I’ve been goofing around with this idea for a while now. Instead of attaching a shoulder stock to a pistol, why not use a sling in the same role? A sling that attaches to the pistol and either wraps around the shoulder, back or upper arm can be used in a similar manner to a shoulder stock. With a shoulder stock your muscles pull the gun into your body and this allows you to use the rigid parts of your body and the gun to remain stationary. With a sling you’re doing much the same thing, only instead of pulling the gun into your body you’re pushing it away.
There are a lot of significant advantages to this. To begin with size and weight. The sling can be simply a boot lace or a piece of paracord. It also would serve its function as a way to carry the pistol or to keep it at the ready. Then there’s cost. It’s just a string or a strap, virtually free.
I’ve experimented with a few different ideas. One is just a length of cord about 2’ long with large loops at either end. You put your thumb through one loop, bring it back and over your upper arm and then put the other loop around your pistol grip. As you extend your arm it pulls everything tight and helps steady the gun. This actually seems to work pretty well. A shoulder stock seems slightly more steady and is a little faster, but it seems to have a significant accuracy advantage over standard pistol holds.
The second method was about a 3’ length of cord attached to the front scope mount on one end and to the pistol grip on the other. The cord goes over the head and through one arm the pistol is carried across the chest in the manner of a two point sling. This also allows you to steady your hold. If you keep your elbows against your torso and hold the pistol like you would a rifle you get a stable hold.
I’ve tried some other methods as well with cord looped around my foot or behind my leg while in a sitting position and they can be surprisingly stable, but I doubt they have any practicality as it just takes too long to get into position.
Im guessing this has been tried many times before and that field target competition probably has rules regulating the use of slings and harnesses.
There are a lot of significant advantages to this. To begin with size and weight. The sling can be simply a boot lace or a piece of paracord. It also would serve its function as a way to carry the pistol or to keep it at the ready. Then there’s cost. It’s just a string or a strap, virtually free.
I’ve experimented with a few different ideas. One is just a length of cord about 2’ long with large loops at either end. You put your thumb through one loop, bring it back and over your upper arm and then put the other loop around your pistol grip. As you extend your arm it pulls everything tight and helps steady the gun. This actually seems to work pretty well. A shoulder stock seems slightly more steady and is a little faster, but it seems to have a significant accuracy advantage over standard pistol holds.
The second method was about a 3’ length of cord attached to the front scope mount on one end and to the pistol grip on the other. The cord goes over the head and through one arm the pistol is carried across the chest in the manner of a two point sling. This also allows you to steady your hold. If you keep your elbows against your torso and hold the pistol like you would a rifle you get a stable hold.
I’ve tried some other methods as well with cord looped around my foot or behind my leg while in a sitting position and they can be surprisingly stable, but I doubt they have any practicality as it just takes too long to get into position.
Im guessing this has been tried many times before and that field target competition probably has rules regulating the use of slings and harnesses.
