How To Use a Rifle Sling. Info Please.

[Snake45]

Hard to argue w/ Col. Cooper (or Andy) about a ching sling.  

Agreed. So let's see what he (Cooper) had to say on the subject in The Art of the Rifle, his definitive work on riflery.

In the section on the use of slings, including the Ching sling, in shooting: absolutely nothing about standing or offhand shooting.

In the section on OFFHAND POSITION, page 73:

The sling is not used from either the standing or offhand position. In my youth several coaches encouraged the use of what was called the "hasty sling." It never did anything for me, and it is geometrically unsound. If you are hunting thick country, in fog or at night, it is best to take it off your rifle.... (I)t will do nothing for your shooting.

And there you have it!  

[alfsauve]

In the section on OFFHAND POSITION, page 73:
The sling is not used from either the standing or offhand position. In my youth several coaches encouraged the use of what was called the "hasty sling." It never did anything for me, and it is geometrically unsound. If you are hunting thick country, in fog or at night, it is best to take it off your rifle.... (I)t will do nothing for your shooting.

So, I've always wondered:

If the sling provides no advantage for standing then why is it against the rules of High Power shooting to use a sling in that position?

RULE 5.12 Standing - Erect on both feet, ........................... The sling may not be used for support and may not be wrapped around the arm or hand.

I'm not disagreeing with Col Cooper, I'm having a hard time believing the NRA would put in a rule just to be helpful.  

[Snake45]

So, I've always wondered:

If the sling provides no advantage for standing then why is it against the rules of High Power shooting to use a sling in that position?

I'm not disagreeing with Col Cooper, I'm having a hard time believing the NRA would put in a rule just to be helpful.  

You'll have to ask the NRA. While you're at it, then ask them why they DO allow it for sitting, kneeling, and prone.  Maybe they're just trying to save you a bunch of trouble and effort for nothing, and/or maybe it's a safety issue in the standing position.

But do your OWN tests and see if the "hasty sling" does anything for YOUR offhand shooting. You never know, it just might. Hell, I know that it does nothing for mine, and I still do it sometimes, just because it FEELS like it's helping, or should be.