Trigger Monkey
Operator
A while back I wrote an article regarding slings and I'd like to spread the knowledge here too. Everyone is going to have their preference for different brands and types of slings but for the most part a lot of the techniques are cross compatible it will just come down to practice.
Sling designs have advanced considerably in the past 100 years but the fundamental principles that make them effective as shooting aids have remained the same. To explore some of these fundamentals I think the best place to start is by using a sling as an example that is designed for the purpose of supporting the rifle for shooting. For better or worse, modern precision rifle slings can trace their lineage back to the M1907 sling and the techniques taught by the likes of Townsend Whelen. However, slings now have more features that make them versatile and able to adapt to different rifles and shooting conditions.
Looping Up
Using a sling in the traditional sense as a shooting aid means using a loop created by the sling to pass your through and then using body mechanics and sling tension to stabilize the rifle. That's a simplistic way to describe the process but modern slings do make it easier to utilize this method.
If the sling is mounted to the underside of the rifle you need to turn the sling to set up the loop properly. Pass your arm through and get it up as high as you can on your bicep. If the sling is mounted to the right side, passing under the forend, there's no need to turn the sling.
Push out on the rifle and tighten the loop.
When done right the webbing should lay flat across the back of the hand as you lightly grasp the stock, no need for white knuckling it. When tensioned properly you should be able to drop your strong-side arm, leaving the rifle still supported in the pocket of the shoulder. This amount of tension is a little nuanced but you want enough tension where you have to push forward slightly before the sling wants to pull it right back into your shoulder. If it's too tight, you're going to have to force it the whole way and you might not be able to get into a good shooting position without it being painful.
Bone support is vital, especially in the sitting or kneeling positions. It helps to lean forward to get the shoulders forward of the hips and put your elbow forward of the support side knee. In the field use a rear bag, extra jacket, or even your pack to fill in some of the gaps between your body and the ground. It might take some experimentation to find what works out best for you but something as simple as putting a rear bag under your right foot in the kneeling can make a world of difference.
Across the Back
This is a down and dirty method that can be used with carbine slings and similar ones from Armageddon Gear, TAB Gear, and Rifles only that are fast adjusting and/or have some bungee action to them. It’s effective when you are carrying the rifle in a patrol carry fashion and need some stability quick, fast, and in a hurry. From the patrol carry all you need to do is get into a shooting position, tighten the running end, and let the tension pull across your back to the front of the rifle. I've used this method countless times from a variety of obstacles and not only is it very fast to bring to bear and it's also pretty stable. To gain some more stability using this method I also like to push my support arm out, sometimes against the front of the buckle and rotate my elbow inwards slightly to put more pressure on the sling. This helps draw the rifle down a bit more and I've found that it works well to help steady the reticle just before I break a shot. If you are using this method in a standing position, it will help to square up to the target, spread your legs about shoulder width apart, and lock your knees out while leaning forward slightly.
Wojcik Method
I first saw what came to be the Wojcik Method in an article by Caylen in one of the first Guns & Ammo Sniper magazines . What I like about this technique is that it’s simple and easy to adapt to multiple sling designs. Essentially, what you are going to do is pull the sling up as high as you can behind the tricep of your firing arm so that it runs from the rear sling swivel around your arm and to the front of the gun. Now, if your sling is adjustable, tighten it up so that you feel the sling pulling the rifle back into your shoulder, for some more tension you can also pull your elbow back if need be. Like I said, this method works across many different slings from precision rifle slings to hunting slings and works great off of tripods, shooting sticks, or even natural obstacles like logs or boulders.
Hunting Slings
Just because most hunting slings are simple carrying straps doesn’t meant that they can’t be used as shooting aids in a pinch. You can easily use the Wojcik technique with a properly adjusted hunting sling or even the trusty hasty sling technique. If you are going to use a hunting sling as a shooting aid my word of advice is to practice with your rifle beforehand so that you know where the sling is adjusted properly and you are used to getting into the position quickly. There’s no metric for what the proper adjustment length is going to be since that is going to vary person to person.
Wrapping it Up…. No Pun Intended
I know I wasn’t able to cover every type of sling but I think I've shown some good techniques to use with a sling. Its effectiveness is going to be entirely up to you and how much you work with the sling to get that accuracy at distance. Simply buying a shooting sling and playing with it once or twice will not make it an effective tool.
Sling designs have advanced considerably in the past 100 years but the fundamental principles that make them effective as shooting aids have remained the same. To explore some of these fundamentals I think the best place to start is by using a sling as an example that is designed for the purpose of supporting the rifle for shooting. For better or worse, modern precision rifle slings can trace their lineage back to the M1907 sling and the techniques taught by the likes of Townsend Whelen. However, slings now have more features that make them versatile and able to adapt to different rifles and shooting conditions.
Looping Up
Using a sling in the traditional sense as a shooting aid means using a loop created by the sling to pass your through and then using body mechanics and sling tension to stabilize the rifle. That's a simplistic way to describe the process but modern slings do make it easier to utilize this method.
If the sling is mounted to the underside of the rifle you need to turn the sling to set up the loop properly. Pass your arm through and get it up as high as you can on your bicep. If the sling is mounted to the right side, passing under the forend, there's no need to turn the sling.
Push out on the rifle and tighten the loop.
When done right the webbing should lay flat across the back of the hand as you lightly grasp the stock, no need for white knuckling it. When tensioned properly you should be able to drop your strong-side arm, leaving the rifle still supported in the pocket of the shoulder. This amount of tension is a little nuanced but you want enough tension where you have to push forward slightly before the sling wants to pull it right back into your shoulder. If it's too tight, you're going to have to force it the whole way and you might not be able to get into a good shooting position without it being painful.
Bone support is vital, especially in the sitting or kneeling positions. It helps to lean forward to get the shoulders forward of the hips and put your elbow forward of the support side knee. In the field use a rear bag, extra jacket, or even your pack to fill in some of the gaps between your body and the ground. It might take some experimentation to find what works out best for you but something as simple as putting a rear bag under your right foot in the kneeling can make a world of difference.
Across the Back
This is a down and dirty method that can be used with carbine slings and similar ones from Armageddon Gear, TAB Gear, and Rifles only that are fast adjusting and/or have some bungee action to them. It’s effective when you are carrying the rifle in a patrol carry fashion and need some stability quick, fast, and in a hurry. From the patrol carry all you need to do is get into a shooting position, tighten the running end, and let the tension pull across your back to the front of the rifle. I've used this method countless times from a variety of obstacles and not only is it very fast to bring to bear and it's also pretty stable. To gain some more stability using this method I also like to push my support arm out, sometimes against the front of the buckle and rotate my elbow inwards slightly to put more pressure on the sling. This helps draw the rifle down a bit more and I've found that it works well to help steady the reticle just before I break a shot. If you are using this method in a standing position, it will help to square up to the target, spread your legs about shoulder width apart, and lock your knees out while leaning forward slightly.
Wojcik Method
I first saw what came to be the Wojcik Method in an article by Caylen in one of the first Guns & Ammo Sniper magazines . What I like about this technique is that it’s simple and easy to adapt to multiple sling designs. Essentially, what you are going to do is pull the sling up as high as you can behind the tricep of your firing arm so that it runs from the rear sling swivel around your arm and to the front of the gun. Now, if your sling is adjustable, tighten it up so that you feel the sling pulling the rifle back into your shoulder, for some more tension you can also pull your elbow back if need be. Like I said, this method works across many different slings from precision rifle slings to hunting slings and works great off of tripods, shooting sticks, or even natural obstacles like logs or boulders.
Hunting Slings
Just because most hunting slings are simple carrying straps doesn’t meant that they can’t be used as shooting aids in a pinch. You can easily use the Wojcik technique with a properly adjusted hunting sling or even the trusty hasty sling technique. If you are going to use a hunting sling as a shooting aid my word of advice is to practice with your rifle beforehand so that you know where the sling is adjusted properly and you are used to getting into the position quickly. There’s no metric for what the proper adjustment length is going to be since that is going to vary person to person.
Wrapping it Up…. No Pun Intended
I know I wasn’t able to cover every type of sling but I think I've shown some good techniques to use with a sling. Its effectiveness is going to be entirely up to you and how much you work with the sling to get that accuracy at distance. Simply buying a shooting sling and playing with it once or twice will not make it an effective tool.
