Zak Smith
Member
Probably has something to do with 15-30 mph winds making LR hits hard.
How To Carry a HEAVY Rifle.
- Thread starter Cosmoline
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Cosmoline
Member
I've got some inside info from a member who does a lot of hunting with rifles this big and bigger. There's a place called Trader Keith's that caters to the Africa hunting crowd and has a special sling. I'm seeing if they have it for these little swivels. Here it is at another site:
http://www.gunsinternational.com/detail.cfm?id=100004761&string=cid=528
http://www.gunsinternational.com/detail.cfm?id=100004761&string=cid=528
for the benefit of those that didn't read the OP carefully or aren't familiar, it'd look like this:
...or the top one in this pic:
I got to the thread late, but I'm following with great interest, as I've got a Kodiak double too. Even a .50, so it should be exactly like Cosmoline's.
After a couple shots at deer with regular muzzleloaders, figured having a second barrel for another shot RIGHT NOW would be worthwhile. Haven't hit upon a good way to carry it at all, just keep finding myself out in the woods muttering, "I've got to get a a sling on this pig." Then the next M/L season comes along and there I am again. :banghead: Somehow, I've always pictured a braided sling on this, for aesthetic reasons, I guess, but after reading the suggestions Art's "pillow-pad sling" sounds darned good.
Although, on the bright side, not having a sling has meant that I've frequently carried it cradled in the left elbow with my right hand draped over the wrist/lock area, which means that I can get it into action in something less than calendar units of measurement...
And yes, my signature line IS ironic in this instance.
...or the top one in this pic:
I got to the thread late, but I'm following with great interest, as I've got a Kodiak double too. Even a .50, so it should be exactly like Cosmoline's.
After a couple shots at deer with regular muzzleloaders, figured having a second barrel for another shot RIGHT NOW would be worthwhile. Haven't hit upon a good way to carry it at all, just keep finding myself out in the woods muttering, "I've got to get a a sling on this pig." Then the next M/L season comes along and there I am again. :banghead: Somehow, I've always pictured a braided sling on this, for aesthetic reasons, I guess, but after reading the suggestions Art's "pillow-pad sling" sounds darned good.
Although, on the bright side, not having a sling has meant that I've frequently carried it cradled in the left elbow with my right hand draped over the wrist/lock area, which means that I can get it into action in something less than calendar units of measurement...
And yes, my signature line IS ironic in this instance.
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Cosmoline
Member
And here I thought you'd have a clever solution. The .50 from Cabelas is I believe the heaviest of all this breed of doubles because it has the full pistol grip stock and the thickest barrels. If I had level ground to hunt on it wouldn't be such a problem but my usual turf in the Chugach NF is vertical and absolutely brutal.
Anyway I'll keep experimenting.
Anyway I'll keep experimenting.
dogrunner
Member
Got the same damn gun and frankly I just live with it. I am constantly shifting it around from hand to hand and if the terrain's conducive I usually just toss it over my right shoulder and hold it by the barrels..........I also shift shoulders a LOT!
Mine has a European braided leather sling that actually fits the narrow swivels and is useful for short periods of normal carry. Still, its a big and heavy gun and short of one of the very wide African double styles or one of the modern neoprene types most other styles won't work too well.
Even then I'll bet you wind up doing just like I do.
Mine has a European braided leather sling that actually fits the narrow swivels and is useful for short periods of normal carry. Still, its a big and heavy gun and short of one of the very wide African double styles or one of the modern neoprene types most other styles won't work too well.
Even then I'll bet you wind up doing just like I do.
MinnMooney
Member
I like that Biathalon sling. it looks like it can bear the load comfortably and balanced.
My Savage LRPV with scope and bipod weighs in at around 15 lbs and I don't like carrying that thing more than 1/2 mile out to a P.D. town.
My Savage LRPV with scope and bipod weighs in at around 15 lbs and I don't like carrying that thing more than 1/2 mile out to a P.D. town.
MinnMooney
Member
molasses : That is one beee-u-tee-ful gun!!
cosmoline : Is that what yours looks like, also?
I love hunting with a front-stuffer and thought about a double barrel.......... until I saw the price tag!!!
cosmoline : Is that what yours looks like, also?
I love hunting with a front-stuffer and thought about a double barrel.......... until I saw the price tag!!!
W.E.G.
Member
God this is heavy!!!
redneckdan
Member
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- Jul 2, 2006
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- 480
Opening morning I set up on a hill over looking a main escape trail with the 'reach out and wack 'em' rifle and take my pick of the deer spooked by the other hunters. Seeing as how this is over a 2 mile walk through some of the UPs finest cedar swamps...I lash the rifle to the pack frame for the walk and use the blackhawk for anything I might stumble across on the way in/out.
Claude Clay
Member
tactical wheel barrel
or an Eagle shooting mat
or an Eagle shooting mat
There is no perfect way to carry a heavy rifle short of a gunbearer.
You could try carrying over your shoulder, butt to the rear, muzzle forward. The point of balance goes on your shoulder and a light grip goes around the forward part of the barrels to keep the rifle under control. I think this was actually called "african carry". Some padding on your shoulder prevents the rifle from rubbing.
I have used this method often while hunting. You have to be very aware of where you are pointing the muzzle but since I usually hunt alone this is less of a problem for me.
You could try carrying over your shoulder, butt to the rear, muzzle forward. The point of balance goes on your shoulder and a light grip goes around the forward part of the barrels to keep the rifle under control. I think this was actually called "african carry". Some padding on your shoulder prevents the rifle from rubbing.
I have used this method often while hunting. You have to be very aware of where you are pointing the muzzle but since I usually hunt alone this is less of a problem for me.
James T Thomas
Member
Field Exercize
I'm unable to suggest a clever solution.
The post by Zak S. is the practical way I have done it with the M-14A1; the full auto version. I had the sling over the opposite shoulder, and the rifle at hip level. It wasn't in mountainous terrain Cosmo, but swamp and jungle, and it was difficult. One thing I did was shift it around -quite often.
As your trip is in the future yet, perhaps you should have a daily routine, or every other day of "exercize" to firm yourself and adjust before hand.
I've seen m-60 gunners carry the same way too, and that was with 25 lbs. of gun, and another six pounds of ammo on an attached belt! We called it "humping;" I suppose because after enough of that you turned into a "hump back."
With the shoulder sling hung carry, you can take on a "Port Arms" carry; with the rifle held diagonal across the body for a temporary relief. Carry it long enough in that position and the isometric contraction of your biceps will turn you into Rambo!
Now the rounds for that piece must be considered too. How much do they weigh, and how many are you going to "hump?"
"W.E.G:" It was for that reason that He had asked earlier of the Father; if there was any other way? He bore that on a layed open raw and bleeding back, in great thirst, and much more. What love for all of us whom He created!
I'm unable to suggest a clever solution.
The post by Zak S. is the practical way I have done it with the M-14A1; the full auto version. I had the sling over the opposite shoulder, and the rifle at hip level. It wasn't in mountainous terrain Cosmo, but swamp and jungle, and it was difficult. One thing I did was shift it around -quite often.
As your trip is in the future yet, perhaps you should have a daily routine, or every other day of "exercize" to firm yourself and adjust before hand.
I've seen m-60 gunners carry the same way too, and that was with 25 lbs. of gun, and another six pounds of ammo on an attached belt! We called it "humping;" I suppose because after enough of that you turned into a "hump back."
With the shoulder sling hung carry, you can take on a "Port Arms" carry; with the rifle held diagonal across the body for a temporary relief. Carry it long enough in that position and the isometric contraction of your biceps will turn you into Rambo!
Now the rounds for that piece must be considered too. How much do they weigh, and how many are you going to "hump?"
"W.E.G:" It was for that reason that He had asked earlier of the Father; if there was any other way? He bore that on a layed open raw and bleeding back, in great thirst, and much more. What love for all of us whom He created!
Cosmoline
Member
I do that with my long Mosin all the time and it's fantastic. But this double is too squat and pokey. It won't balance comfortably on my shoulder. If it had longer, thinner barrels it might. Or if it was a breach loader and could be carried with the breach open in an inverted "v" shape.
Yup, I'm doing it. I take it out every night and sling it or hold it out for as long as I can. If nothing else it makes every other firearm I have seem light as a feather. I guess I just have to "grow stronger" like the vikings say.
On that score the rifle gets high marks. It's a smokepole so the projectiles are nothing more complex or expensive than .50 cal roundballs and some conicals. Easy to tote, and about 1/100th the price of nitro express rounds. For bruins I've been double charging the barrels so I can onload four roundballs at once what they used to call "a dose of grape." Weight and all I'm real curious to see how this would work on black bear at close range.
feedthehogs
Member
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- Jan 8, 2003
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- 1,801
Had the wife sew some shoulder pads in my hunting jacket shoulders using 1/4" scuba suit material which helped not only in carrying the rifle in, but helped with the load from the packed out meat going out.
BigGunsMoreFun
Member
I like the Turner Slings
I prefer the Turner National Match Military Sling or the Turner National Match / Police Tactical sling. I can carry pretty much every rifle I own all day with one of these with no problems and I am no spring chicken.
If your sling digs into your shoulder and you don't have a padded sling, an easy fix is putting your handkerchief / bandana under your shirt right where the sling goes over your shoulder. I've seen a few old timers do that.
You could always get a little red wagon and pull it around behind you with the rifle in it.
Another option is do what the Elmer Fudd's do and buy you one of them fancy ATVs and strap the rifle across the back of it or carry it in a rifle scabbard. Don't expect to take any game with this option though. Animals tend to run off when they hear something that sounds like a mad hornets nest and smells like a coal burning factory headed their way. 
I think your best option is a good, wide, padded sling. If that doesn't do the trick maybe a lighter rifle would help.
Molon Labe,
Joe
I prefer the Turner National Match Military Sling or the Turner National Match / Police Tactical sling. I can carry pretty much every rifle I own all day with one of these with no problems and I am no spring chicken.
If your sling digs into your shoulder and you don't have a padded sling, an easy fix is putting your handkerchief / bandana under your shirt right where the sling goes over your shoulder. I've seen a few old timers do that.
You could always get a little red wagon and pull it around behind you with the rifle in it.
Another option is do what the Elmer Fudd's do and buy you one of them fancy ATVs and strap the rifle across the back of it or carry it in a rifle scabbard.
Don't expect to take any game with this option though. Animals tend to run off when they hear something that sounds like a mad hornets nest and smells like a coal burning factory headed their way. I think your best option is a good, wide, padded sling. If that doesn't do the trick maybe a lighter rifle would help.
Molon Labe,
Joe
Organdonor
Member
One of the other posters may have been onto something... search online for bag-style gun cases that have nicely padded backpack straps on them. Then you can easily hump your rifle, and not be limited by the narrow sling hardware on it.
06
Member
BARs weighed what-22lbs?? Plus how many mags. You had to be a man or a donkey to do it. As for "humping" your heavy shooter--a lot of practice prior to the hunt will help. Prior to a long hike I load up and practice. It toughens up your shoulders--or maybe it just deadens the feelings-lol,wc
Cosmoline
Member
Well as it happens I've got dibbs on a Tryon I've been wanting to make into an homage to the great Joe Meek, so I'm going to unload this beast to raise funds. I've got an ad up in the sales forum if anyone is interested.
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