Sling on a muzzle loader

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flatlandflyfisher

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Hello,

I'm new to shooting / hunting with a muzzleloader. I'm using my step-dad's 70's era side-lock muzzle-loader (no breach plug, cap fired, etc). It's a heavy gun. So, I'm looking to get a sling for it.

The barrel is quite long and the stock is relatively short, so there's not much wood to put a swivel stud onto ... I don't want to 'bubba' with a wonderful gun. I understand that RMC makes a ferrule (https://www.rmcoxyoke.com/inc/sdetail/rmc_sling_ferrule___stud/6564/433) but it's not clear to me how this works. Any advice / pictures?

I realize that slings help save the life of game, but I'm more likely to hunt harder and longer if I can carry the gun comfortably.

thanks,
Stephen
 
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Guns tend to gain one pound of weight for every hour that you carry it in the field.

This was also a problem in the Frontier in the olden days. If you do not want to "Bubba" your step-dads rifle, which a lot of people here will agree with your decision, you might look at a book that has some old pictures or illustrations in it. They simply tied a "sling" made of leather, around the barrel and the wrist of the butt stock. I would make it wider in the main area where it would contact your shoulder for comfort and some loops with keepers on them at the ends.

HINT - sew a large button on your hunting jacket, on the top of the shoulder where the arms join the main part. This will keep a sling from slipping and falling off when walking or moving on rougher terrain.
 
Slings with a lace up pocket for the butt and tied around the forestock are easily made. They are probably commercially available too.
 
saskbooknut said:
Slings with a lace up pocket for the butt and tied around the forestock are easily made. They are probably commercially available too.
Click to expand...

This is what I use. That heavy barrel isn't going to let the rifle balance on your shoulder if your top sling point is on the forearm. It will constantly want to slide around your shoulder so the barrel points toward the ground. The top of the sling goes up the barrel.
A sidehammer has its point of balance well forward compared to a centerfire rifle like you are probably used to and that plays into slinging it.
 
Punch it in Google images and you get a few ideas to consider.
I believe there were once replacement ramrod pipes available with a sling attachment point.
I have one muzzle loader (Jager style) with a large button on the underside of the butt that I am sure is for a leather sling with a slit in it. Some of the old military rifles had a sling loop at the trigger guard, probably for the balance issues mentioned.

With a bit of research and trial some workable solution should present itself.
 
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Thanks; I had already used google image search for background research on this subject.

I did post a specific question in my original post, e.g. "I understand that RMC makes a ferrule (https://www.rmcoxyoke.com/inc/sdetail/rmc_sling_ferrule___stud/6564/433) but it's not clear to me how this works. Any advice / pictures?"

Has any one had experience with this item? It's not clear how this works on a muzzle loader.
 
Yeah, I don't get how the ram-rod thimble stud works. That's what worries me.

My barrel was made in 1976, so I'm a bit reluctant to hammer the thimble into the ram-rod guide. The ram-rod guide is permanently affixed to the barrel (soldered or welded).
 
From what I can tell from the other references, the ferrule has a screw they aren't displaying that screws the ferrule to your rib after the original ferrule is unscrewed. Some companies screw the ferrule on some solder them. Your ferrule is permanently fixed so from what I can tell this item is not an option for you. The lace up sling would seem to me would be 'Plan B'. Just my thoughts.
 
Get a piece of leather larger than the butt. Carefully unscrew and remove the buttplate. Trace it and trim it, screw the plate back on with the leather between it and the wood...presto! You now have an attachment point that is non-invasive and as strong as the rest of the sling ( I have the luxury of bags of Wang leather... if you find that description funny...you don't know much about leather lol)
 
saskbooknut said:
Slings with a lace up pocket for the butt and tied around the forestock are easily made. They are probably commercially available too.
Click to expand...

"The Leatherman" makes one as described and I have found it to be excellent for my longrifles and also Hawken. Check the photos on their website and make your own...
 
flatlandflyfisher said:
Thanks; I had already used google image search for background research on this subject.

I did post a specific question in my original post, e.g. "I understand that RMC makes a ferrule (https://www.rmcoxyoke.com/inc/sdetail/rmc_sling_ferrule___stud/6564/433) but it's not clear to me how this works. Any advice / pictures?"

Has any one had experience with this item? It's not clear how this works on a muzzle loader.
Click to expand...

The sling stud unscrews from the pipe to give access to the screw for the rib., then you can screw it into the rib with the original screw from the old pipe.
 
petew said:
The sling stud unscrews from the pipe to give access to the screw for the rib., then you can screw it into the rib with the original screw from the old pipe.
Click to expand...

I just sourced one of these from Ebay. Claimed to be a T/C part. The sling stud is permanently attached to the pipe. The stud has a hole to accept an Allen key thus allowing access to the rib attachment screw.

M
 
Some updates:
- I've determined that the ram-rod guides on my muzzle loader are not compatible with the RMC ferrule. As this is a 70's era William Large barrel, I'm not going to force a weird part onto it.
- I talked to Becky @ Hillfolk (part of sorting out the point above) and she's sourced me a nice lace up leather sling.

I hope to use this next week to put some holes in deer and then deer in freezers!

S.
 
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