Attaching a Rifle Scabbard

There is no single appropriate way of attaching a rifle scabbard to the saddle of your horse. Some people sling rifle scabbards on horses by using various ways. You will see horses with leather rifle scabbards on their right (off) sides and on their left sides or near their left sides with stock facing their rear and stock forward if you watch some old movies by John Wayne. The only thing that matters is for it to work the way you want regardless of the way you choose.

All About Rifle Scabbard
Why people hang their rifle scabbards on the right side of their horses

Many people hang their rifle scabbards on the right sides of their horses. The butts face the front at approximately horn height with the rifle barrels angled a little bit toward the back. They do so for the following reasons:

  • They never know that the barrels of the rifles are under their stirrup leather because they extend there.
  • This helps the horses to carry them best by keeping the weight on their front quarters.
  • They hang their rifle scabbards on the right sides of their horses in order to spot game on the off chance while they are in the saddles and pull their rifles out before dismounting.
  • In addition, they tip the saddles when they are mounting by adding extra weight if they hang the rifles on the near sides of their horses. They offset their weight when they are mounting if they hang the rifle scabbards on the right sides of their horses.

You should know that your rifle could go missing if you use nylon or an open-ended leather rifle scabbard from the reliable aimpoint pro brand before hanging it with its butt facing the rear. Many stories have been told about people who have traced their rifles back on the trails just because they did not know that some branches had snagged them and yanked them out of their rifle scabbards.

Hunting Gear ATV Rifle Scabbard

When it comes to the actual attachment, a big percent of rifle scabbards boasts of two sets of straps. You should use the gullet of your saddle for looping the strap by its butt. You should then attach the lower strap to your flank dee ring. If you intend to attach your saddle rifle scabbard with its butt facing the rear, you should do so by attaching the upper strap to whichever dee ring that is available on the back of the saddle. Alternatively, you should run your saddle strings by using the strap that is on the scabbard in order to tie it before attaching the lower strap if rings are not available. The aforementioned are only suggestions. The straps that most scabbards will have are long enough for you to have many options of attaching your rifle scabbard to the position that you want it to be in.

Custom Leather Saddle Rifle Scabbard

How the attachment of Bow scabbards differs from the attachment of rifle scabbards

A Bow Scabbard requires you secure it to the rear of your saddle behind your cantle when you want to hang it on your saddle. You should then ensure that your bow is facing the rear with its quiver to the exterior by angling it slightly forward. This way of attaching it is preferable because it prevents the bow from hindering your horse from turning tightly to the right. Once again, when you are mounting your horse, the weight of your bow scabbard and the bow will be on the opposite side. In effect, it helps in offsetting your weight when you mount and dismount.

VIntage Motorcycle Rifle Scabbard

Balance the load

You should balance the weight that you load when you make a decision to hang your rifle scabbard, bow scabbard, motorcycle rifle scabbard, or atv rifle scabbard. Since one side of your saddle has the extra weight that you have added, you should add the same amount of weight to the opposite side in order to offset it. You can pack items that are heavier in the saddlebags or horn bags of your horse that are on the other side of your scabbard in order to do this. In order to offset it better, you should know the amount of extra weight that it adds by weighing your scabbard. You should remember that it is better for you to get more weight up front because the withers of horses enable them to carry weight best.