Hey y'all!
I know, I *should* have a sling already.
But it hasn't come in the mail yet ( :( ) and some of us are going to play Sunday.
SO - I recall one of our instructors demonstrating how to improvise a loop sling with a belt. I don't suppose anyone here can offer a reminder? The belt loops around the arm, right? Then goes through the swivel and.... you hold it? Or wrap it around the palm? How do you secure that far end?
Call me when you head out - I've two loaners if I'm still on the house. The improvised belt sling was secured by having the loose end wrap between the taught section and the palm (like half a clove hitch).
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Ah, does anyone know how to demonstrate this? Sounds kind of cool to me.
You would be amazed at what can be improvised into a loop sling. All it has to to is be anchored at the front of the rifle fore-arm somehow (and not necessarily by going through a sling swivel) wrap around your wrist, then continue rearwards and be anchored to something that will not let the sling strap move forwards (which is how it holds the rifle up). You could tie a rope or cord around the fore-end, tie the other end around a tree (a loop) behind you, take up all the slack and wrap your support hand around it, and it would work exactly as a regular GI loop sling, only the loop won't be around your upper arm. G. David Tubb has a sling that goes rearwards over his support-side shoulder and anchors on his pants belt at the small of his back. Heck for that matter you could hold the rear end of the strap in your teeth.
Not trying to be cute, but once you know exactly how a loop sling works, you can improvise all sorts of workable things. A loop of para-cord through the front swivel that reaches back to about the pistol grip will do in a pinch.
Meanwhile the GI web slings we use can be had for a mere $10.
You can use a belt in the method described above. You can use a piece of rope tied between the swivels as a hasty sling. I've seen people use the carry straps off those roll-up shooting mats, camera cases, etc. that have the clip-on ends... those go nicely through sling swivels. If you don't have sling swivels you can use a zip tie with a keychain ring through it. It is true that you don't have to anchor the sling to your arm... it just needs to be hooked to the front of where you hold the rifle on the forearm, and anchored somewhere solid on the other end. You can hook a strap between the forearm and your overalls, or load bearing vest.
Messing with slings is kinda fun... I'm working on a new sling design of my own that is showing some promise.
For some reason, some people don't want to shell out the money for the sling, or they tried it and didn't like it (I'm actually in agreement with this last one). So, around here, some of us IITs and ITs have made slings out of 1'' nylon webbing, and a snap buckle. No parts you can't get at a fabric store for $3, plus sling swivels of course. IMHO, this kind of sling adjusts way easier, and you don't have to break any fingernails lifting the tab. I'll be picking up more stuff to make some more for loaner slings. The only problem is they don't hold down the front of a center fire very well.
Roland
You won't break fingernails on the tab if you do it right... just lift up on the strap in front of it, and it will pull the tab loose.