BARREL BAND SLING MOUNTS: Pros and Cons

[@Paughco]

"...this is the wrong channel for you." I like it! Thank you for posting. I have a 1970's Model 70 in .375 H&H, with a Leupold Vari-XIII 2.5 x 8. Never had a problem with feeding or extraction. It has the standard front sling mount. Biggest deal for this rifle was a 200-yd offhand bowling pin shoot, where I beat the Prez of our local gun club.

[@paulharding1621]

I fired a Ruger 77 in .416 Rigby that had a fore end mounted sling mount, definitely not great if your hand is a bit forward. I survived the incident but that sucker did smart.

[@jake9705]

Good points. Guess I never really thought about this 🤔

[@davidjanzen5728]

GOOD TO KNOW! I always learn something watching your vidios.

[@bentaylor216]

Another DD video, another day I learn something. And I'm with you on the shoulder carry. The number of safari videos I watch whilst wincing as a client muzzles the PH, the tracker and everyone else in the vicinity. I'm surprised it's tolerated so much.

[@hubertrauschert1725]

This topic was exactly what I was going to consult with you. Al my rifles have BBSM. For me it is much more confortable to carry in any mode ,I do european carry on the left side and American carry on either side. With the sling mount in the forestock the rifles feel barrel have and tend to slip down with the barrel end..... And accuracy wise there was not a real issue...hmmm. Many European hunting rifles had a BBSM from the factory. Well as many other themes it is a matter of personal preference I think. Thanks for the valid opinion and....GOOD HUNTING

[@peterhert9350]

DDO is right and you are right. It depends on the rifle. Especially suppressors on 22" and longer barrels change the gravity for carrying. I prefer in that case slingmounts at the Barrel.

[@REDNECKROOTS]

Great sho. I've always thought of dangerous game rifles are the only rifles that need that kinda sling mount because of the big recoil of the big bore Magnums.

[@NCWoodlandRoamer]

Thanks for the video, always something new to learn on your channel Desert Dog.

[@andrewmacaulay1585]

Thank you kindly sir. Very informative New Brunswick Canada 🇨🇦

[@tripplebeards3427]

They look cool on my 7600 but I always worry it messed with accuracy. Still shoot half moa.

[@paulsimmons5726]

Another informative video, thanks DD!

[@Cowboy307]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@outdoorsman812]

Ah yeah!

[@Italianshooter01]

I think a solution could be QD flush cups, like in the Bergara HMR for example, this way the sling is on the side of the rifle and there is no risk for the hand and the barrel is free.

[@mdirtydogg]

Thank you for another informative video.

[@blaserlongrange7616]

Best place to put it is on the front on the forend stock

[@tommykawasaki9676]

Right on 👍

[@JeffreyCotle]

Hi desert dog. My winchester 1895 405 has a barrel band mount. That is how i bought it. Its has the original sights. And its more that accurate enough for me. Its a med range big game round. I bought it when i still lived in Alaska. I would without fear shoot any grizzly out there with it. It's overkill here in Pennsylvania. Ive shot a couple whitetails with it. . The tracking was very easy. Im shooting hardcast 300 grn bullets. At 2200 fps. I tried to reduce the loads. And my 405 likes top powder charges. God bless😊

[@exothermal.sprocket]

I've never used a rifle with a barrel band or a sling attachment to the barrel. I instinctively knew that such things would affect barrel harmonics and accuracy. Figured it wasn't the point on a big bore Safari rifle. As an aside, it's common on lever action carbines for barrel bands to connect the magazine tube or connect the front forend to the barrel. Yet, these rifles can still be very accurate for their intended range and beyond. Typically 200-250 is usually max effective with the blunt style bullets.

[@8MM.PRC.HUNTER]

Educational as always, thanks DD

[@Capstick58]

As always you are spot on. Rarely do I disagree with you. Certainly not on this one. All cogent points

[@cousinfuzzy4544]

Interesting subject DD guess I never really thought about accuracy effect.

[@bobd8553]

Thanks, I have always wondered about this. Especially on my Remington 760 pumps. They didn’t come with factory sling mounts. There are 2 front mounting options, barrel clamp or forend screw. I opted for forend screw attachment. Ever had any experience with the Remington pumps? Both mine shoot like bolt action accuracy.

[@billfisher6708]

Good video, DD. Makes perfect sense.

[@mountaingoat2340]

@desertdogoutdoors great video. One additional application you missed out that is legitimate and close to the pros/cons mentioned is a Trail or Scout rifle where you are in the thick of the bush searching for wounded driven wild boar/hogs etc. In some cases the barrel band is incorporated at the muzzle e.g. Mauser M12 Trail.

[@waltski4375]

Food for thought over morning oatmeal and coffee. My Ruger Hawkeye African in 338WM came with the barrel band sling mount. Ammo has been hard to find, so have not had sufficient range time to notice its impact upon accuracy.

[@falba1492]

I’m having a hell of a time finding 338 Win Mag brass. Was able to find once fired Norma brass on GT.

[@dansaver8247]

Good comments.

[@davewinter2688]

I always figured those barrel band sling mounts could affect accuracy but never really had any way to check. Only rifle I have with one is a Husqvarna M-640 9.3x62. Not a really big kicker even though it’s lighter than my 35 Whelen. I’m short with short arms so I don’t have my support arm hand past the mid point of the forearm anyway so no issue with getting bit. If I use the sling I can carry the rifle sort of under my arm with the muzzle pointed rearward. Not hunting dangerous game or any other reason to need to get the rifle to my shoulder in a hurry and not much risk of getting dirt in the muzzle if I fall.

[@richardkramer1094]

If I may @Desert Dog. The rifle sling was never designed to assist in the carrying of the firearm but that was later developed for the Manual of Arms. The sling was designed for one purpose and that was to steady the firearm in the offhand and other firing positions where a rest wasn’t available. Yes, you see troops carrying their arms in parade or in a general movement to the field but that was a Manual of Arms development of a later date. The correct way to carry a rifle with a sling is to wrap it around your are as if you were going to take an offhand shot and then relax your offhand arm and let it hang down until the sling tightens and stops the movement of your arm with the rifle angled muzzle down and across your body. This is called the carry or patrol position. Believe it or not you can carry a rifle all day long in this position. As far as the barrel band on heavy recoiling rifles it is as you say, to keep the offhand from being injured upon recoil. Every single rifle I have has its own custom sling, usually 1 1/4 wide and I use them for their intended purpose. Great video @Desert Dog

[@1bobharvey]

I wonder if ruger just put them on their m77 guide guns just for looks? My 760 wood master has one on it cause it's a pump, but I can't think of why there would be any other reason to do it to a 30-06?

[@johnappleseed9290]

My M77 Guide gun has the option to install the front sling swivel screw on the stock, I opted for that instead, I wasn’t a fan of having my sling on the barrel, wasn’t my taste.

[@1bobharvey]

@johnappleseed9290 I guess my point is/was on a true "dangerous game" caliber rifle the heavy recoil of a sling swivel on the bottom of a wood stock is real rough. If it hits your hand or is rested on something under recoil it damages the weaker of the two. But a aught six doesn't have the recoil of a 458 lott or 500 Jeffries. So why barrel mount except for looks with the inherent barrel problems that introduces.

[@SamuraiAkechi]

I've had the exact question few days ago. Guess there is some sort of global space of ideas after all.

[@ranchodeluxe1]

I collect and use Savage 99 and 1899 rifles quite a bit. I like a rifle that balances in my hand and carries like a lunchbox. Most of the older ones never had any sling swivels from factory. I've seen hundreds of them with screw in swivels, which breaks my heart, and a lot of them with barrel band add on fittings. My Grandpa's Featherweight with Weaver K4 is more accurate than than my friend's Model G with 2 inch longer barrel. His does have a barrel band swivel and I've often wondered how it affects his rifles harmonics? And if that is the difference. Neither rifle has but a couple hundred rounds through them over 70 plus years, so wear isn't a factor.

[@stevemiller6044]

a shorter barrel is inherently more accurate

[@ranchodeluxe1]

@@stevemiller6044 Okie doke.

[@ranchodeluxe1]

@@stevemiller6044 This explains the vast advantage in accuracy of handguns over rifles and leaves one wondering why we pack them around when a snub nose .38 is more accurate?

[@luvtahandload7692]

​@@ranchodeluxe1Steve Miller is correct, Rancho. We are not comparing handguns v. rifles, nor are we even comparing sight radius. All else equal, short barrels are stiffer and whip around like a garden hose when fired less than a longer barrel. Maybe get your info from YT vids less and pick up good gun rags from your local newsstand more. 🤷‍♂️

[@Drivapete]

I also have a 99a Savage chambered in .250-3000 that has a barrel band on a 20 inch barrel. It shoots sub moa with no noticeable difference.😮

[@igorchumakov7584]

👍👍👍

[@bellakaldera3305]

I have a barrel band sling mount on my Savage 24, but it is a .410/.22lr over and under, so I don't think it would detract from accuracy that much ans "barrel whip" is going to be less with a double barrel over and under. Also the recoil is minimal.

[@andrewmoore1962]

You missed the first reason why the British and the Germans put barrel mounted swing sling swivels on their rifles it was because the stocks generally had short forearms and wasn’t a lot of room

[@oteliogarcia1562]

maybe they're having a custom 7mm Mauser bolt action with a short forend like those turn-of-the-20th century English rifles.

[@Bunduki]

Who was the left- handed guy shooting rapid fire off hand ?

[@jaybailleaux630]

I see no advantage to a barrel band for myself. Im a short dude . A sling point on the stock will not be an issue for me with a high recoiling rifle. A short eye relief scope is what I fear.

[@eduardoolaechea]

No need for barrel band sling mounts on anything milder than the .375 H&H mag.

[@borkwoof696]

I will say that barrel band sling mounts can give a classic look but the practicality just isn’t there.

[@shane-222]

Keyboard commando 😂