To sling or not to sling

I thought it would be interesting to see how many people have a sling for their bird gun and if so, why?

I have one that I use to carry my gun to a spot but then it comes off until I’m leaving. It’s only purpose is freeing up a hand for carrying stuff in.

A very good buddy made me one out of paracord for this season. I love it. Picking up decoys while still being ready for that last bird to dump in, going to pick up a duck, etc. I love having both hands free.

Carry mine in the case, which has a sling. Don't have a need for one on the gun itself.

+1

Back in the day... 15 years ago or so, I used one on my gun cuz I sometimes hunted in places where it was handy to be able to hang the gun up out of the water/mud. Late season, it was snowing like crazy and I got wet. Freezing my arse off but too hard headed to quit. Finally got a group of mallards in the hole. Went to swing on them and the sling got hung up. Couldn't get a shot at the only dux we had all morning.

Last time I ever used one other than turkey hunting.

Sling. Where I hunt there aren't a lot of places to put down my gun if I need both hands. It's never got in my way. I went out and got these for last year - http://www.stiknthemud.com/index.html - made out of PVC (light) and as long as you don't force them, they held up. They made it a lot better. No longer did we say "hold my gun" or have to carry our guns retrieving birds. Not the best for hard ground and one got cracked due to my buddy using the arm to drive into hard ground. It's still usable, The guy ran a sale last year for 2 for 1. I took a flyer and so far they've held up. It's made out of PVC, so it will eventually break. But for $20 I'm pretty happy with it. I have no relationship with him or the company besides being a customer.

I have one and like the free hands. I haven't noticed it bothering me when I shoot so it stays on all the time.

Never know when you need both hands, like taking a piss, don’t know about you guys, but it takes both hands to handle Big Charlie!!

I have a sling on 99% of the time. I hunt flooded timber/open reservoirs in East Arkansas, so I have to have a sling to hang my gun on a limb or over my shoulder so I can keep my hands warm. I guess I got so use to it over the years that I always have to have one on regardless of the location. When I came back to TX for winter break I cleaned my gun and forgot to put the sling back on before our hunt. Man did it feel weird!

i use a sling on my auto, not on my pump because i had multiple times when shooting my pump that i would grab the sling when grabbing the forearm and wouldn't be able to cycle the gun for the next shot.

Sling on 8.25 lbs duck gun =yes

I always use a sling when hunting wading.
Usually take the sling off when hunting out of the boat.

Slings stays on all mine. They’re the quick adjustable type with the thumb loop,so they can stay tight against the gun if I’m not using it and loosens with a quick pull. Good to have when going after a cripple, picking up decoys, jumping a spot, etc. Never used one up until a few years ago, would always carry my case around. Now, I’ll never not have one on a duck or dove gun.

I love to sling. In fact, all my duck buddies and I sling.

I'm a slinger too.

I took the walnut off my browning silver hunter and put synthetic furniture on so I could add sling attachments.

Couldn't bring myself to place metal screws into my walnut furniture.

Honestly, if you hunt quite a bit you really need a sling. I public/ private hunted for years with my wood grained shotgun with no sling because I enjoyed the nostalgia, everyone and their grandma hunts a shotgun with synthetic furniture. I have since opted to add a sling to free my hands when need be.

That's two thus far shooter.

Hunting with a dog I like having a slinged shotgun. If I need to grab her quick for some reason it is simple the sling the shotgun and have both hands empty.

Though I usually have a sling hunting waterfowl or when hunting in water, upland is a completely different story. Hunting upland game on public land where birds can be few and shots need to be fast I don't want a sling on my shotgun. Two of the three rules I follow, Always be ready and Always believe there is a bird in front of me. This from the moment I leave the truck to the moment I reach the truck. A sling for that kind of hunting is just too tempting. Waterfowl hunting on the other hand does not normally require snap shooting.
My 10 Gauges have sling swivels, but on my other shotguns I use simple slings that slip over the stock and barrel.

I added a sling two years ago and haven’t looked back. Slight adjustment to learn how to shoot with it, but after the second or third hunt with it, it hasn’t been an issue since.

I sling....but I’m lazy also...

Looks like you got sling on shotgun questions answered and a few guys come out of the closet on this thread....congrats fellas

I like a sling on my guns but it took some getting used to using.

It is called l practicing

None on the bird guns

Nope no sling on my gun. Just like to have it in my hands at all times. All I do is walk in n hunts and I just couldn’t get used to the sling. Tried a couple different kinds.

I do have a question of my own though. Why in the world do people carry their guns into the field in a case? It just seems like one more piece of gear to keep up with.

It depends on the situation. That said my gun almost always has a sling. If I were hunting flooded timber a lot I would not use a sling but I would attach a ring on the end of the magazine tip so I could hang the gun on a hook on a tree. I have no dog but if I did I would be inclined to take it off. I have to retrieve my birds on foot so I like a sling for that. A sling needs to be easily adjusted also. When hunting I like to shorten it up but can easily extend it to shoulder it. Also I do not understand having a gun slung on the shoulder so you can keep your hands in a chest pocket to keep warm.
I find keeping the gun parallel to the water surface on my left hip/side with my arm curled around it with my hands in the chest pocket is much much better. Just move the gun in or out to find the "balance" point. Plus I shoot left handed so minimal movement when birds are coming in.

I like a sling.... free’s up my hands while walking and setting up.

Sling on an 870, in a heartbeat. On my Citori, not a chance.

Yeah I do the same thing. I find it just get's in my way, it also it catches on my gun stand when I go to grab it to shoot. I just take it off when I get to the blind.

i use a sling especially any time i get out of the blind and always when picking up decoys. Birds always try to drop in when you are out there.