Muzzle up or down?

[Dave Lakes]

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.

Agree, except my barrel sits just above my head so while it would be a horrible experience, it wouldn’t injure me. The same isn’t true if I carried down and my foot was in front of the muzzle, which seems like it would happen quite regularly

 

[8x57]

But would your foot be in front of the muzzle, my rifles hang down my side so parallel to my leg.

 

[Alantoo]

Agree, except my barrel sits just above my head so while it would be a horrible experience, it wouldn’t injure me. The same isn’t true if I carried down and my foot was in front of the muzzle, which seems like it would happen quite regularly

Left shoulder carry.

Gravity means that if I lean to the left the muzzle pendulums away from my leg.

If I lean to the right, the muzzle is pushed away from my leg by my hip.

I can’t see where you get the idea it will be frequently pointing at your foot.

But notwithstanding that….when it is on my shoulder there is no round in the chamber anyway.

Alan

 

[Dave Lakes]

Left shoulder carry.

Gravity means that if I lean to the left the muzzle pendulums away from my leg.

If I lean to the right, the muzzle is pushed away from my leg by my hip.

I can’t see where you get the idea it will be frequently pointing at your foot.

But notwithstanding that….when it is on my shoulder there is no round in the chamber anyway.

Alan

And replying to 8x57-

I walked around the living room to test it out! Other half not impressed.

It doesn’t seem to point directly at me for normal walking, but sidesteps and other movements that you might make seems to end up flagging myself. It’s not a huge problem, but it’s a complete non issue for upwards carry. I’d like to make it work as it seems to hang much much better

 

[bowji john]

Just goes to show

Lots of different solutions

No right or wrong

just a desire to overcome the problems associated with handling a heavy object over distance, bringing it effectively and quietly to bear, without shooting your own toes or someone else’s head off

Interesting conversation

J

 

[paul o']

Moving to the seat its ready alert .
If not its Up bolt closed over loaded mag as it take seconds to chamber a round while moving to sticks /other it's just a safe and deliberate action.

 

[Covert]

Whatever is primarily safe then comfortable and practical for you , your type of weapon and your circumstances. Muzzle awareness being important and being familiar and competent in the operation of the weapon being used.
Having guided a lot of people (lowland) over the years I have experienced most styles of carrying rifle both good and bad.
If someone is behind me I prefer them to carry muzzle up,rifle behind shoulder. Always disconcerting to here metallic clicks and mumbling from behind.
If I am carrying a long heavy rifle, mod,scope,bipod etc I prefer to carry it over the shoulder barrel up.
Otherwise if I am alone with a shortish woodland setup I prefer muzzle up facing forward over the right shoulder. I can hold/ control the the rifle barrel in my right hand and sticks in my left.

 

[JamesH]

I switch it up depending on the situation, even during a stalk. Each situation, person and rifle varies. I’m 6ft and have a rifle with 24” barrel and mod if that makes any difference to anyone. Muzzle up is my preference but it doesn’t always work (especially when your flip up scope cover breaks / falls off some how and then it starts ****ing it down with rain).

 

[Klenchblaize]

Today I’m mostly wrapping my barrel with clingfilm. Run out of condoms!

K

 

[VSS]

Today I’m mostly wrapping my barrel with clingfilm. Run out of condoms!

K

Not a bad problem to have...

 

[8x57]

Clingfilm as opposed to condoms is for those that prefer to roll their own.

 

[Klenchblaize]

K

 

[Heym SR20]

A sling swivel on the barrel makes a rifle so much more comfortable to carry, whether it’s muzzle up or down.

And provided its not under tension, makes no difference to grouping or shot placement.

 

[Alantoo]

I walked around the living room to test it out! Other half not impressed

My description was from memory and basic gravity / leverage between contact points. Stuck in Hospital the staff would certainly not have been impressed!

It’s not a huge problem, but it’s a complete non issue for upwards carry.

Having walked with people with a rifle ostensibly muzzle up, slung diagonally across their back, which just kept slipping to the horizontal and pointed straight at me every time they turned I would say muzzle up can be an issue.

I’d like to make it work as it seems to hang much much better

Yes it does hang better. Because it is constantly self correcting to muzzle down.

But as I said when it is over my shoulder there is no round in the chamber.

 

[Nimrod1960]

Walker appeared in wood, on not public path, I was carrying muzzle down. Simply pushed rifle behind me and she thought I was a bird spotter. I re directed her to the public path un-alarmed. She had dog on lead and I thought that would be it for the session in a smallish wood, but took a young doe 40mins later.

Sold on muzzle down, just have to explain the condoms to the Mrs.
Should be an interesting chat having had the snip and the prostate out

 

[Siggy]

Preference is muzzle down, at least i know where the bullet went if I have a ND and I can easily get the rifle on sticks without breaking my silhouette. But it gets in the dogs way and make to much noise in vegetation and it logistically impossible on rough terrain/heather. So muzzle up in those situations.

 

[alberta boy]

I use both , it depends on terrain more than anything . In deep snow , it's muzzle up with tape over the muzzle as snow tends to fall off trees and brush as you go through it . Probably not a concern for most on here lol .

AB

 

[JMikeyH]

I find it more comfortable to carry a rifle on my right shoulder, and with the wildcat mod that used to be on it carrying muzzle down was nearly a necessity. The problem was that the safety catch was then rubbing against my side and I got very paranoid about shooting myself in the leg if a combination of bad luck occurred. Just got a lighter mod and carry it up now

 

[paulbshooting]

European style muzzle up for woodland stalking so can see moderator and steer it with me through cover. Quick to mount on shooting sticks too. Muzzle up on niggeloh straps or in Vorn for open Hill

 

[t10]

I usually carry muzzle up with a z-aim type sling. One evening, stalking on rough forestry, I tried muzzle down and forward, it was working really well until I put my foot down onto a piece of bottomless heather. I fell over and the end of the moderator took the brunt of the fall on a rock, resulting in a chip out of the end of the mod. This moved the zero significantly. Had The rifle been muzzle up I would’ve caught the stumble without incident. Luckily the rifle still groups well and there was no damage other than the chip on the mod.

I will stay muzzle up!