To Sling or not to Sling (Your Lever Action Rifle)?

ProfMagoo(ret)

ProfMagoo(ret)

Homburg, Belicoso and Cane
Benefactor
Life Member
Multi-Factor Enabled
Joined
Dec 23, 2016
Messages
8,185
Location
Vance County NC
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
Thoughts? Btw, this is not a baited question - I just purchased my first lever-action rifle yesterday so I am genuinely curious regarding opinions/options. If I had to hazard a guess, for hunting involving walking about, yes, a sling would be near-obligatory; for brush work or other closer-to-home/camp/range work not so much?
 
Depending on if you have a horse or a 4wheeler on which to sheath it. I hunt quite a bit with a .35 Rem Marlin and it hurt my feelings to drill that hole for the sling swivel but man did it make the gun alot more easy to tote, esp while dragging a deer.
 
I for one don’t care for slings on lever guns.

Especially on the old Marlins, where the ignorants put the stud in the bullseye.
Now if the gun has already been disfigured or it is some form of temporary setup, fine.


But its your gun .. drill away .. if you must.
 
Last edited:
Michael458 said:
While most folks think a sling is all about carrying or toting the rifle. Not true. Slings are for Shooting, toting is secondary.............

Yes, a Sling in the field should be Mandatory...............Lever, bolt, single, don't matter............
Click to expand...
Proper techniques for stabilizing your shot with a sling is now taught even less than iron sights ...
 
Tailhunter said:
I for one don’t care for slings on lever guns.

Especially on the old Marlins, where the ignorants put the stud in the bullseye.
Now if the gun has already been disfigured or it is some form of temporary setup, fine.


But its your gun .. drill away .. if you must.
Click to expand...

The bullseye is in the wrong spot. Mine's about an inch and a half from the buttpad. The stock was already scarred before I got it from toting and bashing against climbing stands etc. Not like Marlin didn't make a million of them.
 
NCFubar said:
Proper techniques for stabilizing your shot with a sling is now taught even less than iron sights ...
Click to expand...

I have taught a few folks here and it is amazing just how stable it is over no sling and free hand. Over my hunting career I never remember being without a sling, and never remember not using it, even on sticks or other makeshift rest, such as sides of trees or what have you. And about the only time I did not find a rest of sorts is when things were very close and very fluid...........But the sling was always used......

You can see I am wrapped up in this sling while on the sticks........

IMG_1994aa.jpg
 
Ikarus1 said:
The bullseye is in the wrong spot. Mine's about an inch and a half from the buttpad. The stock was already scarred before I got it from toting and bashing against climbing stands etc. Not like Marlin didn't make a million of them.
Click to expand...
Some of us just like the pretty ones.
 
NKD said:
I always picture Michael458 with a gun bearer wearing a pith helmet.

Confused by this white dude hanging around behind him.
Click to expand...


HEH....... The young fellow is my Long time friend and PH from South Africa, Andrew Schoeman.........Contrary to the movies I always chose to carry my rifle at all times, even when I wish I wasn't..... The bolt gun above is one of my favorites and oh so easy to carry all day long, 458 B&M, 18 inch barrel, 7.5 lbs no scope...... It's a dream rifle. The lever gun is a 50 B&M AK from one of the Hi Grade Brownings with 18 inch barrel, also easy to carry.
 
Ikarus1 said:
Depending on if you have a horse or a 4wheeler on which to sheath it. I hunt quite a bit with a .35 Rem Marlin and it hurt my feelings to drill that hole for the sling swivel but man did it make the gun alot more easy to tote, esp while dragging a deer.
Click to expand...

I just had a vision of motoring about campus on a LimeBike with attached sheath! :D
 
Last edited:
Michael458 said:
HEH....... The young fellow is my Long time friend and PH from South Africa, Andrew Schoeman.........Contrary to the movies I always chose to carry my rifle at all times, even when I wish I wasn't..... The bolt gun above is one of my favorites and oh so easy to carry all day long, 458 B&M, 18 inch barrel, 7.5 lbs no scope...... It's a dream rifle. The lever gun is a 50 B&M AK from one of the Hi Grade Brownings with 18 inch barrel, also easy to carry.
Click to expand...

Looks like the kind of fella that’s good to have watching your flanks.
 
NKD said:
Looks like the kind of fella that’s good to have watching your flanks.
Click to expand...

We have been in the thick of it many times.........

Slacker said:
I would love to hear more about the rifles, calibers and culture that I have read so much about but never experienced.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words... Not really sure what anyone would want to hear, but just ask I guess..........
 
  • Like
Reactions: NKD
If a levergun comes to me with sling studs, I let 'em be. If not, I don't add 'em.

I'm also partial to iron sights, especially peep sights, on account o' me eyeballs are far sighted.

That said, my goto hunting rifle is a 336D 35 Rem with a sling and Trijicon TR24. It feels like cheatin'...
 
I was taught to shoot with a sling, shooting M16A1s on our Infantry Battalion's rifle team. I ain't no whiz bang shooter, but I do sling all of my long guns for supporting my shooting position.
 
It depends on the lever action. My 1895 has one but my Winchester 94 trapper in 44 mag doesn't. That little rifle feels like it wants to be carried in your hand.
 
Slings work great except in the thickets, there they are a snag giving away your position as you try a sneak on your prey.
 
OldNascar said:
Slings work great except in the thickets, there they are a snag giving away your position as you try a sneak on your prey.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this is why all the elite military units never sling their weapons.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Yes as many have said sling is very good to have if you are actually going to hunt or carry it in the woods with you. There are plenty of options for no drill , but really a properly drilled sling stud isn’t going to detract value unless you have a vintage collector grade lever gun.
Being able to sling your rifle frees up your hands for important tasks, and the right sling can help your stability on off hand shots if you take the time to learn basic fundamentals
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom