A new week.. A new airgun accessory.. Thoughts? [2025-04-28]

[GTA-Airgunner]

Good Morning Airgunners!

Thank you for being part of the GTA!

I have another question for you all.  I've been contacted by someone who is working with https://www.slingguru.com/.  They sent me some samples of their sling, which I will share with you all probably tomorrow.  The first question I have is whether the ability to sling your airgun is even important to you.  When I hunt, and it's not that often, I have a hard time with traditional rifle slings.   The gun never sits right, and I find myself fighting with it more than enjoying the hunt. 

I tried one of the Sling Guru slings. (They are not a sponsor and are not paying for any part of this discussion. They may participate in the Airgun Expo, but for now, they are just an interesting topic of discussion.  I'll let you know if that situation changes.) I put it on my Gamo Viper and took it with me when I walked the dog this morning.  Not only was it very comfortable, but it was also not in the way, and by the end of the walk felt completely natural.  It was certainly the best experience I've had with a sling. 

I'm going to take some photos today, possibly create a short video showing how it works, and then post it on YouTube.  I'll be curious to know what you all think of it.

For those of you who hunt or want to sling your airgun, have you found it difficult to find something that works well?

That's it for now.. Check out the https://www.slingguru.com/ website when you get a chance, and let me know what you think.

Thanks for being part of the GTA!

Cheers
Rick

[Zsigmund]

 
 Hey Rick,

 I don't hunt often but I woods-walk now and again with an airgun. None of my airguns have sling swivels (yet). I use a no swivel loop style sling occasionally, I usually forget to take it and just carry my gun lol.

[Rocker1]

  thing with a sling is user understanding how it works, yeah i know sounds  funny but  really is more than one way to use a sling, adjustment on a sling makes a difference in  a good experience or not. David

[Bicycleman]

For a few years when I lived in Louisiana, I hunted squirrels in a wooded area along the river in back of sugar cane fields.  From the place where I parked my pickup, it was about 3/4 of a mile to the closest spot where I could start hunting.  So when the road through the fields was dry, I would ride a fat-tire bicycle.  Slinging my rifle was a necessity.  I fabricated a sling that had straps that fit over both shoulders and secured the rifle firmly and comfortably.
On my rifles that I use here in Tennessee, the slings are all universals that are bought from the same people I buy new rifles from.  They work good [not great]; and I am used to the way the rifles move about while I walk the rocky areas of the woods.
I took a quick look at the website you suggested {https://www.slingguru.com/} and saw some interesting sling systems.  Thanks for the information.

[splitbeing]

It's pretty mountainous here and a sling I consider necessary for long hunts.  Inevitably I need two hands to navigate terrain more than once any given hunting session.

I have two slingchallenges at present.

#1: my P-rifle (aka the barrel bandit) is a curvy, compact stock.  I am hesitant to put sling posts in and tarnish the form, not to mention interfere with use of a bag given how little front stock real estate there is.  It would be a great hunter but for the absence of a sling.

#2: This one I have already solved, I think.  It's regarding my crosman 100.  BackRoads recommended a scabbard and for $20 I got something that works well and aesthetically fits this time tested multipump, which has very good barrel security.

[airgunaut]

I'm glad the Reply button was restored here.

I appreciate that video because I have no sling experience whatsoever, and it is one of those things where video OR step-by-step still shots work better than text instructions.

Even though I have yet to carry a rifle while hiking, it is something I want to do for one particular invasive species. Being smaller than an average person in the US, adjustability of a sling is important. When I needed a good cross-body holster for a heavy pistol, that had to be custom-ordered (it fits great). So I will look again at slinguru for details on fit.

Thanks again for highlighting an accessory that doesn't get much promotion.

[Hoosier Daddy]

My father was a Korean War Marine... Early on, I learned the benefit of a sling was not just for "carrying" a rifle.
Wrap your arm around it and it it is rock solid.

I have many more but they are PB's

[splitbeing]

Scott, how is the leftmost rifle attached to the sling near the breech?  The benjamin breakbarrels have built in sling attachment there, but I don't think that's what's going on with your leftmost rifle in the pic.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Nothing fancy on the XS-12...Black Zip-tie. 

[eeler1]

Like Scott says, a sling has a couple of uses.  When I get very far from the pickup, I just need a sling for carrying.  Almost always looking for something to rest on/against, and rarely shoot offhand.  In fact, the sling can be a hassle when trying to rest the rifle.  So if you have a better sling, for carrying, then I'm interested.

Edit: I just looked at the prices, not crazy out of line, but got my attention.  It would take some convincing to spend that much on a sling.

[Bicycleman]

Like Scott says, a sling has a couple of uses.  When I get very far from the pickup, I just need a sling for carrying.  Almost always looking for something to rest on/against, and rarely shoot offhand.  In fact, the sling can be a hassle when trying to rest the rifle.  So if you have a better sling, for carrying, then I'm interested.

Edit: I just looked at the prices, not crazy out of line, but got my attention.  It would take some convincing to spend that much on a sling.

Some time ago, I was looking at the slings offered at Airgun Depot.  It looks like $40 is what someone could expect to pay for the better ones on that page.  In Reply#3, I mentioned fabricating one.  I used some nylon straps (what you might find used for ratchet straps).  I fastened the pieces together using waxed floss; and the swivels I found at Walmart for a few dollars.  Total cost was probably about $6.  I think I still have it in the gun closet.