Where to get a shooting sling?

[Spyvie]

Hi all, this is my first post here. I hope it's appropriate to ask equipment questions on this forum.

I'm planning on attending the April 19th shoot in Canon City, CO, and have been busy sighting in my AR and building a new LTR. I know the advice is to bring what ya got, but once I saw an LTR and the Tech-Sites (thanks Cache!) setting up a 10/22 was something I really wanted to do regardless of where I might use it.

My problem is I cant seem to find any GI slings anywhere, Fredsm14stocks.com seem to be out and says "please do not order" and I cant find a web shooting sling online or anywhere else. I have seen the advice to check the WWW links post but I can't seem to find that thread. I can find some shooting slings on Midway like this one: http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=598144&t=11082005 but they are all leather and I'm not sure if they are what I need. It is probable that that the right sling is staring me in the face and I just don't know it, so I'm asking for a little advice. Something tells me the nylon Super Slings at Sportsman's Warehouse are not what I need and times a wastin!

It says somewhere on this forum that slings are available for sale at all shoots, but I'm not sure if thats still true considering their availability on the web site?

Pardon the gratuitous picture posting but I'm really happy with my LTR so far. I just need to find the right slings and work up the nerve to drill a hole in my refinished stock.

[Nickle]

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=174603

THis is a copy of the M1 Garand sling, and is the same sling that's mentioned at the bottom of page 6 of the LTR thread.

[Spyvie]

Ordered, Thank You.

I don't know why I didn't see that.

[Nickle]

Because you saw the green ones, same brand, same place, and they are sold out.

I just ordered some stuff this week.

Oh, if you didn't have them ship it Priority Mail, you may want to consider doing that in the future. My order this week got here (VT) in 2 days.

[TheEditor]

Your posts about the sling tonight prompted me to get off my rear and order the rest of the parts for my LTR.  I'd already fitted it with Tech Sights.  With my order from Midway tonight, now I should have the sling, swivels and studs, ext. mag release, new bolt release, and new mag in time for 4-19.  (I may be too busy instructing to shoot it, but I'll have it in case someone needs it!)

The Editor

[Longshot]

FYI,

  Numrich Gun Parts has BLACK nylon Garand-style slings for $6.75 ea. if you order 3 or more.  Thor's Hammer and I ordered a fistfull apiece as loaners for the Appleseeds we work.

  LS

[VAshooter]

I have new GI issue green nylon web slings available. They are made by the manufacturer that is currently making them for the US Marine Corps and are the same slings. I get them from an NSN supplyer who buys them directly from the manufacturer and I sell them for what I pay for them. They are not stolen from the military. I take them to Appleseeds that I attend and always sell out before the end of the shoot.

I'm not too interested in selling them one at a time through the mail because the shipping will add a lot to the cost but if a bunch of guys want to go together and buy in quantity I'll be glad to sell them at my cost ($12.00) plus shipping.

I also buy extra spring clips, used to connect to the lower sling swivel, for people who want to rig their slings with a clip at each end. They take a little time as I need to heat the spring clip with a torch to take some of the temper out of them. Otherwise they are very difficult to put on or take of the sling swivel and if you try to bend them they will break. Heating them solves that problem. They currently cost me a buck and I sell them for two bucks because the heating process takes time.

Anyone can PM me if interested.

VAshooter

[Missouri Brigade]

It looks like Charley's Surplus has some slings that might work.

http://www.charleyssurplus.com/

[eaglescouter]

For quality products with great service (including slings), please shop at the Appleseed online store:  http://www.appleseedstore.flyingcart.com/

[Buzzworth]

These are $8.50 ea + S&H
yeah they have shinny hardware   however being brass they can be manipulated to function just right  
also the sling is some kind of hybrid of cotton and nylon with some grippy type nubs (so during a parade you will not need to mess with the sling and it WILL stay put once set. Even in the rain)
http://www.paradestore.com/detail.aspx?ID=169

the slings that the Appleseed store sells are good too (they are nylon)  

I have some cotton slings that are good but the clamp will not stay closed easily  
I tried to "manipulate" them and they snap (heat treated too hard??)  

I have one old type of cotton sling and the hardware is painted brass this is on my M1  

I always have extra clips that are ground down to fit 1" swivels an some that are 1.25" (ARs and alike)
http://www.e-gunparts.com/product.asp?chrProductSKU=408900&chrMasterModel=2070zM1%20GARAND&idDept=258
you use it on the front swivel just like the M14 nylon sling from Fred   now you have a quick release option for a fixed swivel

[rifleman2000]

I tried using the both the cotton and nylon style slings with the buckle that clamps down and could never get the buckle to stay locked into place. I finally ordered some leather M1Garand style slings. They have holes punched in the leather which allow for adjustment, and most importantly, they stay put. Leather's one drawback is stiffness, but this can be remedied with a leather conditioner such as is used to break in leather baseball mitts.

[hawkeye]

The 1907 leather sling works great with one of Fred's shooting jackets, the pads keep the sling from slipping and it's quicker to get into. The more you use a leather sling the softer they are. They do stretch a little so you have to adjust them from time to time.

[VAshooter]

This thread has been around for a long time. The sling problem has been solved by RifleWoman who has genuine military web slings for sale in the Appleseed store. They aren't as cheap as some we see advertised but they are the highest quality and she has them in stock  all the time.

VAshooter

[GoldFish]

I just bought 2 slings of ebay for $16 each, INCLUDING shipping.  What I searched for on the site was     us gi web slings.  Last time I checked, several slings were on there for about that same price.  I also read on this page that VAShooter has them for $12 plus shipping, which is cheaper that I've ever seen them.  How much do you charge, VAShooter, for shipping? Or does that just depend on where you're shipping to? 


---GoldFishGunr

[artkat2]

Don't recall how much shipping was to CA.
   The difference can't be enough to keep me from spending my $ with an organization that I fully support as opposed to some dude on e-bay!
IMHO...
Andy

[VAshooter]

I still bring slings to Appleseeds for shooters that don't have one but I don't ship them now because the Appleseed store has them in stock.

VAshooter

[GoldFish]

Couldn't have said it better, artkat2!   If I would have known earlier, I would have bought the slings from VAShooter. 

---GFG

[GoldFish]

Do any of you long time AS shooters know if 1" slings or 1 1/4" slings are better for use in shooting at these kind of events and in general shooting?   I'm hoping to get my cousin hooked up with a web sling, but I'm not sure which one is better or if it's personal preference.  I've always used 1 1/4" slings, but I'm wondering if anyone has experience with the 1" slings. 

---GFG

[Rocket Man]

Depends on the shooter -- and on the size of your sling swivels!

I personally prefer a wider sling.  But my old Marlin can only take 1" slings.

If given the choice, I'd go with 1 1/4", or even a tad wider.

[henschman]

The best kind of sling for our style of shooting is the GI web sling, which are all 1 1/4". 

[AFTERMATH]

The best kind of sling for our style of shooting is the GI web sling, which are all 1 1/4". 

And the 2nd best sling would be of the 1907 variety.
1" slings will have a tendancy to cut off circulation to your lower arm.  So, if possible, go with the 1 1/4".
You may have to buy new swivles, but it's worth it.

[GoldFish]

Thanks, all!   It's great to be able to ask questions and get responses from people who actually have experience.  This is an invaluable resource that no other website could provide. 

---GFG

[henschman]

I get my slings from Numrich -- they are the cheapest ones out there, and they are the best ones I've tried.  The clamp doesn't slip, they are plenty long for any rifle, and the fabric grabs your arm better than some of the really slick nylon ones out there.  They are $7.35 if you get 3 or more, and $8.60 normally.  http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=984970&chrSuperSKU=&MC=

When I'm buying an order of slings, I always get some extra clips, too, so all the slings can be rigged with a clip on each end (this lets you leave the sling dangling on your arm in the loop position and quickly snapped on the front swivel when you're ready to shoot).  These are $1.05 for 10 or more, or $1.30 normally.  http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=537280&chrSuperSKU=&MC=

These slings and clips are cheap enough that I can afford to buy several at a time, and sell a sling and a clip for $10 to anyone who needs them at shoots, while still covering my shipping costs and everything.