Folks,

Probably a dumb question but ... Being an old guy who never had a lot of training in offhand rifle shooting as a youth, I tend to use a sling a lot for standing and kneeling.

I realize that the expectation is that the classic African DG rifle will probably be used at ranges less than 100 yards and it makes sense to remove a sling when things get dicey. For the calibers that can have some real reach like the .375 and .416 for use on non-DG, does the classic barrel band front sling swivel cause problems with the use of a sling?

Thanks for furthering my education.

Good question. I usually shoot off sticks and don't use a sling on my rifles in Africa. Something I read somewhere about getting caught in a bush at the most inopportune time!

I don't use a sling ever when shooting offhand, but I love a barrel band swivel. I'm 5'9" and a longer barrelled rifle with a forend mounted swivel is always sticking up over my head and catching on the brush, while the one with a barrel band lets me slip right through the thickest stuff.

You cannot use the sling for shooting position if it's hanging from a barrel band. POI shifts a LOT!

Don,

That's what I was worried about ... seems to me that a sling should not put pressure on the barrel if the sling is to be used as a means to steady one's shooting position.

Thanks for the verification!

Don is right, a sling, when used as a shooting aid, will change point-of-imact for a rifle with barrel-mounted front sling swivel. I like to use a shooting sling, but I don't use a sling for that purpose when I'm shooting the rifles I own that are equipped with barrel-mounted sling studs.

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While investigating his Talley mount based pop-up ghost sight I found this on Jim Brockman's website .

I just wonder how it would work if the rifle had an ebony forend tip?

Brockman's Magnum Sling Swivel Stud - The Brockman Magnum Sling Swivel Stud is designed for use on heavy recoiling rifles where a standard stud may inflict injury to the shooter's hand. the Magnum Sling Swivel Stud is meant as an alternative to the traditional barrel band sling stud, allowing the stud to be placed out of the way and leaving the barrel stress free. The Magnum Sling Swivel Stud also works well on light weight or long barreled rifles to lower the profile of the rifle when slung.

If you are going to use a shooting sling to shoot with then use an American classic design stock (has a longer forearm) and use regualar swivels...

If on the other hand you use a sling, usually a 7/8" skinny, for carrying a gun and it carries the gun very low btw, then use the barrel band swivel and the English classic 8" foremd....I like the English guns best..

I have not used a sling for years, yet I still have a 7/8" thin leather carrying sling in my pocket when I hunt, maybe someday I will use it again, but not to shoot with, I just don't need it to shoot with..I have always felt a need for it when I am crawling up on something, but I always forget I have it with me!