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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 63
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 63 |
This is most likely going to sound like a stupid question but..............Why do Europeans use shotguns with slings, I have noticed that many of the shotguns coming over have swivels mounted. Altho in my limited exposure to shotgunning have never used or owned a shotgun with a sling. Is it the type of hunting?
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,723 Likes: 126
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,723 Likes: 126 |
Slings are pretty useful for duck hunting. I think the answer to why are there slings on European guns is their preferred method of safe carry; that is with the gun slung over the shoulder muzzles down with a hand in control of exactly where the gun is pointed. It is actually kind of fast when you get used to bringing the gun up and off your shoulder to shoot...Geo
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,199 Likes: 639
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,199 Likes: 639 |
Geo nailed it on duck hunting, especially if one has to carry a sack full of dekes to a blind. My fleet of turkey guns also have slings. Get a mile or two from the truck and try to carry a shotgun and a 20 lb. turkey without a sling and you'll get the idea. Even without that consideration, it's a comfortable way to carry a shotgun.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 627 Likes: 47
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 627 Likes: 47 |
Geo. also nailed it on one European style of carry, muzzles down with your hand on the forearm. It is fast. My first German firearm was a drilling with sling swivels. I thought what the heck, let's try it. I've never looked back.
NRA Benefactor 2008
NRA Patron 2007
NRA Endowment 1996
NRA Life 1988
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,814 Likes: 2
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,814 Likes: 2 |
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,784 Likes: 15
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,784 Likes: 15 |
Muzzles down? In my part of Europe it's Muzzles Up.
With kind regards,
Jani
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,199 Likes: 639
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,199 Likes: 639 |
And how many times have you ever been picking up dekes when a bird or two tries to slip in? Nice to have the gun handy on a sling in that instance.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 610
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 610 |
Yeah; with the muzzles down and you stumble and bang the muzzle on a large rock....oh me.
I've seen the times when I bagged my limit 1-2 miles from the vehicle and a sling would have been nice.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,854 Likes: 118
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,854 Likes: 118 |
When I was in the service in Germany, 1966-67, I had the privilege to hunt with Germans, and most everyone except me had a sling on their shotgun and the muzzles were up.
Of course I was the only one shooting a .410
David
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,571 Likes: 165
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,571 Likes: 165 |
Slings work well on open country upland guns as well. As 2holer points out, nice to sling arms when you're a fair hike from the truck with a limit. Or if you want to snap a photo without putting your gun down.
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