Best way to carry shotgun while hiking

I've tried all manner of slings and stringing the shotgun to various points on my backpacks. By far the most comfortable and least annoying is to just carry it in your hands. Just one hand around the receiver like BIGRED said. When I'm out in the alpine and can see a ways, sometimes I'll pack it away, but to truly pack it comfortably usually means having it not immediately accessible.
 
Standard sling ofr me. Muzzle down. I some times use a tactical sling for hunting small game, but for hiking, just a long web strap. Good for me.
 
I was issued an Assault Sling for my C7A1 rifle while abroad enjoying the humid cold of Bosnia. Not that I had to patrol with it, but I was obliged to do gate duty. Having carried hunting rifles and previous service rifles with slings I appreciated the advantages of the Assault Sling over single strap styles.

The sling is a big loop going around your body attached near the butt sling swivel, on the left side. There is another length of strap all along the left side of the rifle; one end is the fixed end at the butt, the other ties into the front swivel and has a clip near the front sight. The fixed strap would interfere with a shotgun slide, but the Army makes its kit Idiot-Proof and there is no reason why a civilian couldn't hang a Fastex buckle on the front sling loop.

When standing around or watching my guys looking at vehicles or reading papers, I preferred to have the rifle slung across my chest. If I needed it the clip was easy to reach and the rifle was right there in front of my body.

For walking the perimeter, I'd undo the clip and carry the rifle slung at my right side like a cavalry carbine. Again, always secure and always easy to control. One of the Army's simple solutions.
 
SDC said:
My preference is a short sling with a rubber pad on it so it doesn't slide off my shoulder, slung muzzle-down off of my weak shoulder; if you need it, just grab the forearm with your weak hand, pull it out and around, place it against your shoulder, and you're in business.
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+2 This is the same method I use. :)

IMHO 'Muzzle up' is not very safe with short barrels as the Muzzle ends up behind, and below the back of your head. :eek:

Muzzle down IMHO is safer, and your off hand has full control of the shotgun on the foregrip, and can draw it out very quickly, and safely.

I also preffer to carry with an empty chamber, but full Mag', and safety on.

And tonight I just mounted a Butler Creek pistol grip on my Maverick 88, and this method works even better now, and the sling acts as a support across my Torso/Molson Muscle, and left elbow. :D
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
I was issued an Assault Sling for my C7A1 rifle while abroad enjoying the humid cold of Bosnia. Not that I had to patrol with it, but I was obliged to do gate duty. Having carried hunting rifles and previous service rifles with slings I appreciated the advantages of the Assault Sling over single strap styles.
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Can you use that word? Will you not be chastised by your superiors? Canadian troops do not assault they peace keep. What would her majestiy's loyal subjects think if they knew they were paying to have troops who assaut? Certainly there must be some nice tree hugging liberal term for that sling that doesn't suggest offensive operations or actions....

*please take as tounge in cheek... *
 
I went hiking/camping once in Alberta with some friends and a buddy of mine had a Winchester Defender with pistol grip. He just put the shotgun inside the nylon bag used for tent poles and attached it to the side of his pack. We were in Banff National Park so the shotgun was illegal but with all the bears in the area, it was a good call. He had it loaded with two rubber slugs and then real slugs. Like G37 stated, magazine was full, safety was off and chamber was empty. He tried it a few times and managed to get it off his pack and ready to fire within ~10 seonds.
 
echo4lima said:
Can you use that word? Will you not be chastised by your superiors? Canadian troops do not assault they peace keep. What would her majestiy's loyal subjects think if they knew they were paying to have troops who assaut? Certainly there must be some nice tree hugging liberal term for that sling that doesn't suggest offensive operations or actions....

*please take as tounge in cheek... *
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I believe that"peaceful policing sling" is the term most PC for this type of sling.

Also "happy kitten, fuzzy puppy feel good sling"....
 
MackDaddy said:
... He had it loaded with two rubber slugs and then real slugs.
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I saw a TV doc about bears in Alaska and the town folk shot at a griz with a rubber slug but all it did was jump back and a second later was right back doing his thing. I don't know if they work with non-nuissance bears but I have my doubts.:rolleyes:
 
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