gun. . Leather Sling on QD swivels but as the receiver is completely devoid of bluing it’s easy to see how it was carried a great deal of time.

 

[WestKentucky]

I keep one on the gun, but I only use it for climbing creek banks and similar tasks where it would be hard to do with hands filled. If I put a critter on the ground then I will sling the rifle and drag dinner to the truck.