Barrel up or down?

[S&L7x57]

I swop as per the circumstances: usually down because of the mod weight but when in Cumbria last, we were stalking in rocky clear-fell and I didn't like the idea of a bullet hitting rocks at our feet if the worst happened so it was up all the time. When we entered woodland on deep leaf litter and the risk of head height snags was more than ground cover it went down. All my stalking is guided so I never carry the rifle pointing forward for obvious reasons. In Northumberland last May, I was up (out of the ground vegetation) in the farmland but down (because of the head height branches) in the woodland. I have a double ended sling so I can swop back and forth.

 

[Overlay]

Stalking on your own, my way is Barrel in front, scope under your arm keeping the elements off of it, leaves both hands free for the Binos, wherever you turn the barrel is straight ahead pointing to the ground you are looking at, very comfortable for a long haul and nice and safe, with company rifle up out of the way

 

[User00026]

Up, and one in the chamber! Always have done and always will. I stalk alone, so it’s my way or the highway.

Tried ‘down’ and don’t like the idea of the bolt handle sitting against my knee, nor the safety rubbing against me, esp. if loaded. Also, IF one did go off and I was in mid forward step with my right foot, it could go down my lower right leg and foot.

Reason I stalk with a loaded rifle is simple, try chambering a round silently on a Buck on a quiet evening at 20yds, no chance! On the hill, sure, I can chamber when required, but why? Rather be ready to go!

Don’t use a mod, so the rifle also balances better pointing up

 

[8x57]

Tried ‘down’ and don’t like the idea of the bolt handle sitting against my knee, nor the safety rubbing against me, esp. if loaded. Also, IF one did go off and I was in mid forward step with my right foot, it could go down my lower right leg and foot.

Blimey Skippy do you and your six mates stalk with Snow White, because when I carry the rifle muzzle down the bolt is locked in under my elbow and a long way above my knee.

 

[Crowlcat]

Barrel down for me especially in wooded areas

 

[muddy42]

Up for me. One of the reasons I prefer short barrels with a mod is the fact they always remain facing upright when walking.

 

[8x57]

I particularly like muzzle down when carrying my break action rifles that don't have moderators. As these rifles are so short and light by comparison to a bolt action they just nestle in under the arm with my arm controlling any movement and I almost forget that I'm carrying a rifle, unlike with a bolt action rifle where it is occasionally necessary to reposition the sling on your shoulder.

 

[aquarius11]

For me barrel down, seems safer and is easier/quicker to shoulder the rifle, i've never taped a barrel tho but makes sense.
What tape do people use?
tia

 

[8x57]

A small strip of insulating tape does the job.

One over the muzzle and another wrapped around it that then becomes the replacement when you shoot a hole through the first.

 

[baguio]

For me barrel down, seems safer and is easier/quicker to shoulder the rifle, i've never taped a barrel tho but makes sense.
What tape do people use?
tia

Normal electricians tape I always have a couple more pieces taped around the mod for spares after a shot.

 

[RescueMe0007]

Mostly barrel down as I'm moving through woods and I want to avoid tapping the barrel off overhanging branches, on another part of the permission (open, very rocky moorland) barrel up tp prevent the barrel knocking off the large rocks and stones. I find barrel down to be most comfortable and if there were a discharge the round is not heading off to God knows where! Fortunately I've never experienced an accidental discharge.

 

[stevenedwards]

Barrel down then holding the moderator can guide the muzzle forward's ready to shoulder when needed. Barrel always "taped" using a target patch.

 

[Firefly]

Gralloch up Barrel down

 

[Pete1774]

I find barrel down is more comfortable with some rifles but it very much depends on the length of the gun vs the length of your legs The guy in the video, Johnny, is well over 6ft tall so not a problem for him. Also depends on the terrain.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Always muzzle down! Much easier to stalk with and the rifle much easier to shoulder without alerting a deer. Modern moderated rifles with bipods are muzzle heavy which gives them a natural tendency to want to be carried this way. I’ve had far too many accompanied stalkers stick a muzzle in my face trying to carry them upwards!
Yes, a rifle could go off at any time with poor discipline but is very unlikely to hit anything other than the ground if carried muzzle down. Even then it’s down to the owner and nobody else.
A bullet fired into the air is not owned and not safe!! ‘Celebratory’ fire at the end of the first gulf war in Kuwait accounted for 20 deaths!!!
I did a bit of research to discover that a 7.62/.308 round weighing 150 grains falling at terminal velocity will generally strike base first with about 30 ft/lbs of energy!
Imagine being shot in the top of your head with a .30 cal air rifle running at 30 ft/lbs!!
Most negligent discharges happen when loading or unloading. I always deem pointing a rifle into the air as unsafe when doing either on a witnessed stalk.
Always carry muzzle down and load/unload into a safe area such as soft ground or the base of a tree.
MS

 

[Cootmeurer]

If in front, port arms. If at the side or rear barrel down. Having a heavy barreled rifle or one with suppressor on they seem to naturally want to hang barrel down anyway.

 

[London Jaeger]

Barrels up for me personally with rifle slung over one shoulder. Whilst I have carried rifles barrels down before I always get so paranoid about a blocked barrel to the point it ends up being a distraction.



I've never actually really thought much about it before. I found a little video where some chap runs through a few ways. The names confused me somewhat as what he calls European Carry is what I always thought of as African Carry, as I remember seeing a video of PH Peter Capstick saying how he prefers to carry the rifle slung to the front in that manner when in the bush.

 

[NP435]

Depends on the weather.................never taped

 

[NullMac]

Interesting, I had assumed most would be up. Every day is a learning day.

Up for me, the crud is below me not above

 

[VSS]

Accompanying a certain very small stalker when she's carrying muzzle up is somewhat unnerving, as the muzzle ends up just about under my chin.

(But if she carries muzzle down then she ploughs a furrow down the field )