Why is this? Big bore rifles
- Thread starter scott_r
- Start date
The theory is to protect your hand, but so far I've had them on the fore-end, forend tip at a 45 degree angle and on a barrel band. I haven't been cut, bruised or even nudged hard by any of them, but those sharp edged CZ factory swivels came off, first thing. Since I carry a big-bore in my hands where it belongs while hunting I only have to deal with a smooth stud in the stock and a rolled up nylon sling in my pocket. The lower postion when sling carrying a barrel band equiped rifle is a lot more comfortable, and hangs better.
I like em on the barrel for a lower carrying position. Had never been touched by a forearm stud till I fired 6 rounds rapid fire out of my Rigby. Didn't notice it while shooting but my hand was bleeding after I finished. That was the 350 TSX in front of 106 Grs. Rel. 22. Tons of fun.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I use the sling as a shooting aid so prefer the swivel in the stock, but putting it on the radius of the for-end prevents me from getting cut. Another advantage of the barrel mounted sling is that it lowers the height of the muzzle when you carry the rifle slung muzzle up. This way it's less likely to snag on branches and willows and things.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
If I was using a slign as a shootign aid, I'd have it the stud on the stock. On a magnum they belong on the barrel as you're not likely going to be slung up tight when shooting a heavy. Keeping the muzzle lower when slung is another theoretical advantage, but I submit that if you're carrying a heavy, you're likely in country where there are dangerous beasts. In that case, you should have the rifle in your hands. Slung rifles in dangerous game country are, in my opinion, the hallmarks of tourists and rank amateurs.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Packing a rifle in your hands in difficult country equals fatigue. A fatigued hunter is a careless hunter, and a careless hunter is a dead hunter. When there is an indication that a dangerous animal is close by you mostly have time to unsling and get the rifle in your hands before there is any contact. But a full day of walking with a heavy rifle in your hands is not conducive to either quick reactions or awareness.
A .375 is hardly a heavy but I do shoot mine slung up when I have the opportunity to shoot from a supported position. It takes little time to sling up and improves the likely-hood of hitting dramatically. I did the same with the .416 and the .458 when I packed them around, and it made hitting at longer ranges much easier.
I disagree BUM, I took out the .375 earlier today and fired a quick three shot group from a standing position, just natural and without any consideration for my forehand position. The stock lug didn't even come close to doing any damage. I'd much prefer using a sling and having the opportunity to switch and remain comfortable with the rifle. When and where I pack the .375, I don't come as a tourist .... an amateur? maybe....depends on one's opinion I guess. Still though, those barrel bands kinda give a rifle that more "jungle" look.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Check out Galco's Safari Ching Sling. It is essentially a cobra sling split length wise with a horse shoe strap joining the two halves. To sling-up all you have to do it pull the short strap up on the back of your support arm with your elbow in the space between the halves of the main strap, and you're there in a single motion.
A bit of foolishness one sees commonly in Africa is called the "African Carry" Lots of guys think this is a cool way to carry, but it leaves me cold. It would be no faster to bring the rifle to bear from this position than it would from a slung carry. But it is particularly ugly when moving through heavy cover. I have a great deal of respect for the knowledge and ability of my PH in Tanzania, but when we went through heavy cover, him with his .577 resting on top of his shoulder muzzles forward, and the tracker in front while the triggers were exposed to branches and thorns , I wanted to punch him!
A carry I do like is the jaeger carry. The rifle is slung muzzle up from the weak shoulder with the rifle to the front of the body, then the arm is placed over the barrel which forces the rifle to the back and keeps the it securely in place. This carry is not particularly good in heavy cover, but in heavy cover is when I prefer to carry the rifle in my hands anyway, but in unconfined spaces, the jaeger makes the transition from slung to at hand very quick.
A bit of foolishness one sees commonly in Africa is called the "African Carry" Lots of guys think this is a cool way to carry, but it leaves me cold. It would be no faster to bring the rifle to bear from this position than it would from a slung carry. But it is particularly ugly when moving through heavy cover. I have a great deal of respect for the knowledge and ability of my PH in Tanzania, but when we went through heavy cover, him with his .577 resting on top of his shoulder muzzles forward, and the tracker in front while the triggers were exposed to branches and thorns , I wanted to punch him!
A carry I do like is the jaeger carry. The rifle is slung muzzle up from the weak shoulder with the rifle to the front of the body, then the arm is placed over the barrel which forces the rifle to the back and keeps the it securely in place. This carry is not particularly good in heavy cover, but in heavy cover is when I prefer to carry the rifle in my hands anyway, but in unconfined spaces, the jaeger makes the transition from slung to at hand very quick.
Plus 1000 on that African carry. In a discussion with 1 PH he was asking about all fatalities that he heard about in States. That created an opening for a pointed heart to heart about that damned method of carrying a rifle so it was usually pointed at someone. Since we were talking in camp, there was a lot of ears. The PHs were somewhat suprised to find out that such poor gun handling would get your rifle taken away by someone in your own hunting party if you did it here, and how strongly we all felt about it. I'd kick my kids ass if he pointed an elephant gun at someone, but will never have to. He learned that when he was 3.
Use of a sling actually is a sound safety move, making muzzle control much easier. I've found that you spent 10 seconds a day trying to shoot something, and 12 hours a day trying not to shoot anybody else. I'm convinced that some of those trackers are trying to get shot, unless they are just desensitized by having their boss pointing his at them. Many are fatalists to the extent that that they believe that if they were meant to be shot, they will be. I'm not.
I'll carry my big rifles in my hands hunting, but there is a lot of the day that isn't actively hunting. It's a full time job just being safe.
Hey, someone besides me actually uses a Ching Sling? I thought I was alone in the world. Boomer, you went to Gunsite, didn't you?
Use of a sling actually is a sound safety move, making muzzle control much easier. I've found that you spent 10 seconds a day trying to shoot something, and 12 hours a day trying not to shoot anybody else. I'm convinced that some of those trackers are trying to get shot, unless they are just desensitized by having their boss pointing his at them. Many are fatalists to the extent that that they believe that if they were meant to be shot, they will be. I'm not.
I'll carry my big rifles in my hands hunting, but there is a lot of the day that isn't actively hunting. It's a full time job just being safe.
Hey, someone besides me actually uses a Ching Sling? I thought I was alone in the world.
Boomer, you went to Gunsite, didn't you?
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- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Plus 1000 on that African carry. In a discussion with 1 PH he was asking about all fatalities that he heard about in States. That created an opening for a pointed heart to heart about that damned method of carrying a rifle so it was usually pointed at someone. Since we were talking in camp, there was a lot of ears. The PHs were somewhat suprised to find out that such poor gun handling would get your rifle taken away by someone in your own hunting party if you did it here, and how strongly we all felt about it. I'd kick my kids ass if he pointed an elephant gun at someone, but will never have to. He learned that when he was 3.
Use of a sling actually is a sound safety move, making muzzle control much easier. I've found that you spent 10 seconds a day trying to shoot something, and 12 hours a day trying not to shoot anybody else. I'm convinced that some of those trackers are trying to get shot, unless they are just desensitized by having their boss pointing his at them. Many are fatalists to the extent that that they believe that if they were meant to be shot, they will be. I'm not.
I'll carry my big rifles in my hands hunting, but there is a lot of the day that isn't actively hunting. It's a full time job just being safe.
Hey, someone besides me actually uses a Ching Sling? I thought I was alone in the world.
Well, I consider myself enlightened if that counts, and there is a raven logo on each of my Safari Ching Slings
The trackers in Africa probably believe they are on borrowed time. they make big coin by African standards, but they go first unarmed towards, buffalo, hippo, and big cats. In the long grass they'll find critters like black mambas, cobras, or gaboon vipers first. They are the first to cross the water that might conceal a croc or a hippo. They are out in front after the client shoots his leopard and it falls from the tree and makes it to thick cover. He's the one who discovers the lone elephant blocking the trail, so getting shot is probably low on his radar.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
For those anticipating their upcoming African adventures, or those who are still in the planning stages, I hope these make the waiting more difficult: If I could add in the dove calls and the smells I would.
If I could add in the dove calls and the smells I would.
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BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I'm with the above posters in that I'm no fan of the African carry either. Maybe if you're in the front of the line it would be OK but it's no good for getting the rifle into action quickly - the main reason I don't use a sling.
With respect to the swivel stud, I suppose it bears noting (for those that haven't met me) that I'm 6'5 and those long arms end up a long ways out on the forend. Shorter guys might be OK, but with wings like these, I like having the stud a ways away from my hand.
I usually walk with my right hand grasping the stock at the wrist in a firing position and my left hand looping under the rifle and holding my right wrist. I find it hold the rifle still and supports the weight well. Not to mention it keeps any extraneous movements of the arms under control. In the end the rifle in pointed in a safe direction and held in a quicky accessible, but well supported position.
As always, YMMV.
With respect to the swivel stud, I suppose it bears noting (for those that haven't met me) that I'm 6'5 and those long arms end up a long ways out on the forend. Shorter guys might be OK, but with wings like these, I like having the stud a ways away from my hand.
I usually walk with my right hand grasping the stock at the wrist in a firing position and my left hand looping under the rifle and holding my right wrist. I find it hold the rifle still and supports the weight well. Not to mention it keeps any extraneous movements of the arms under control. In the end the rifle in pointed in a safe direction and held in a quicky accessible, but well supported position.
As always, YMMV.
Hahhh, very cool BUM. My favourite shooting stance here in AB is to drop to my bum and rest my elbows atop my knees. It has become an almost instantaneous reaction. And I do extremely well with it. When I related that to my kins, they nearly dropped dead in laughter as the tall African grass would totally engulf me and I'd all but disappear (I'm vertically challenged 
). Anyways, I can see your point with those long arms.
Great pics Boomer....thanks, now I won't sleep again.
). Anyways, I can see your point with those long arms. Great pics Boomer....thanks, now I won't sleep again.
Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
Do I see MS?
