A few questions for those that have hunted in Africa with their double.

If your rifle is fitted with sling swivel mounts, do you fit a sling and use it when hunting? If so do you detach it when the action hots up or leave it attached?

I have to decide whether to have sling swivel mounts on my new gun.

Some like slings and some don't. I never use a sling on a double. I want it in my hands at all times and not slung over my shoulder. If the gun weighs 14 lbs a sling might be nice on a long walk back to the truck. I will continue to carry my doubles.

I would want sling mounts. I keep a sling in my pocket for long walks back to the truck.

quote:

Originally posted by srose:
Some like slings and some don't. I never use a sling on a double. I want it in my hands at all times and not slung over my shoulder. If the gun weighs 14 lbs a sling might be nice on a long walk back to the truck. I will continue to carry my doubles.

I agree, BUT there were a few times when I was carrying my scoped 416 that one of the trackers was packing my double and I felt a lot better that it was slung (quick detach swivels) over his shoulder instead of just carried in his hand. There is never a sling on when I am hunting with it!

It can be a nice help when trailing Buff or Ele for 5-10 miles.

Nice to have the sling mounts on your rifle. All about preference, if you hunt with a sling your bolt rifle it would be natural for you to sling your double. I don't sling my rifles when hunting but I carry a sling in my pack, during a hunt I sometimes need both of my hands when crawling, hauling, climbing at times up a tree, etc.

I would get them. Easy enough to ignore, expensive to add later

Having said that, and after a bunch of hours with an electronic shot timer, I would offer the following observations.
- Little question that in the hands, ie right hand on the pistol grip, left on the fore end, finger just off the trigger is the fastest carry. (lefties reverse.) I suspect that very few people without significant upper body training can do that for all the miles that you might walk in a day after buffalo or elephant. Certainly the way to carry if something seems imminent.
- Slung over either shoulder muzzle up is slow, right worse than the left.
- Horizontally over either shoulder muzzle to the forward held by barrels (classic Africa carry) is very slow. Can also be quite dangerous since most faster ways of dismounting it sweep a lot of stuff around you
- My favorite, and I have settled on: slung on left shoulder muzzle down on a shortish sling. Left hand grips the fore end all the time. The motion is a slight lift with the left hand to slip the sling of the shoulder and then bring it around, gripping with the right and as soon as it is in reach. This is about 0.40-0.50 seconds slower than in the hands for me and all the weight is the rifle is on the shoulder for the walk. You must be cautious about grounding the muzzles in the dirt.

Sling!!!!!!!
What's that for to hold your pants up with?
Heck that's why I hire a gun barrer.
Biebs don't lie you hired one tooooooo
Larry

quote:

Originally posted by Maximus Brutus:
A few questions for those that have hunted in Africa with their double.

If your rifle is fitted with sling swivel mounts, do you fit a sling and use it when hunting? If so do you detach it when the action hots up or leave it attached?

I have to decide whether to have sling swivel mounts on my new gun.

YES

I would definitely get them. I have them on all my doubles, even though I use a sling infrequently. When actively hunting, I always carry my double over my shoulder or down at my side. I tried using a sling on my very first safari and found I was snagging too much brush with it and making too much noise. Since then, I have carried a sling in my vest and will sometimes use it on the way back to the cruiser after a days' hunt or when I need my hands free for something else. It is better to have sling mounts and not use them then need them and not have them!
Mangwana

I use a sling on mine except when in the thick stuff or on the final stage of the stalk. I have a quick detach sling that unbuckles like a belt. When I take it off, I put it around my waist like a belt. Works great.

About the African carry and speed of putting the rifle in action. I continue to see guys post that this position is slow to transition the gun into action. I find it just the opposite. Maybe it's the technique employed to bring the weapon off the shoulder and into play, but I find it can be done in about 1 second simply by pulling the muzzles down and in, allowing the gun to spin into the hands and brought up into the shooting position. Easier to demo than explain and can be done without sweeping anything except the ground and sky.

But yes, get the slings swivels on the gun. You'll want it for the longer walks.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:

quote:

Originally posted by Maximus Brutus:
A few questions for those that have hunted in Africa with their double.

If your rifle is fitted with sling swivel mounts, do you fit a sling and use it when hunting? If so do you detach it when the action hots up or leave it attached?

I have to decide whether to have sling swivel mounts on my new gun.

YES

I agree with OZhunter, get the swivels eyes mounted on your rifle! You will never regret it, especially when you start back to the hunting car after a very long walk to find a buffalo that was not worth shooting. In this case the rifle that felt like it weighed very little while you were on spoor, my feel like it weighs a ton after the adrenalin rush goes away.

While hunting any dangerous game or just hunting anything in dangerous game country, I carry my own rifle, and I carry a light sling in a pouch on the back of my ammo belt in case it is needed. All my hunting rifles have sling eyes on them so quick detach loops can be installed or removed as needed. The addition of the eyes is of little cost when installed while the rifle is being built, but is very expensive when installed later!

...........................................................................................................................

Please be aware that most European double guns, German, French, Italian, Spanish etc. are likely to come with metric size swivel eyes installed. So get the swivels that match from the mfg. American sling swivels (Uncle Mikes etc.) probably won't fit without drilling the eye hole out. This makes it thin and weak.
Suggest carrying the gun by sling on long walks,
take it off and pocket or pack it while stalking a hot trail. Most African shorts or pants have cargo pockets, keep your sling handy as you will appreciate it on long walks.
Be sure to take it off in the thick stuff, they do get hung up.
Just MHO

Good Hunting,

Tetonka
DRSS --- 450/400 NE 3in. K-Gun

In DG country I carry my rifle. It is always ready to be brought into action. Open country I would use a sling, have trackers carry the sling in the backpak.

Mike

Ready for ele or buf and nothing in the way.

[/QUOTE]

Now there's one tough-looking Hombre !

Tough looking Hombre for sure,and also smart to boot,notice the glove,keeps the blueing on the barrels safe from salt etc that you sweat outta your hand,man I wish I had a 450#2

Love the pic

Where can i buy this AMO belt ?!

quote:

Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:
Where can i buy this AMO belt ?!

http://www.texashuntco.com/Pro...ils.asp?ProductID=51

The above is a real fine set-up

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:
Where can i buy this AMO belt ?!

Thanks

Go ahead and check out these slings:

http://titanium-gunworks.com/f...ineke-gun-sling.html

Their big advantage is that you could retract them short and carry your gun with a short sling whil one grab and it is long again ...

and it is classic made from fine leather...!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by scubapro:
Go ahead and check out these slings:

http://titanium-gunworks.com/f...ineke-gun-sling.html

Their big advantage is that you could retract them short and carry your gun with a short sling whil one grab and it is long again ...

and it is classic made from fine leather...!

Broaching this subject is up there with doubles vs bolts, ejectors vs extractors but here goes....
Wearing a glove on a hand is worse for the blueing than a sweaty palm. A glove especially a leather one gathers dirt in the pores of the glove, between the dirt and the sweat it forms a nice abrasive rouge that will take the bluing off a barrel sooner than later. I would rather wear glove on my forward hand to protect me from brush and thorns as I pushed them aside or in the off chance of heat from the barrel in case of multiple shots. Besides a little wear on barrels is character and if it gets too bad send them out to get re-blacked.

Mike
Why do you carry so much ammo in that belt???
Are you invading the ALamo.
You will not shoot that much even on 5 trips.
Larry

quote:

Originally posted by elk88101:
Mike
Why do you carry so much ammo in that belt???
. . .
Larry

Because Mike and I adheres to the teaching of Rudyard Kipling.
“A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition” ― Rudyard Kipling

quote:

Originally posted by elk88101:
Mike
Why do you carry so much ammo in that belt???

You will not shoot that much even on 5 trips.
Larry

Mike is like me! I don't mind being killed for good reason, but I don’t want to be killed for lack of shooting back because my ammo is in the hunting car leaving me with an empty rifle!

.....................................................................

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

quote:

Originally posted by elk88101:
Mike
Why do you carry so much ammo in that belt???

You will not shoot that much even on 5 trips.
Larry

Mike is like me! I don't mind being killed for good reason, but I don’t want to be killed for lack of shooting back because my ammo is in the hunting car leaving me with an empty rifle!

.....................................................................

10 Rounds is too much??? I normally have 14 on my belt. I guess I'm good for 7 trips, eh?

never run out of amo - your gun is useless without...

So on any hunt I have way too MUCH of it with me probably - but better then standing there with not too much...

One of the best slings for a double rifle is from Trader Keiths. It is easy to install and remove, and roll up nicely to store in a pouch on the back of your ammo belt!
www.TraderKeith.com



Trader Rifle Strap

Designed by Trader Keith for double rifles and large bore magazines. Carried securely, quietly, and comfortably. Made of the finest cotton (1.5" width) and impregnated with two rows of silicone rubber to prevent slipping. There are two sizes: fits one inch or three-quarter inch swivels. Rolls up neatly to fit in your pocket.

$50
....................................................................................................

Even my 1909 Greener was supplied with sling eyelets. Handy for carry purposes.

No, I was not the original buyer.

quote:

Originally posted by WY:
Even my 1909 Greener was supplied with sling eyelets. Handy for carry purposes.

No, I was not the original buyer.

................................................................ That comes closer to my age!

What Mac said!!!

Gents:
I walk with a sling and it is fitted with eyes-hooks for easy and quick removal. I remove the sling when hunting and game is close. I use Trader Keith's sling as it is traditional looking and comfortable.
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by scubapro:
Go ahead and check out these slings:

Reineke Gun Sling

Their big advantage is that you could retract them short and carry your gun with a short sling whil one grab and it is long again ...

and it is classic made from fine leather...!

Does anyone use on of these slings on their rifle? How they work for you? What do they cost in USA?

quote:

Originally posted by Sid Post:

quote:

Originally posted by scubapro:
Go ahead and check out these slings:

Reineke Gun Sling

Their big advantage is that you could retract them short and carry your gun with a short sling whil one grab and it is long again ...

and it is classic made from fine leather...!

Does anyone use on of these slings on their rifle? How they work for you? What do they cost in USA?

Hi Sid,

they are 65,50 € at www.titanium-gunworks.com as you don´t have to pay the German VAT if it is shipped in the US and as they are lightweight enough, the postage is down to 5,- € only ...

For better understanding how it works, watch the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...ture=player_embedded

If You want onee, just drop me an email
Klaus

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the sling that was featured on a thread here about a year or so ago. The original thread had pictures taken in Russia I believe but the sling was made in England. the sling had a plastic "U" shaped piece that allowed for good carry of a double rifle. I will try to find the thread. This non traditional sling seemed to be excellent for double carry.
Peter.