Real world sling use

[Expertowgunner]

btw ive heard of african carry i believe the term was coined by how rhodesian soldiers carried their weapons. maybe wrong but im pretty sure thats how that term came about

 

[.38 Special]

Jeff Cooper wrote up an episode involving Marines in WWII; something about shooting Japanese soldiers who were attempting to flee by swimming across a channel. Cooper wrote that the Marines were slung up in the sitting position and hitting heads with nearly every shot, while the gunnery sergeant was reminding the troops to keep their elbows directly under their pieces.

 

[Maverick223]

Someone mentioned "African carry", and I'd never heard of it,
so I googled it and found a page somewhere.

I honestly haven't a clue where I first heard it or how I was introduced to either carry style; but I believe that it has something to do with keeping the barrel clean when in jungle environments so that the bbl might be kept dry and ready to fire. It also has the nasty disadvantage of allowing you to use it for a field aerator (plugging the bbl) and rock checker with a long barrel/action rifle.

 

[AStone]

It also has the nasty disadvantage of allowing you to use it for a field aerator (plugging the bbl) and rock checker with a long barrel/action rifle.

Well, no, not really, at least for those of us who are paying reasonable attention.

If I'm climbing a steep slope when that could happen, I'll turn it and carry American until the climb is over.

But then, of course, I tend to carry short carbines.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I haven't tried 'African carry' with my AR but that's how I carry all my hunting rifles, even with scopes.

FEW pics from either sandbox have I seen proper SLINGS--usually those 3 point and single point things that allow a guy to keep his rifle in front of his body.

Almost all 'real' slings I've seen are on M-14 type rifles.

 

[junkman_01]

Here is an 'old' thread about African carry....
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=15072

...and a video....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wn4kCmmDu4

 

[PandaBearBG]

Dr.Rob - single point and 3 point work great for the M4 because now a days its more about close urban combat and keeping your weapon on you and and at the ready is more important and practical in those close fast and hard situations. When I was in, the vast majority used the longer heavier M16 A2 which the "real" sling is the standard, and slinging up makes more sense for better accuarcy for longer engagements.
On an off note I recently saw the TAB sling, which seems to be the best of both worlds.
use as a standard 2 pnt sling, a cuff to sling up and a quick release to attach if you want a 3 point.

http://www.riflesonly.com/store/TAB/elite_sling.html

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

For single point slings, other than looking at yourself in the mirror?

Not too many places to walk around in the US with those, but they seem to sell well.

Au contraire, mon frere. They are great for stalking/still hunting, as they allow your arms to rest while your rifle stays at the ready, while slowly walking about for hours on end. Highly useful. Any place you can hunt, you can put them to good use. And there's a lot of those places.

 

[PandaBearBG]

Agreed Dr. Tad, people can say it looks too "tactical" or not traditional, but for its intended purpose it works quite well and efficently, keeping your rifle at the ready, while keeping your arm rested do you don't have shakey sight pictures. Maybe not when your hunting large game with a large caliber rifle where you are only going to take a shot or two, but hunting groundhogs, varmint or whatever where you will be taking many shots at many different targets, it is more practical. If it works it works.