Using a sling as a stock

[032125]

Many years ago I read in Tom Clancy's book "Rainbow Six" a description of a supposedly European method of shooting a stockless SMG. The shooter, presumably using a single point sling, pushes the SMG away from the body, and uses the taut line stock that would allow for something of a cheek weld and four or five points of contact, depending on how you look at it. Anyhow I try not to take shooting tips from fiction writers, but I did file it away.

That said I do love shooting SMGs, and I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this method? For less than $500 I think the setup below would be a lot of fun to shoot, if the technique has any validity. Otherwise, I'd never drop the money on an over-sized 9mm with primitive sights.

I'm fully expecting the armchair naysayers to come out in force on this one, but if you haven't tried it, please spare me your derision. Constructive ideas only, s'il vous plaît.

 

[merlinfire]

Seems reasonable if only for the cheek weld and the sight picture.....might take some practice though. Seems like you'd have to put a LOT of pressure on the sling though, to keep the recoil from making you lose sight picture.

My guess (w/o experience) is that it would be better than nothing, though not as effective as an actual stock, at least for the average joe. However, sometimes concealability trumps the need for a stock.

 

[032125]

I can't imagine that it would be as effective as a stock, but our gun laws being what they are, this might be a practical way to get subgun-like performance out of a "pistol" such as the MPA 9mm.

I'd also guess that this would work best with small caliber rounds.

 

[hso]

I don't have much experience with SMGs, but I have tried that method out of curiosity having read the exact same book and found it improved accuracy and control over simply "free-handing" an MP5. Without any more than casual experience with it I can't comment about whether a shooter could get good enough with it to be practical beyond shooting center of mass at targets within 50 ft.

 

[jmorris]

That's what the wire stock on the M10 SMG is for, there when you want it and out of the way when you don't. If you don't have one of them you have a semi auto and don't need it anyway, except for looks I guess.

 

[032125]

Well J, I have to disagree. Putting a wire stock on a pistol is not an option (for dumb legal reasons) but 4 POC is always better than 2 POC. Semi or full auto doesn't change that.

 

[S.W.G.]

I saw that exact photo on the MasterPiece Arms website, and thought back to a situation I had come across on another gun board:

An individual with a semi-auto .380 MAC-style firearm had installed the front strap from a select-fire M.A.C. M-11 onto the semi gun. Another forum member got worried and began conversing with the poster. The issue was that the way he interpreted the NFA, the front strap would constitute a 'fore grip' and therefore the poster was in possesion of an unregistered A.O.W.

I forget how it turned out, but I guess it doesn't constitute an A.O.W. because MPA seems comfortable offering the front strap as an accesory.

 

[smince]

It is a technique the SAS used for a while with the MP5K IIRC.

FWIW, you don't have 4 points of contact with this system. 4 p.o.c. is both hands, stock against the shoulder and cheek for a steady grip on the gun.

 

[Wolfeye]

No direct experience, but I noticed that at least one stock for the Ruger Charger comes equipped with one sling mount in the back, suggesting that a sling is to be used in this manner. I think the technique fills a niche.

 

[032125]

I think this might have merit in the following scenarios

A. PSD details who need to keep a lot of firepower in a relatively low profile package.

B. Drivers who may not have room to employ a stock from a sitting position.

C. People like me, who consider $450 for a quasi SA subgun to be more viable than $6k for an actual SBR.

 

[jmorris]

but 4 POC is always better than 2 POC. Semi or full auto doesn't change that.

As a competitive pistol shooter I can’t see a lot of reason on a semi, unless you have a powder springs M10 left (if you did you would also have a stock), your upper has a sight like the upper on the right. Not really built for much accuracy.

I think this might have merit in the following scenarios

A. PSD details who need to keep a lot of firepower in a relatively low profile package.

B. Drivers who may not have room to employ a stock from a sitting position.

C. People like me, who consider $450 for a quasi SA subgun to be more viable than $6k for an actual SBR.

You would be better off with an iron sight open pistol than a 8# semi M10. Less weight, faster mag changes, more accurate, “lower profile” and plenty fast enough without a stock. The only draw back is that a good one costs close to what a FA M10 does.

FWIW you can get two FA M10 or M11's for $6K or less if you shop around. I picked up a NIB PS M10 a year or so ago for $2800.