Project Appleseed

Hey Everyone,

Apologies if this question has been passed around several times before, but here it goes anyway...

I'm currently in the process of building myself a 100% custom 10/22 target shooter. I've been having fun starting from scratch and picking out the parts myself. I think I'm going to end up with a quality target-shooter that'll look really slick!

To this regard, I'm looking for other options for slings... I know this is really nothing but my own vanity here, but I'm not really diggin' the look of the standard OD M1 cotton sling with my new rifle. Can anyone recommend any other slings that are a bit more stylin' without sacrificing functionality? I'd probably be looking for something in black.

Thanks!

Sam

you might want to look at one of these:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2490135354/turner-saddlery-national-match-police-tactical-shooting-sling-1-1-4-wide-leather

Also, you might want to look at your scope mounting. I noticed in your picture that your head was far back. It should always be all the way forward. Look into extended rings and maybe an extended mounting rail. Adjust the scope mount to your "turkey neck", not the other way around.

2cl

You're in luck.  GI cotton or synthetic slings come in black.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/174603/dpms-garand-web-sling-with-buckles

Here's an outfit with some modified versions that look to be terribly fashionable:

http://www.tacticalintervention.com/

(These obviously are designed to accomplish exactly the same job as the 10wfrn GI sling, but you can get that same functionality for a fraction of the price.  That fraction happens to be about 7/1.)

Ouch on those prices! Hard to tell from photos how functional it is. I rig them with a "J" hook up front, it accomplishes the same thing as far as I can tell, MUCH cheaper!

Langer, lots of things you could do with Rit dye! How about some embroidry? Some little Red Coats running up the sling....O.L.

Quote from: franklinfarmer on February 06, 2012, 08:47:46 AM
You're in luck.  GI cotton or synthetic slings come in black.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/174603/dpms-garand-web-sling-with-buckles

Here's an outfit with some modified versions that look to be terribly fashionable:

http://www.tacticalintervention.com/

(These obviously are designed to accomplish exactly the same job as the 10wfrn GI sling, but you can get that same functionality for a fraction of the price.  That fraction happens to be about 7/1.)

I have a couple of the slings from tactical intervention, and I really like them.  However, they are quite pricey.  I recently made one myself for less that $20.  I got all of the webbing and hardware from here:

http://www.strapworks.com/

They have lots of different nylon webbing designs/colors, and you can customize your sling however you want.  I'm about to make a hot pink one for my wife.  I also purchased their handheld sewing awl and stitched it by hand, although a sewing machine would speed the process up quite a bit.  I guess I need to get Mom to give me some lessons!   

Quote from: oladcock on February 06, 2012, 12:04:23 PM
How about some embroidry? Some little Red Coats running up the sling....O.L.

O.L.
I would love embroiderd Red Coats on my sling. Any idea where I could get this done?
2cl

Quote from: JoshL on February 06, 2012, 01:05:12 PM
They have lots of different nylon webbing designs/colors, and you can customize your sling however you want.  I'm about to make a hot pink one for my wife.  I also purchased their handheld sewing awl and stitched it by hand, although a sewing machine would speed the process up quite a bit.  I guess I need to get Mom to give me some lessons!   

Unless Mom is a parachute rigger, I suspect her machine won't be able to handle that webbing...

you may be able to find one local to you here:  http://www.rigminder.net/locaterigger.asp

Quote from: mosinguy on February 06, 2012, 01:53:30 PM
Unless Mom is a parachute rigger...

Just laughed out loud at work. Thank you.

At the risk of embarassing myself, I became something of a seemstress in my (brief) tacticool days.  Any mid to top line Bernina will handle three layers of thick webbing with no problem.  Just make sure you increase the tension appropriately.  Failing to do that will lead to no end of tangled thread.

(Now that I've created the humorous mental image, I'm sure some photoshop whiz will come up with a hairy legged, rifle totin' barbarian producing embroidery Redcoats with a Bernina.)

Quote from: mosinguy on February 06, 2012, 01:53:30 PM

Quote from: JoshL on February 06, 2012, 01:05:12 PM
They have lots of different nylon webbing designs/colors, and you can customize your sling however you want.  I'm about to make a hot pink one for my wife.  I also purchased their handheld sewing awl and stitched it by hand, although a sewing machine would speed the process up quite a bit.  I guess I need to get Mom to give me some lessons!   

Unless Mom is a parachute rigger, I suspect her machine won't be able to handle that webbing...

you may be able to find one local to you here:  http://www.rigminder.net/locaterigger.asp

Quote from: 2 clicks low on February 06, 2012, 03:13:41 AM
Also, you might want to look at your scope mounting. I noticed in your picture that your head was far back. It should always be all the way forward. Look into extended rings and maybe an extended mounting rail. Adjust the scope mount to your "turkey neck", not the other way around.

That's actually a problem that I've been having with my seated position... I can't get a full turkey-neck because I get too close to the scope. In prone and standing, I'm solid with my turkey-neck. Right now, my scope is mounted as far forward on my rifle as I can manage. Currently looking at some extended scope-mounts and some spacers for my recoil pad. However, all of this should hopefully be remedied when I finish my custom rifle. Found a slick adjustable wood target stock for half the price of the synthetic B&C... looks nicer too. Image is attached.

Regarding the sling... I was hoping to keep it less than $40/50. I've looked at some of the leather ones that are available, but they're pretty pricey. However, I am starting to be swayed by the slings on tacticalintervention.com ... I really like the quick release arm-cuff. Makes the switch from hasty-sling to loop-sling a lot nicer. While it's never been much of an issue, I like to use hasty for my standing... In a rapid-fire AQT, it's nice to be able to switch quickly from hasty to loop during transitions.

I've got some thinking to do... I may just pick up the black M1 sling as an interm measure. Who know? I may grow attached to it.

You could always dye a green one; my dad boiled one in bleach for several hours to make it nearly white--whatever makes you happy.....

Here's another alternative I've been working on.  Looked at the tacticool slings, but too expensive and too complicated.  The cuff has a "fixed" adjustment.  There are other "cuff" type slings but, they too, are expensive and you have to have their sling.

So, I contacted Amanda Blyler (www.doggonfancy.com or 717-269-8199) and we're working on developing a "shooting cuff".  It's 1.5in wide and has tri-slides that allow the cuff to compress onto your arm only when you pull tension on the sling and the sling clips directly to the cuff.  I am testing a couple of versions now.  So far I like the last version we prototyped.

It's adjustable so you can wear it with or without a shooting jacket.  And, you can get it made in almost any fabric pattern imaginable...mine are in CADPAT camo.  I have also found that these eliminate the pulse you get sometimes when you really have alot of sling tension.

It's very quick, because all you have to do is clip into it and adjust your sling length using the buckle on the sling.  The cuff stays on your arm.

You are welcome to e-mail me @ baldwinh@hughes.net or call Amanda and tell her you're interested in the Appleseed shooting cuff.  She is an Air Force vet and so has some idea of what we're doing. 

Quote from: mosinguy on February 06, 2012, 01:53:30 PM

Quote from: JoshL on February 06, 2012, 01:05:12 PM
They have lots of different nylon webbing designs/colors, and you can customize your sling however you want.  I'm about to make a hot pink one for my wife.  I also purchased their handheld sewing awl and stitched it by hand, although a sewing machine would speed the process up quite a bit.  I guess I need to get Mom to give me some lessons!   

Unless Mom is a parachute rigger, I suspect her machine won't be able to handle that webbing...

you may be able to find one local to you here:  http://www.rigminder.net/locaterigger.asp

Lol, that is a great mental image.

Not sure exactly what machine my Mom has, but she seems to think it will handle it if we get the right needle and take it nice and slow.

I have made a couple by hand, and it does take a bit of pressure to push the needle through 3 layers of nylon webbing.

Quote from: gr8horses2003 on February 06, 2012, 04:36:39 PM
You are welcome to e-mail me @ baldwinh@hughes.net or call Amanda and tell her you're interested in the Appleseed shooting cuff.  She is an Air Force vet and so has some idea of what we're doing.

Hey there gr8horses ... Just shot you an email RE the slings. Interested to see what you've worked up.

Sam

Langer, if you want, I believe I have some instructions lying around for building your own sling out of 1'' nylon. Total cost was about 12 bucks, with swivels. PM me if you are interested.

Just out of curiosity, what parts are you using?

Roland

Quote from: Roland on February 06, 2012, 06:02:15 PM
Langer, if you want, I believe I have some instructions lying around for building your own sling out of 1'' nylon. Total cost was about 12 bucks, with swivels. PM me if you are interested.

Just out of curiosity, what parts are you using?

Roland

Definitely interested to see the instructions you have... Here's what I've got so far:

- Nodak Spud NDS-22 Reciever (Clear Stainless) w/ NDS-36 20 MOA Scope Rail
     http://www.nodakspud.com/NDS-22.htm
- FA Enterprises Adjustable Wood Stock
     http://www.grips4u.net/product_info.php?products_id=369
- Stock 10/22 Bolt Assembly
     http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=11090/sku=780-000-094/Product/Bolt-Assembly-Complete
- Volquartsen Bolt Tune-up Kit
     http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=44322/sku=930-000-128/Product/10-22-Bolt-Tune-Up-Kit
- Volquartsen Extended Bolt Handle and Recoil Spring Assembly
     http://www.midwayusa.com/product/546577/volquartsen-extended-bolt-handle-and-recoil-spring-assembly-ruger-10-22-silver
- Power Custom Firing Pin Spring
     http://www.midwayusa.com/product/957593/power-custom-firing-pin-spring-ruger-10-22

STILL TO PURCHASE:
- Hornet Custom All Metal Trigger Assembly w/ Adjustable Over-travel Option and Custom Safety
     http://www.hornetproducts.com/bin/category.asp?category=10
- Power Custom Extended Mag Release (Silver)
     http://www.midwayusa.com/product/160459/power-custom-competition-extended-magazine-release-ruger-10-22-aluminum-silver
- Green Mountain Stainless Fluted 18x920 Bull Barrel
     http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/productdetail.aspx?id=323830
- Barska 6-24x50 Scope
     http://www.amazon.com/6-24x50-IR-Sniper-Scope-Barska/dp/B004FO8B62/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1CVIK8FTUOL9V&colid=25WGU236OO95N

... and the sling is TBD, of course.

Any thoughts on the rifle customization are welcome as well.

If you want to look cool and be a little different as well as very practical, make yourself a Ching sling by hand for about $12-15 and a couple of hours of work. It's a fast loop  sling (you go into it like hasty in one smooth motion). Google it and you'll see it's a very simple thing.

Quote from: JoshL on February 06, 2012, 01:05:12 PM
I have a couple of the slings from tactical intervention, and I really like them.  However, they are quite pricey.  I recently made one myself for less that $20.  I got all of the webbing and hardware from here:

http://www.strapworks.com/

They have lots of different nylon webbing designs/colors, and you can customize your sling however you want.  I'm about to make a hot pink one for my wife.  I also purchased their handheld sewing awl and stitched it by hand, although a sewing machine would speed the process up quite a bit.  I guess I need to get Mom to give me some lessons!   

By the way... I finally checked out Strapworks.com. It's like a sling-builders wet dream. If I wasn't inspired to construct my own strap before, I sure am now.

Quote from: Langer on February 07, 2012, 11:42:01 AM

Quote from: JoshL on February 06, 2012, 01:05:12 PM
I have a couple of the slings from tactical intervention, and I really like them.  However, they are quite pricey.  I recently made one myself for less that $20.  I got all of the webbing and hardware from here:

http://www.strapworks.com/

They have lots of different nylon webbing designs/colors, and you can customize your sling however you want.  I'm about to make a hot pink one for my wife.  I also purchased their handheld sewing awl and stitched it by hand, although a sewing machine would speed the process up quite a bit.  I guess I need to get Mom to give me some lessons!   

By the way... I finally checked out Strapworks.com. It's like a sling-builders wet dream. If I wasn't inspired to construct my own strap before, I sure am now.

Yep, it's a pretty cool website.  It inspired me to do other things too, like new dog collars/leashes, new strap for my little girls booster seat, etc.

There is a company in Franklin, Pennsylvania that can embroider your slings.  He makes the tags for safety harnesses made by a local company.  The route he will probably suggest is making a redcoat ribbon then sewing it on the sling.

Drop me a PM if you are serious about it and I can talk to him about pricing.

His name is Kevin Berry and it is Merry Berry Productions.

I have a green mountain 20'' on mine. Good accuracy, but pretty fussy about ammo. I have to check with the IT who originally wrote the sling instructions before I send them out,

Well, I'm going to be doing some experimenting this weekend and the following week with constructing my own sling. I've built out a design that will be partial woven paracord with nylon straps for adjusting and a separate adjustable arm-cuff that you can quickly clip in without the need to remove or re-adjust the main body of the sling.

I think it'll be useful for those who don't like having to readjust whenever switching from hasty to loop. Also nice so you can leave the cuff on your arm when stepping away from the firing line without having to detach the rest of your sling. Personally, I like to use hasty during standing and loop for sitting and prone... now I can do so during my rapid-fire/speed AQTs.

Quote from: Roland on February 08, 2012, 06:46:01 PM
I have a green mountain 20'' on mine. Good accuracy, but pretty fussy about ammo. I have to check with the IT who originally wrote the sling instructions before I send them out,

What's been your experience with the ammo? What's worked well and what's worked poorly?

Sam

For anyone interested, I've built the prototype for my sling... You can check out the thread here:

http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=27693.0