DIY Adapter Tutorial (getting GI web slings onto telescoping stocks)

[Willociraptor]

We can all agree on a couple of things....
1 - There are a lot of AR's on the line.
2 - Many of the AR's we see on the line are equipped with telescoping stocks.
3 - Most telescoping stock designs are not naturally suited for use with the GI web sling.
4 - This is a problem in need of a solution.


The attached tutorial (with step-by-step pictures) is my solution. It'll cost you about $2 and a few minutes of your time, but you'll be able to use that wonderful GI sling on your AR, even if it has a telescoping stock.
This "adapter" has been through a handful of iterations over the past few months, but has arrived at (imho) the most optimal solution in terms of simplicity, structural integrity, durability, affordability, and availability.

There very well may be a better solution out there somewhere, from someone smarter than I. If you have similar ideas, please share! We all benefit from it!

At any rate, here it is. The tutorial is attached to this post in PDF format. I just wanted to share it and equip people to better meet the needs of their students. Given that the AR is becoming more and more "everyman's rifle" these days, it would behoove us to be particularly familiar with the AR platform, fluent in its manipulations, and able to teach those who shoot them.

There's also a picture attached to give you the gist of it.

[2 clicks low]

2 other solutions

Run a zip tie thru the same hole. Leave in a loop.

On many adjustable stocks the J-Hook will fit thru the slot shown in your picture.

2cl

[Savage22]

Nice writeup. Thanks for sharing.

[Monkey]

Nice writeup. Thanks for sharing.

Agreed.  Good writeup, esp. if you want to keep this as a long term solution and you're not a fan of either changing out your buttstock or you don't want a loop of plastic hanging off the back of your rifle all the time.

[Bear Arms]

Awesome idea and explanation!

[TrapperPete]

very nice explanation, I have been using para-cord with a different knot but serves the same purpose.

I also like the Magpul paraclip for fast , easy , quiet and secure attachment .

for people who show up with a AR that has a free float hand-guard be it key-mod or M-lock but no sling adapter mount , the same or similar knot can be used through the slots in the hand-guard for front sling attachment also , I did it in a pinch on my dads AR and he liked it so much 2 years later he has left it be and continued using it that way.

[AJ Gonzales]

I like this as a field expedient method to get somethin' goin'.

The metal hook on the GI sling can easily be replaced with a flush-cup QD that will work with a lot of those modern stocks (including the example in the pdf).

It might be worthwhile to mention this in our "how to prepare" literature that we ask students to read before showing up on day 1.

[TrapperPete]

what often seems to happen is even when they read the How to Prepare , to them a sling is still a sling , until about the time we finish the the morning red coats  or prone demo and then the light comes on they see how they are struggling and how those around them have this 13 dollar sling that is working so much better and then they want to borrow or buy one from the SB or other instructor.

I invited a colleague to an Appleseed  I think he read the how to prepare , I certainly told him about the sling . offered him one to borrow , he assured me he had a good sling that he had just gotten not long ago.

I think it was between prone and seated demo he was breaking out his wallet to buy a web sling and swivels from the shoot boss. not only had he seen the light but he was committing to buying.

I like the para-clips not just because they are fast , QD are faster ,but because they lock easily no accidental release but it adds 20 dollars to a sling I see the value in a 33 dollar sling setup not everyone does or they take longer to get there.

as common as QD is now it wasn't just 5-6 years ago magpul MOE was hugely popular selling for years and as the base model had no QD but they have a very conveniently placed hole at the toe of the stock.
I looked all over for a cost effective way to put QD or similar  on 5 MOE stocks  Para-cord was it.

[Mike AKA Bandaid]

Great write up, a lot of work went into that PDF... thanks!

[Thaddeus]

Another option that's even easier ... the Appleseed store sells a sling connector that just slips over the barrel of the rifle. I probably loan out one or two of these at every event to shooters who don't have any good way of connecting slings. Give it a try: https://store.rwvaappleseed.com/product81.html.

[Cadence]

Here is another option that might work.

These cable ties have a boss with a hole in it where you can attach a QD swivel. I got these at a local Lowe's store in the electrical department. Thanks to Corvette who showed these to me originally. I haven't personally used these yet as I just found out about them at the end of our Appleseed season here in NW Ohio.

[Badger498]

Good suggestions.
Easy and cheap.
Great for getting new folks up and running.