Returning To Smallbore Prone

[Bob3700]

Do a search for an AGH-Anschutz "Swing" sling. It is a synthetic sling with a blue aluminum turnbuckle to make tension adjustments.
Have been using one for several years for HP and Smallbore competitions. I really like it.

 

[USMCDOC]

Do a search for an AGH-Anschutz "Swing" sling. It is a synthetic sling with a blue aluminum turnbuckle to make tension adjustments.
Have been using one for several years for HP and Smallbore competitions. I really like it.

I think i know which one your talking about.. i believe i saw Howard Pitts using on this weekend..

 

[USMCDOC]

Do a search for an AGH-Anschutz "Swing" sling. It is a synthetic sling with a blue aluminum turnbuckle to make tension adjustments.
Have been using one for several years for HP and Smallbore competitions. I really like it.

Looks like it is called a Swing 341

 

[Tim Slater]

Looks like it is called a Swing 341

There are two, the 341 and the newer 342 Swing Plus. The Swing Plus has the same features, but the micro-adjuster is fixed to the cuff by a swivel (possibly even a push-button swivel) rather than rivets like the original 351 Swing.

 

[USMCDOC]

Went and shot the new to me Anschutz X Model. Gonna need a tube, get the front sight lower.. i can only shoot at 50 yards right now..


I didn't shoot much today.. but it was the first time i have shot prone in a long time.. since 2006 i believe it is with a smallbore rifle and since 2014 i think it was since i shot prone period.. i only shot a total of 40 rounds today..

Looks like a 50-4X

this one is 10 shots..

 

[Bob3700]

Another little thing to give a try. I have a separate (second) handstop that I place in front of my normal handstop. This lets me adjust sling tension without disturbing my handstop position. It takes a lot of sling pressure off of my left hand (right handed shooter). I will see if I can take a picture of mine to show you.

Bob

PS: What targets are you shooting on? I practice on the 50 meter target. Smaller bulls to challenge you with.

 

[USMCDOC]

Another little thing to give a try. I have a separate (second) handstop that I place in front of my normal handstop. This lets me adjust sling tension without disturbing my handstop position. It takes a lot of sling pressure off of my left hand (right handed shooter). I will see if I can take a picture of mine to show you.

Bob

PS: What targets are you shooting on? I practice on the 50 meter target. Smaller bulls to challenge you with.

that was the standard 50 yard target, i have some 50 meter reduced for 50 yards targets too..

 

[spclark]

Another little thing to give a try. I have a separate (second) handstop that I place in front of my normal handstop. This lets me adjust sling tension without disturbing my handstop position. It takes a lot of sling pressure off of my left hand (right handed shooter).

Yep, discovered this trick myself for long range several years ago. Once I got into a Monard glove I found it wasn't necessary anymore, those gloves spread the sling pressure out well enough I can shoot for a day w/o ending up with the "sling-hand tingles" after the second relay.

 

[USMCDOC]

Yep, discovered this trick myself for long range several years ago. Once I got into a Monard glove I found it wasn't necessary anymore, those gloves spread the sling pressure out well enough I can shoot for a day w/o ending up with the "sling-hand tingles" after the second relay.

i ordered one..

 

[HPC]

USMCDOC - nice work; but I think you're going to need more targets!

Re the Anschutz Concept l, previously mentioned - received the 2XL today and it just barely fits. Anyone contemplating that glove must go one size larger; and maybe two if your hand is at the large end of any particular size. That is, if you're a large Med, go XL; don't even think about a LG.

 

[Tim Slater]

Regarding a separate sling attachment, this can be useful if your sling has quite wide spaced holes. But if the adjustment is fine, or it has micro-adjustment (like the Anschutz Swing) will a separate attachment do anything? Also, if the attachment is very close to the rail, this will increase sling pressure over the hand. A tall attachment will reduce pressure, but no more than attaching the sling to the handstop, and then you're adding weight in front of the hand, weight bearing on the sling arm; this may steady your aim, but might not. An extension tube adds weight too, but the sight base extension offsets that.

 

[USMCDOC]

USMCDOC - nice work; but I think you're going to need more targets!

Re the Anschutz Concept l, previously mentioned - received the 2XL today and it just barely fits. Anyone contemplating that glove must go one size larger; and maybe two if your hand is at the large end of any particular size. That is, if you're a large Med, go XL; don't even think about a LG.

you are right that i will need more targets.. left the others here when i left yesterday.. so the previous ones that were on the board was all i had..

 

[velocette]

Bob 3700 has good advice, using the 50 meter reduced @ 50 yards or the 50 meter @ 50 meters target for practice is a good idea. They are the most difficult (smallest) of the Smallbore Prone targets plus the 50 Y /M, wind corrections are minimal. Not so at 100.
Some things to keep in mind:
1, Consistency, same position, same head position, etc.
2, Follow through, after the shot breaks, follow through is important with the sloooooowww .22 rimfire @ 1050 fps.
3, Natural Point Of Aim, NPOA aids in #1 & #2, without it you are fighting / muscling the rifle on target. Keep NPOA in your head for each shot.
4, Do not hesitate to put the rifle down and take a short rest. Your eye strain and muscle strain will be happier. You have 20 minutes to get off 20 rounds, use that time to your advantage.
5, A short bipod 3 ~ 4" is very handy. Used when setting the rifle up, between matches, while you are resting during matches. It will keep the rifle upright and not resting on the rear sight which may move. http://www.champchoice.com/store/Main.aspx?p=SearchBody&search=bipod

 

[Hengehold]

The thing i am thinking about right now, is my sling, i am wondering if i should replace it with a MEC or Thune?

Doc



Doc - looks like that old nylon sling might be ready for replacement. Can't go wrong with a Thune UIT II. Not sure who is selling them now that 10.9 closed their business. Hope this helps.

Mike

Your current sling looks like it will last you another 2 or 3 lifetimes. But, it is fun to try out new things.

Between smallbore, highpower (SR and Match rifle), and Palma I have used a LOT of different slings over the years, to include the Kurt Thune and the MEC. The sling I use now is the MEC sling and it is the best of everything, no question about it. It is expensive but it is really comfortable and convenient to use with the self centering feature.

Unfortunately, I have used it for a season now and the adjustment hole started tearing. I was a bit surprised and got it replaced for free by Oberle Enterprises. So, not much loss on my end. just an inconvenience to get it replaced. The MEC also has a leather strap option that should mitigate the chance of holes tearing by using leather instead of the synthetic. Below is a link to the MEC sling that I think is the best sling available.

https://oberleenterprises.com/product/mec-sling/

Hope this helps. Welcome back to the prone game!!!

-Trevor

 

[USMCDOC]

Your current sling looks like it will last you another 2 or 3 lifetimes. But, it is fun to try out new things.

Between smallbore, highpower (SR and Match rifle), and Palma I have used a LOT of different slings over the years, to include the Kurt Thune and the MEC. The sling I use now is the MEC sling and it is the best of everything, no question about it. It is expensive but it is really comfortable and convenient to use with the self centering feature.

Unfortunately, I have used it for a season now and the adjustment hole started tearing. I was a bit surprised and got it replaced for free by Oberle Enterprises. So, not much loss on my end. just an inconvenience to get it replaced. The MEC also has a leather strap option that should mitigate the chance of holes tearing by using leather instead of the synthetic. Below is a link to the MEC sling that I think is the best sling available.

https://oberleenterprises.com/product/mec-sling/

Hope this helps. Welcome back to the prone game!!!

-Trevor

Thanks Trevor for your input.. it is greatly appreciated.. i saw that one on that site. I also saw the leather one on the MEC site.. interesting..

 

[Hengehold]

Thanks Trevor for your input.. it is greatly appreciated.. i saw that one on that site. I also saw the leather one on the MEC site.. interesting..

If I had to replace that swing again today for some reason I would get the leather model. Good luck!

 

[Bob3700]

Regarding a separate sling attachment, this can be useful if your sling has quite wide spaced holes. But if the adjustment is fine, or it has micro-adjustment (like the Anschutz Swing) will a separate attachment do anything? Also, if the attachment is very close to the rail, this will increase sling pressure over the hand. A tall attachment will reduce pressure, but no more than attaching the sling to the handstop, and then you're adding weight in front of the hand, weight bearing on the sling arm; this may steady your aim, but might not. An extension tube adds weight too, but the sight base extension offsets that.

 

[Bob3700]

Regarding a separate sling attachment, this can be useful if your sling has quite wide spaced holes. But if the adjustment is fine, or it has micro-adjustment (like the Anschutz Swing) will a separate attachment do anything? Also, if the attachment is very close to the rail, this will increase sling pressure over the hand. A tall attachment will reduce pressure, but no more than attaching the sling to the handstop, and then you're adding weight in front of the hand, weight bearing on the sling arm; this may steady your aim, but might not. An extension tube adds weight too, but the sight base extension offsets that.

Tim,

I make my sling attachment/handstop out of aluminum with the same height as my normal handstop. Weight is not a factor here and the height of the sling is high enough to take some pressure off the left hand. Using a Menard glove is the last piece of the puzzle. Using both totally eliminates and left hand discomfort issues.

The forward sling attachment makes quick shoulder/butt tension adjustment possible that are beyond what the swing turnbuckle can accomplish. It also does not disturb the overall adjustment of the cheekpiece, nor dramatically change the height of your position. I like that.

The above are what I have found works for me. Others will just have to experiment for themselves. The proof is consistently on your target.

Bob

 

[Tim Slater]

Bob,

There's certainly more than one way to skin the proverbial cat in Smallbore, I just wanted to add context to your recommendation.

I'm also a fan of the Monard Proliner. It cushions the sling as well as the Kurt Thune, but lasts far longer. What's not to like? I even found my current one unused on eBay for 1/2 price.

For me the lateral offset of the handstop is important, so the stop sits against my thumb, and the rifle is over the heel of my hand. I like the sling to sit fairly low on my hand to avoid a once-broken scaphoid, but not so low that it picks up a pulse from the wrist. With this, excess pressure on my hand from a combined stop/swivel hasn't been an issue.

I did try a separate swivel some years ago, but found it too tricky, as the rifle was new and adjusting the handstop for rifle height in tandem with the swivel for sling tension was a step too far. If I was just adjusting for tension, I can see the merit in your set-up, but tiny tweaks of the handstop haven't bothered me. One day I'll try a micro-adjstable sling again to counter mid-detail sag, but that's rather different.

 

[HPC]

The Anschutz Concept l in 2XL is still a trifle too small, but useable. It has an interesting trait that I never considered before; that is, it is ideal for a small radius handstop. I’m backwards when it comes to handstops. The large radius one is on my Smallbore rifle (Anschutz Handstop 4751) and the small radius model is on the XTC rifle (similar to the Anschutz Handstop 4752). Recoil in the XTC rifle would sometimes cause the handstop/forearm to pop out of my hand; which isn’t ideal. The Anschutz Concept l completely eliminated that tendency; which is one thing less to worry about.


Gehman XL - blue and white. Anschutz 2XL - black.