TargetTalk

With the smallbore program at the local club done until next spring, I'm gathering up my own gear. I've been using a simple cuff sling with a keeper and liked it, and as I've been looking around for something similar the Anschutz Professional caught my eye.
http://www.champchoice.com/store/Main.a ... &item=A331
Looks decent and has a built in keeper. Any reason why I souldn't get it or is there something better that won't break the bank? I like how I can get the sling very snug with the keeper, I've never tried one with a buckle or a hook to adjust the cuff size. Maybe I'm wrong here, but knowing my luck I'd need something in-between holes.

Thanks from a new smallbore shooter.

There's nothing wrong with that sling. Older ('80s and' 90s) Anschutz synthetic slings were made of a laminated material that sometimes de-laminated under sustained use. The current material appears to be much stronger. If you were in the UK I'd recommend the Ese sling as it's a little cheaper, and has closer-spaced holes. There's a US brand called Hata that gets regular positive reviews. The Hata Synthetic is similar to the Kurt Thune, but much cheaper.

On a side note, getting the cuff really tight around your arm isn't great. The brachial artery and nerve plexus run down the inside of your arm from the armpit, and a very tight cuff will pinch these. Pinching is not pleasant. You should leave a little room at the front for your arm; three fingers space is the standard recommendation. If the sling was twisting around the arm, look at its position (should pull straight against the back, not biased to I e side) and the jacket fit/non-slip reinforce instead.

I’ve been using the leather version of that sling for years. I shoot matches twice a week and it’s holding up great. I put some leather oil on it when I got it and it’s still nice and flexible. Recommend it.

I shot for years with a Tubb's leather Heartbreaker and switched to a Hata

I only switched because I was shooting High-power also and wanted to have 2 complete kits (and not forget my sling in the wrong bag)

I like the Hata, very well made for the money, only wish it was a different color than green. Many of the retired guys at my Gallery league are still using leather slings that they had from the 70's,

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I've considered the Hata as well, it's on my top three. What is the practical difference between a sling that uses a keeper for tension, or one that uses a buckle or latch pin?

I think screw-clamps, buckles, and hooks all do much the same job. I'm a little biased against the hooks found on the Anschutz Constant and Thune UIT1, as I'm worried the hook could tear the sling. That may be unfounded, but it's there in my mind. Buckles are fiddler, but you can fasten and then forget about it. Screw-clamps are good it you like to retighten the cuff each session, but the clamp can get in the way in position. I took the clamp off my sling and pin the cuff with Chicago screws.

I've used the Hata sling for a few years now for prone and have been very pleased with it with one exception. That being the single hook used to set the arm loop size. For some reason the hook has a tendency to behave as a ratchet coming out of the hole and readjusting itself tighter.....very tight in some cases.

As a fix I removed the Hata arm loop adjustment device and substituted a Freeland metal sling clamp. This is working for me.