Do you use them in Africa on a double? I never have but sure gave a lot of thought to it the last trip.

They must put those studs on the rifle for a reason but I wonder if a sling wouldn't hang up in the brush or the sticks or whatever at just the wrong time.

Also I wonder if it wouldn't be a little slower bringing the rifle up if it were on the sling?

Palmer, I've never used one on a double either....most folks seem to carry them over the shoulder, holding the barrels out front with one hand. Must be a European thing...I see most of their O/U shotguns have sling swivels also.

I have never use a sling in Africa, but I have used a sling on a double in Alaska, when glassing to keep the rifle off the wet tundra, and when bear hunting or pig hunting in an elevated stand.

If I was having a double buile i would get it with detachable sling swivels, and use them when I needed them.

I "African" carry my rifles most of the time when hunting. I do not use a sling for carrying while walking much at all.

I will use one while shooting if it is not attached to the barrel however.

Aah! Mostly someone else carried the rifle so a sling wasn't required...or very rarely an "eye" and "S" hook set up would be used.

That is a simple round "eye" on the barrel and stock and a sling with metal ends that each looked like a letter "S" so that it could in seconds be taken off and set aside.

I always use a sling.

The African carry scares me if we're spending days with three trackers in front and then the PH. It's not good for me to have the rifle pointed at them, as I carry a Model 70 with a round in the chamber and would (obviously) carry a double with two rounds in the chambers.

I have never had the sling hang up on anything, not in Africa, out west, or Alaska.

A proper African Carry has the rifle pointing down and to the side. No one in front gets swept with muzzles, even on bends. But you do have to watch sharper turns - to the right if the rifle is on your right shoulder and vice versa. Then it is simply tilting the muzzles down and switching shoulders.

JPK

All of my rifles have Brownells Latigo Slings:garand, both sako rifles,thompson center encores & marlin xlr 45-70

Trader Keith sells a great sling!
Trader Keith

My opine is that if you have a sling you can take it off and not use it in the field. If you don't have one, you can't use it, period!

I use one and when I need to take it of I did. Simple!

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:

My opine is that if you have a sling you can take it off and not use it in the field. If you don't have one, you can't use it, period!

I use one and when I need to take it of I did. Simple!

Agree, it's not just in case you want to sling a gun when hunting.

The other angle is, if the shit hits the fan and someone gets injured
and has to be carried out, it makes it a lot easier if whoever has to
carry the guns can sling them.

Same as in the military.

I would never hunt anywhere without a sling in QD swivels on my rifle. There are too many uses for the sling. I never let anyone else carry my rifle as that can lead to problems - ask me how I know.

The old time P.H.'s complained about slings in heavy brush. I'm sure there were times and places back then when it was a real issue but since QD sivels were invented decades ago I think any problems with slings on D.G. rifles have become moot.

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
I would never hunt anywhere without a sling in QD swivels on my rifle. There are too many uses for the sling. I never let anyone else carry my rifle as that can lead to problems - ask me how I know.

I agree, unless of course you are the one injured.

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
A proper African Carry has the rifle pointing down and to the side. No one in front gets swept with muzzles, even on bends. But you do have to watch sharper turns - to the right if the rifle is on your right shoulder and vice versa. Then it is simply tilting the muzzles down and switching shoulders.

JPK

Yeah but I'm always ducking and twisting to avoid thorny branches. And if we lose the track, the trackers fan out in all directions to find it, so they're not just ahead. I would also think the African carry would be hard to control during a fall.

I much prefer to carry it slung over my right shoulder with my right hand on the rifle butt.

I find no issue when navigating brush. Pull the muzzles down or push then up, just no issue. Twisting is no issue, you have the muzzles in your hand, point them up, down sideways, they are in your hand and it is easy to do.

When the rifle is slung, there are as many problems avoiding sweeping people as when it is on your shoulder. For instance, when you bend to duck under brush. You have no idea of where your muzzles are pointing, unlike when they ae in your hand. Likewise on an upward slope... No substitute for having the muzzles in your hand.

In a fall, and I've taken a few, the muzzles remain in your hand. When slung, your rifle is facing God knows where...

To write off the African Carry is foolish... The longer you walk, the more attractive and more comfortable, from a simple point of easier on you to saftey.

Not that slings aren't handy from time to time. But they're a 2nd rate way to carry a rifle a long way.

JPK