I need some advice, as do we all. Going to Africa next year and have a couple of questions.

How do you carry your rifle. To sling or not to sling, that is the question ?.

Do you load one in the chamber and use the saftey. I will be useing a Ruger African in 375 Ruger.

What is the best balance between safety,comfort and speed. Thanks in advance Colin

I use the sling most of the time, as to having one in the chamber I follow the PH's instruction. Unless the PH says no I always fill the mag..

Use the sling: you are not in combat. My ph likes to see a full mag plus one in the chamber; He has a trick of holding the trigger down while chambering a round; this decocks the firing pin requiring only opening the bolt to cock the pin. Good system, however, I had an AD once, so, I do not do this anymore I usually keep the chamber clear until contact is imminent.

A lot of PH's insist on an empty chamber until the final stalk. They also tend to carry their rifle over their shoulder or in hand with no sling which may have something to do with it as this means the gun is pointing at the person in front of you (i.e. the PH)...

I carry my rifle slinged, loaded and on safe.

use the sling - you'd be surprised how sore your shoulder can get carrying the rifle over it for days at a time

Since I am old and a little fat, the game scout was kind enough to carry my rifle for me this year. I took it when we neared buffalo or elephant. I had it in my hands when a buffalo wounded by the PH looked at us. I glanced behind me and the game scout was running for the rear. That's the other side of letting someone carry it.

First trip, no sling. Carried a bolt rifle for PG over the shoulder. Carried a double over the shoulder too....it was about 2.5 lbs. heavier....and I felt it. Next trip I'm going slinged....but with QD swivels so I can remove it if we get in the thick stuff.
If I were you, sling it in QD's.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

quote:

Originally posted by Bryan Chick:
holding the trigger down while chambering a round; this decocks the firing pin requiring only opening the bolt to cock the pin. Good system, however, I had an AD once

I had to laugh when I saw this! How can this near universaly deplored method be a good system if it resulted in the rifle firing unbidden?

It depends on what and where you are hunting. If hunting buff or elephant, I don't use a sling and everything is loaded "for bear."

I never used a sling to begin with, but except for the above it doesn't matter whether you use a sling or not.

Go with the sling, carrying a rifle on your shoulder a'la PH-style can be tough on the shoulder unless you are accustom to it. I then dropped the sling when it looked like we might be getting into a stalk.

I asked my PH on my most recent trip how many folks actually carry their rifles. I was surprised at his answer: he indicated that probably close to 90% have one of the trackers carry the rifle.

In terms of loaded or unloaded, your PH will tell you their preference. Mine wanted the rifle loaded and on safe.

Colin, the terrain is probably not going to be flat open fields. When you are clambering over rocks and uneven terrain you will wish you had a sling. My PH also advised (told me) fill the magazine and close the bolt on an empty chamber. He will tell you (or you will know) when to chamber the round (when you begin the stalk). I am not convinced that there is danger lurking around every corner!
Peter.

While pounding ground in search of eland a few months ago I found that I would sling my rifle on my left shoulder, sling it on my right shoulder, carry it in by my side in both hands and after a long walk just drag it behind me or use it for a crutch. Take a sling and be prepared to carry it any number of ways.

As for a round in the chamber, as others have already said, defer to your PH's instructions. My PH on my first safari preferred for me to keep one in the chamber but my PH on my second preferred for me to keep the chamber empty until we got close to the action. While you are asking your PH's preference regarding your weapon, you might want to ask how he feels about handing off a loaded gun to a tracker or scout.

Take a sling with you but be prepared to use the time honored PH shoulder carry method. Why? At least in Namibia where I hunted, having a 24" barrel sticking up in the air caught on every single thorn bush and tree limb in the country. And if I went to bend over at the waist to get away from them, it would just slide off my shoulder. I found having it horizontally on my shoulder, I was able to duckwalk under the thornbush or just crouch a bit, still holding onto the barrel with one hand. Most times it was on my right shoulder (as I'm righthanded), with the bolt facing up, but as the miles wore on I changed to every other carry position so as not to get really sore in one place.

I guess it all boils down to the terrain and the type of vegetation growing on it.

My last trip to Zim I used my PH's 416 Rem. It did not have a sling. I carried it every step of the proverbial "miles and miles of bloody Africa." Since I know him pretty well, I chided him mildly about his stubborness against using a sling. He proceeded to grit his teeth and tell me about how many clients he's had that upon following up wounded game, even leopard, he's looked back and seen his client gallumping along with the rifle slung over his shoulder, no where near ready for the quick reaction needed for a quick second shot. I can see his point, but man did my shoulders have some divots in them at the end of that hunt.

On our trip to Tanzania last summer I asked our PH about slings and he said they catch on brush too much.

On a 6 hour hump thru the boonies I had the trackers carry my rifle part of the time

Pic of my son in brown hoody, tracker carrying PH's rifle on short stalk for camp meat in the selous

1894 you beat me to it.
How anyone can consider an action which leaves the firing pin in direct and tensioned contact with a primer on a live round as safe, beggars belief.

In the thick stuff a sling can be a hassle, but with the "miles and miles of bloody africa" a good sling is a boon. The QDs are good.

After the unexplained death of an experienced RSA hunter, found dead on the top of a termite mound and his fired rifle some twenty feet away, Man Magnum Magazine tested the "depress tigger while you close bolt method". If I remember correctly, they got more than a few rifles to fire by dropping them several feet to hit on the butt plate/recoil pad. They surmised that the guy dropped is rifle, it slid down the slope and finally hit a rock and discharged.

It ain't for me. But the really safe way is to be aware of where muzzles are pointing, yours and those of everyone else. Swing a muzzle past my head, and you'll hear about it, tracker to friend to P.H. to game scout.

I often let a tracker carry my rifle, but use the shoulder method above when I have it.. maybe 75% of the time. I have no problem keeping the muzzle from pointing at the guy in front, and if he starts to cross my line of sight, I just tilt the barrel up until he is clear. It get to be an unconscious thing, like stepping over a rock.

The above photo seems strange to me becaue the PH is not carrying his rifle. I have never seen that before as my PH always carried his rifle as did I. No slings when hunting ele and he wanted both of us fully loaded and chambered. He casually observed my gun handling and never said anything but he never had to.

I carried the game scout's AK too when we packed meat. I'll never forget the sound of the scout dropping it on the rocks behind us.

The best safety is "muzzel control" even when the other saftey is on and you "think" the gun is unloaded - you should always have the business end pointed in a safe direction.

As far as slings on a DGR - I always take one, sometimes I use it and sometimes I take it off (70% of the time it is off).

There are as many carry methods as there are hunters, and all are good if done properly! However, the one method of carry is best when it is a combination of two or three different ways available at all times.

What I mean by this is, you should always have a sling available. Depending on the type of terrain,one can switch to the sling, or carry over the shoulder (PH carry), in the hands at port arms, in one hand at hip level.


I rarely use a bolt rifle while hunting, and so most times carry my double rifles PH carry. With a bolt rifle my favorite carry method depends whether the rifle is scoped or not! A scope is a henderance to easy carry, because it makes the rifle want to lay on it's side beacuse of the weight of the scope and mounts. This makes the rifle hard to carry PH style, and use both shoulders to rest each shoulder alternantly.

The scope is either banging into your neck, or the bolt hangs on you shoulder if carried on the left shoulder. So for a scoped bolt rifle I always use a sling untill the very last minute when starting a stalk.

Also one reason for the front sling mount being on the barrel, rather than on the stock is, the muzzle is lower, than the top of your head, and so if you head doesn't catch on ovehead bush, neither does your barrel. The QD sing attachments are a must, so the sling can be slipped off, and handed to a tracker, when not wanted.

with a bolt rifle, I fill the magazine, and close the bolt on an empty chamber.

Since most times I'm basiclly hunting dangerous game, the magazine is filled with solids, and when I near a Buffalo, I open the bolt, and slip in a quality controled expansion soft, by pressing the cartridge down like loading it into the magazine. The cartridge will go into the mag, on a mauser, deep enough to allow the bold to engage the cartridge enough to load the soft, leaving the mag full, with one in the chamber, then slipping the safety to ON! At this point the sling comes off!

With a double rifle I generally cary PH style excusively, un less the spoor is cold, and we have a long walk to catch up, then I put the sling on, especially in fairly open country.

I load my doubles with a soft in the right barrel, and a solid in the left, put the safety ON, and carry PH style. If you will look at several pictures with people carrying PH style, you will see, the rifles are not pointed at the person in front of you. The barrels naturally point about 35 deg to the right,or left, depending on the sholuder. If you are carrying on the right shoulder, because the right hand is on the barrels just behind the front sight, and your hand is naturally right of center, for the right hand, and vice-versa for the left hand.

The PH carry is the fastest method to get the rifle into action, of all the carry methods. AND.........I might add, is far safer than a bolt rifle with the fireing pin relieved on a loaded chamber!!!!!

Have a sling available, and be prepared to carry all the different ways, as someone above has already said! Options are always valuable!

.................

I always take a sling along, but I rarely use it.

I always carry loaded, cocked and locked (or with my Blasers, loaded and uncocked), when out chasing game, that is.

Just be careful where you point your rifle.

I carry with a sling. On a final stalk I take the sling off and let a tracker carry it. The rifle is always "hot" with safety on unless the PH dictates otherwise...particularly if hunting in a big game concession. Chamber is unloaded when back at the truck.

quote:

He has a trick of holding the trigger down while chambering a round; this decocks the firing pin requiring only opening the bolt to cock the pin. Good system

And then when ready, just tap the back of the bolt shroud for that bang sound...!

This is more dangerous than chambered and cocked with the safety on....!

I do not use a sling and the rifle is unloaded unless we are coming into thick grass or brush then I load it up.

Really love the Butler Creek padded slings. I am right handed, so I tend to always carry my rifle on the left side. If it is carried muzzle-up and you are very active (leopard hunting after dogs), the bolt handle tends to beat a series of black-and-blue bruises on your hip and back. Magnum length barrels above your head do tend to catch on brush, also.

I have always found that an effective way for me to carry my rifle is on the left shoulder, muzzle down, with my hand on the forearm of the stock. It is immediately available to use, and the sling naturally falls to the proper position outside your elbow, for off-hand shooting. Quicker getting on to the sticks for me, also.

Do be careful carrying it this way, if you squat down, to not stick it into the dirt. That would probably get you more excitement than a DG charge!!!!!!

Blank I like the left side muzzle down also but am always afraid of mud. After this past spring hunt for Leopard with dogs I came home and had about 4" chopped of my 338.

Good point on unloading the chamber back at the truck. You should always do that.

Since the question is about hunting in Africa,in general, there are two answers...
Hunting "plains game", w/a scoped rifle, I always have a sling, and know how to use it.
For hunting dangerous game...my D.G. rifle doesn't even have sling swivels on it. NOBODY else carries it, and it's holding every round I can get in it...including one in the chamber. My first Buff was shot from 15 yds, in VERY tall, thick grass. My P.H. had already walked quietly past the "opening" in which this massive beast sort of "appeared"..feeding slowly, seemingly oblivious to our presence. Not the time to be chambering rounds, retrieving my rifle from a scout, or even pulling it off my shoulder.

I started using a sling last January in Cameroon. On those long tracking jobs in fairly open country it was much easier. In heavy cover after stuff that bites I take the sling off and carry the rifle myself. the sling does get caught up in brush etc. I've personally never hunted with a PH that did not want me to be loaded with the safety on.

Having said the above I've hunted with 2 very experienced PH's that carried their doubles with a sling all the time.

Mark

I carry a sling in my pocket, its simple thin leather 7/8" sling. I have been carrying it for years, I think I used it once while dragging a deer out of the mountains and glad I had it..

I carry my rifle in hand and pointed away from anyone of course. It is loaded and safty on. I never had much use for an empty rifle.

I like to be ready as I have missed opertunities on ocassion when I was not ready..On dangerous game it goes without saying.

I always unload before getting in a vehicle as expected in Africa or anyplace else. I do not carry a round in the chamber on horseback when my gun is in a scabbard.

My ph used the "Africa Carry" and a sling as well. Under both scenarios I was covered by his muzzle a bunch of times. Can't say as I cared for it a bit.

In Alaska, I really like a Kifaru gun bearer - I'm almost always hunting with a pack and there is one strap that holds the gun close to your chest from the pack strap over your shoulder and a cradle for the butt of the gun that attaches to the hip belt. Love it. Takes all the weight off your shoulder and the rifle falls into your hands with a simple jerk of the shoulder strap which releases the gun.

I bought a camel back pack with a hip belt to go to Africa with just so I could use the gun bearer over there.

I see the scenario that JVinAK talks about above on a lot of the Africa hunting shows. Seems its mostly with double rifles. I know little to nothing about doubles. I figured it may have to do with some doubles having cock/uncock safties thus making them more safe. That was the only way I could rationalize it in my mind and even then it goes against the most basic gun saftey rule in the book.

I've only hunted plainsgame but I use a sling and try to take it off during stalks and put it in my pocket.

Whatever you do, make sure that you carry your rifle safely. I personnally never use a sling when I am hunting but then my 375 only weighs about 9 lbs so I can carry it all day in my hands ready for action.
Ask your PH if he wants you to carry cocked and locked or an empty chamber. My last PH told me he wanted me cocked and locked anytime we were out of the vehicle and safety off anytime I was on the sticks.

Most of the time I carry my rifle with the sling, however, I've done away with my nylon slings for my Africa guns because they get hung-up frequently in the thorns. I use all leather slings now. Also they are quieter when going through the thorns. Depending on the situation and terrain or when we are spread out and looking for spoor, I sometimes will carry the rifle without a sling and on my back across both shoulders. Slung or not, I am always mindful of the point of the muzzle.

When I leave the truck I have a full magazine. The PH will advise when to chamber a round. After the game is down (for sure) I will clear the chamber but keep a full magazine. Before mounting the truck the rifle is completely emptied.

Namibiahunter

Ditto on the loaded chamber, uncocked rifle and safety off. I have seen PH's use this technique, seems OK for them. On my PH's suggestion, I tried this in Moz last year. Immediate AD, because my brain didn't catch up to my finger "testing" the trigger. Thank God muzzle control is somewhere on my DNA. Fortunately, it is truly impossible to die of embarrasment. I think the bottom line is, NEVER do anything you're not totally used to with a loaded gun under field conditions. I generally carry "cocked and locked." I unload the chamber at the vehicle, unless directed to empty the mag by the PH. I nearly always use a sling with QD swivels. I think it's Quake that makes the plastic ones, very quiet and convenient. My 2 cents worth.

Please be just as careful unloading at the vehicle as you would be carrying a loaded weapon. Below is the result of a hunter before my trip, unfamiliar with his borrowed rifle, and the unfortunate result. At least it only "killed" a case of water and a toolbox in the bed before stopping, but the next in line was the PH!

I had to laugh at this thread all together. I have taken 5 different safaris in Africa...not all the experince in the world but some. I have also hunted on foot countless times in North America and see absolutely no difference in good equipment for warm weather NA as in good equipment for african hunting.

Use what ever equipment you would like in NA if you were hunting brushy areas in NA and doing a lot of walking.

Thanks for everybodys advice. My intuition told me that this is a somewhat more complex issue than first though.
First of all I have a reluctance to have another person carry my rifle. Once upon a time I could carry a 10lb rifle and a 90lb pack all day. Not now. Will need to regain some up body strength.

Regarding walking around with a round in the chamber and the firing pin protruding, not a great idea. Althougth this method has been around for as long as I have been shooting(35 yrs)

I think that the safety on the curent Ruger is about as good as it gets.

I will take a sling with WDs. Rather have it and not need it. Than to need it and not have it. Also a sling is usefull when returning from the hunt or when not actually hunting.

I will discuss the loading issue with my PH.
I will be using Woodleigh 350 soft and solids for Buff. One soft on top two solids.

Thanks again for everybodys relevant and practical advice . Colin

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:
Take a sling with you but be prepared to use the time honored PH shoulder carry method. Why? At least in Namibia where I hunted, having a 24" barrel sticking up in the air caught on every single thorn bush and tree limb in the country. And if I went to bend over at the waist to get away from them, it would just slide off my shoulder. I found having it horizontally on my shoulder, I was able to duckwalk under the thornbush or just crouch a bit, still holding onto the barrel with one hand. Most times it was on my right shoulder (as I'm righthanded), with the bolt facing up, but as the miles wore on I changed to every other carry position so as not to get really sore in one place.

I guess it all boils down to the terrain and the type of vegetation growing on it.

Agreed.

And I find it absolutely amazing that one poster said a PH told him 90% of clients allowed someone else to carry their rifle. I was just shy of 64 on my last trip and I carried my ten pounder every foot of the way. That's just me, but I find that figure a bit difficult to believe. I also trained hard for the hunt, walking miles every week carrying all my gear. If I can't carry my own rifle, I don't have any business hunting. Just my 2c.

I always use a sling. Rifle muzzel down off the left shoulder. I have not had to fire a shot to back a client up in several years, but I use my Bino's every time he shoots and I want my rifle to be quicly to hand- not balaned over mt shoulder or worse - pointed into my guts whilst I am looking at things.

Every client is different, but very few will let a tracker or the appie carry his rifle unless he is exhusted - a speciality I try and lay on for clients so they can really appreciate a cold beer

Every clients gun handling is also different and I watch and give instruction from there. my rifle is loaded from the time I leave the tar road