I use a sling to carry my rifle while stalking. I have never had a problem with my barrel catching on brush, but I am usually conscious of the barrel projecting above my head, and compensate for it while moving through the bush. On the final approach, I carry my rifle at port arms, or some other appropriate safe carry.

On a stalk, I carry a full magazine with a round in the chamber and the safety on. Otherwise, while hunting, but not actually on a stalk, I carry a full magazine with the bolt closed on an empty chamber. When the hunt becomes a stalk, I simply chamber a round from the magazine and I'm good to go.

I have never cared for the so-called "PH carry". It seems inherently unsafe to me. The barrel is horizontal, and when moving single file, it is difficult to NOT point it at the person ahead of you. Also, the balance seems precarious, and any slip or stumble could dislodge the gun and cause it to fall, out-of-control, to the ground with the potential for AD or damage to the gun.

Interestingly, my PH in Namibia carried his rifle slung over his shoulder exactly as I carried mine.

I have never hunted dangerous game, so I will concede that different techniques may be preferable. Having said that, I suspect I could get my rifle into action faster from a slung position than I could get it off my shoulder from the "PH carry" and get my hands repositioned ready for use. I could probably do it from a sling with less chance of a fumble as well.

I carry mine on a sling typically with my thumb hooked through the bottom of the sling to keep the gun vertical at all times. I carry the mag full, empty chamber until final stalk.

I am tall and am very sensitive to keeping the gun barrel pointed straight up, I have spent too much time walking single file with a shorter guy in front of me looking down the barrel on occasion.

I have never worried about a PH using the african carry. I use it, but it never points at another human, It might appear that it does in some pictures as pictures have no depth..It is simple enough to manuver it around without pointing it at someone else...

I have never known a PH to accidently shoot someone from that position. Does anyone know of such an incident?..

I know a number of people that have been shot in hunting accidents and particularly on dangerous game in the turmoil of a situation, but not from the African carry. Not saying it hasn't happened but then its probably happened from every carry known to man at one time or another.

I carry a Valmet 412 upside down via sling on either shoulder with scope to the rear. This keeps the sun off the metal, and the brush away from the gun. The gun is short enough that the muzzles are at knee height. It's easy on the shoulder, as I hook my index and second fingers around the end of the forend to take some of the load. The gun weighs about 10lb with scope and I can carry it all day. Just be careful the lateral scope turret cap is not rubbing your ammo wallet...I lost a cap this way.

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jetdrvr you have hit the bullseye. The reason for my question was to identify the best options and then road test all my gear over the next six months as part of an overall training programe.

Thanks to everyone who posted I do not beleive that this information would be available from any other source. Regards Colin

I like muzzle up, offside, backside of me is gun side. Strong side same if my weak side wants a break. One up on safe. Back when I went back and forth between one up and empty I pulled the trigger on an empty chamber once. Easier to be consistent, for me anyway.

I always carry my rifle loaded, cocked and locked, and with a sling “european styleâ€: over the left shoulder, rifle to the front and muzzle up. The left hand can control the barrel avoiding branches and keeping it pointed in a safe direction and, if necessary, lift the rifle by the forend and shoulder it really fast.

B.Martins

After many years of getting caught up in assorted bushes, I have found Ganyana's (muzzle down, on sling) option to work very well. However, I do intersperse this with 'sling-off-carried-in-hands-or-over shoulder' when the bush (or the action) gets really thick.

It also depends rather heavily on one's 6th sense, or 'intuition' of what's going on around one. Don't carry your rifle on a sling when you're slipping and sliding on the steamy wet kudu droppings!

For thiese reasons, I have gone for the Pachmayr recessed QD swivels. If my tracker is absent or can't carry my sling for whatever reason, I pull it around my waist and tuck the ends into my belt. Sort of keeps me independant

Use the sling and keep the gun fully loaded and in the Safe position.

When stalking, slung diagonally across chest hanging down so I can use all 4s. I have found that one can crawl up to almost anything, even if they see you they don't spook because they have no idea what you are. Buffalo will actually come toward you if they spot you on all 4s. Talk about white knuckles...

quote:

Originally posted by Blank:
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!!!!!!

i do the same i put the my sling wrong way round broad side at the butt it gives a lot of stability because you dont have a thin strap at the back of your arm but a broad one it improved my out of hand shooting by 30%