One of my biggest pet peeves when I’m walking to and from my deer stand is constantly dealing with my rifle sliding off my shoulder.
It seems like the gunsling slides down with every few steps I take, and I have to keep one hand on it most of the time.
I’m sure you’ve had this happen, too, and you’ve probably done as I have and moved the sling over your head in a cross-body position so it won’t slide.
Not only is this uncomfortable — especially if you’re layered up — but if a deer suddenly appeared, you’d have a hard time getting the gun off your upper body, then up and ready in time to make a shot.
I credit my wife with an amazingly simple remedy for this problem.
She found a big button and sewed it firmly onto the shoulder of my hunting jacket. Now the gunsling catches on the button and my rifle can’t slide off anymore!
If you are right handed, sew the button to your left shoulder — conversely if you are left handed.
Make sure to try on the jacket, find the best spot where your rifle will balance comfortably and mark it before sewing on the button.
The big question is, why didn’t we think of this before?
— Editor’s Note by Tim H. Martin
You might have noticed buttons and cloth loops sewn onto the shoulders of safari shirts and some shirts made for the military. Those are called epaulets.
If you’ve ever wondered what they’re for, epaulets were designed for the safari hunter or soldier to hang gear on: canteens, binoculars and anything hanging from a strap, but mostly to secure firearm slings comfortably to the shoulder.
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