Seeing as most of us probably stalk with a slung rifle I'm interested in the way people sling their rifles.

I generaly carry mine on my right shoulder with the butt in front of the shoulder and the muzzle pointing down and behind. The safety is not rubbed by my body and at worst I shoot my foot if the firing pin breaks.

If I'm crawling or with company I carry standard military style with muzzle up and behind. When I'm crawling the muzzle is beyond my head which is important to me!

Here in the UK the reccomended (by the British Deer Society) carry for woodland stalking is muzzle up in front of the shoulder. I have never used this as the muzzle comes exactly to eye level only 6-12"from my face and should I fall and the rifle go off I'll be minus the top of my head.

Are there reccomendations in the various hunter tests some of you do?

I guess most hunters in Sweden carry their rifles over their right shoulder muzzle up. However I like to carry my rifle in front of me with the butt to my left side muzzle down, this gives me a phenomenal protection of both muzzle, bolthandle and safety. It�s not the best way to carry the gun if you are in a hurry (stalking a wounded brown bear is a good example of a thing you want to avoid if you�re carrying this way) but if you are skiing or walking in rough terrain this is the way to go.

When I'm staking I mostly don't use the sling at all.

I carry the rifle in on hand, poing forward or as a shotgun with them muzzel down and to the left. When I stak with a shotgun I take the sling off and puts it on after I empty the gun of ammo.(Exepition when using pointing dog for grouse, then I carry the gun unloaded with a sling over my shoulder until the dog point) I don't like having a loaded gun on my shoulder.

When I hunt with skies I can either carry the gun in one hand or over my right shoulder. I use only one stav and I have a pair of short but broad skiis for winterhunting

Johan

I carry my rifle, muzzle up in front of my left shoulder. The muzzle is always in plain sight and I shoulder the rifle very fast by grasping the forend with my left hand, dropping the left shoulder to have the sling slide off, turning the rifle upside still one handed and bring it up to my right shoulder, using both hands. It takes longer to explain than to demonstrate and I've been able to take snapshots while stalking with a slung rifle.

[ 08-08-2002, 16:08: Message edited by: Andr� Mertens ]

I generally sling the rifle in the conventional manner ie muzzle up behind the right shoulder although I will carry it other ways depending upon the circumstance.

Johan, If you carry the rifle in your hands, I can only assume you do not use bino's to any great extent??

To those who carry the muzzle down, are you not worried about damaging the crown if you fall? I know a bit of electrical tape will keep the muzzle clear in such circumstances, but it will not protect the muzzle.

Has any body seen this new sling system being adverised in the UK?
In addition to your normal sling, it looks like there is another with a quick release facility which attaches around the pistol grip on the rifle and secures it to your belt in the middle of your back. There maybe an another strap which goes over the opposite shoulder to the standard sling to prevent it slipping off the shoulder. I'm not sure that you would want to wear it for stalking, but it certainly secures the rifle if covering difficult terrain or maybe skiing....

I seldom use binos. That is correct. When hunting in winter or on dense fores I use a bit of tape to keep the barrel clear. I have never worried much with the crown.

I'm a bit skepitical all sort of "smart" ideas that means that I need to buy some some product. As long as I can carry the gun all day I don't mind much.

Johan

Sometimes muzzle up sometimes down. Sometimes forward and sometimes behind the shoulder. The one constant is always on the left shoulder. Muzzle down and behind is a favourite, as is muzzle up in front. It depends on the weather and the cover.

If a damned Yank can intrude in your discussion, I like muzzle down behind the weak side(left for me and most) shoulder. This carry is very quick to shoot from, always keeps the muzzle pointed safely, and muzzle damage or pluging is far less likely than you would think because the rifle tends to swing muzzle forward in falls.

Fireplug

I take the sling off and pocket it the second I hit the timber. Muzzle down and left, butt of rifle against the right bicep. No squeaks or snags. It is not common to use binos' where I hunt as the hilly terrain limits woodland shots to about 70 yards. When I exit the timber the sling goes back on to aid in a long shot if it presents itself. There is usually 100 to 800 yards of open field between woodlots. Open field carry for me is muzzle down, rifle on left shoulder. My hand rests on the forend and a flick of the wrist while dropping my right foot back arcs the butt around and the muzzle automatically tracks to the target. When you do it enough you develop an instinctive aiming point just like in pistol shooting. It is fast enough for me.

For me, I can get on target faster from "African" carry (behind the support shoulder, muzzle down), but truth be told, when stalking I always have the rifle in my hands in a shooting grip, cross chest or angled forward, with muzzle up on the support side. If the brush is thick I take the sling off. If I leave the sling on, I trap the middle of it with the small finger of my support hand against the forearm. So, generally speaking, when I'm in the field the only time I'm carrying the rifle by the sling is when I'm not hunting, and I carry it "American" style (behind the shooting shoulder, muzzle up).

For me as a right-hander: left shoulder, barrel up and forward and my left hand holding the barrel for stability, safety and insuring the rifle getting shouldered fast when needed.
In this position my eft elbow covers the objective lens of the scope and always keeps it clear from rain, snow, dust etcetera.

I second Deerdog, left shoulder.
Binos are used a lot hunting both moose red or roe, so a carrying sling is a must!

The carrying sling also double as a support when it�s convinient, as do any stub, limb trunk or backpack.

I like the lightweigt "rubberised" nylon slings, that prevent the rifle sliding down the shoulder when wearing a slick, wet rain or oilskinjacket.

As an American who has hunted mostly in heavily wooded terrain, I generally do not carry with a sling, except across the back, sling across the chest when pulling or packing out the game.

I have on occasion carried with the sling across the back and the rifle in my hands. You need a longer sling adjustment for this, but the advantage is that the rifle can either be brought to the shoulder quickly without unslinging the rifle or let go of so that it hangs from the sling while you use both hands for some other task. This can also work with the sling over the off shoulder and the rifle near the hand on the domiant side. This carry allows one to move through dense cover more easily than if the rifle is hanging in front of the body and allows the domiant hand to control the rifle while the other is free.

I think that for most of middle Europe Andr� is right on: left shoulder muzzle up. Eventually muzzle level, but then pushed sideways with left arm. This version only if there are only two or one hunter, or with combo guns carried open.

I prefer a sling which may be strapped short and flat against the gun if carrying in hands or on stand.

Hermann

Would I be correct in thinking that the left shoulder afficianado's are not using stick(s)? I cannot see how you can hold the stick in the left hand and unship the rifle at the same time.