Jack O’Connor’s Whelen Rifle Sling
With the Whalen sling there is enough leather to do what the sling is designed to do: be something light enough to assist in carrying the rifle and be stead enough to be used as a support for someone trained in it's use while shooting. The hook goes through the butt swivel, the other end is laced to form a loop for use in the "hasty sling adjustment" for off-hand, sitting or prone positions. On another forum, NavyChief wrote: I did some research and eventually went back to Jack O'Connor's "The Hunting Rifle" (top 5 mandatory reading for all rifle cranks, in my humble opinion) and he flatly stated that the "Whelen sling is, for my money, neater, lighter, and more practical for a hunting rifle than any two-piece sling", p. 255. I had no experience with a Whelen sling and my experience with the military slings left me wanting for something a little less cumbersome and with fewer parts that always seem to gouge and scratch up nice stocks. I had settled on a Claw sling for most rifles but it does little to help steady a rifle and I really like my leather Murray sling but it cost more than 100 bucks and is designated for a beautiful high dollar Model 70 and again, while a great carry strap, it does little to help get a rifle locked up tight for longer shots. Finally found a Whelen sling, did a little more research, and couldn't be happier. It gets every rifle I have put it on locked up tight as a drum and I can hold steady at 300 yards across the field at a french drain cap from the sitting, standing or prone
