CORRECT WAY TO CARRY A RIFLE WHILST STALKING

[tinytim38]

Is there a correct way to carry a rifle whilst stalking in company? I have seen rifles slung over shoulder muzzles up and muzzles down, is there a correct way or is it personal choice?

[Dunkield]

Personal choice and very thorny subject when it was raised on the BBS!

BDS say muzzle up with the barrel in front of you, I do this if I have some one behind me, if I don't then muzzle up over my shoulder.

Muzzle down increases the risk of getting mud up the barrel IMHO.

[Lloyd90]

I think down would be best because if you accidently fire then its going into the ground. If it goes up you dont really know where its coming down. Just make sure its not pointed at anyone. I think its mostly personal preference and whats most comfortable to you

[JohnGalway]

That BBS topic got rather heated.

 

I'd not sling or carry a rifle muzzle down where I shoot. Too many rocks etc to whack the end of the barrel on and as Stuart has said there's the problem of plugging the barrel accidentally.

[garyb]

I carry mine muzzle up... but still I am always "muzzle aware" and ensure it never points at anyone or anything.

[henry d]

I`m with Stuart and John, you could also blow a toe or worse off with barrels down but forward and up with someone behind keeps you well aware of where the barrel is pointing. Also I tend to have the sling rather tight so it rides high on the shoulder and when I use the 6.5 the sound mod is even more of a noticeable thing.

[Harnser]

Some stalkers will carry the rifle in a gun slip . I tend to carry the rifle in my right hand when actually starting the stalk with the barrel facing forward and downwards . If its raining a small piece of sellotape or parcel tape stuck over the muzzel to stop water getting into the barrel . You can shoot through the tape without having to take it off and it wont affect accuracy . Another way to carry the rifle , or at least on my ruger is to load only 3 cartridges into the mag ,thumb them down and close the bolt over the top of the cartridges without loading one into the chamber .This is known as condition two (a loaded mag but no shell in the chamber ) to load the chamber pull back the bolt and push forward again .

 

 

Harnser .

[stuart92]

when ive got my air rifle muzzel down but at an angle so pointed in front of me

 

 

i saw in the new norma catalog a guy with his rifle pointing stright in front of him under shoulder style

 

 

 

stuart

[Shootingman]

(I think down would be best because if you accidently fire then its going into the ground.) or your foot

[Ozzy Fudd]

(I think down would be best because if you accidently fire then its going into the ground.) or your foot

 

i always prefer muzzle up, that way it wont hit you in the foot or ricochet up off a stone into someone

[Baldrick]

I'm with Harnser, carrying my rifles as condition two also. I have a double sling on my heavy stalking rifle, which by necessity has to be carried muzzle-up. A long barrel and a T8/PES T12 does not make for an easy ride if carried muzzle-down through dense brush. All other rifles are carried muzzle up on grippy Butler Creek slings. Muzzle-down works if you're carrying a bullpup rifle and/or if you're a lanky bloke.

 

If any of you have a copy of Robin Marshall-Ball's book 'The Sporting Rifle', you'll see that he carries his rifle muzzle-forward, slung horizontally.