I am currently reading Jeff Cooper's the Art of the Rifle in which he strongly recommends the use of a sling as a shooting aid in just about every scenario other than offhand.

I'm just wondering if any of the Euro hunters use one? Other than the occasional 'hasty sling' when out of breath, I don't think I've ever made use of my rifle sling whilst stalking. Now I feel like I should reconsider this....though I won't reconsider on that silly scout rifle concept, given that I don't need to take out enemy combatants or 'trolls' in my day to day hunting life!!

Boggy

I hoarded quite a few slings in the last few years

however I find the CHIN sling the only one I can honesty say improves stability and doesn't get in the way

I have very slim ones twisty leather ones
Paracord ones
Decorative ones
Expensive looking ones
Rugsac double sling ones
Bouncy rubber ones

However I actually don't even use one for the past 2 years and I have not lost out on a stalk

I recall Gerry complaining about my rifle without a sling recently

When I started to shoot after the war I used a German made fine 22 with a curious third attachment point for a sling.I was just a kid and had never heard of, seen such a sling .But then I read Cooper's book .IIRC that type was standard in the British Army.But I never saw another neither have I used one.
I do use at times a very light, easily adjustable bipod which seems to work well.

quote:

I recall Gerry complaining about my rifle without a sling recently

Benjamin,

Actually I consider it more of a query rather than a complaint; an example:

"Benjamin, do you have a sling for your rifle (please)?"

as opposed to:

"Ben, where's the F*****g Sling?"

I appreciate a sling when climbing into High Seats; it can be done otherwise for sure but it's safer & easier with a sling.

Now having said that, had I known the rusted metal, loosely assembled Bits & Pieces that Brian & Bill considered a "High Seat"; I would have insisted on the Sling. I would have used it for the rifle to climb up and thereafter as a life line attached to the tree.

I kept wondering how I was going to explain the condition of your beautiful Blaser K95 stock if I fell out of the Stand .....

quote:

I'm just wondering if any of the Euro hunters use one?

Boggy,

I always use a sling, as a carrying aid for my rifle or shotgun (gasp!).

I always use a sling because it frees one hand to carry shooting sticks or a staff which I always use when Stalking; especially for Roe Deer as they are a pretty small target.

A sling used to improve marksmanship while hunting IMO would be a "hasty sling". It has it's moments but a real leather or synthetic proper sling for marksmanship would be too complicated & time consuming for my hunting requirements. IMO there are better options for stable shooting positions considering the type of hunting I do.

Go to a 3-position shooting match with leather shooting coats, slings, gloves, special shoes, etc. and you'll appreciate the steadiness these accessories afford, but too slow & cumbersome in the field IMO.

My sling has two loops
One to go over the shoulder when carrying
One, (shorter) fits behind the bicep when shooting from a standing or kneeling position. It pulls the rifle back into the shoulder and gives stability to the muzzle end.
Not brilliant but quicker than trying to adjust sticks.

I use sling if I need very accurate shot at 100-200 meters. At close range I dont need it.

I was taught by my father out hunting in the western US to use a sling for almost all my shooting. Dropping to one knee, sitting, standing and even prone without a rest, are all improved by good use of a sling. It was the military that taught me to NOT use one in close combat. Still, I always out shot my pals at the range because I would use the sling and they didn't!

Heck, I get ribbed for it here in the UK, but I use a sling on one of my 12 bore shotguns when I go hare shooting. Guess who doesn't get tired from carrying his gun at the end of the day?!

Very interesting - the only downside to all of this is that the leather shooting slings I have seen make uncomfortable carrying straps.

I often keep a shooting sling made from two cargo straps in my thigh pocket.

How to make (Don't know if this is understandable...):
Take two cargo straps
Make one into a hoop
Cut the buckle off the other
Slide one end of the hoop into the buckle

You are left with a very cheap, adjustable figure eight sling. The hoop made by the spare buckle goes around your upper arm/bicep.

Easier to carry than a bipod and almost as steady, especially useful for prone if no rest is available, and sitting (both elbows on knees).

Boggy,

I have a leather sling made by Bisley with the thumb hole in it. Suede lined and quite wide and stiff it is great on the shoulder and also a great steadying aid.

We can get together when I'm back in July and you can try it out if you like. I have a similar one in croc leather but gave it away last week.

K

quote:

Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
Boggy,

I have a leather sling made by Bisley with the thumb hole in it. Suede lined and quite wide and stiff it is great on the shoulder and also a great steadying aid.

We can get together when I'm back in July and you can try it out if you like. I have a similar one in croc leather but gave it away last week.

K

Kiri - do either of these have a separate loop at the front to put your upper arm through? If not, they don't fit the bill.

No sorry mate, they are the standard ones.

I'm not sure if the ones with the second loop would be more hassle than they are worth.

I twist the leather one round my forearm and it makes a big difference especially with the sticks

K

Boggy a hasty sling or any other form of sling useage to help with shooting can and should provide greater stability than straight off hand.

The draw back is you need to sight the rifle in using the sling to see if it changes the point of impact. If it does I would not use a sling for field shooting. Mainly a problem with stocks that have fore ends that will move under slight pressure.

Greg

It sure is and I've used a hasty sling in the past. Jeff Cooper calls the hasty sling 'almost useless' and dissuades readers from using it. I'm looking to trial a proper 'whelen' shooting sling for a season and see if it helps. I am trying to move away from the usual complement of bipod and tall stalking sticks that many stalkers use here.

Not a sling Bog, but definitely a big help steadying the rifle.

I use on the range and also hunting.
It is so small and lithe that it can be left on the arm once adjusted during the day in the fields.

It´s made of webbing with a rubberized surface and do not slip.

I mounted a Ching sling on my scout rifle (WW II K98 action) in 9,3x62. When adjusted to the shooter's morphology, it does help indeed to stabilize the rifle. However, the bbl. should be generously free floated so as to not move POI as compared to offhand shooting. On the down side, it makes an inferior carrying sling.

I havent used one, but I like the look of the Safari Ching sling. Looks like it would be fast and easy to use, and still work well for rifle carry.

Video of sling on youtube

In the UK I normally use a National Match leather sling from Turner Saddlery. It's very stable, but obviously not as fast as a Ching sling.

I sometimes use a Ching sling, but I'm not 100% comfortable with it. Think it's just a matter of practicing.

The gun I have in Denmark does not have a sling on it, and as with Londonhunter, I haven't lost any deer on that account. But, it's mainly used in woodland where shooting distances are fairly short.

I want to get better at using a sling (ching or national match) and based on what I have read (cooper and others), it will give you extra reach in prone/sitting/kneeling positions.

I disagree that a hasty sling is the only option in hunting. I have killed a ton of animals using a regular old shooting sling in the sitting position. It takes one or two seconds to get your arm through the loop and tighten the keepers. I shot a moose a few years ago at 285 yards. My guide offered me the sticks, but I declined, sat down, put my arm through the loop, tightened it, held just above my 300 yard aiming point, a wee bit into the wind, and let him have it.

"Wow, I have never seen anyone shoot like that!" my guide exclaimed.

"What?? It wasn't that far," I said.

He said, "No, I mean using a sling like that...never seen anyone do that."

I would argue too many people dickdance with tripods, rifle clamps, etc. Learn to shoot with a sling and you can kill game from quite a ways. I have shot several sheep and caribou at ranges between 300-400 yards using a sling in the sitting position.