doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Recommend a Gunsmith for Sling Studs on SxS

I have 2 SxS I would like to have sling studs added. On both I need a stud mounted on the barrels as well as add an inletted stud in the stock. One is a 1970 Ugartechea .410 and the other is a CSMC RBL 20 gauge. Not looking to go cheap. I want a quality job with an emphasis on aesthetics. On the .410 I also want the stock and forend refinished with an oil/satin finish and a recoil pad added. Any recommendations? I live in the Baton Rouge, LA area.

Wolf, if you wish to shoot with the sling on, you'll need a stud welded to the rib. If just for carry, use a slip on sling...Geo

<https://www.google.com/search?q=slip+on+gun+sling&tbm=isch&imgil=8YxNfoNWEIcuIM%253A%253By9B-7r0-6tvj2M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fpossibleshop.com%25252Fp-g-rifle-sling.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=8YxNfoNWEIcuIM%253A%252Cy9B-7r0-6tvj2M%2>

here is what you really need..... http://www.accu-riser.com/rs-5008-universal-sling/

I haven't used them for this, but New England Custom Guns has a great reputation for excellent work and has what looks like one of the better selections of quality swivels and mounts suited for side-by-sides.
https://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/Gun_Services/search.asp?CI=296&ST=Slings%20&%20Swivels
I'm thinking of adding swivels to a couple guns and would probably have NECG do the work.

Go ahead and put on an adjustable comb, get it ported, add a gold grip cap, and cut the barrels to 24".
JR

Jeez, that is a bit harsh (and, unhelpful) isn't it Mr. Roberts? A guy with an Uggy wants to sling and use it, as opposed to just having it sit in the gun room, smelling like bourbon/cigar smoke?

I'll second the notion of NECG for swivels. Classy and useful.

Have a different version of slings on a few of my guns. Handy option to have, if you end up carrying a Setter, or, your Dad, out of the woods in their old age. Been there, done that.
Other times, too.


Good luck.

Best,
Ted

Come on Mr. Roberts fella is just like most of us he goes deep into the bush shoots twice and always eats what he shoots. NECG seems to carry components from Recknagel AG. Being that capable gunsmiths here are far and few in between the guns might have to be shipped there for service.

I vote New England Custom Gun.

NECG

They do great work!

What ever happened to the company that made reproduction Winchester Super Grade swivels and bases? Other than hooks and eyes, they are my favorite.

My apologies to the famous wolf. As Ted alluded, I was half drunk when I typed that, the Henry Mckenna was fine. I just hate sling swivels on a nice sxs. The slip on would be fine though.

The 90 degree temps with 90% humidity at 6 o'clock in the evening start to take its toll on one's patience...
JR

Every gun, that gets used, needs a sling. "Form follows function".
Mike

Wrongo. Sporting Clays with a sling on your shotgun? I don't think so...
JR

Dove shooting doesn't require a sling. Drifting for ducks a sling would be a hazard. A truck gun certainly doesn't need one. I hunt a lot, and the ONLY time I want one is while I'm wading into a duck hole ..... and when I get there I pull it off immediately.

SRH

A sling is nice when toting a heavy Turkey gun around the woods...Geo

I see slings on target guns frequently.

Certainly I don't understand it, but I see it.

??? Of course, I've only shot target guns for about 55 years, but, in that time, I've not seen a sling on one.

Ab so lute ly. But the role a shotgun plays turkey hunting is more like a rifle than a shotgun made for shooting flying.
JR

No, you don't. Not on a clay target specific piece. You see people shooting clays with a camo'd hunting semi-auto sometimes on a benefit shoot, but you will NEVER see a serious clays shooter at a registered event with a sling on his Perazzi. Dang, SGJ, thought you would realize that.
JR

I should have been more careful with sentence structure Bill.

'Guns used on targets' would be better, perhaps not 'target guns' but many are used for nothing but.

Clearly they were built as field guns with sling attach points, but around here it's not uncommon to see them on the skeet fields and SC courses.

One guy here shoots nothing but a short barrel M-500 complete with sling and 5 shell holder velcroed to the stock.

Don't know who Bill is, but I guarantee you that dude isn't a serious clay target shooter that shoots registered targets on a consistent basis.
JR

Hey, John... let's have a Bourbon (capitalized because it's our national drink, a verifiable fact).

I was responding to your comment about the inadvisability of sporting clays with a sling.

Trap was and is a money game, the other clay target sports have some root in field shooting. Perhaps long ago and far away, but roots just the same.

Thus, people shoot SC with just about anything. If it's a shotgun, I've seen it out there.

Bill is eightbore.

His correction popped up before yours, and it was to he that I was responding.

You are correct about registered shoots and registered shooters.

That is a subset of 'Sporting Clays'.

Thanks for all the input on a gunsmith! I will contact NECG.

One commenter mentioned that the sling stud on the barrel would have to be welded...I don't follow that. I have seen many that were "screwed" to the rib. Maybe I am missing something on that.

Regarding all the comments on slinging a SxS...I guess I don't follow all of that either. A sling is very handy and, if done correctly, does not at all distract from the usefulness, appearance or aesthetics. To those concerns about it getting in the way...that's when you take it off (which I will often do via quick detach). Slings were universal on European doubles for many years - doesn't' seem to diminish the use or value of those old Merkels. You wouldn't dream of a fine rifle without a sling. I guess aesthetics are a very personal thing. I actually think they look better with a sling. You don't need a stool to shoot doves, but I always take one.

One last point...both of these guns will spend a lot of time in the turkey woods...among other places. Why would you shoot a turkey with anything else???

Cheers!

Still- If you use the gun, it needs a sling. If you think it might get in the way, use a quick shortening sling. Also rifles need set trigger.
Mike

The forward stud could be either soldered or screwed to the underside of the rib. Which is better depends on owner's preference but maybe also on the details of the rib geometry and construction. If you send it in, Mark at NECG can tell you what options would work for your guns and their respective pros and cons.

I'd hesitate to put swivels on a very fine old British double, but pretty much any Continental gun I decide to keep will probably get them at some point if they're not already mounted. I've tried a couple different slip-on versions, but they all seem to slip off on their own. I may give the Accuriser slip-on sling Gunut linked to a try. Good Luck!
Bill

It will not slip off, Bill, at least it hasn't for me. I've used one on duck guns for years.

SRH

Thanks, Stan! I'll give it a try!

BW

I have 4 shotguns with sling swivels factory fitted. One American, one Spanish, one German & one Turkish. None of them are quick detachable, but I would like that they were.
I use the slings a lot & they are a must when getting about by Kawasaki. I can sling a 12g & put the thuty thuty in the rack on the bars. I have no drilling you see.
Two have leather slings that are sown on & that is not such a good idea.
On the other two I use a nylon webbing with slide adjusters on each end. This makes the sling easily adjustable for length & easy enough to remove & put in pocket or pack.
If fitting new sling swivels to a gun now I would fit quick detachable ones.
O.M

You'll see sling swivels on an English double every now and then.

I have one with a set, and they've always been there. There's an extra 10 shilling charge on the hand written receipt dated September 30 1889.

Hey Mike,

I've seen a few swivel-equipped Brits as well and tend to regard it as a plus if it's original or at least impeccably executed. Would love to see some details and pics of yours!

Where are you in AR? I hear snipe & woodcock in the Cache NWR are pretty good. I guess there might be a few ducks and gees as well!
Bill

Ducks are pretty darn good on the Cache, if everything is right. I hunt at the Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA, near Gregory, from time to time, and have had some unbelievably good hunts there.

SRH

I'm up in the mountains.

I had my fill of ducks when I was a kid, and besides, I don't like cottonmouths - although the woodcocks do sound enticing. I have had a lot of fun with them up north, and actually like eating them. Liver's good, too.

I just got home from a four mile walk with a seven pound fifteen ounce sxs double & both elbows are feeling stretched.
English gun with no sling.
O.M

Another alternative maybe worth mentioning for a gun without swivels is a light, flexible gunslip with a shoulder strap https://www.connecticutshotgun.com/product/traditional-english-gun-slip-2/

These can be rolled up and carried in a vest or bag while actively hunting and broken out for the trek in or out of the field. Downside is the gun is harder to get to than carried or slung. but even a very thin light slip offers extra protection.

Galazan wares are pricey. I've just tied a rope to both ends of the gun and thrown it across my back to climb many a tree while deer hunting. Cost: pretty much free...Geo