Sling Use
by John Tate

I’m a firm believer in slings for long guns for several OBVIOUS reasons:

  • Hands-free while hands-on. Once a perp is located and needs to be hooked-up, you gotta put that long gun somewhere safe and secure. Voilá – the sling.
  • Shooting position stability. The sling, if properly used, reduces wobble and may remove the need for muscle support (all positions except offhand).
  • Hands-free when traveling. Think “sling arms.”

My background is the classic 1907-style leather sling. But I’ve also used the one-piece web sling. Either works as a “hasty sling.” And the web sling can be disconnected from the butt for an upper-arm-to-rifle-forearm config.

I’m not familiar with the modern one-point and … well, I don’t know the name(s) for modern around the neck and around the back-shoulder options.

Full disclosure: Virtually all my sling experience is with the military two-piece leather or one-piece web sling. For either, the only quick option is the hasty sling. Otherwise, whether kneeling, sitting or prone, a different length is needed, which means individual adjustment prior to going into position. When I was a kid and did a bunch of hunting, it was mostly along the central eastern seaboard around Piedmont NC. I always had a tree for standing support; so I didn’t need slings, sticks or bipods.