Slings in SR?

LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1

LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1

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Starting to Get everything ready So I can give Service Rifle a try and was wondering how useful slings would be? As of now I don't have a proper sling set up and was thinking it might be a good idea to look in to setting up a proper sling, but don't know if its really needed.

Any input?
 
Very useful for getting good groups. When I was doing SR, I was shocked how many people didn't use slings (and their scores reflected it). The trouble is, when using a sling in prone position, you have to be aware in the changes in impact it can have when you don't use a sling (OR, in other positions where sling tension varies).

This is most pronounced with non-free floated barrels (barrel flex with sling tension).

However, one can avoid alot of that by "shooting off the magazine" (in the case of AR type rifles in prone position), and not tensioning the sling much, if at all.
I still like to use slings in sitting and standing--it just helps with being steady.
 
I asked your same question back when I started in SR and got the same answer that I gave you. I've yet to see a CF member use a sling and have only seen one civi with an AR using it (Yank who shoot NRA National Matches). I've shot with at least 4 QMS and none of them use a sling for SR now.

If you want to try it, go ahead, but I wouldn't recommend spending much time on it.

Of course my advice is free and may be considered to be worth slight less than the asking price.
 
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My sling on the SR rifle is for conveniently carrying the rifle to and from the butts. :)

I used a sling many moons ago when competing SR with an M14 and an M1 Garand since we shot off our elbows back then. :cool:

Today I just use a Magpul MS3 for CQB games , even a camcorder strap with the many swivels on the rig. Use what works for you and your game. This reminds me of an anecdotal funny story about a shooter who insisted on using some sort of Vickers like sling in the 200 yard sitting rapids and tangled himself up like crazy. TimK and I were slapping our knees laughing on the firing line.

We stopped laughing when he stood up still tangled and swiped us but not intentionally. We developed a policy of "no sling use" immediately after that incident.

Sound familiar?

Cheers, Barney.
 
NSCC Rules State:

Sling
a. The use of a sling is at the competitor’s discretion. b. The sling may be either attached to the front sling swivel and used as a single point sling, or attached to both sling swivels as a two- point sling. The sling may be looped around the fore stock and used as a single or a two-point sling.
c. Slings must be of issue pattern or equivalent for the rifle in question. Slings normally used in target rifle competitions are not permitted.
d. The sling may be placed around one arm and/or wrist but not around any other part of the competitor’s body.
e. No padding of any kind will be used on the sling.

Not a huge advantage for shooting. Any of the CF guys that have ever tried a sling wrap position and looked through a collimator know that the sling can pull the rifle way of it's POI and it is nearly impossible to do this consistently as well.
 
While the video might be old, it show how the use the 1907 leather sling that was used on most battle rifles, like 1903 Springfiled, M-1 Garand, M-14, almost always on US Sniper Rifles, even the Canadians and British used the US 1907 Sling on the Lee Enfield No.4 Mk.1 (T) ! The video also covers setting up of the sling for the different positions and how to position yourself in the Prone, Kneeling, Sitting and Stand positions. Getting use to these can take a bit, but if you play with the video and your Rifle/Sling and over time you will become accustomed to these positions.

 
I've used the hasty sling method on rapids - it is do-able even to re-sling after the mag change and still comfortably get off your shots. I'd recommend only using it on a sling point that is connected entirely on a floated hand guard, and with lots of practice so you don't end up being the subject of jokes behind the firing point.:D

While it definitely adds stability with positions, both the proficiency and complexity of adding it to routine are detractors. It can really throw a shooter if a wrench gets added to the mix (like a stoppage), so a lot of guys keep to the KISS mantra - that and most seasoned shooters do just as well without, so they advocate more quality practice and fitness overall.
 
Believe me in service rifle you will have many far more important things to remember to do than to put on your sling. Time can be short in SR and it's just one more thing to go wrong. No sling for me.
 
The reason they used slings was because the rifles they used did not allow them to achieve full bone support or mechanical support in their holds. The rifles were heavy, the center of gravity was far out, and there was nothing sticking out of the rifles to support them on anything. Without the sling, it was all muscle support, and things go sideways when muscles start to tire. Slings add mechanical support when you can't achieve bone support or mechanical support any other way.

With the rifles being used these days and the shooting positions being used, there is no need for a sling. You get full mechanical support monopoding the mag on the ground in prone. You get full bone support balancing the rifle over the knee in kneeling. The "Australian cradle" technique does the same in sitting. And you can get full bone support in standing if you collapse the stock a little, grab the forearm close to the magwell and get your supporting forearm completely vertical and tucked close to the body.
 
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The US civilian version of Service Rife is a very slow paced version of "Rifle Golf" with semi auto rifles. In decent SR competitions you are constantly being forced to quickly shift or get in and out of position.

Keep this in mind, if you have time to screw around with a sling you should probably be running (cough, cough walking) a bolt action.
 
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