Sling for automatic rifle to prevent injury by accidental discharge

Abstract

A sling for an automatic rifle enables the rifle to be mounted on a first individual in action carry in an orientation which eliminates or significantly minimizes the likelihood that a second individual walking along side the first individual will be injured if the rifle accidentally discharges.

1 . A method for a first individual to action carry an automatic rifle in an orientation that significantly reduces the likelihood the a second individual walking next to the first individual will be shot in the event the automatic rifle accidentally discharges while in action carry, the automatic rifle having a muzzle end, a stock end opposite the muzzle end, and a center of gravity intermediate said stock end and said muzzle end, the method comprising the steps of
 (a) providing a sling having a first end and a second end and shaped and dimensioned to extend in the action position from the stock of the automatic rifle over a shoulder of the first individual, across the back of the individual, and around the side opposite the shoulder to the automatic rifle;   (b) attaching said first end of said sling to the stock end of the rifle;   (c) determining the near center-of-gravity location at which said second end of said sling can be attached to the rifle so that in action carry the rifle assumes a vertically oriented balanced orientation at an angle from the vertical of less than twenty degrees;   (d) attaching said second end of said sling to said near-center-fo-gravity location; and,   (e) placing the rifle and said sling on the individual in action carry.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  including the additional step of attaching an optical sight to the rifle intermediate the muzzle end and said attachment location. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  including the additional step of attaching a target designator to the rifle intermediate the muzzle end and said attachment location. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a shotgun is utilized in place of the automatic rifle. 
   
   
       5 . A method for a first individual to action carry a shotgun in an orientation that significantly reduces the likelihood the a second individual walking next to the first individual will be shot in the event the shotgun accidentally discharges while in action carry, the shotgun having a muzzle end, a stock end opposite the muzzle end, and a center of gravity intermediate said stock end and said muzzle end, the method comprising the steps of
 (a) providing a sling having a first end and a second end and shaped and dimensioned to extend in the action position from the stock of the shotgun over a shoulder of the first individual, across the back of the individual, and around the side opposite the shoulder to the shotgun;   (b) attaching said first end of said sling to the stock end of the shotgun;   (c) determining the near center-of-gravity location at which said second end of said sling can be attached to the shotgun so that in action carry the shotgun assumes a vertically oriented balanced orientation at an angle from the vertical of less than twenty degrees;   (d) attaching said second end of said sling to said near-center-of-gravity location; and,   (e) placing the shotgun and said sling on the individual in action carry.