Why can't I find a simple sling? (A rant.)

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Average Guy

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I have an A2-style AR. I wanted a simple two-point sling for it. Not a single-point like I have on my M4gery. Not a three-point like I have on my shotguns. Just a regular black piece of polypropylene or nylon that's 1" to 1.25" wide that doesn't have sling swivels already permanently sewn on. I went to a couple of gun stores in Vegas and they had the superduper tactical whatever-point and Chalker slings, but no plain ones. Walmart and my local shooting sports place had the Super Sling 2 and the Bianchi Cobra and several more, but could I find a simple two-point sling that didn't have a bunch of other stuff I don't want or need? No.

I wanted a sling like I had in the Marine Corps. You know we didn't have fancy slings in the Suck, at least not back in the late '80s.

In my sundries bag, I managed to find a long-enough piece of 1" black nylon webbing with plastic adjusters on it. I don't remember where I got it. It's not comfortable, it doesn't stretch, it doesn't have loops for extra ammo, and it doesn't self-adjust.

It's just what I was looking for.
 
ok. one of my t53's has a sling made from 3 old cotton belts
same idea. using leather bits to tie through sling slots
 
PM me with your shipping information and I'll PM you my address back. I have a sling just like you describe somewhere (it might take just a little searching though) that I have never even taken out of the package. You can have it for the cost of shipping. It will probably be the beginning of next week at the earliest though.

If you buy one in the mean time, the ones from uncle mikes are functional. Also, check the surplus stores out to find a USGI M-16 or M-14 sling. I use them. They are simple and durable.
 
It's just what I was looking for.
Click to expand...
Excellent and entertaining rant, Average Guy.

But, I have a question...

Preface:
I've done about 99.98% of my shooting from a bench, and I never bothered with a sling. After I bought my Rem. 700 VSF, I also purchased a sling because I thought I might take up hunting soon. (I know that a heavy barreled rifle like my VSF is a pain in the ass to hump around the countryside with, but I'm on a budget, so buying an additional sporter rifle wasn't really an option at the time.) The sling was whatever my local gunsmith recommended. It's a plain black Uncle Mike's (I think) nylon web sling, about 1" wide, with a pad on it that has a few cartridge loops on the reverse side. It came without the swivel attachments. I had to buy those separately. I still haven't actually used it, and it has been mounted to my rifle only once just to see how it works.

My Question:
Why would you not care if the sling is comfortable?

I know, I know. It's a novice question... but why? I'm only asking from a perspective of practicality and eager to learn.
 
I wanted a sling like I had in the Marine Corps. You know we didn't have fancy slings in the Suck, at least not back in the late '80s.
Click to expand...

Mike Miller at Tactical Intervention has the current contract with the USMC for all of their rifle slings. I ordered one through Brownells and it came with two different swivels (Uncle Mike's QD types) so I e-mailed Mike and he is sending me two Milspec Uncle Mike Heavy Duty upgrade swivels as replacements. I can't recommend him highly enough!

http://www.tacticalintervention.com
 
I don't care for nylon slings so I either grab extra AK of HGarand slings when I can.
 
Uncle Mikes makes a plain one in nylon. There are several others. I was shopping at Sportsman Warehouse for slings recently and was looking for a simple "military sling". After intially seeing only the padded slings, tactical slings etc. I noticed they sold several leather ones 1" and 1.25" wide and nylon ones as well. You just have to shop a bit. I didn't buy one as I was undecided whether I wanted a black leather or brown leather one for a rifle with a composite (black) stock and stainless hardware.
 
Thanks, all, for the great information. As always, THR members go above and beyond!

My Question:
Why would you not care if the sling is comfortable?
Click to expand...

Because Jarheads don't go for no namby-pamby wishy-washy comfy padded slings! :cuss:

Kidding. Because, as you mentioned, I'm mostly shooting from a bench. The sling is purely utilitarian. The less going on, the better. Of course, the first time I wear the thing for any length of time, I'll be scrambling for something with a pad. Especially after the Zombie Apocalypse, when I'll have to carry 24/7.
 
I don't use slings for shooting in any offhand position really as i'm a specialty pistol shooter mostly. But what i do with my slings i've never seen done before. I just get the basic K-Wal-mart slings with 1" webbing, and install a Fastex snap in them just like u would see on a backpack belt, as it functions the same way. It's very simple to do, and adds a trememdous amt. of flexibilty to carrying the sling in any position, even prone (or on all fours)crawling when the rig needs to be tight to the body to keep the barrel from contacting the ground. The snap acts as a quick system to get the rig off of your body without having to contort from prone, and it's a wonderful quick easy to do modification. Make sure u sew up the end of the webbing so it doesn't slip thru the male end of the snap.
 
Average Guy,

Find a local outdoor supply store that sells nylon strap by the foot, they usually also sell an assortment of plastic fasteners & buckles and so on.
Put one together.........it will probably be cheaper than a product already manufactured & packaged as a sling and will be what you want cause you will decide on the specifications, not some manufacturer.
 
My Question:
Why would you not care if the sling is comfortable?
Click to expand...

I am not answering for Average Guy, especially since he just answered for himself, but from my point of view comfort is relative to function.

I too am a inactive Marine, and I too grew to love the simple, functional strip of nylon we called a sling. All but two of my rifles are equipped thus, more or less, and the two that aren't have leather 1903-type slings. I find each of them comfortable enough for general use, and should the mood strike me, I can sling up pretty well with all of them.

Neoprene slings, on the other hand, vex me. I don't like the feeling of my rifle bouncing while I walk, and I don't like it when the sling stretches if I sling up as opposed to cutting off circulation. Sounds a little masochistic, but there it is...
 
This is going to be a really expensive option for the sling but when i bought my Bushmaster xm15 it came with the el cheapo web sling. A good excuse to go buy another rifle:evil:
 
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