Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: quadrafire on October 13, 2011, 02:08:41 PM

Title: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: quadrafire on October 13, 2011, 02:08:41 PM: These look pretty sweet, any comments?
Wondering how they are with a backpack?
http://www.cabelas.com/gun-slings-safari-rifle-sling-2.shtml (http://www.cabelas.com/gun-slings-safari-rifle-sling-2.shtml)
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: superdown on October 13, 2011, 02:28:17 PM: I use these on my muzzy and modern rifle i prefer the black one because it has the rubber grip strips on the inside of the strap the camo one does not have rubber grip on it so i spread some Alex plus clear silicone sealant on it so it wouldn't slip on my shoulder/neck area. The only downside to the safari sling i can think of is in extremely steep terrain you might need to cinch it up and use it like a conventional shoulder strap. personally it's the most comfortable way to carry a rifle i have found and by far the fastest to get on target.
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: Mongo Hunter on October 13, 2011, 02:40:57 PM: Only downside I see is when the rifle is in the horizontal postion it might get snagged on alot of brush. But depending on our area it looks to be a solid sling. Its so brushy around my hunting grounds half the time I get pissed and take my sling off.
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: DeKuma on October 13, 2011, 03:04:54 PM: I have been using one for about 15 years and would never go back to a normal sling. Like said, in very steep terrain you need to carry as a conventional, but that is easy. For very brushy terrain, I just slid it around so it is facing fwd and it is no problem.
Makes quick shots easier without having to slide off your shoulder. My wife loves it too.
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: quadrafire on October 14, 2011, 09:05:25 AM: Thanks for the input. The price is not bad either. I think I will check one out
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: marmotsafari on October 15, 2011, 03:07:51 PM: I've been backpack hunting and using the Kifaru gunbearer. It rocks- while pack is on my hands are 100% free, take the pack off and use my regular sling... YMMV, and I haven't tried the safari, just thought I would put this out there.
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: 7mag. on October 15, 2011, 09:12:33 PM: The Safari sling worked great for me for open country like mulie hunting in Eastern Wa., but I hated it for West side hunts. I went back to a conventional sling for backtails.
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: trophyhunt on October 15, 2011, 09:19:23 PM: Quote from: superdown on October 13, 2011, 02:28:17 PM
I use these on my muzzy and modern rifle i prefer the black one because it has the rubber grip strips on the inside of the strap the camo one does not have rubber grip on it so i spread some Alex plus clear silicone sealant on it so it wouldn't slip on my shoulder/neck area. The only downside to the safari sling i can think of is in extremely steep terrain you might need to cinch it up and use it like a conventional shoulder strap. personally it's the most comfortable way to carry a rifle i have found and by far the fastest to get on target.
:yeah:Well put, I love mine and having my gun ready to fire at all times is great. I will try the silicone idea that was my only complaint.
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: Eli346 on October 20, 2011, 05:40:10 PM: I've got the Safari sling on 4 of my rifles and love it! It's the fastest sling I've found to get on target for the elk and deer that like to bust out at 25 yds in a flurry. Four elk and a deer in deep cover that wouldn't have been killed if I was using a conventional sling. I also like it because it is horizontal and keeps the rain off of your scope lenses for the most part. Try not to use it on a wood stock as it will rub the finish off on the buttstock and the forearm. They are adjustable so that you can shorten them up and put them in a backpack.
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: MikeWalking on October 20, 2011, 06:02:55 PM: I use one for the rifle I carry in Alaska, with 2 D-rings I can hang it from a loop on the shoulder strap of my backpack, have both hands free and not feel the weight. The only thing I don't like is not being able to use a shell carrier on the stock without the sling getting caught up on it.
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: jackmaster on October 20, 2011, 06:08:08 PM: there is no cons to a safari sling in my book it makes it easier to keep your gun always at the ready and makes it alot safer and easier to use your binos, we used them in the military on are m-60s and saws and also m203s and it made alot of sense so when i got out it made perfect sense to put it on my huntn rifle, i even got my dad to start using one and he was a firm believer that no one should use a sling of any kind, who said ya cant teach an old dog new tricks or somethn like that
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: MikeWalking on October 20, 2011, 06:50:33 PM: For use with a Backpack I found it pretty uncomfortable, it'll hang on your neck if you try to carry at the ready. Like I said I put one D-ring on a loop in the shoulder strap of my backpack another one on the sling. The sling is wide enough that the ring folds it and keeps it from slipping through. The rifle will hang level and not slide or tip, great when you need both hands. Plus with two rings you can just unhook one from the other when you need to set the rifle down etc instead of sliding the sling out of the D-ring.

I've carried a 45-70 lever gun this way for weeks at a time very comfortably. Even all day on a lighter day pack.
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: quadrafire on October 20, 2011, 08:47:42 PM: Quote from: MikeWalking on October 20, 2011, 06:50:33 PM
For use with a Backpack I found it pretty uncomfortable, it'll hang on your neck if you try to carry at the ready. Like I said I put one D-ring on a loop in the shoulder strap of my backpack another one on the sling. The sling is wide enough that the ring folds it and keeps it from slipping through. The rifle will hang level and not slide or tip, great when you need both hands. Plus with two rings you can just unhook one from the other when you need to set the rifle down etc instead of sliding the sling out of the D-ring.

I've carried a 45-70 lever gun this way for weeks at a time very comfortably. Even all day on a lighter day pack.
Mike would you happen to have a picture of this set up. I would be using it with a backpack much of the time.

Thanks
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: MikeWalking on October 21, 2011, 12:35:43 PM: Quote from: quadrafire on October 20, 2011, 08:47:42 PM
Quote from: MikeWalking on October 20, 2011, 06:50:33 PM
For use with a Backpack I found it pretty uncomfortable, it'll hang on your neck if you try to carry at the ready. Like I said I put one D-ring on a loop in the shoulder strap of my backpack another one on the sling. The sling is wide enough that the ring folds it and keeps it from slipping through. The rifle will hang level and not slide or tip, great when you need both hands. Plus with two rings you can just unhook one from the other when you need to set the rifle down etc instead of sliding the sling out of the D-ring.

I've carried a 45-70 lever gun this way for weeks at a time very comfortably. Even all day on a lighter day pack.
Mike would you happen to have a picture of this set up. I would be using it with a backpack much of the time.

Thanks

Wish I did. On most all backpack shoulder straps there will be some kind of loop to hang stuff. On my REI Newstar they are just above the Sternum strap, the one that pulls the shoulder straps together. I put one ring through the one on my right shoulder. Another on the sling. Two are easier and faster than taking it off the strap or sling. I let the sling out so the rifle hangs about waist level, higher if there is a pistol on my belt. One hand to keep it from swinging, it stays level really well if you use a narrow enough d ring. I use the non climb rated utility rings from Fred Meyer, about $2. I really liked this, having it secured to my pack for stream-river crossings when I wanted both hands free. Both Marlins 1895's I used this on weigh about 6.75-7lbs loaded and I never felt the weight.
Title: Re: Safari sling pros/cons?
Post by: Charlie on October 22, 2011, 05:30:44 PM: Quote
there is no cons to a safari sling in my book it makes it easier to keep your gun always at the ready and makes it alot safer and easier to use your binos, we used them in the military on are m-60s and saws and also m203s and it made alot of sense so when i got out it made perfect sense to put it on my huntn rifle, i even got my dad to start using one and he was a firm believer that no one should use a sling of any kind, who said ya cant teach an old dog new tricks or somethn like that

+1
I use a Nimrod pack and can adjust the sling in a variety of positions that spares my poor old neck. I can't speak for other packs though.