You thought the saddle ring on your lever action rifle was to tie it to a saddle, huh? Nope, it's to tie it to the rider. If a cavalry man falls off his horse, his saddle ring sling keeps his rifle with him.

But the best use for a saddle ring and sling is for woods hunting. If you like to stalk through the thickets after deer and hogs like I do, you'll love a saddle ring sling.

As the photo above shows, it's a no-hands carry. In cold weather you can ease along with your hands in your pockets. Or you can ease along with your shooting hand down on the rifle and ready to raise it in a flash.

Here, and above, we see the hunter orange version attached to a Winchester Model 94.

As this image shows, the sling is fully adjustable via a sliding buckle. It attaches to the saddle ring via a heavy-duty nylon clip with a strong spring closure. Although attached firmly to the saddle ring, the sling can be removed in just a couple of seconds.

HINT: Notice in this picture how the ring hangs downward to the 5 o'clock position. Ideally, the ring should flop back and forth in a position nearly parallel to the rifle barrel. This saddle ring stud is screwed in a little too much. I later fixed it so it hangs correctly. All I did was peen the sides of the stud base so it couldn't screw in as much. Had it been in a 1 o'clock position, I would have carefully filed the bottom of the stud base so it could screw in a little more.

This photo shows the Olive Drab version of my saddle ring sling.

It's attached to a muzzleloader via a key-chain ring in an Uncle Mike's sling stud installed in the stock. I installed it specifically for the purpose of attaching a saddle ring sling.

Note: the entire weight of the rifle is on the sling, not my hand.

Note: my hand is resting in a position from which I could quickly grab the rifle and raise it to my shoulder.

This is how you would actually find me in the thickets—wearing two saddle ring slings.

I often carry the little folded-up three-legged stool you see here. It's great for sitting in briar patches, etc. I just un-clip it from the extra sling and erect it wherever.

Sometimes if the ground is dry enough for sitting, I'll leave the stool at home and attach a gedunk sack for snacking. I've been known to attach a coffee bottle to the extra sling. If I go mushroom picking, I attach an empty sack.

An extra saddle ring sling is great for carrying stuff. I use mine year round.

Notice the small black object on the extra sling. It's just below my belt and just above my extra shirt.

It's a loop. It isn't needed as a part of the saddle ring sling, but it sure makes for a handy place to attach your outer shirt when the morning gets warmer. Just slide the loop up and cram the shirt in the opening between the loop and the clip as you see in the photo. Then slide the loop down to tighten the webbing against the shirt, and the shirt will stay there all day.

A loop is a part of each saddle ring sling.

Like to handgun hunt? Install a sling stud on the butt of your pistol and use a saddle ring sling.

This is a T-C Contender Super 14. The sling and ring is the same one shown above attached to a muzzleloader. I simply removed the ring and sling from the muzzleloader and hooked it to the stud on the Contender. It took . . . what? Maybe 30 seconds to un-attach it from the rifle, attach it to the pistol, and slightly readjust the sling length.

Again, notice the position of my hand—in line with the butt of the pistol.

USPS shipping included, one sling = $20; two = $35; three = $50 etc., etc.

Send check or money order to:

Junior Doughty
190 Major Doughty Road
Tullos, Louisiana 71479

Specify color—orange or Olive Drab. If you don't specify a color, I'll ship Olive Drab. I'll wait for checks to clear unless I know you from a forum. Cash is ok, but don't complain to me if it gets lost in the mail. If you send cash, put something in the envelope to hide the green.

www.e-gunparts.com sells do-it-yourself saddle rings for less than $6. They have them with 10-32 and 8-40 threads. Find the search box at the top of their main page and enter "saddle ring."

You may also pay via PayPal. Click the icon below. Be sure to select a color or colors in the message box. Note: you will be paying Deltablues.net my main site.