Over the last 2 years I've slipped on two occasions and in both instances completely tore the muscles in my shoulders (right & left). Doc recommended a reverse shoulder implant for both. No way. I have full mobility, minimal pain, but the strength of a 10 year old girl. Now the question.

Would a sling help support my AR 15? I can shoulder it now, but it gets heavy after a while.

Thanks, Joe

Oh and be careful out there in the icy states!

A sling will help lock things in but will not change the weight being supported

A sling may help to support the rifle a little if it is drawn tight when in the firing position. I wouldn’t count on it helping over a long firing session. My advice would be to get physical therapy, if possible, and then modify your rifle to be as light as possible. To do this right, however, it might be more practical to start over and build your own. Do some research because everything from the type of barrel, barrel length, furniture, forged vs billet receivers and even the stock can make a significant difference. I’ve seen many “lightweight” builds on YouTube so that might be a good place to start. You may also want to consider a pistol AR or even SBR as those would be considerably lighter options.

Get one shoulder fixed then evaluate. That's my plan. That is right after I get both thumbs fixed. They are going to fix the elbows when they do the thumbs. They won't do three surgeries on one arm at the same time, but I did talk them into two.

Jagular that's the plan with the PT. We're working all the muscles around the shoulder to over compensate.

My neighbor had it done and has limited movement. I at least have full movement. She said she wouldn't do it again. To add insult to injury, I slipped on the stairs while they were delivering my gun safe. And tore my quad tendon. Still in PT for that.

Don't get old!!!

I have a related question, please? (I use my sling only for transportation of my AR-15, not as a shooting aid). I am trying to figure out the best way to carry this rifle during hunting expeditions. I normally have a good bit of stuff hanging on me during trips to and from hunting spots. Usually have a set of binocs on my chest, maybe a rangefinder hanging round my neck. Sometimes have a shooting stick rest in hand and many times a portable folding seat. Generally also have a side arm on my right side. This happens normally when walking from a vehicle to a spot where I will attempt to call in a coyote, etc. Carrying the riflel while walking with all this extra stuff presents a challenge to void banging stuff together and I don't much like the rifle swinging back and forth and banging on me!

Yeah, I know ... I carry too much stuff.! I'm more of a pack mule instead of a hunter, I guess. I kind of prefer carrying the rifle on one side or the other so that I can use my hand and arm on that side to kind of anchor the rifle and control where it is pointing and to prevent swinging around and to keep the sling over my shoulder.

I also prefer a two point attachment (front and rear) as opposed to a single point attachment. I can let out the sling enough to allow me to place it over my head and shoulder to allow the rifle to point down at the ground while riding on my back and this is fairly secure if the sling is adjusted to fit my body snugly. There is seldom any reason to have to quickly deploy the rifle. My AR is set up with M Lok attachments front and rear to attach the sling, and I can do so on either side of the rifle. However, I prefer to carry the left side of the rifle against my body since it is "smoother" than the right side. My sling can quickly be detached to have it out of the way when I get set up and my calling/shooting sight.

With all that said, do any of you have suggestions for me. I am embarking for the first time using an AR-15 for predator hunting. I have done so for a great many years while using various bolt action hunting rifles with a conventional sling without any problems, but the shape and size of the AR makes slinging it comfortably a different situation. Perhaps your answers for my questions will also be of use to Joe! I'm sure not trying to hijack his OP!

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So long ... Ken

Perhaps depends on the surgeon. A friend of mine had the reverse shoulder surgery (weird) and is very please with it. Ball where the socket was and socket on the humerus. Someday they may indeed be correct when said, "he's talking out his butt."

I’ve looked into coyote hunting and from the limited research I’ve done, the coyotes come to you (via calling) right? Continuing on this train of thought, you could bag all the extras until you reach your spot and then unpack everything. Look how our troops carry their stuff. Pack on the back and rifle slung on the front. Plus, carrying everything in a pack will relieve unnecessary stress on your neck and back.

If you need quicker access to binoculars or a range finder then you could try placing these items in cargo pants leg pockets or pounches on a belt. Size of the item may be an issue when considering this option.

I have a sling on almost every long gun I own, including all of my AR-15 rifles. It is mostly for carrying them, but some are set up to aid in shooting.

A sling, properly used, can be a huge help in shooting a bolt action rifle.

Do some research on the “Ching Sling”.

Jeff Cooper’s book on the Rifle provides a good tutorial on sling use.

LOL that's what they wanted to do to me, a reverse shoulder where the leverage from the deltoid muscle raises your arm.

You are correct, Sir! I happen to have a fairly new backpack that I have not used yet. Did not think about that. It will carry most all my possibles except for the shooting stick and folding seat. Those can both be carried in one hand, and I can probably also rig up a sling to carry them opposite the rifle. Doing that would allow the rifle to be slung in front where I can control it well. Thanks very much for reminding me of my new backpack. Old dogs can sometimes learn new tricks!!!

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So long ... Ken

A sling can be a great help to accuracy. I would think that weak muscles lead to it being hard to hold a rifle on target. A sling could definitely help that although the weight of the rifle will still be felt. Every rifle I own has a sling and it isn't for carrying. I shoot much better using one.

Thanks everyone! I noticed on the Camp Perry site slings are used for the rimfire competitions. So there is that.

A sling will redistribute the weight and provide some relief.
And, congratulations, your tenacity is showing.
Very commendable.
Jim

Thank you Jim

I comes to whether I'm hunting or shooting if I have a sling on my rifle. If I'm hunting I always have a sling on the rifle. If I'm at the range I usually never have a sling one the rifle.

I know a couple guys that have had this type of shoulder surgery. One has about 90% of the motion back and one is at about 70%. One says he'd do it again and the other is indifferent.

It all depends on the surgeon and if you stick to the PT regimen. Don't do the PT and it won't heal properly. My father-in-law had a different surgery on his shoulder. He's a big sissy when it comes to pain so, he didn't do the PT. He lost 50% of the motion in his shoulder. Then he injured it again which actually gave him more range of motion; go figure.

Whatever you do, don't wait. As we age, they are less likely to do the surgery at all. So, if you think you might want it done, do it sooner rather than later.

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Freedom isn't free.

A pad between your left elbow and waist allows you to prop a rifle up and steadies it, too.

A thick elbow pad might do the same thing.

These will work better if you move your front handhold back, to lower your elbow close to your waist.

If somebody asks, tell them it's a 'tactical elbow rest'.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

My Wife has had 6 shoulder surgeries...started back when she fell off during
a barrel race...she's 48 now and just had another on her right should...
she does too much when healing and the repairs don't last...
this time she's getting fussed at by the docs & PT's a LOT, and they're staying
on her about doing things the RIGHT way so she'll actually heal up proper.

Meanwhile, she's going to be a basic couch 'tater for about a year.
Her bicep muscle has shrunk down to almost not there.

Not sure how much of it was botched surgeries in the past or her knotheadedness
in not doing the Rest & PT properly...the most rifle she can handle
is a .22lr...that's it, no bigger. Manages to deal with 9mm pistol decently,
but complains after the first box about shoulder ache.

Mixed bag...never know quite how the recovery is going to go...
but it usually works better if you follow orders.

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Marlin & Calico Specialist

@ Joe,

I had a torn rotator cuff, and after surgery, the muscle that gave me strength in the arm snapped. I have almost a full range of motion, but can't lift much. When I returned to rifle shooting, I quickly found that shooting my service rifles (AR HBAR, M1, M1A) and my 03A3 was near impossible. The culprit was that my hand slid and I had to "muscle" the rifles.

What I found was if I used a sling properly in concert with a hand stop, I can fire a course of fire in prone position. Fortunately, I had a stock for a 700 that had an Anschutz rail, and my match rifle ARs can accept a hand stop. Without a hand stop, my upper arm burns like a house on fire and is relatively useless for about an hour. The hand stop makes prone possible.

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Judge control not gun control!

That would also depend on the range. If I'm at a table, no sling. Free-style, always a sling. If I'm hunting I use a sling too. 12 pounds of night time optics and rifle gets mighty heavy in a short time.

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Si vis pacem para bellum.