simple sling inspection

[progers]

Just wanted to share an experience that I had the other day and something that probably most of us overlook. However, this small problem could cause some nasty results.

I was climbing up my 15' ladderstand with my rifle over my shoulder. All of a sudden, I feel the rifle falling off my back. Somehow, I managed to catch it with my leg, lodging it against the other leg and preventing it from falling and possibly discharging causing serious injury or death.

The strap came loose at the buckle.

If you carry your rifle by the sling, inspect it regularly for loose screws, buckles, clips and also for dry rot on some types of slings. It could make the difference in life or death.

[cuzins8]

Good stuff Prog!

[VargetBurner]

Ahh, its a good idea to unload your gun before climbing
That must have been a scary second or two:roll:
Had my rifle fall off my shoulder once. The sling swivel disconected, i'm sure to use the newer style with the plastic safety nuts now, it put a dent in my scope Oh well its for hunting not picture taking

[bg.]

I'm religious about checking the sling, ever since I almost lost my .303 on a snowmobile ride. I doubt the scope would have survived getting run over by the sled

[progers]

Well, using a bolt action, I would spook everything off racking the bolt to load it back up once in the stand. Also, the gun I use, you have to take the saftey off to rack the bolt, which is something that I don't like. My rifle stays loaded from opening morning until the very last day, even in the house. "Unloaded" guns seems to be the guns that kill more people and with mine, my family knows that it is LOADED at all times and there is no room for me making a mistake and not unloading it one day. Which that would be the day an accident would occur. Handle all guns as if they were loaded.

Yea, it was a scary second or two, that's for sure. I was more worried about damaging the gun than it actually misfiring but, you never know.

I had a guy on another forum say that he hooks his to the swivel and felt it was safe. I told him that the swivel could fail and it seems now that you have had experience with that. I told him that anything could happen and it would happen when you least expected it.

This scenerio can also happen with you walking with a gun over your shoulder. I was lucky and the sling disconnected from the stock of the gun. If it was to disconnect from the forearm, you would have less of a chance to catch it. That could be a serious problem to an individual who just might be walking behind you.

[deerhunter4life]

i had it happen to me once with my 12 gauge it wasn't the best of experiences because i felt it falling i reached back to try grab it and boom the gun went off turns out before i grabbed it my finger came into contact with the trigger and yeah almost gave myself 1 3/8 oz a steel in the leg,

i had it another time with my really old 20 gauge bolt action fighting through some thick brush trying to scare up some rabbits (no sling on this one) and i got kinda tangled up and while trying to get loose my stupid self had my finger on the trigger and i pulled it when it was about an inch from my ear, and i tell ya that was a rude awakening all i heard was ringing for the next week outta that ear.

[bg.]

i had it happen to me once with my 12 gauge it wasn't the best of experiences because i felt it falling i reached back to try grab it and boom the gun went off turns out before i grabbed it my finger came into contact with the trigger and yeah almost gave myself 1 3/8 oz a steel in the leg,

i had it another time with my really old 20 gauge bolt action fighting through some thick brush trying to scare up some rabbits (no sling on this one) and i got kinda tangled up and while trying to get loose my stupid self had my finger on the trigger and i pulled it when it was about an inch from my ear, and i tell ya that was a rude awakening all i heard was ringing for the next week outta that ear.

You should try using the safety

[progers]

Yup. That little button is a life saver!

[deerhunter4life]

yeah i realized that then, a little bit late, but i am still in one piece so i can't complain.

[Standhunter]

I have a sting tied to all my stands w/ a snap on them. I check them b4 using them. When I hunt w/ my rifle I hook the snap thru the sling swivel at the butt so the gun points down. Once I'm strapped in and got everything like I want it, I pull my gun up.