Safari without Sling?

[Tom Leoni]

All ~

I have just returned from an inebriating SCI show, where among other ineffable pleasures, I have scored a rifle I had ogled online for at least two years:

It's an Alex Henry falling block (circa 1885) in .450 BPE, which I'm very much planning on taking to Africa. It has all the characteristics I love in a safari rifle--classic, beautiful, British, easy-to-reload chambering... and most importantly, it's a single shot, which as I realize, it has very much become "my thing." Oh, and it fits me like a glove.

As you can see, it has no provision for sling attachments. In a brief moment of temporary insanity, I flirted with the idea of adding a pair of classic British sling eyelets, but I soon discarded this proposition as quasi-blasphemous. I don't want to alter the rifle from its original configuration--especially since, in its amazing condition, it looks like it just rolled out the Edinburgh factory.

Since in my safaris--as well as all my other hunting adventures--I have made ample use of the sling while walking, stalking, following game trails, etc., my question here is who of you have completed a safari without a sling with which to carry the rifle? And what mode of carry did you mostly employ? Port-arms, African carry (which I actually don't like for several reasons), on the shoulder...? I will be hunting in the Karoo, where it's rather thick with acacia bush.

I'd love to hear your experiences.

 

[Monski]

Congratulations on the rifle! I have only went slingless with a double rifle, mostly using Africa carry. I understand your misgivings of using that metbod. I got used to doing it from hiking with a 12 lb exercise bar and kept the muzzle away from our hunting party. I think I would have to do a lot of curls to be able to carry it at port arms, etc. Good luck!

 

[bohannon]

I ran my Winchester 70 375 h&h without a sling while hunting buffalo and plains game in Limpopo. Didn't miss it one bit. When hunting at home in Georgia where I'm dragging the animal out myself, climbing deer stands, etc a sling has more value.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Good morning. First, congratulations on a beautiful rifle.

When I was going through what my wife refers to as "my Cowboy Old West" phase, I was hunting almost entirely with leverguns, Shiloh Sharps rifles and Trapdoors. No slings because most did not have the attachments for a sling and it just didn't "seem right". I mostly carried the rifles cradled across my left arm, with high port and "one hand hang" as required or needed. Disclaimer: I was much younger and in great physical condition then. I never hunted in Africa with any of those rifles but I carried them for many miles hunting in the US.

Bushcraft and a few other companies make universal "no sling swivel needed" leather slings that might be worth considering.

Safe hunting

 

[Tom Leoni]

Thank you, guys! I forgot to mention, the rifle weighs only 7.6lbs. So not a really substantial weight to carry for 3-4 hours at a time.

 

[uplander01]

You are a very robust and strong Italian man my friend, rotating from hand to hand with a rifle of that weight should be no problem for you, single shots are nice for this reason.

 

[grand veneur]

In 30 years of regular hunting in Africa, I have extremely rarely used slings to carry my rifle. I only did that with borrowed rifles that had something like that. I prefer to carry my rifle on the shoulder, but we have already discussed the topic very controversial on the Forum.

 

[jpr9954]

That rifle is a beauty. Thank you for taking time to show it to me at the SCI Convention.

As to a sling, I might suggest one of those non-drill shotgun slings. There are a number out there including ones in leather that would complement that rifle.

 

[Fixfire]

I use a belt attached shotgun rest exclusively. Works like a charm!!

 

[rookhawk]

All ~

I have just returned from an inebriating SCI show, where among other ineffable pleasures, I have scored a rifle I had ogled online for at least two years:

View attachment 662559

It's an Alex Henry falling block (circa 1885) in .450 BPE, which I'm very much planning on taking to Africa. It has all the characteristics I love in a safari rifle--classic, beautiful, British, easy-to-reload chambering... and most importantly, it's a single shot, which as I realize, it has very much become "my thing." Oh, and it fits me like a glove.

As you can see, it has no provision for sling attachments. In a brief moment of temporary insanity, I flirted with the idea of adding a pair of classic British sling eyelets, but I soon discarded this proposition as quasi-blasphemous. I don't want to alter the rifle from its original configuration--especially since, in its amazing condition, it looks like it just rolled out the Edinburgh factory.

Since in my safaris--as well as all my other hunting adventures--I have made ample use of the sling while walking, stalking, following game trails, etc., my question here is who of you have completed a safari without a sling with which to carry the rifle? And what mode of carry did you mostly employ? Port-arms, African carry (which I actually don't like for several reasons), on the shoulder...? I will be hunting in the Karoo, where it's rather thick with acacia bush.

I'd love to hear your experiences.

Nice gun, Tom. It's a dandy of an Alexander Henry you got there. If you safari carry that, muzzles forward, you will wear the browning off the barrels. ($1200 restoration). If you keep it to plains games and reasonable stalking, you could carry it at ready. You need to douse that whole rifle in Renaissance wax and keep it that way ever night at camp so your sweat and the dust doesn't take off the original finish. Doable for sure with extra care.

The bigger conundrum is getting a viable load for Africa. I've had mixed results with Hawk bullets, specifically that I waited a year for hardened bullets and they lied to me and sent me soft bullets of pure lead that could have got me killed. Nonetheless, Hawk is the only person that will make you a soft lead core bullet with a .065" gilding metal jacket for that gun. That's what you need. Other bullets will only be .020" to .025" thick jackets which are suitable for only small stuff with thin skins. The former will take bison, kudu, oryx, eland, wildebeest, elk, and even with a perfect shot perhaps a buffalo. (*where legal)

You need to drop a set of pin gauges down the bore and find out the nominal bore diameters so you can determine what thousandth size bullet is going to be correct for that gun to give you good accuracy. With perfect tuning and the right loads, it should be a tack driver out many hundreds of yards with precision iron sights.

P.S. - Get that pistol grip stabilized before you shoot it. It's a very simple and discrete repair at present state, it is a horrific repair if it lets loose under recoil and you lose chips.

 

[Rare Breed]

Congratulations on the rifle! I have only went slingless with a double rifle, mostly using Africa carry. I understand your misgivings of using that metbod. I got used to doing it from hiking with a 12 lb exercise bar and kept the muzzle away from our hunting party. I think I would have to do a lot of curls to be able to carry it at port arms, etc. Good luck!

While I do the exact same thing as you do may I suggest the slings available that do not require eyelets or swivels they wrap around the stock and loop over the barrel. just an idea for your consideration. I believe Trader Keith has them

 

[coreydb]

Not sling would be necessary in Africa per se, carry African style is very common and you don't need to sling it because the tracker/skinner do all the work. Definitely would require a sling if you gotta drag out your kill

 

[Puddle]

I've never brought a sling to Africa. Only in steep Elk country do I bother to sling up.

 

[Green Chile]

Congrats on a nice vintage single. I've owned several of them and it's one of my favorite rifle designs. Alex Henry is such a classic builder. Don't modify the gun! It's easily carried one handed in front of the action as they are not heavy guns. As to slings, I've never used one in Africa and certainly don't like them on DG rifles. I always carry the rifle, even on long tracking hunts.

I'm using hawk jacketed bullets in 450 BPE singles or doubles or a paper patched 360 grain lead bullet with a load of H4198 in a nitro for black load. Incidentally, that was one of Ross Seyfried's favorite loads for his 450 BPE rifles.

I shoot those loads in my Purdey 450 BPE.

 

[Tom Leoni]

Congrats on a nice vintage single. I've owned several of them and it's one of my favorite rifle designs. Alex Henry is such a classic builder. Don't modify the gun! It's easily carried one handed in front of the action as they are not heavy guns. As to slings, I've never used one in Africa and certainly don't like them on DG rifles. I always carry the rifle, even on long tracking hunts.

I'm using hawk jacketed bullets in 450 BPE singles or doubles or a paper patched 360 grain lead bullet with a load of H4198 in a nitro for black load. Incidentally, that was one of Ross Seyfried's favorite loads for his 450 BPE rifles.

I shoot those loads in my Purdey 450 BPE.
View attachment 662701
View attachment 662702

Hi, Bryan, what year (roughly) is your Purdey? And you say you have no qualms using jacketed bullets? I used to have a .450 BPE double from roughly the late 1880s and loaded it with hard cast bullets. But definitely using jacketed would expand the usefulness of the rifle.

What weight jacketed do you use?

 

[rookhawk]

Hi, Bryan, what year (roughly) is your Purdey? And you say you have no qualms using jacketed bullets? I used to have a .450 BPE double from roughly the late 1880s and loaded it with hard cast bullets. But definitely using jacketed would expand the usefulness of the rifle.

What weight jacketed do you use?

Pristine bores tolerate lead. Any old fouled thing shoots a jacketed soft point wonderfully. Not a question to me, just encouraging you to use jacketed bullets to hit that gun's full potential. It goes without saying, use nitro powders at BP pressures so you keep that bore as pretty as can be forever!