How do you carry a heavy cannon?

[royinidaho]

How much does that thing weigh?

[Bob S.]

That biathalon sling looks pretty slick but I usually have a 30-40 lb backpack and shoulder slings tend to not get along. I have used a safari sling and it works pretty well but I usually end up carrying the rifle in my hands, crook of the arm, using the scope as a carry handle, etc.

[jro45]

I don't have a custom rifle. I have the 300 RUM witch weights with scope and sling 9.5 lbs. My sling I open for long walks and carry my rifle on my shoulder. This rifle doesn't recoil much at all.

[Buffalobob]

The way the pig gunner carried the M-60 was by tying a boot lace around the butt stock and making a loop on the top. He would then take a web belt and with more boot lace and tie on a snap link to each end of the web belt. One snap link went to the front sight structure and the other went to the loop on the butt stock. He would then put on his 50-70 pound butt kicking ruck sack and flop the web belt over his head and his left side shoulder. The machine gun then rode level at the right hip pointing forward at a 45 degree angle. A short belt of about 50 rounds would be balanced on the gun and his left arm. When the SHTF he would go to rock and roll from the hip until he could get to a position to go a prone. Once prone he would unsnap the D links and open the bipods and the ass’t pig gunner would have him a new belt ready to go. This is a very fast technique, and I do mean fast.

This is basically the same theory as SS7MM is trying to tell you. Some kind of quick release snap mechanism on a wide sling


There is a parade field drill team maneuver that I use when I am hunting alone. It is not safe for gun nor user. It goes like this. The gun is slung over the right shoulder (of a right handed shooter) with the gun along the back. Your right hand is kept grasping the sling at the sling swivel on the butt stock. When you want to shoulder the gun you drop your right shoulder and simultaneously jerk the sling forward and upward. This causes the barrel end to rotate backwards and downwards and then you pull the sling back to you hard and the butt stock flies toward your shoulder. You release the sling and with both hands try to “catch the rotating gun”. With a long barrel gun if you misjudge and hit a bunch of rocks with the barrel you will need a new crown. If you fail to “catch” the gun and drop it on the $1800.00 Night force scope you will be sorry. If the gun accidentally hits your leg and blows your foot off you will have a long crawl back to your truck.
It is very fast just not very safe

[davewilson]

my guess would be if trying to learn this technique one would pick it up quickly as the "learning curve" looks to be possibly expensive, painful, or both.

[budlight]

I weigh @175 I've been mountian humping my near 18 pound guns for years. 8.5 pound barrels, 6X24X56X33mm tubes, harris tall bypods, wide slings.

I just keep shifting the gun from hand to hand and shoulder to shoulder. The only problem I've ever noticed is when my 29 inch barrel is on my shoulder and I have to duck under a limb or something. I forget how high it's above my head and I get snagged.

I'm kind of aclimated by living at 5000 feet. I never thought much of it hunting at 7000-10,000+ feet until a sea level friend told me that he just couldn't take another step.

I'm coming up on 49 and I really increase my workouts about 30 days before a big hunt. Just keep shifting the gun around

[CAM]

B1G_b0re

I use a gunslinger back pack, it has worked out well after some changes. with the long guns the pack seemed to short and was top heavy so I had a shoe maker add 8" to the bottom pocket! it was too much and the barrel hit my leg when I was walking so back to the shoe maker for a trim. I ended up with about a 4" addition to the bottom and made a big difference. next I had him sew a handle on the right side so when taking the pack on/off it always but my gun rightside up and the zipper side on top also to get to my range finder etc., then I ended up robbing the straps off the top cover and tying them to the hook loop. I run the straps thru the thumbhole in my stock and snap them shut to keep the gun from flopping side to side. I don't us the top cover.

It ended up being very nice and easy to carry and have room for most everything you need for a day outdoors.

I have used it several times and I'm very happy with it and the owner of the company " Glen" is top notch to deal with.

I tryed all kinds or slings and brainstorms but putting it on my back and hiking to my vantage spot works for me. Also take a friend and let them have the close shots and you will be set for long range.

http://eberlestock.com/

CAM