Q: Milsurp sling technique

[WayneConrad]

I'm up to 3 milsurps: K31, Yugo SKS, and Mosin M38. I'm getting broker, but life's much gooder. However...

I know nothing about slings. I'd like to learn how to use slings for each of these. I want to know how to properly carry a rifle with a period sling, and how to shoot properly with it.

When I look around, I see lots of info on how to use fancy modern slings with loops and buckles galore, but I haven't found anything about the simpler slings on these rifles.

I will probably never be a competitive shooter. I want to get better at the sort of shooting that the soldiers who carried these rifles before me trained for.

Can you help a wannabe rifleman?

 

[jefnvk]

One thing to remember, not a lot of other countries besides America ever really developed proper sling shooting techniques. I'm guessing the Yugo and maybe the Mosin fall into that category. The Swiss (I'd guess) would have some sort of technique.

 

[Stickjockey]

There's a bit about slings in Jeff Cooper's The Art of The Rifle. That would pretty much cover U.S. sling usage.

 

[taliv]

it's a lost art

best (but very brief) page explaining sling usage can be found off turner sling's page

sling use and
how to attach it

 

[cracked butt]

I think the brittish might have been one of the only other countries to use a sling to steady their rifles.

 

[WayneConrad]

I'm getting the impression that the slings that came with my foreign military rifles are only for carrying them.

Should I get one of those nifty Turner slings? Is that what a hunter/soldier would use, or are the Turner slings specialized for competition?

 

[jefnvk]

Add Sweden to the potential list, as well. My Swede sling has the quick disconnect at the back and the adjustable loop for your arm.

But yeah, most countries had slings for carrying. Some of the smarter soldiers may have figured it out, but I doubt that most were taught.

Turner slings, IIRC, are based on the original leather US slings that were adjustable for shooting. They were used for war.

For hunting, I think I woud prefer something a bit quicker and easier to use.

Here is a good site showing the use of that sling (it is a repro of the US 1907 sling): http://rifleslings.com/us_m1907_sling.htm

 

[Teufelhunden]

When asking about rifle marksmanship, perhaps those that train all of their personnel to be riflemen is a good place to start...

Mybeloved Marine Corps' FM's about rifle marksmanship: can be found here.

Let me know if some of it is unclear, and I'll see if I can re-word it for you.

Granted, these FMs won't answer your questions about how to shoot the way the rifles' makers might have instructed it, but rather our way of doing it. I figured this would help anyway you since the USMC uses a simple cotton sling for its rifles instead of one with all kinds of doo-dads on it.

-Teuf