Lyman Great Plains -does it have sling swivels?

No sling on 1803 rifles, but slings on 1817 common rifles. An army rifleman could have easily had experience with both and been influenced by them when his enlistment was up and he headed West to seek his fortune. I know, never ever, ever could have happened unless primary source evidence says otherwise. That's baloney concocted by the sorts of pretenders I'll never understand, they're so gosh darned anal

I've been retired from the army 11 years. There are still things I do when out in the woods I learnd to do habitually, and came to prefer during the 28 years I served as a grunt. I adopted carrying my rifle muzzle down on my left shoulder. It is a very practical and safe way to do it. Carrying slung muzzel up on the right shoulder looks military but is darned nuisance. A former soldier in the fur trade days probably did a lot the same, even when it comes to rifle slings.

Just because there are no drawings or paintings showing slings on half stock flinter plains rifles doesn't mean the weren't to be found. The principle art work usually referenced was done on high priced expeditions by visitors to the early West, and not done for or by anyone who ranged the land. There were no Ruxtons among the drawers and painters. Their's were picture book illustrations, and nothing more.

I use a sling swivel designed for a. 45/70,magazine tube and clamp that to my ramrod thimble.

It is easily taken off with no permanent alterations to the rifle. Alternatively you can solder a stud to the bottom of a ramrod thimble and attach a sling via a q.d. Sling swivel.

I do plenty of walking and it has never let me down.

Kapow said:

I use a sling swivel designed for a. 45/70,magazine tube and clamp that to my ramrod thimble.

It is easily taken off with no permanent alterations to the rifle. Alternatively you can solder a stud to the bottom of a ramrod thimble and attach a sling via a q.d. Sling swivel.

I do plenty of walking and it has never let me down.

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I don't use slings on my guns but have owned several that had swivels or studs.

the very first one I owned was a Renegade that had the above mentioned mag-tube clamp on the ramrod thimble for the front & the rear loop was attached to a metal tab that fit under the buttplate & used the bottom buttplate screw to hold it in place.

I believe that some of the artists that went to the plains also painted common scenes and others documented the exploits of the wealthy traveler that hired them.

But back to the subject of slings, the means and methods to attach slings to a muzzleloader have been well covered in this topic. For the most part, riders on horseback didn't need or use slings. If a sling was needed, it was a simple matter to tie a leather strap to the barrel and the wrist and use that. If a sling is to be used on a hunter's gun, then by all means install one securely to the gun. If you want to show up at a historical reenactment with a gun on a sling, unless it is a military issue gun, expect a few questions. Do use military style swivels and a military sling.

People get anal when someone expects that just because it could be, that it must be acceptable. Please pay attention to all sides and we are able to learn and we can go from this could be the case to this is the likely case.

Kansas Volunteer said:

I'm of the opinion that just because no half stock plains rifles survive it doesn't mean they didn't exist. There was plenty of Inspiration around for half stock ...

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True but as they say, the absence of something doesn't prove it didn't exist but likewise, its absense doesn't give any credit to the idea that something did exist.

When all is said and done, those who are very interested in owning and portraying something that is totally historically accurate should be hesitant to carry a rifle with a sling.

Those who are not trying to portray recreations of the past probably don't need to care if a sling is historically correct or not.

Take someone who is interested in reliving hunting back in the days, but doesn't give a hoot about showing others "how" people lived.

For him/her, having a sling on their rifle is just something that makes carrying the gun more convenient and I say, why not?

If the person isn't trying to make a point of being historically correct, that's ok with me.


As long as he doesn't try to tell others that his outfit is absolutely correct and it is just the way things were done, he is causing no harm.

I'm getting ready to buy a Trade Rifle. It will have detachable swivels one way or another when I'm finished with it. Deer hunting without a sling...not a chance. The over the barrel things are in the way of the sights and wear the blueing right off.

Maybe you should get a gun bearer.

I have a rubber strap sling that has a cloth sleeve covering the center section. Rack ends has a wider section of rubber with an oval hole. You can easily tuck the strap through the hole on each end. Making a loop, then slide one end over the barrel and the other over the stock, so it tightens down to grip the rifle very well. I know it's not traditional, but it's very functional. And I don't have to use swivels.