During a recent AS there seemed to be an increase in the number of shooters confused about the proper mounting of their loop sling. One shooter in particular asked to be shown three separate times the way to mount the loop in order to end up with the buckle (aka 'junk') on the outside of his arm instead of in his armpit. He said he was putting it on the same way as shown in the demonstration but it just wasn't working. The following is probably nothing new to most of those reading this but I thought it might serve as a reminder!
During the demonstrations for the loop sling installation, prone, sitting and kneeling positions a different instructor from another state presented the information. He had brought his own demonstration rifle with him and used it during his presentations. When describing the procedure for properly mounting the loop sling he would explain that the lower buckle clip should be unhooked and rotated a quarter turn in a CLOCKWISE direction (viewing the rifle from the butt of the stock looking forward towards the muzzle) for right hand shooters in order to end up with the 'junk' on the outside of the arm.
First, a review of the loop sling and its possible configurations (see attached photo).
(http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab3/heavyduty77/Loop%20Sling%20Configurations.jpg) (http://s844.photobucket.com/user/heavyduty77/media/Loop%20Sling%20Configurations.jpg.html)
The rifle on the left shows the USGI sling mounted in the standard military configuration. Note that the loop/buckle that we use for mounting is on the outboard side, facing away from the stock, and the adjustable keeper is positioned with the 'smooth' side facing outward.
The middle rifle shows the same loop/buckle arrangement as the military configuration but the working end of the sling is on the outside of the main part of the sling and the keeper has its smooth face facing the stock of the rifle (this is the configuration of the keeper and working end of the sling that we suggest shooters use to allow for quicker adjustments and to keep the smoother part of the keeper inboard to permit it to rest more comfortably against the shooter's forearm).
The right hand rifle shows the sling with our suggested keeper and working end configuration but with the loop/buckle inboard (facing the stock).
In Method 1 (middle rifle) the keeper and working end are re-positioned by completely removing the working end of the sling from the keeper and re-threading it through both the keeper and swivel. Note that the loop/buckle remains in the original military configuration position.
In Method 2 (right hand rifle) the buckle clip is disconnected, the working end is removed from the keeper, slid out of the swivel, reinserted through the swivel from the opposite direction and then back through the keeper. The buckle has now been rotated 180 degrees from its original configuration (loop/buckle is now on the inboard side).
As it turns out, the visiting instructor's demo rifle had the sling mounted as shown in Method 2. So, the answer as to what had caused the shooter's confusion was that he was attempting to install the loop using the CLOCKWISE instructions (which will work when the loop/buckle is oriented as in Method 2). However, his sling was oriented as shown in Method 1! When using Method 1 the sling must be rotated in a COUNTER-CLOCKWISE direction in order for the 'junk' to end up on the outside of the arm.
I tried both methods and found that, although they both work, using Method 2 (inboard buckle/clockwise rotation) caused the sling to twist 90 degrees and didn't lay as smoothly along the hand and wrist as it did when using Method 1. So, with Method 2 you have to make a choice. If you rotate clockwise to have the 'junk' on the outside of the arm you'll end up with a 90 degree twist in the sling strap that won't conform as nicely to the wrist and hand. If you rotate counter-clockwise you'll have the sling strap in the more comfortable wrist/hand position but the 'junk' will be in your armpit.
Going forward I'll be sure to mention that the shooters should pay attention to which way their slings are configured and, when using the loop, to disconnect the lower hook and rotate it in the direction that corresponds to their buckle's orientation.
BTW, when you come across a shooter using the 1903 Springfield/M1 Garand M1907 leather sling you may find this old army training film You Tube link on properly mounting it useful. (The loop sling info starts at the 3 minute mark.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTsUaujfiB8
Interestingly, the instructor in the Army training film explains that the sling loop should be rotated 'to the left' (counter-clockwise) when being put onto the arm to ensure that the sling will conform smoothly to the wrist and hand. Since the M1907 sling doesn't have either a buckle or a clip, the counter-clockwise positioning is used solely to obtain the smooth curvature of the sling in order to conform to the wrist and hand. Also, I should mention that AS instruction uses the safer sitting or kneeling position when getting into the loop sling configuration, not the standing position as shown in the film.
Best,
HD77
Whether it is clockwise or counterclockwise depends on which direction you are observing the loop from. If you get into the sling from the sitting position, which is safer than the kneeling position, especially for the shorter rifles most are using now, it should be counterclockwise. This is described in the IM. But probably the easiest way to describe it is just try one way and if it doesn't work out right, just reverse it.
Whichever way you twist and whichever way the adjuster is on the sling, you sure don't want the protrusions on the lever side of the adjuster gouging the back of the shooters hand. That's I always use method 2 and rotate clockwise for righties i.e outside of sling twist toward trigger hand. then the junk is on the outside. Your mileage may vary.