Project Appleseed

Howdy everybody,

I'm looking at making some loop slings using material off of Strapworks.com. I already have a couple sets of 1.25'' sling swivels. But, I've run into a couple problems. A. 1.25'' webbing is pretty hard to come by. and B. Hardware for 1.25'' webbing is non-existent.

So, my questions is, is it possible to run 1.5'' webbing through a 1.25'' swivel? I was thinking that, if possible, I'd just buy 1.5'' everything except the swivels. And no, unfortunately 1.5'' swivels don't appear to be made.

To answer the questions I'm sure are a-boiling in your minds, I want something a bit more sturdy and durable then 1'' nylon webbing for my AR. And, I'm not very pleased with the GI slings, having seen more then a few fingernails torn off by them.

Thanks in advance,

Roland

Quote from: Roland on May 20, 2012, 05:53:28 PM
... I want something a bit more sturdy and durable then 1'' nylon webbing for my AR. And, I'm not very pleased with the GI slings, having seen more then a few fingernails torn off by them.

Have you tried an original cotton sling?  I have slings from the 50s and older which are still holding up with no issues.   What durability issues have you seen with nylon slings?  Why have you seen fingernails torn off?  What are these people doing?

Haven't been able to find any old slings. I was thinking more along the lines of more webbing making it easier to control recoil. Imau have been exaggerating when I talked about fingernails being completely torn off, morelike just broken by that silly little metal tab that is nearly impossible to pull up.

Quote from: Roland on May 20, 2012, 06:16:41 PM
Haven't been able to find any old slings. I was thinking more along the lines of more webbing making it easier to control recoil. Imau have been exaggerating when I talked about fingernails being completely torn off, morelike just broken by that silly little metal tab that is nearly impossible to pull up.

The sling doesn't control any recoil.  The sling should not be so tight that there is much if any stress on it.  You are supposed to use the loose sling material to open the metal tab.  You simply grab it and pull up against the clasp.  It pops right open.  If you are trying to get a hold of the metal buckle clasp directly you are doing it the wrong way.     

Try a 1907 sling, has hooks ,faster on and off, several ways to use it.
http://www.rollanet.org/~stacyw/us_m1907_sling.htm
http://carnival.saysuncle.com/001086.html
http://artoftherifle.blogspot.com/2012/01/1907-sling-part-1.html

Quote from: hawkeye on May 20, 2012, 06:51:07 PM
Try a 1907 sling, has hooks ,faster on and off, several ways to use it. .

I have the Sinclair Biothane version and like it alot.   No stretching or cracking, etc after 8 years of use rain and shine.    http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/pid=33467/Product/Sinclair-Biothane-Sling-S-R

1.5" slings probably aren't being made because CMP and NRA rules limit sling width to 1.25". 

GI web slings are available through the Appleseed store as well as the CMP store.  The ones on the Appleseed store are new however.  For the price, I doubt you could make it for much less unless you went into business making them... 

Sigh... lots of people dodging the question rather than answering it.

I've made slings off of materials from Strapworks.  1" slings.  Couldn't source all matching materials for 1.25".

The 1" slings are modeled after the GI cotton sling, but using plastic hardware (except the rear sling swivel clip... that's metal).  I can sling up my 200lbs good and firm with one.  And they cost all of about $5 to make.

And the 1" slings are good for when someone shows up with a rifle with 1" swivels, but no sling or an inadequate sling.  I'm also a bit tired of my $10-$15 GI slings walking when loaned out, so I loan these out instead.

Quote from: AZRedhawk44 on May 20, 2012, 10:10:26 PM
The 1" slings are modeled after the GI cotton sling, but using plastic hardware (except the rear sling swivel clip... that's metal).  I can sling up my 200lbs good and firm with one.  And they cost all of about $5 to make.

What plastic hardware do you use?  Do you have a link?  What does 200# and a web sling for Appleseed have to do with each other?

Quote from: AZRedhawk44 on May 20, 2012, 10:10:26 PM
And the 1" slings are good for when someone shows up with a rifle with 1" swivels, but no sling or an inadequate sling.  I'm also a bit tired of my $10-$15 GI slings walking when loaned out, so I loan these out instead.

I bot extra hooks from gunparts.com. I then dremmelecd both ends down to 1". They fit 1 or 1 1/4 swivels. Or if they don't have swivels, I wrap the forend with a turn of vet wrap then wiretie the front hook to the forend and they can use a loop for all day.

To get your slings back, take car keys as a deposit. I lost a mag 2 weeks ago becaurse I forgot to get keys for it.

2cl

Roland,

Here are all the components you need:

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=1055710&filter=sling+keeper&catid=0
Sling Keeper
Product No. 1055710
---------------------------------------
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=981810&filter=sling%20slide
Sling Bar Slide, 1-1/4", Black
Product No. 981810
------------------------
If you call Numrich at 866-686-7424 during business hours and listen to the recording, you can get a discount code for ordering online which almost gives you free shipping. 

And you can get the cotton webbing in almost any color from here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/81406660/5-yards-cotton-webbing-strap-1-14-inch

I made some slings with blaze orange webbing for my loaners.

UL

Quote from: fepowered on May 20, 2012, 10:33:18 PM

Quote from: AZRedhawk44 on May 20, 2012, 10:10:26 PM
The 1" slings are modeled after the GI cotton sling, but using plastic hardware (except the rear sling swivel clip... that's metal).  I can sling up my 200lbs good and firm with one.  And they cost all of about $5 to make.

What plastic hardware do you use?  Do you have a link?  What does 200# and a web sling for Appleseed have to do with each other?

Slinging up "snug" and not "tight" still puts a significant amount of weight on the sling and its keeper.  Especially as you relax and your shoulder puts weight into the buttstock, which is transferred to the sling.

My point is, my 200# full grown butt can use them, despite being made from plastic components.

http://www.strapworks.com/Plastic_Cam_Buckles_p/pcb.htm

This is the keeper I use.  Works fine.

Seattle Fabric has both 1.25" cotton webbing and many fasteners for that width webbing.   I just made a new sling for my son from the webbing and it turned out great.   He has skinny arms and the standard GI self-tightening slings cuts off the blood supply to his arms and makes his arm fall asleep.   I made a novel loop sling from using buckles and it turned out to be pretty useful.  This configuration also allow for the quick conversion from loop sling to hasty sling for that like to hasty for offhand.

I hope you can see how I configured this from the pictures.   We still use the metal quick buckle for the length adjustment at the top of the sling.

Quote from: Prescott on May 21, 2012, 12:45:36 AM
Seattle Fabric has both 1.25" cotton webbing and many fasteners for that width webbing.   I just made a new sling for my son from the webbing and it turned out great.   He has skinny arms and the standard GI self-tightening slings cuts off the blood supply to his arms and makes his arm fall asleep.   I made a novel loop sling from using buckles and it turned out to be pretty useful.  This configuration also allow for the quick conversion from loop sling to hasty sling for that like to hasty for offhand.

I hope you can see how I configured this from the pictures.   We still use the metal quick buckle for the length adjustment at the top of the sling.

Now that there is pretty cool!

UL

Roland, to answer your original question, the 1.5" webbing from Strapworks will work fine with 1.25" sling swivels.  I have made several slings with 1.5" webbing from Strapworks.  Another option is to buy sling hooks from Numrich's that will attach to your swivels.  These work with the 1.5" webbing:

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=537280&filter=sling+hook&catid=0

Good luck!

Thanks for the responses, everybody. Looks like I have several other things to work on now!

He won't say so but I will, JoshL is making some very nice slings with some useful design features! ...O.L.

Quote from: oladcock on May 21, 2012, 12:20:06 PM
He won't say so but I will, JoshL is making some very nice slings with some useful design features! ...O.L.

Thanks OL, I appreciate the kind words!