Rifle carriers so close…

[Bluumoon]

Looking at the new Slik Sling Version 3, def won’t be buying one, but… the upper strap is really close to what I’ve been wanting.

This new version appears to partially address 2 issues I have with my current setup (piece meal Kifaru gun bearer, standard Kifaru lower/universal upper).

Issue 1 : The strap should look and feel different than the backpack straps. This has lead to me accidentally pulling the wrong strap and whacking the crap out of my rifle during a hunt and a couple near misses. Rifle butt stayed in holster and pivoted like a clock hand, luckily it hit the barrel to stop on a blowdown tree not the suppressor which could have bent.

Issue 2 : Not as big of a deal. To put rifle in the carrier, I either have to take the pack off or take shoulder straps off and spin pack with belt strap still attached. This is fine when the pack is light, not w a full pack. The Slik sling is almost there on this one, but has universal attachment for straps that wrap around the shoulder strap making it a no go.

Not an issue for me after learning to sweep the butt stock clear, but the new Slik appears to address butt stocks hanging up in holster. Unfortunately it looks like they left the front side open and I guarantee I’d find a way for the rifle to fall out at a terrible time.

I have a K4 pack, having the lower holster attach at the same place as the water bottle is much better than attaching to the belt.

@Mark at EXO
@hereinaz
@TandKHunting Khunting

Who wants to make a perfect version for me?

 

[HuntWyld]

I have the slick sling v3 and use the upper portion with the stone glacier buttstock cradle but any of the webbing type rifle cradles will work in conjunction (the one that comes with the slick sling is heavy and unnecessary). Its what I’ve been wanting for years, nice and secure up against the pack the elastic strap has just enough rebound to allow a secure hold but has a long and different material rip cord making it quick and easy to release. The ability to put it back on the pack without taking the pack off is what sets it apart from all the others.

 

[7mm-08]

Stone Glacier has already made the perfect version. Just adapt it to your pack (like I did).

 

[Bluumoon]

Stone Glacier has already made the perfect version. Just adapt it to your pack (like I did).

Not for me. The bottom portion may or may not be better than my rigged up Kifaru, certainly lighter and looks like it would work w the EXO as I use it.

The top strap is worse than what I’m working with. Lower on the pack and doesn’t hold rifle tight to shoulder (weight distribution issue).

I’m going to have a friend sew on a new bright orange plasticy strap on mine as a trial.

 

[Bluumoon]

I have the slick sling v3 and use the upper portion with the stone glacier buttstock cradle but any of the webbing type rifle cradles will work in conjunction (the one that comes with the slick sling is heavy and unnecessary). Its what I’ve been wanting for years, nice and secure up against the pack the elastic strap has just enough rebound to allow a secure hold but has a long and different material rip cord making it quick and easy to release. The ability to put it back on the pack without taking the pack off is what sets it apart from all the others.

The V3 looks really close…, but the way it attaches to the shoulder strap ruins it for me.

 

[Bluumoon]

 

[crich]

I use the V3 and haven't had any issues. I like it quite a bit actually. I tuck the tag end of the shoulder strap into my bino harness so it's quick and easy to grab. They make an orange one if blending in with everything else is an issue. Getting the rifle back into the cradle takes a few seconds sometimes but is easy enough IMO.

 

[Bluumoon]

 

[Bluumoon]

One clip is attached to a frame loop

 

[TheCougar]

Stone Glacier has already made the perfect version. Just adapt it to your pack (like I did).

The SG is nice. Except the bottom doesn’t hold the Rokstok worth a damn. It needs to be bigger and/or deeper. We had the butt slip out probably 50 times over the course of 7 days of hunting. Resewing the strap on the butt to be deeper is on the winter “to do” list.

 

[Bluumoon]

The SG is nice. Except the bottom doesn’t hold the Rokstok worth a damn. It needs to be bigger and/or deeper. We had the butt slip out probably 50 times over the course of 7 days of hunting.

Yep, pass.

 

[hereinaz]

I have gotten into the design stage several times on a couple of things. Its hard to make a simple design and also improve on it.

I think I found some hardware at SHOT that will do what I want as a complete quick release solution.

 

[LongWayAround]

I like the gunbearer, but the issue I have is that my rifle wants to twist in it. Such that the scope would face forward, away from my body. It can also be annoying to have to dismount the rifle to sit down or similar.

 

[LongWayAround]

@Bluumoon

I'm sure you know this... I think your problem with grabbing the wrong strap is caused by having the rifle behind you, rather than forward, under your arm as it is designed to sit.

 

[Bluumoon]

@Bluumoon

I'm sure you know this... I think your problem with grabbing the wrong strap is caused by having the rifle behind you, rather than forward, under your arm as it is designed to sit.

Yep, I'm aware. There were some advantages to having it out front, fast to deploy and nice for glassing, but drove me nuts. The way I have it setup is still very fast to deploy, gets the weight off the side of the belt, and snugs the rifle up to the pack close to my body without riding the back of my shoulder.

 

[Bluumoon]

I like the gunbearer, but the issue I have is that my rifle wants to twist in it. Such that the scope would face forward, away from my body. It can also be annoying to have to dismount the rifle to sit down or similar.

I gave up and just carried it scope forward when I had it out front.

 

[LongWayAround]

I actually might play around with mounting it that way, there's a lot I like about that. Still quick access and not fighting a traditional sling.

 

[butcherboy]

I use the exo attachment on my exo K4. I do have to take my pack off to put it back on but that’s not a big deal at all. It releases quick and stays tight to the pack.

 

[Bluumoon]

I use the exo attachment on my exo K4. I do have to take my pack off to put it back on but that’s not a big deal at all. It releases quick and stays tight to the pack.

I haven’t seen that one in person. Looking at their website I’d want to move the lower portion in to where I have it mounted on the rear of hip belt and frame (looks doable).

I’m not sure about the clip, looks like it would be slow to deploy, but again haven’t tried it.

How well does the butt end hold onto the stock and how easy does it come out. Watching the EXO YouTubes this year I didn’t notice them using it (maybe related to the HNT foldable).

 

[butcherboy]

The pocket on the bottom holds the butt stick quite well. You actually have to give the rifle a little bit of a tug to get it out. The clip is fairly easy to unbuckle once you know how far back you need to reach for it. I used it for the first time on my son’s elk hunt this past November and
Now I can’t imagine ever not using it. It does take a bit of practice to get the hang of it but once you have it down it’s a breeze to use.