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Hunting sling. What's best for a heavier rifle?

TAJ45

Silver $$ Contributor
A bud will be in MT, Fall of 2020. He is thinking ahead for a scope for his 600yd gun. He has an S&B 4-12, 42mm obj but no parallax adj. He asked me abt scope wgts. I'm wondering about sling designs out there that will help w percieved carry wgt. He is mid thirties, good shape, 6'2". Not his first trip W for deer and speed goats but thinks there will be a decent amount of walking.

I know nothing of hunting slings as I kill paper now but want to do some volume shooting in the squirrel fields.

What say you?
 
NO brand as I make my own slings since most everything on the market has a thin strap or just does not feel right for carrying (to me). I use belt webbing from 2-4" wide depending on my gun, then trim down the ends to run through the swivels and sew the heck out of them. Wider rides better on my shoulder and does not "gouge" into my outter wear.
 
This is what I use. They work great with a pack and when navigating thick cover.

These are OK if you carry a pack and don't need instant access to the rifle.
 
Interesting vid and concept. My first question is walking comfort.
At rest, in their vid, th the butt stock is directly in front of the thigh.
 
TAJ45 said:
Interesting vid and concept. My first question is walking comfort.
At rest, in their vid, th the butt stock is directly in front of the thigh.
Click to expand...

When you're walking the rifle is not straight up and down -- it's not in the way at all. The muzzle is about even with my elbow and the butt crosses just below the waist. I've roamed many a mile over hill and dale on two continents with mine.

I shot this coyote offhand when it jumped onto a rock. Being able to shoot quickly is a big advantage of the Boonie Packer.

coyote kill 14.JPG
 
I'd say, don't waste your money on a sling, have your wife carry the gun for you, or maybe a teenager. That's a joke, which you can hardly make anymore without offending some one.

For a sling to just lug the rifle around, don't overthink it. Anything sturdy will work - leather or webbing will both work fine. As 5spd said, for a heavier gun, wider is better. It distributes the weight and keeps it from digging into you. Heavy winter clothes (weather permitting) also help keep a sling from digging in. Don't get anything with a pad or padding that can slide up/down the sling. In my experience, the pads always creep and move when you don't need them to.
 
Not using sling as a shooting aid, just carry.
I have a sling made for an M-60 machine gun. Well padded (sewn to strap, doesn't move), pretty much indestructible.
When I got it they were more common.
 
If it doesn't need to be immediately deployable in either defense, or elective game shooting, then I'd look into a biathlon-type sling setup if I were going to do very many miles.

UNLESS you need a backpack as well, where an Eberlestock pack/scabbard comes in for the win.

If, however, you need a rifle that can be brought on target in a couple seconds...

...well, #1, you better not have the damn thing on your shoulder anyway. ...

But if you insist, then I'd go with a 1.25"+ width LEATHER sling. In nasty rain and weather, leather slings, roughout DOWN, will stay put on your shoulder.

Other thoughts:
--I personally carry the rifle in my 2 hands most of the time. I've killed stuff that wouldn't have been killed otherwise. The lessons of NOT getting the shots due to having the rifle out-of-play on my shoulder were sometimes hard to learn. If they'd been a bear...I'd be dead..and I'm pretty fast on the gun.

---If I am going some distance and don't want it ready, I will carry strongside, muzzle down. I'd guess I can get the muzzle on target in 3 seconds pretty easily.

---Only if I am going a LONG distance, belly crawling, or have some other weapon to use, do I carry the rifle muzzle up, sling across my chest. That makes the time frame to get the rifle on target something like 10 seconds at best, with a LOT of movement. That's an eternity.
 
TAJ45 said:
A bud will be in MT, Fall of 2020. He is thinking ahead for a scope for his 600yd gun. He has an S&B 4-12, 42mm obj but no parallax adj. He asked me abt scope wgts. I'm wondering about sling designs out there that will help w percieved carry wgt. He is mid thirties, good shape, 6'2". Not his first trip W for deer and speed goats but thinks there will be a decent amount of walking.

I know nothing of hunting slings as I kill paper now but want to do some volume shooting in the squirrel fields.

What say you?
Click to expand...
I have a pack pack style sling with dual shoulder straps. The rifle lays dead center and is adjustable vertically. Very nice set up for a heavy rifle.
 
Alex Wheeler said:
Cheap and ugly, but they have no equal for carrying a rifle. The rubber grips and will not slide like every other material will. You can split the two straps and wear it like a back pack. I have went up mountains with a 20lb 338 like this and both hands are free for hiking poles.
https://www.brownells.com/shooting-...slings/ultraflex-firearm-sling-prod44965.aspx
Click to expand...
I have one very similar made by a different company. It's the only one that doesn't slide off my shoulder.
 
Capt. Oblivious said:
I use these on all my walk around rifle, very happy and makes even a heavy rifle with big/heavy optics comfortable to carry around the entire day

BUTLER CREEK COMFORT STRETCH RIFLE SLING

https://formbygunshop.co.uk/product/butler-creek-comfort-stretch-rifle-sling/
Click to expand...
I was going to post that same sling.

I use them on full-size A.R. 10 heavy rifles with heavy thermal optic and walk hundreds of yards at a time to approach hogs at night.

To me they are very comfortable.
 
Rem06 said:
"NO brand" really! ???

"In my experience, the pads always creep and move when you don't need them to."
not when they can be clipped on a pack or sleeve.


TIS Quick cuff..i velcro (hook and loop) the cuff part on my back pack to clip my rifle on my shoulder. i have several of their slings and love them!

https://tacticalintervention.com/Quick-Cuff-Precision-Rifle-Sling-p132574075
Click to expand...
These are good slings. I thought Mike Miller owner the company in California. I see they are now in KS...
 
Vero Vellini double shoulder strap sling is the name of mine. Very comfortable but pricy. Think I paid 70.00 way back but there up near 100.00 today. Last sling you'll buy for a heavy rifle tho.
 
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