Prone Sling Shooting Pain

[PBWalsh]

Hello,

So I enjoy sling shooting. I feel like I have a very comfortable body position while shooting off my belly (sitting, kneeling, paddy squat, and standing to an extent) and do not experience much if any pain. However, when I go to prone, my elbows experience pretty significant pain. My elbow points are directly on the ground and I can also feel stress around the joint (but different pain from doing a tricep exercise, like a stretching pain).

Besides laying on sand/thick towel/shooting jacket, is there any way to alive this? How do y’all do it in basic clothing?

This is regarless if I’m using a 7 pound AR or a 16 pound AI.

Thanks,
- PBWalsh

 

[FatBoy]

If you can move your sling point forward on the rifles, try it. This will open the angle of your sling arm and allow you to move the point of your elbow forward and should (may) let you place the flat behind your elbow on the ground. This takes away another bone on "bone " (ground) point away which should have you more stable and have the pressure off the point.

The trigger hand elbow should be doing almost nothing. I can let my rifle go completely and it doesn't move.

The caveat: this forces your position lower which puts strain on your neck. That, in turn, fatigues your eyes. For 5-10 rounds this isn't a big deal and can be dealt with. You can't stay in the sight for as long though. Over 15-20 minutes it can take it's toll.

 

[PBWalsh]

Thanks, I’ll try that during my next dry fire section. I run my AR sling just forward of the reciever and on the buffer tube end plate. I’ll move the sling further to the end of the 8” handguard next time.

My AI however is at the front of the chassis and buttstock, though I havent actually gone prone with it yet.

I use QD attachments so its not a big deal to move things around.

 

[FatBoy]

Gonna be tough with a carbine handguard. The AI, you should be able to find a place. This isn't apples to apples, it gives you an idea of the distance in LOP vs handstop/hand placement.

 

[...]

Prone in a sling hurts.....period.

the longer you do it, the more used to it you get......frankly i just dealt with it until my arm fell asleep, then it wasnt bad......overtime i developed a deadspot in my elbow (then again thats when i was shooting prone for 4hrs a day every day).

shooting coats and shooting mats do help some

 

[PBWalsh]

@FatBoy

No that defintely helps, I know I’m limiting myself using a carbine sling (Blue Force Padded VTAC sling) but it is extremely practical for shooting over a traditional match sling.

@mcameron

Yeah it’ll hurt regardless, and is why I will default to an artificial support (bipod, pack, rock) if I have one available. But sling shooting is a neccesary thing that should be taught and practiced.

 

[Macca]

I shot high power for ages using carbine sling & a yoga mat,it worked,but after I got a shooting jacket,a proper mat & a good sling-the difference was night & day.
My shooting didn’t improve noticeably but my comfort level over long strings of fire did.

 

[PBWalsh]

Yeah I currently use a cheap Midway USA shooting mat with a towel on the places my elbows touch. Honestly need to do more sling shooting and practice more of what I preach. I guess prone always turned me off.

 

[perttime]

How do you use a sling when the forward end is near the receiver?
It has been a while since I last used a sling - but it was attached just forward of the forward hand, and I got into a position where it wasn't exactly the points of my elbows taking all the weight.

 

[PBWalsh]

I have the sling configured like you’d see any 2 point carbine sling. The VTAC sling does not have a loop, so I use sling tension instead of a proper sling loop as seen on the TAB sling.

 

[NineHotel]

More padding, period, of any form that works with the shooting task at hand.

 

[Lowlight]

Position is wrong for shooting with a sling

muscling and not using bone support, can't be straight with a sling, need the angle

 

[PBWalsh]

@Lowlight

Yeah, I am trying to be straight behind as seen on a bipod. I just need more work overall, found out yesterday my trigget fundys need improvement.

I need to start making a disciplined dry fire schedule.

Lowlight, sending you a PM about another question relating to forum access.

 

[PBWalsh]

Did some slung dry fire this morning in prone, sitting, and kneeling on a shooting mat. Prone felt much more comfortable allowing my support arm to be more forward. Also repositioned my body as to where my lower body is to the side (like a prone plastic Army man). Found that to be more comfortable than attempting to be straight being the rifle like with a bipod.

Did have some of the described stretching pain in my support elbow, but I was still able to get a string of 5 - 10 off before needing to set the rifle down. My AIAT was defintely at an advantage having a longer forend length for hand placement and not a 30 round mag sticking out jamming against my forearm. Need a 5 or 10 magazine for an AR.

Question though. How much of an advantage is having the sling attachment at the bottom of the rifle as opposed to the left side (assuming a flush cup attachment at both positions).

 

[FatBoy]

That's going to depend on how you use the sling. IMO the most effective way is to twist the sling and wrap your non-firing hand. In the pic I posted of Zack shooting the suppressed mk12 you can see how the sling goes around the back of his left hand then straight back to the wrap on the arm, above his tricept. It's almost certainly the most stable way to do it if you have a sling that can be attached or wrapped around the non-firing arm. It's not comfortable without a heavy shirt and glove at least, buy it is doable.

Look up "how to use a 1903 sling". This will give you the basics, and these basics can e modified depending on which sling you ultimately use. Like opening a 2pt so it's long, then wrapping around the outside of the left arm and wrapping the hand under the sling and grasping the forearm.

 

[PBWalsh]

Ok, I think I understand. Today I was lying down with the rifles in a standard 2 point carry fashion. My support arm slid between bottom of chassis and top of sling. Sling rested flat on the back of my hand. Thumb and meat of palm on forend, fingers curled and barely touching barrel.

I think I’m just missing twisting the sling, but the AT has rotating cups, not non-rotating, so the sling freely goes where it wishes (to my disfavor).

 

[Lowlight]

The sling for a right-handed shooter goes on the right side of the handguard

 

[PBWalsh]

Yeah I see folks doing that, but I’m always finding (carbine or rifle) the rifle tries to rotate outward on my chest and not lie flat when I go hands free. That, and it inteferes with my cheek in the back swivel when I go to look through the scope. In other words, the back point swivel does not stay at my body’s back.

Frank, I am speaking of this with the buttstock “hanging” on my right shoulder. I’ve seen pictures of you with the buttstock at your right hip and muzzle up. Are you suggessting that right cup side carry method?

Obviously carrying a rifle cross body and shooting with precision in a sling are separate. I am just trying to find a good balance between the two for practical field use. Not looking for 3 gun fast, and not looking for XTC high master accuracy, just a good utility for the sling.