Best slings for a heavy hunting rifle

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tommy88

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Just bought an old ruger m77 in 338 WM and she's a heavy one. What slings do you guys suggest for it? Or does it even matter? It won't be used for mountain hunts, but I'll still be doing some walking with it.
 
Slings are like buying underwear, you can go through quite a few before you find the ones that “fit”. I’ve had leather, nylon, neoprene, etc. After reviewing a YouTube video from GunBlue490, I decided to try a cotton web sling (Garand Sling). I later purchased one for each rifle from Creedmore Sports. Found my Goldilocks. Good luck.
 
Agree with Warden above: Very much personal preference. Also, some people are particular about them and some don't notice any difference.

What have you used and liked in the past?

If you haven't used any, then buy and try a few different cheap options (padded and not padded, wide and narrow). It's like with boots, you really don't know what a good fit feels like until you've had a poor fit to compare to.
 
My own preference is for the "Mountain Sling" - so a sort of sticky fabric sewn in on inside at top - I found that 1" or 1 1/8" strap to be fine, except it kept slipping off the shoulder of my hunting parka. Generally, I have the carry strap rolled up in my pocket when hunting - so I like the "Quick Detach" type attachments - put that strap back on for the walk out, but usually is no strap on the rifle when I am "hunting". Used to be sold as "Uncle Mike's" brand - not sure what brand these days. I did make up a correcting fitting "shooting sling" from a Day's brand leather strap - never found that to be much use when deer hunting in Western Saskatchewan - used it as a carry strap most of the time.
 
I have been using the Groovetek back pack style sling with QD swivels for the heavier rifles. Bino pack in front. Allows both hands arms free. Best to remove from back when getting close to chosen animals.
 
Go on long walk sheep hunt, by the end of 10 days you will know witch sling you will forevermore want....wide & padded and it will work just as well on any flatland short "day walks" as well.
 
I like a very wide at the shoulder and tapered to bottom. I have a couple custom made from local saddle shop. Just not too long (one of our guys has one that flaps around his back) each to his own.
 
I have a uncle Mike's padded neopreme style on my 458wm. It's a heavy 26" barrels in a fully bedded dense wood stock. It's a heavy gun I guess. Works well. Same sling was great on my 10ga sxs which weighs 11.6lbs. It's about 2.5" wide on the shoulder and soft and grippy

I have a 2pc bungie style sling on my 308 chassis rifle. It's also very comfortable but I forget the brand. It came from Amazon for around 60 bucks
 
My Tikka TAC A1 runs about 13-14lbs, the Vickers Blue Force dual point padded sling works amazingly well with it, works well with the socket type QD sling swivels, but the various swivel setups that can be adapted to a gun are many. I just like the flush sockets for working off bags at the range, and they are pretty easy to install. Put some into a T3X lite stock, one on the end under the bbl and one on the rh upper rear of the butt, hangs nice. Can suck it up tight to your body for hands free carry in ready position, just push it out to shoot, grab the tab to pull back in. Lots of vids around on them.
 
I get that the military shooting sling is a significant aid to accuracy...but I am not interested in slings that weight almost as much as my rifle.

I am fond of the three-swivel "Ching" sling, but own a lot of guns that I don't want to add a third swivel stud to. The "Rhodesian" sling is almost as good and can be used on a rifle with just 2 studs, but it's not great if you want switch it between different rifles with different stud spacings; too much adjusting.

I had a sling that I picked up at a Sportsmen's Show in Toronto many years ago; it was made of gorgeous rich leather, seemed very well-constructed...and I never could figure out how that dang thing was supposed to be adjusted and used. :)

Nowadays, I want a simple, lightweight, 1-inch wide carry strap, either cordura or leather...which I can quickly remove and stuff into my pocket while hunting. Uncomplicated is good.
 
fingers284 said:
Go on long walk sheep hunt, by the end of 10 days you will know witch sling you will forevermore want....wide & padded and it will work just as well on any flatland short "day walks" as well.
Click to expand...

I had exactly the same experience (long walk sheep hunt) and came to exactly the opposite conclusion (prefer narrow and unpadded).

Personal preference. And you just can't know what you prefer or if you even have a preference before you try a variety.
 
fuzzy39 said:
Ok, ok… may get some flak for this but it actually works really nice for heavy rifles. It’s fairly heavy itself but the rubber makes it very comfortable to carry…

https://www.ultimategunsling.com/store/-p131321109

And yes, it’s as seen on TV;)
Click to expand...


Flack? Not at all! Thank you for posting that link; I can't remember the last time a salesman made me laugh so hard! :)

I'm not sure which part was best: the description of how to keep your rifle sling from smelling bad...or the explanation of how to adjust the thing, complete with video of the guy trying to manhandle it according to his own instructions. He looked like he was trying to give a prostate exam to a boa constrictor...:)
 
I have settled on the Butler Creek neoprene sling that is 2" wide and has the grippy stipling on the backside that keeps it from slipping off the shoulder.
Lightweight, and forgiving, and makes carrying a heavy rifle slung over your shoulder a lot more comfortable and does very well to keep it from slipping on long hikes.
I have two, one each with the different swivel types to match the different styles on several rifles. Just swap from rifle to rifle as needed.
The only improvement would be the addition of a thumb loop, for comfort, not to keep it from slipping.
 
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