Prone position questions

[island]

Hi all: I had the opportunity to shoot TR the other day at Nokomis, and I shot prone with a shooting jacket and cuff-style sling. As it was a TR-type rifle the sling was the support, and it was the "classic" kind of prone position, with the left arm as a support "shelf" for the foreend.

I've seen/read about a slightly different prone position for F-class rifles with a bipod, where the left arm is not in fact forward, but is held folded back under the right arm, grasping either the buttstock of the right upper arm, as the rifle's foreend is supported by a bipod.

Here (finally) is the question: Do you/can you use a sling in this position? Some stuff I've read says that a sling isn't used in prone at all (which isn't true as far as I can tell), but it seems that the above variation of prone could still use it to "lock" the rifle in to the shoulder solidly.

Any experience/comments on this?

Thanks!

 

[RePete]

I used a Tactical Intervention sling during the Listowel Sniper match, and found that I need a lot of practice with it. It really feels weird.

The match was shot prone, from a bipod, except the cold bore shot and that was done sitting at 200yds.

In the prone I set up the sling so that I could still keep my left hand under the butt.

RePete.

 

[maynard]

Can a sling be used in F Class? Yes. Do F Class shooter use slings? Not that I have ever seen.
Most will use either a bi-pod or front rest, and a rear bag under the stock at the back. Keeping the rifle steady and slight elevation adjustments are made by squeezing the rear bag with the left hand. (right handed shooter)
Some F Class shooters don't even shoulder the rifle, but let it free recoil. This of course depends on the weight of the rifle, type of front rest used and the caliber/amount of recoil.

 

[island]

Thanks guys, that clarifies considerably. So: RePete, did you find any advantage to using the sling?

 

[RePete]

It was the first time out with it, so I can't really say at this time. As I said, I need more practice, but a gut feeling will be yes.

RePete.

 

[Ian Robertson]

Adding a sling to an F position would just add another source of inconsistency. Don't try to reinvent the wheel until you have some experience. You will find that the winners do what works, copy them, at least to start.