20 years ago or so, I was hunting with a fellow who always carried his rifle by his scope. Hand wrapped around between the rings. At the time I felt it was not a good idea, however I just remembered this and so was curious about what the thoughts on it would be here. What do you all think about this method of carry???

I have handled my rifle by the scope but I don't think it makes a good "handle" for carrying. Todays scopes are pretty durable by why risk it.

I am with Fred, why take the chance? I have fairly good hand strenght and just carry it by the wrist or laying across my forearm (non-dominant side) when it is off the shoulder. I actually spend almost all my time hunting with it in my hands or across that forearm, little time on the shoulder. With my heavy rifles sometimes at the end of the day my muscles are sore on the one side from holding it so long!

The other thing about holding it by the scope is how fast can you get it to your shoulder? The whole reason I carry it unslung is that 1. I am going through brush and don't want it stuck or 2. (most often) want to make sure I can get it in position fast. So for me I try to always carry it in a way that allows me to do that.

Red

I have hunted with guys that carry their rifles by the scope and it really bugs me!

It bugs me, the same way as some of the hunting videos when I see a bow hunter carrying his bow by the string!

But, to each, his own!!!

Looks sloppy and careless to me... Besides, with a low mount it can hardly be convenient to carry in the scope either?!

Its probably not going to hurt the scope, but it seems like a sloppy, insecure way to tote a rifle. I normally carry my rifle in the crook of my arm, or with my left hand on the forearm and my right on the grip. A scope just doesn't seem like a good handle. I would think you'd be dropping the rifle constantly.

I have done it forever and never had the slightest problem. Going way back, I figured if Andy Devine could drive a nail into a board using a Weaver scope, I could use it as a handle. And, I would imagine I can shoulder a piece as quickly as any of you. It is much easier to carry AND CONTROL the rifle using the scope as a handle than it is to carry and control the piece with a choke hold around the middle.
Those of you that feel its inelegant and harms your sense of estethics for someone to carry a rifle thus, I would suggest you get a life. There are more important things to worry about.

I have to agree that using the scope for a carrying handle is lousy technique. Precision optics do not need any unnecessary stresses applied, for sure. When mere thousandths of an inch can make a difference, the instruments should be coddled whenever possible.

To expand the subject of rifle carry a bit, I believe that one of the WORST things I've ever seen is the "Great White Hunter" method of carrying a rifle over the shoulder pointing forward, and gripping it by the barrel This allows the muzzle of the LOADED rifle to cover anything the carrier looks at, and in addition allows all the bushes etc. a clean shot at the trigger. I don't care WHAT so-called "justification" these dudes trot out; it is dangerous and precarious. Not only that, it's also slow, but that is definitely secondary to the safety issue.

Just my opinion, of course, based on fifty years' experience and a lot of training......

Regards from BruceB (aka Bren Mk1)

Well, I am guilty of carrying my 8mm 'baseball bat style' but it is only because I don't walk with a round in the chamber. The military safety takes a hammer to engage so it's faster to try to shuck one in if opportunity jumps at me. I put a sling on it, but it didn't last long, I just don't like slings.

My 45-70 handi-rifle gets gripped on the reciever, and it by all honesty is as handy as I can find. If only they put open sights on all their rifles! (or even better, a peep rear sight and brass bead front)

Lets see now, the rifle is "baseball bat" style over the shoulder. The trigger is protected by your face, neck and shoulder but yet is availible for a clear shot by any bush, etc. ROFLMAO!!!! Just another stupid, synthesized, supposed problem to try and justify a silly assed position. I carry my rifle by the scope, by the barrel, cradled, and just about every way except slung. I leave the sling at home or take it off and put it in my pack. When game appears, I want that rifle in my hands. I don't want the rifle hanging on my shoulder not do I want the sling flapping about, getting in the way, hanging up on those ubiquious bushes.
I, of course, can't compete against the vast experience alledged in cyberspace, nor can I possibly kill all of the animals routinly done in by these cyberspace heroes, but I've been at it awhile with reasonable success. I know what works for me. If it doesn't work for you, don't do it. But don't be so stupid, I'll say it slowly, S-T-U-P-I-D as to try to tell someone how to carry their rifle. It only shows how much real experience you have and how little you know.

How else are you going to find the loose hardware if you don�t carry it by the handle (Scope).

I am not sure the exact tensile strength of the scope and rings, but I feel it far exceeds the weight of the rifle..


I honestly used to think the same way about carrying it by the scope; it would bug me... I watched a friend do it all the time...
It started me thinking about the hardware, and so forth. I came to the conclusion, if it was that weak to begin with; it wouldn�t need to be on my rifle.


I am guilty, I carry it however the situation allows.

To much fun...

beemanbee;

If your post is in answer to mine, it seems you think I am in FAVOR of carrying the rifle muzzle-forward over the shoulder ("baseball bat style"), I am NOT in favor of such a practice. It's unsafe and slow, as I already mentioned.

The original poster asked a valid question, and is getting valid answers from people with various attitudes. There's nothing wrong with that.

As for your rude statement about how STUPID it is to try to tell someone how to carry a rifle.....how about all the hunter-safety courses? Are they "STUPID"? How about the concern we all SHOULD have about controlling the direction the muzzle points? Is that stupid, too? The method of carry has a great deal to do with where the muzzle looks and how well it can be controlled. Discussing and refining carry methods is part-and-parcel of firearm safety, and it IS NOT STUPID.

You'd get an argument from many folks about the sling, too, but that's more of a preference issue. For open country, a sling can be a great aid to accurate shooting if the user knows how.

Not incidentally, I find the tone of your post very offensive, compared to most of the posters here. You clearly have sufficient command of the language to phrase an argument in any way you choose, so why not tone it down a bit? Insulting people is a lousy way to make a point.

First of all, let me say that I can't do this if I'm with anyone. But I've never "group deer hunted" with anyone.

I use a "safari" sling that allow both hands to be free but keeps your rifle ready. But since the muzzle is pointing to your left side (I'm Right handed) it's unsafe if anyone is on your left side.

Bren, puleeese don't try to take the moral high ground by saying your concern is safety. Too funny. Carrying your rifle by the scope or over your shoulder like a Louisville Slugger is no more intrinsically unsafe than carrying it slung or cradled or with a choke hold around the action.

To be sure, I checked with both of my sons and my wife, all of whom have attended hunter safety courses, three different courses at three different times and two different states, and none of them can say that the instructor said any style of carry was bad. The commonly repeated thread however was a need for a awareness of where the barrel is pointed. I hope that puts your safety issues to bed.

Probably the reason my post contained more heat than light is it does get tedious listening to folks say "this is the way I do it and if you don't do it the same then you are wrong wrong wrong!" More often than not, you can tell from the post that the posters have little experience and less knowledge. If you throw the BS flag at them, they try to dream up all sorts of justifications for their position. Like safety for instance. If you will notice, in my post I said basically "this is the way I do it and it works for me." I also said if you don't like to carry your rifle by the scope then don't do it. You or some of the others set out to prove me wrong.

Finally, I still think its a nitpiky thing to be arguing about.

Finally, to add just a bit more bile, if your scope and mounting system is so delicate that holding the rifle by it is going to break it or knock it out of kelter, you really needto look into an upgrade.

I also use the Safari sling and wouldn't be without it. Rifle is always ready even while on stand and it is impossible to drop it fron a tree stand. You can fall asleep in your climber and it is still crossways on your shoulder.I just loosen it all the way and lay it on the bar in front of me.