help with sling

[Nhsport]

My club is going to hold some service rifle matches and I need help with a sling for an ar-15.
I have a competition sling that I use with my rimfire Anshutz in prone matches but I doubt that this sling is legal for service rifle. What slings are folks useing and can you point me towards an on line source for instruction or books or whatever? Thanks.

 

[Quintin Likely]

No, your prone rifle sling likely isn't legal for service rifle use.

http://www.ray-vin.com/tech/slinghelp/slinghelp.htm for some good pics and explanations on rigging a 1907 style sling. There's a link on the same site for using an M1 web sling if that's what you choose too.

Popular service rifle slings include the aforementioned web sling (buy those at Fred's. The 1907 style sling is probably the predominant sling used; the very best are made by Les Tam ([email protected]) and John Weller. Turner makes a good sling for the money too, but they can't compare to a Tam or Weller.

 

[M.E.Eldridge]

I use the M1 web sling on my M1 for service rifle matches. Cheap, durable and useful as both a carry strap and a loob sling.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

remember there are issues with a tight sling on an AR

remember there are issues with a tight sling on an AR. By the time you've checked on float tubes and rules you may know as much as you need to about slings.

 

[Nhsport]

Thanks for the info!
I have a Rock River NM with the free float tube so I am set to go in that department.

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

just get the leather turner nm sling. Use it for several years and then if you decide on something else you will have had plenty of time to see a few others in person at the matches.

Remember to get at least a 54" one. If you have extremly long arms get the 56" usually the 54" works for most everyone.

Web slings are nice and I do like them but as a beginner you will better be served by the leather. If your positions in the rapids is near perfect there is nothing wrong with the web slings but if not be for warned.
Jon

 

[Blackfork]

Service Rifle Sling

You'll need a service rifle sling, either the web or a Turner or a Tam. The Tams are built like a mule harness. If you aren't draft horse class I'd go with a Turner. OK Webber usually stocks seconds at a deal. Just avoid any cheap imitations. Nothing at Walmart and generally nothing at Army Surplus stores.

Do NOT use Neets Foot oil or saddle soap on the leather. If anything, use Mink Oil paste, and don't use much. Leather is pretty sticky and hard to get in and out of for a while and a LITTLE paste works. The oils make them too stretchy.

Just like your match sling, the bottom section of a leather or lower clip on a web is unfastened from the lower sling swivel.

If leather, I'd unhook the frog on the lower section and then turn it back on itself and hook it in its own first or second hole so it won't pull through the swivel and hook you somewhere unhelpful while you are going from standing to sitting or prone.

The leather upper section is basically going to make a figure eight- two loops with the keepers in the middle. The frog fastening that section together should start out facing in toward the rifle. The hooks should be pointing down toward the buttstock. One keeper ought to be above the frog and one below. Your arm will go through the bottom loop of the "eight."

That's the start. Get someone to help you. It's hard to get a sling too tight around your arm or too high over the bicept. It ought to be VERY snug overall but you should be able to keep your wrist joint straight.

Sitting slings are usually a hole or two shorter than prone slings, so take a ballpoint and mark the holes. These points will shift as the sling stretches out.

Leather slings last a couple of years of hard shooting before they get too rubbery. Put it on a hunting rifle or give it to your nephew for a .22. I have a couple of old Turners in Iraq right now on M14s.

Web slings are rigged with the clip at the rear, the adjustable tab at the front and facing outside. Put your leg through one loop and your neck through another and yell until someone shows up to straighten things out.

Eventually, it will all be as familiar and supportive as a hug from an old girlfriend.

 

[Blackfork]

Bending an M16.

Oh yeah, if you don't have a float tube on your AR...it gets really tricky. Even with a hasty wrap on a carry strap, (never mind a real sling) you can bend a stock AR or an M16.....a LOT.

I'm not a horse and I could put enough pressure on at 300 prone and move a group from the X-ring to the edge of a six-by-six foot target face with just sling pressure on an unfloated barrel. That's three feet.

Most of the soldiers I taught at SDM classes at Ft Hood and Riley had carry straps rigged through the front sight base. They DO carry the rifles more than they shoot them, but you don't want to be pressurring up the front sight base in combat or competition.

The short answer is: For service rifle competition you need a NMC gun with a two stage trigger and a float tube. You gotta use that sling.

The other short answer is that soldiers LOVED learning to use their slings to support their rifles. They had never heard of the concept. One of the kids said it was "like cheating" when we got him lined out.