Real world sling use

[alemonkey]

I know using a sling looped around your bicep, such as in service rifle competition, is a great accuracy aid. Even using a hasty sling helps a lot. What I'm wondering is in actual combat, does anyone actually take the time to sling up? It almost seems to me that the time used to set your sling up would be better served finding a more stable rest for your rifle, like a wall, tree, etc. Either that, or finding cover. I'm especially interested in WWII/WWI combat, since that's what most people associate the GI sling with. Just curious.

 

[ArmedBear]

There are 5 WW I veterans left to ask.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_veterans_of_World_War_I

 

[Jason_G]

It almost seems to me that the time used to set your sling up would be better served finding a more stable rest for your rifle, like a wall, tree, etc.

I've never been in combat, but a hasty sling is very stable and very quick...

Jason

 

[Maverick223]

I use a sling for just about every shot, even if a better rest is available, I typically will use the sling in conjunction with the rest. For me it is quick and helps aid in accuracy and overall control of the rifle. I WILL NOT own a rifle without one.

 

[Max C.]

Slings are wonderful. Just play with one for an hour and you'll find that it's not hard at all to get in and out of it. Some people don't like them. To each their own.

 

[PandaBearBG]

In combat you are always going to find cover and maybe use that cover for stability or as a rest for better site picture while keeping yourself from being exposed. But if it is a longer engagement and you gotta hunker down, then I find myself improving my position, better cover, slinging up to improve my stability, getting a more rock solid position with my rifle. Or maybe thats just me.

 

[junkman_01]

In a fire fight, you rarely even use the sights, much less a sling!

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Disregard the last statement, using the sights is essential. You're going to wind up dead or out of ammo if you don't take the little bit of time to aim properly.

 

[kwelz]

Me thinks Junkman has watched to much TV and not taken enough Carbine or handgun classes.

 

[Speedo66]

For single point slings, other than looking at yourself in the mirror?

Not too many places to walk around in the US with those, but they seem to sell well.

 

[testosterone]

Never been in combat, god willing I never will be.

What is US military small arms doctrine at this point? Is it deliberate aimed fire? or is it that the whole unit all points in the direction of the threat and opens up?

 

[junkman_01]

Azizza,
You think so? Are you also a Vietnam vet?

 

[taliv]

don't make me lock this thread

 

[junkman_01]

Why would you lock this thread? Opinions of 'Real world sling usage' is being discussed. You disagree with one or more opinions and you want to lock a thread? Everything is still civil here.

 

[mcdonl]

Junkman. Thanks. For then, and now.

I am interested though in the use of a sling. I have of course, always had one on my hunting rifle but never used it as an aid to shooting.

 

[junkman_01]

Junkman. Thanks. For then, and now.

I am interested though in the use of a sling. I have of course, always had one on my hunting rifle but never used it as an aid to shooting.

mcdonl,

You are welcome. To me, as a rifleman, you just described the main difference between a sling and a carry strap. It's all in the usage. Sure I use a sling, when allowed, and my sights too. Rules and circumstances don't always allow for either. I hope this clarifies my position.

 

[kwelz]

Thanks for your service and that does clarify your point. To an extent. However with the exception of suppressive fire why/when would you not use your sights?

 

[junkman_01]

Azizza,

You just mentioned when I would not use the sights: suppressive fire. For all deliberate, slow fire situations, I certainly would use the sights, sling, wall, door frame, or what ever else is available in order to precisely hit my target.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Forgive my statement, Junkman. I seen that and a young kid talking about stuff he didn't know popped into my head.

Thank you for your service.

 

[alemonkey]

Ok, I really don't want to start a huge argument here and if it comes to that I would definitely ask the mods to lock the thread. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough in my question - I'm wanting to know if slings were actually used in real world combat, especially in WWII/WWI. I know slings are a great aid to accuracy, I use them myself and I'm not contesting that.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

And again I apologize for my statement.

 

[junkman_01]

alemonkey,

My FIL is a WW2, Normandy Invasion vet who fought from Normandy to Berlin, and he has told me the only time he used his sights was in training. Also, to him the sling was a carry strap.

 

[Maverick223]

Ok, I really don't want to start a huge argument here and if it comes to that I would definitely ask the mods to lock the thread. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough in my question - I'm wanting to know if slings were actually used in real world combat, especially in WWII/WWI. I know slings are a great aid to accuracy, I use them myself and I'm not contesting that.

Sorry for junking up your thread, no combat experience here, just sharing my thoughts.

 

[30Cal]

From Fix Bayonets by Thomason:

…and the Bosche directing his fire by observers in tree-tops "browned the slope industriously" It helped some to bag the feldwebles in the trees; there were men in that line that could hit at 750 yards 3 times out of five. Sweating, hot and angry, with a bleak cold anger, the Marines worked forward...

From the direction of Torcy a counter-attack developed; the Boche was filtering cleverly forward somewhere on the Torcy road, in cover. The Marines were prone, slings adjusted, killing him.
"It's a quarter point right windage - "
"Naw! Not a breath of air. Use zero -"

and

Those Engineers, their packs went one way and their tools another, and they cast themselves down happily. "What range, buddy? - usin' any windage - ? A hairy non-com got into his sling and laid out a little pile of clips…

The Bosche wanted Hill 142; he came, and the rifles broke him and he came again. All his batteries were in action, and his machine-guns scourged the place, but he could not make head way against the rifles. Guns he could understand; he knew all about bombs and auto-rifles and machine-guns and trench-mortars, but aimed sustained rifle-fire that comes form nowhere in particular and picks off men - it brought the war home to the individual and demoralized him.

 

[danweasel]

When I was deployed, I used my sling as a carrying strap on the FOBs and kept it wrapped around my arm in the truck so I wouldn't drop it out the window if we got hit.

I fired two magazines in the year I was there (Signal Corps!) and no, I didn't use the sights!

But, as the above quote shows, the marines terrified the Germans in WWI by using long range rifle fire, slings included. Now a days, it seems to me that the range is either too short to be neccessary, the fight happens too fast (my case) or, when it is a long deliberate engagment, heavier or more precise weapons are used. Also, at least for me, the army has never trained us on sling use so I don't know how many people even know about it.