Muzzle up or down?

[Rhodesianjess]

Bolts on most rifles cam the round forward,try it on your rifle. I'd be very surprised if your bolt would shut with any sort of stiffening.

Just reread that, should be "without any sort of stiffening"

 

[HonestJohn]

Pretty much the only bolt that will close on its own is the old Mannlicher Schoeneur.

But only if trigger is held back whilst bolt is moving at a rather fast pace under its own weight. A fast tip of the barrel down with trigger in will shut the bolt..just a bit of a fun gimmick to show off to others how smooth the bolt is of course

 

[enfieldspares]

At 6’4” and without the nimbleness of a ballerina I find rifle with mod constantly catching branches when out in woods. Drives me bonkers.
Switched to carrying muzzle down the other day when returning to vehicle (empty handed ). Revelation! More comfortable and discreet. Going out later today and have switched sling around to enable muzzle down as default.

Comment and views from greater experience and enlightened appreciated.

Cheers all

Muzzle down over the left shoulder. Put, as you take it off, your left handdown the side of you body and under the sling and, as it comes up, it'll be braced into the sling if you've set it up properly.

 

[Dave Lakes]

People that carry muzzle down, are you not regularly putting your foot and lower leg in front of the muzzle? Genuine question, not just trying to be a smart arse. I find it much more comfortable but worry about that.

 

[Nimrod1960]

Conclusion from this afternoon outing, much happier with muzzle down and slightly forward, easy to get up onto sticks.
Shame the big Munty buck would only stand arse on to me, hey ho, next time.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

People that carry muzzle down, are you not regularly putting your foot and lower leg in front of the muzzle? Genuine question, not just trying to be a smart arse. I find it much more comfortable but worry about that.

The way I carry, the weapon physically cannot discharge. Until bolt is pushed down, trigger will not work. Firing pin not able to go forward either as well. Never seen an AD using this method, lots of the "old fellas" back home carried like that. Quick to mount rifle too, for me a lot quicker than taking off shoulder then safety as mounting weapon.
Especially with flag safety Mauser under a telescopic sight.

 

[enfieldspares]

Especially with flag safety Mauser under a telescopic sight.

Yep! With a flag safety a la Mauser 98 the bolt striker is what is locked rather than, with some modern safety catches, the triggers. For that reason I'd for sure not want to carry a sling fitted loaded side by side boxlock shotgun upside down!

 

[Klenchblaize]

Another stutzen thread!

K

 

[DavyG]

 

[Sampo]

rifle with mod constantly catching branches when out in woods

Have you tried one with a bayonet?

On a serious note a shorter barrel with a smaller mod should stay just above your head. I have tried both ways and with the Z sling pro, it seems to be work fine for me. The downside of carrying the mod facing downward is if you have to kneel or squat you have the potential for dirt, water or leaves/ grass entering the mod. Also when you have to get into position, the rifle suddenly is upside down on the quadstick which doesn't help but I am sure it was just me and with practice you can get into position fairly easily.

 

[JockStalk]

Put a target dot or bit of tape over the end of the mod- no more plugging worries in snow/ peat/ mud. If you shoot, replace it.
No impact on accuracy.

 

[Ade8mm]

Put a target dot or bit of tape over the end of the mod- no more plugging worries in snow/ peat/ mud. If you shoot, replace it.
No impact on accuracy.

Standard procedure but some say this effects accuracy on smaller .22CF? Any one have any intel on that?
Ade

 

[Leec6.5]

I was muzzle down, but after 20 years i bought a niggeloh back pack style sling which has made the world of difference on my back and its now muzzle up!

 

[John Gryphon]

My answer in the pic below, taken as I stepped into a game camera zone. Several k`s into the bush.

 

[Taff]

If packing up hill for a few Ks underloaded in ruck sack, if in stalking mode on goats underloaded, forward pointing, if using my 3030 , in hand muzzle forward.

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

Down for me, on right shoulder, you do need to be additionaly alert as to where the muzzel is and not bend or crouch down in mud/snow without taking the rifle off the shoulder first...
I find it much easier to get on the sticks too.

Muzzle up for me...for these particular reasons

 

[gonzo]

Mostly stalking on farms, so no prblems of catching on trees. And I have a shortened 308 barrel, and short mod.
I also don't want a 308 in anyones leg. Going up (if that ever happened) is far safer, as the rifle is pretty much always vertical in my stalks.
So, muzzle up. Chambered round, safety on.
Can swing up under arm and into a shooting position. But do have to be aware where my companion is before doing so. But will not do this if I don't absolutly need to.

 

[VSS]

I carry muzzle up, but stalking in company with a very short person who also carries muzzle up, and finding that the end of her barrel is just under my chin, does make me realise that there are very strong arguments in favour of muzzle down.

 

[8x57]

Standard procedure but some say this effects accuracy on smaller .22CF? Any one have any intel on that?
Ade

I've never heard that theory and very much doubt it, well certainly not in my experience anyway.

 

[8x57]

People that carry muzzle down, are you not regularly putting your foot and lower leg in front of the muzzle? Genuine question, not just trying to be a smart arse. I find it much more comfortable but worry about that.

My thinking has always been that if the worst ever happened I would rather the rifle discharge near my lower leg/foot rather than next to my head.