Does Anyone Still Shoot With a Sling?

[Dan360]

Before deer season this year, the guys in my hunting party and I re-confirmed our zeroes on our rifles once we reached our hunting grounds. I noticed that one guy used shooting sticks and the other two rested their rifles on a backpack on the hood of a truck. After the other three declaired themselves deadly, I found a flat spot and proceeded to get into the prone and wrap my arm through the sling into the hasty sling position. I got some really funny looks.

Does anyone else still use their sling as a shooting aid? I only use the bench to test loads. I re-zero using a hasty sling because more often than not, I use my sling to shoot while in the field. Being prone using my sling is the only way I would shoot beyond 150 yards if I had no rest and had to rely on shooting positions alone.

[DakotaTheKiller]

Definately one of mine, and my dad's favorite ways to shoot!

[adobe wall]

I've tried using a hasty sling and never got much out of it- I'd rather invest that time in finding some sort of artificial support. I have all the confidence in the world in a sling as support on the rifle range. The problem with using a carry strap as a hasty sling is that it is rarely going to be adjusted exactly right for both purposes. If you have to spend additional time adjusting the carry strap to have the proper tension for a hasty sling, you can usually just find something else to use for support that is faster.

I don't know that I've ever seen a hunter using a real sling on their rifle, most are just some form of carry strap. I do like the Turner all weather 1907 sling but it's fairly heavy.

jmho, aw

[Hunter Of Gun]

Well the prone is a great shooting position. I personally don't have a sling on any of my rifles. I carry all my guns by hand or with the use of a pack. It just depends on what you are comfort level is with different shooting positions. I will always shoot in the prone if I can but if not I would rather take a quick off hand instinctive shot.

[StevenB]

This question probably doesn't apply to coastal hunters for the most part. 50 yard shots are the rule and slings can help out. Safari Sling...

[Rank Amateur]

I wrap my arm in the sling when I shoot from the sitting position off my knees or off my shooting sticks, I'm sure it isn't proper technique, but it does seem to have a steading effect. For those off hand close up shots, I forget all about the sling! I hardly ever use my sling for carrying my rifle while hunting biggame.

[CKthumper]

I never learned how to "use" a sling as anything more than a carry strap. Having discovered the "Boonie Packer" safari sling, I never will learn to use a real sling. If anyone has never tried the boonie sling, they should.

With the rifle hanging ready at waist level I was able to go from glassing to shooting in about three seconds. If it had taken four I would not have gotten off the shot. A 5x5 bull was the reward.

Being able to use both hands to negotiate rough terrain while keeping the rifle ready and more secure than hung over a shoulder is another advantage.

[bajadan2000]

In the field, I always use a sling no matter the position or extra shooting aids like sticks, trees or bi-pods. Guess it is my Marine Corps training.

The idea of a sling is to lock the stock butt tight into your shoulder. The other aids are used to hold the barrel end steady.

One or the other makes for a better shot than using neither. Using both a properly fitted sling and a shooting aid will give the best shooting results in the field. I even use a rifle type sling on my shotgun when calling in turkeys from a blind.

[canes_venatici]

Originally Posted by Rank Amateur

I wrap my arm in the sling when I shoot from the sitting position off my knees or off my shooting sticks, I'm sure it isn't proper technique, but it does seem to have a steading effect. For those off hand close up shots, I forget all about the sling! I hardly ever use my sling for carrying my rifle while hunting biggame.

I'm with Rank. One year my dad and i were walking down a ridge on a Thanksgiving cow elk hunt. We were only a 1/4 mile from the truck and still together. We were gonna split the ridge... Anyway, we were walking along and 4 elk crested the ridgeline and stopped 75yds in front of us. My dad had his rifle slung over his shoulder and i had my rifle in hand at my hip. I was on a knee, sling wrapped around my arm, safety off, and ready to shoot before my dad got his gun off his shoulder. Guess who filled their tag that day and who didn't. The one elk that hit the ground that morning didn't go 5 feet.

I love my sling, not for holding the rifle, but for shooting.

[bajadan2000]

There is a technique for rapidly moving a rifle from your shoulder to a sling held shooting position all in one very fast movement. I will try to explain the move.

If you are shooting right handed, the rifle needs to be on your left shoulder, barrel down with the rifle on your back side. This also happens to be a very safe, comfortable way to carry a rifle.

To move the rifle from your shoulder to a shooting position, reach down with your left hand and place it on the rifle where you hold it while in a sling. To get the sling set right, you must reach your left hand outside and across the rifle sling then between the sling and the rifle from right to left before placing your hand on the stock.

Now drop the rifle off of your shoulder and it will swing into your right shoulder and at the firing position with your sling holding the rifle in tight against your shoulder.

It only takes a couple of times practicing this move to get it right. You will have a very comfortable way to carry your rifle on your shoulder, yet still get into the best shooting position very, very quickly.

[ehunter]

Very few times can you lay in prone postion on the coast range too much crud and it can be tough to set or kneel at times. I am going to learn to use a sling for off hand shots this year generaly don't need it for 100 and in but I want to practice with it. I get the shakes the older I get

[StickFish]

I adjust mine too tight to be effective as a shooting sling. I spend more time hiking and want it close to my tire. If I used a 1" leather sling, I'd probably change everything around but a wide buttler creek neoprene sling isn't going to help me much

[nailyard]

Grew up hunting the coast range where deer wanted to grow up to be rabbits. Peep sights and a sling were all we ever used. Pie plates at 75 yards did not stand a chance.

[Rank Amateur]

Originally Posted by CKthumper

I never learned how to "use" a sling as anything more than a carry strap. Having discovered the "Boonie Packer" safari sling, I never will learn to use a real sling. If anyone has never tried the boonie sling, they should.

With the rifle hanging ready at waist level I was able to go from glassing to shooting in about three seconds. If it had taken four I would not have gotten off the shot. A 5x5 bull was the reward.

Being able to use both hands to negotiate rough terrain while keeping the rifle ready and more secure than hung over a shoulder is another advantage.

I had a friend who uses a Safari sling that swears that's why he got his bull this year. Was walking up the road from the rig getting ready to jump into the brush and was starting to put on some gloves when a bull ran across the road in front of him, dropped the gloves and got on the bull just in time. I havent' tried one yet, might be the way to go.

[Blackbeardown]

If i am checking my zero...I use a rest. I use the sling in the field while hunting. I do practice with the sling though so it is not foreign to me.

[Old Guys Rule]

With my scoped rifle I always use the sling to steady myself if there is no tree nearby to use as a rest. Long range open desert hunting I shoot sitting with elbows locked on knees and outward pressure on the sling to hold tight.

[kigercreek]

A 1" leather sling for me, as well. In fact, not even adjustable (a 30+ year old belt of my dad's, sewn to swivels to length, which I started using over 20 yrs ago). I've wrapped up in it for deer, antelope, bighorn and a varmint or two with my .270, and hundreds of squirrels when on my Cooper .22. The true KISS method!

[Rank Amateur]

Originally Posted by kigercreek

A 1" leather sling for me, as well. In fact, not even adjustable (a 30+ year old belt of my dad's, sewn to swivels to length, which I started using over 20 yrs ago). I've wrapped up in it for deer, antelope, bighorn and a varmint or two with my .270, and hundreds of squirrels when on my Cooper .22. The true KISS method!

Interesting I keep seeing guys talk about a 1" sling. My Dad has gotten into leather making and started making personalized slings for everybody, but I had to have him make me a simple 1" wide sling for my biggame rifle. The other one was too wide and made it hard to carry in my hands. I suppose it would have been difficult to wrap up in too.

[mpmax]

I use an old inch+ 1/4 military style sling like the ones I shot high power with. Spending the time to learn how to use a sling is well worth the effort.

[DAB]

You bet I do, the only way to fly
I shot competition for many years and always used a sling for Prone , Sitting, Kneeling, and off hand. Sometimes the League would not let us use a sling for off hand and my score would drop about 1 point when not using a sling for off hand.
And yes I use a sling when hunting (military style ) whether I have any other thing for a rest or not.
There is another advantage of using a sling it helps tame the recoil, doesn't reduce the recoil just helps manage it.

When hunting I carry my rifle on my left side with the rifle in front barrel up makes it easy as pie to get into the sling and shoot.

DAB

[kigercreek]

Originally Posted by mpmax

I use an old inch+ 1/4 military style sling like the ones I shot high power with. Spending the time to learn how to use a sling is well worth the effort.

I've been having a difficult time finding 1 1/4" swivels for an old military style I want to use on my .223. Those are a great sling, but I don't like those brass hooks...kinda particular about scratches on my wood stocks , so thought I'd use it on a synthetic stock.

[elkhuntr28]

I prefer to stay seated in my truck and use the window button to adjust my window rest to the correct height, or if needed I will exit my vehicle and use the hood as a rest. By shooting this way I always have a great steady rest and don't have to drag my deer too far.

Actually, anything under 100 yards I feel fully comfortable shooting off hand. Over the years I would guess well over 90% of my shots on big game have been under 100 yards. The only one I've ever missed was this HUGE 8" spike my first year of hunting, it was waaaayyy out there at about 20 yards and the Mod 94 30-30 just couldn't quite connect. I still can't believe I missed that deer. I could hit a milk jug cap at 30 yards every shot with that rifle, but I couldn't hit a standing broad side mule deer at 20 yards.. . .unbelevable.

Anyways, back on topic, I use my sling as a carry strap when walking out in non-gammy areas, or walking down a road back to the rig. When still hunting I prefer to have my rifle in my hands and at the ready, and will sometimes take my sling off so that I can't put the rifle on my shoulder. If the sling is on my rifle, sometimes after walking for a long time my rifle ends up hanigng on my shoulder and I don't even recall putting it there.

PS> For those of you with extreme type A personalities I probably need to point out the first paragraph is a joke.

[kigercreek]

Originally Posted by elkhuntr28

I prefer to stay seated in my truck and use the window button to adjust my window rest to the correct height, or if needed I will exit my vehicle and use the hood as a rest. By shooting this way I always have a great steady rest and don't have to drag my deer too far.

Thanks for the laugh! Yep, those buttons are better than the old crank handles that the sling would get hung up on!

[ermaclean]

I used a sling while in the Marine Corps, never thought about using one for my hunting rifle tell now. It's time to go sling shopping! Another good thing to do to save time is to mark different points on the sling so that when you change positions you know how much to tighten/loosen the sling.