Pros/Cons of Various Slings

[MeanStreaker]

Hello, I would like to put a sling on my 870HD shotgun that has the factory mag extension. I won't be keeping the sling on the gun while in the house but would like the option in case I ever need it for bugging out. I have done a few searches and am more confused than when I started.

I'm unsure if I want to drill the synthetic stock for a swivel or get something less permanent. What are my options for either? What are the pros and cons of various sling types (one point, three point, etc). What do you recommend for an 870HD?

Thanks.

 

[Fred Fuller]

If your gun has the factory mag extension, it should have the barrel band as well- and the place for the front swivel stud is there in the bottom of the barrel band. Why they don't PUT it there I don't know, but there's no stud in the buttstock on the 18" Express w/factory mag extension either.

If the hole is there in the bottom of the barrel band for the swivel stud to go into, I'd contact Uncle Mike's at 1-800-845-2444 and ask about getting just the stud that goes in the bottom of the barrel band for their #1671-2, which is their equivalent to the Remington barrel band/sling swivel base. You can also get the screw-in rear swivel stud from them while you are at it. If there's no hole in the barrel band for the swivel stud, then the whole #1671-2 set is about $23 and includes the rear stud as well.

As for slings, I prefer a regular carrying strap to a fancy and expensive tactical three-point with enough webbing to harness up a mule. And I never cared for single points either, they let the gun flop around too much to suit me, and the idea of slinging is not to have to hold the gun. A $3 surplus GI 'silent sling' in a normal two point sling attachment does just fine for a carrying strap IMO. Of course, YMMV...

lpl/nc

 

[Kingcreek]

Lots of options out there, but I prefer a very basic leather sling (Hunter brand IIRC- adjustable with single claw and keeper) and with QD swivels. My HD870 is wood stock and the rear stud is screwed into the stock, front is side mount as part of my mag ext/barrel clamp. I don't notice the studs when the sling is off. works well for me.
My waterfowl gun has studs and I sling it when going to/from but I remove it in the duck blind or goose pit. synthetic stock SX2 with factory installed studs and a nylon sling.

 

[raydoctor]

I don't use the 870 but on my Benellis I use a GG&G single sling point mounted between the reciever and the stock (They make one for the 870 also). I use a Spectre single point sling which is easy to detach if you don't want the sling on all the time. It's also nice if you're shooting and want to rack your gun and still keep the sling on. I prefer the flexibilty of a single point sling as you can shoot pretty effectively from either side. I'm no expert but this has worked great for me.

(Edited to correct my atrocious spelling!)

 

[Gordon]

Ditto above. That is the Spectre MOUT sling; about $24. The GG&G single point plate is the same. I notice most of the guys in Awerbuck shotgun classes uses this. And they use the same set up on AR carbines also!

 

[perpster]

$3 surplus GI 'silent sling' ??

Lee, what is a "$3 surplus GI 'silent sling'"?

 

[AStone]

I put the following sling equipment on my 870,
and couldn't be happier:

* Quake claw

* Hush stalker swivels

It's comfortable, non-slip, quiet.

Yes, it stays on whether in field or at home.

It helps my handling in either situation.
For me, consistency is the name of the game.

What are the white spots around the end of the barrel?
Dry wall dust from where it sometimes stands propped up.

Why that sling orientation,
with the strap pad by the stock?
African carry.

Nem

(PS: the other weapon is a Kahr K9.)

 

[Fred Fuller]

Well... 8^). Inflation strikes again, I guess.

http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/slings/12624561.asp

http://www.tapco.com/product_information.asp?number=SLG0901&back=yes&dept=51&last=

http://www.usmilitarysurplus.com/surpluscatalog/product_info.php?cPath=81_64&products_id=752

They USED to be $3 anyway. Check your local military surplus store, if you have one- maybe you can still find them for that. Just a simple carrying strap, on 1 1/4" Uncle Mike's detachable swivels, so it can be removed indoors.

lpl/nc

 

[perpster]

How about these $3 slings?

Ah, Lee, we meet again!

Would these work well on a Mossberg 500?: from http://www.fredsm14stocks.com/catalog/acc.asp

US GI Web Sling, used - As above, but slightly more used, so good condition only. Green web cotton sling with all metal, generally in fairly clean condition but, as indicated, showing more wear. $3.00

US GI Web Slings, used, As-New - You do not find original GI green web slings in this condition often, as they were used to the hilt, if only to carry the rifle. These are off rifles that seem to be unissued after the new sling was put on, so the slings appear to be close to new, fresh green color, minimal wear. Get one today! $8.00

US GI Web Slings, used, Fair - Good - Pretty-well used US GI green web slings. Show lots of use, but no significant fraying. Comes with Freds Hundred-Mile Guarantee: We promise it will carry your rifle 100 miles, or more. Price is right, huh? Limited quantity. SORRY - OUT OF STOCK, PLEASE DO NOT ORDER... $0.00

US GI Web Slings, used, VG-Exc - Original US GI green web slings, handy for field or competition. Fred never is without one on the range. If fact, right there, inked on his sling, is the name of his rifle, WIDOWMAKER, so he never has to guess which rifle is his... $5.00

WW2 Garand Web Sling - Used - Genuine, original US GI WW2 web sling, with the flat keeper and small buckle. In serviceable grade, these veterans were taken off M14 rifles from the middle 60s, when, believe it or not, they were still being issued. These will be fairly well-used, but will not be excessively frayed. Acutally, in pretty decent shape, about like a car with 80,000 miles - still a lot of life left. Guess I would say, in average condition,for slings 60 years old.
$8.00

 

[Gewehr98]

I'm big on the M1 Garand/M14 USGI (silent) web sling, myself.

It stays attached to my HD shotgun, even indoors, albeit snugged up to prevent snagging on furniture, etc.

 

[perpster]

Gewehr: what does the "silent" refer to--is it a different kind of USGI sling? What shotgun is that in the picture?

 

[Fred Fuller]

Take a look at the pictures at http://www.ray-vin.com/tech/websling/webslinghelp.htm . They show how to use the GI web sling as a shooting sling, the way the armed services used to train riflemen to use it to deliver accurate long range fire. The rear of the sling has to be detached from the service rifle stock to do it, so there was a metal clip with a sling loop at the stock end of the web sling. The back of the sling went through that loop, and the whole rig was clipped to the rear sling swivel of the rifle for carrying. It flat works, too, a good rifleman slung up tight into a genuine battle rifle is a threat as far as his rifle and ammo will shoot accurately.

Problem with that clip-and-loop was that IT RATTLED. All the time, every time the rifle was moved and sometimes when it wasn't.

And when the M-16 was first issued as a service rifle it had that same kind of sling on it. Since no one was shooting M-16s at 1000 yard targets in competition just then, but were instead shooting them at VC and NVA who might be just a few feet away in the jungle, the GIs came up with quieter slings. "Noise discipline," it's called officially. Staying alive was what it meant to GIs, one less way to get noticed by someone who might shoot you. Many started by just leaving off the clip and loop and threading the sling directly onto the rear sling swivel. Then the Army caught on and started issuing a simple piece of nylon webbing with two metal buckles that became known as the 'silent sling."

hth,

lpl/nc

 

[perpster]

Thanks for the silent edumacation, Lee. Kind of reminds me of Dr. Strangelove--"You don't think I'd go into combat with lose change in my pocket, do ya?"

BTW, I already had that sling site bookmarked, as well as this one:

http://www.jouster.com/articles30m1/slinggraphic.htm

 

[Gewehr98]

Perpster, look at the rear sling swivel on my 870Mk1 pic.

There's no stamped steel clip attaching the USGI green cotton web sling to the rear swivel. I did exactly what Lee had described, omitting the clip to keep things quiet. I don't plan on using the sling as a "hasty sling" for NRA High Power rifle competition, so I kept it simple, no clatter.

BTW, it's a Remington 870 Mk1 restoration, a variant of the 870 as sold to the Department of Defense beginning in the late 1960s. They're big believers in bayonet mounts on firearms, so you see a monster front magazine tube bracket that also doubles as a bayonet mount and front sling swivel attachment point. It looks seriously overbuilt, but skitching somebody or something with a mounted bayonet using this system may not result in a bent barrel compared to less substantial options. These days, you might see these shotguns in service with USMC ship boarding crews, USAF missile silo security teams, and so forth.