Crawling with a rifle - advice on choosing a sling!

[mikeakc]

I don't know about the rest of you but I find it very difficult to crawl with a rifle / sticks. I've greatly improved this by getting a binocular harness but still my stealthy approach sounds more like the rag and bone men. I'm considering replacing an uncomfortable leather sling soon and wondered whether a rucksack style sling would be a good idea. Needless to say some styles would interfere with my bino harness (e.g. Z-aim) so these are out of the running. Would a niggeloh ruck sling make crawling easy with both straps in use? And are they a pain to use as a single sling? I'm reluctant to shell out for one if this isn't the case as I would be carrying it on one shoulder 90% of the time and don't really want the extra strap if it won't help on this front.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Mike

 

[Swedish]

I have the Niggeloh rucksack sling. Very nice bit of kit and very high quality. I can carry my rifle and barely know its there until I get tangled up in low branches

However, I find the Niggeloh very fiddly to get on and off as it's very 'grippy'. Also if using a roe sack, Niggeloh ends up as normal sling which isn't that great in my opinion.

I've just acquired a Z aim to try tomorrow and after poncing around in the garden with it I have high hopes. Its not even close to Niggeloh quality but it does feel stable, its easy to get on and off and I can use it with a roe sack. I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[oowee]

I use the z sling with bino's in my pocket. Drag rope and knife in the other. Travel light and still get stuff caught up when i go through the bottom of a hedge

 

[Konnari]

I completely agree with Swedish. I also have the Niggeloh which goes on both shoulders and the Z-aim sling is much more functional and stays firmly on the shoulder even with a back pack. The z-aim is not made with the same quality as the Niggeloh but it is a much nicer sling.

 

[enfieldspares]

Crawl with the rifle supported between the crooks of your two elbows. Used to be called the leopard crawl. I don't know if it be practical with a huge great "moddie" on the end of your rifle though?

 

[nun_hunter]

I use the Z Aim after having a Niggeloh and as said it's not quite as nicely made but does a much better job. I also wear it with a bino harness and it works just as well and doesn't interfere at all.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Wear what you like. Crawling with a rifle will still be a pain in the arse.

 

[deeangeo]

Buy a K95....completely dismantles and re-assembles absolutely silently, just like a shotgun and fits into your roe sack... Magic!

 

[Heym SR20]

Binoculars, just wear them across your body and swing them around behind you. I crawl with rifle in hand. You need to be very conscious of muzzle awareness, especially if loaded. As for sling, I just hold it against the rifle. If you are worried about rifle use one of the german style Loden slips.

 

[paul o']

use a drag bag to avoid your rifle looking like a waggle stick you may be low as a snakes rear end but you rifle wont unless its tight too your spine , as for the crock of arm old ww2 type unless your in tight high Heather or brush its a real bugger ? but then it works very well for a short crawl but useless for a long one as you use elbows and you mid-upper for most of the work as your over the rifle/scope you cant get as low test come when you come up the arms and grip tend to be trash and small of the back will hurt putting you off the shot. Dragging you can be hands free to toe push and slide being free lets you complete you stalk with less fluster .

 

[Tazz]

I use a Z Aim I did a modification to it as I use it on a thumbhole Sauer, I ditched the cord attachment that goes round the pistol grip and sewed on a 20 mm quick release strap so I can then release the centre one to get the rifle off my shoulder then release the clip to the pistol grip takes seconds and you the just putt “thumbhole” section in pocket

 

[paulbshooting]

Tried all sorts of slings for this and given up! I use a bino pack to protect and retain the binos, which as you said makes a massive difference. I then tend to move the rifle alongside as I crawl if I can't manage to do the leopard crawl as mentioned earlier. Also keen not to have a rifle on top of me moving about and giving away my position. For long crawls on the hill then as mentioned a rifle slip or drag bag is best.

 

[Cottis]

Heym and Rake Aboot have it right.

I find teleportation to the spot where I want to shoot from is the way forward. Failing that, use margins, silence and lack of speed as your friend. If you have to crawl, just hold your rifle in your hand and move it forward and release with each agonising forward movement until your are so knackered you cannot hold the rifle steady when you finally get to your point of shooting ha ha. Afterall, having got to the spot from where you will shoot, it would be a PITA to then faff around trying to remove a rifle from your back only to spook your animal after all the ball breaking work of getting in to range. With the rifle in hand and in front of you, far less movement is required to get set up for a shot.

 

[Woodsmoke]

Crawl with the rifle supported between the crooks of your two elbows. Used to be called the leopard crawl. I don't know if it be practical with a huge great "moddie" on the end of your rifle though?

That's what I do. It can be a tad unbalanced with the mod', but I merely adjust the rifle position to suit. I hate the thought of my muzzle being out of sight of me

 

[Youngjm]

Also went from a Niggeloh rucksuck to a Z Aim pro - impressed!

 

[Wilbur]

Why not use a gun slip on a piece of string

 

[rem284]

I seldom crawl but if I do I hold the rifle by placing thumb and fingers on bipod(palm facing forward) and forestock resting between thumb and pointing finger at the same time. the rest of the rifle lies along the forearm

 

[victormeldrew]

For any crawling I tuck my binos inside my jacket. Occasionally they will steam up, but usually clear quickly when out in the air.

I tried a Niggeloh rucksack sling (borrowed from a friend) but found it uncomfortable as the rifle wobbled about & the bipod kept digging in. It may have been better if there had been studs on the side of the rifle, rather than the bottom, so that the flatter side of the rifle was against the back.
I ended up buying a Harkila slip with rucksack straps & found it very good (although the foam padding is quite soft & easily damaged. Also parts of the foam have now detached from the outer). It is good for crawling, either on the back or dragging it alongside.
The above relates to hill stalking. For other stalking I just hold it in my hand.

As said before, crawling is a PITA & nothing like as easy as John Wayne & Co make it look.

victor

 

[enfieldspares]

Another way although I wouldn't do it with a rifle that was owned and not issued was this.

Use the V formed by your thumb and forefinger to take a hold around the sling where it attaches at the front sling swivel to the forend of your rifle. So that the forend lies on to, as it were, of the back of your thumb where it is part of the back of your hand. Simular to the "Hawkins" sling hold firing position.

Where the arm and hand now go the rifle follows! That works well enough with "old time" Enfield No4 rifles and similar profile service or stalking rifles. The muzzle is in front of you and more to the point above the ground and the rifle is "to hand".

 

[XYZ]

You could change the method you use to keep low and instead of crawling on all fours with your rifle on your back and not being entirely sure where it is pointing, try the butt shuffle.
Assume a position as though you are laying in the bath propped up on your elbows, put your sling around your neck so the barrel is on your shoulder and muzzle beyond your head.
Shuffle on your backside feet first to where you want to shoot from. Your head will be the highest point and easier to keep an eye on your quarry all the time instead of popping up every so often to check and then wonder where it is if it's moved and you won't need to worry about your ass sticking up in the air as you crawl.
Your rifle will be lengthways down your torso so you can see if anything is likely to snag it and it shouldn't get damaged or knocked.
You move along on your hands or elbows, feet and ass.
Sure you will get wet and muddy if that's what it's like on the ground but if you were going to crawl anyway you're only going to get different parts of your body wet.