The perfect sling

[JdePietro]

So I am on a quest of sorts. After playing with the GI issue cotton sling for my M1A I have decided it is inadaquate for my intended purposes. Don't argue I have made my decision  .

I am looking for a sling that can do the impossible, I want a sling that I can wrap around my forearm and get some decent shooting positions as well as be able to carry while on the move.

My problem is while the 1907 slings make for a great shooting platform I find them lacking in the carry positions department. I had a great 3 point sling that I sold with my last AR and I have thought about purchasing the same for my M1A however I could never get them to cinch in tight enough to affect my shooting. Also because of the type of rifle I will have I would have to get the loops that wrap around the forearm and stock and while I have never had the chance to see I can't imagine the sight picture and barrel tension would go unhindered. Barrel tension is important because I do not have a unitized gas system.

Without swaping out my walnut stock or installing rails and such I don't see being about to run much more than a standard two point sling that will attach to the loops I have available.

Any thoughts or opinions. I am seriously considering a Turner Leather Biothane AWS sling. This would give me all the advantage of the 1907 sling but with a synthetic durablitly.

I would like a few suggestions.

[Johnny Bravo]

What sling did you have on your AR?

[JdePietro]

I had a 3 point swift sling from black hawk.

http://www.blackhawk.com/product/Universal-SWIFT-Sling-3-PT,1258,1342.htm

It was a good sling for carrying the rifle, but not a great sling when it came to shooting.

[m25operator]

JD, for an all around carry sling with good qualities, for carry and sling usage for shooting off hand or prone, I like the Latigo from Brownell's here is a link.  http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1180/Product/QUICK_SET_LATIGO_reg__SLING

It allows you to set one length for shooting and then a quick pull at the right place slings it tight  against the rifle or somewhere in between for field carry, you can I think, get it up to 1 1/4" wide.  I have one for my hunting rifle and my M40 precision rifle, the M40 weighs 18lbs, and you need a sling that is strong.

[twyacht]

I have found some merit in the Galil Sling, for AR, AK style platforms. 

Also the Tactical Link, works well for access, and transition. Here's a pretty good demo vid.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHY1w24LHLI&feature=fvw

http://www.rollanet.org/~stacyw/israeli_galil_sling.htm

The quest for the perfect sling.  I recall the M4 slings used in the movie "Hurt Locker" down the thigh, across the chest, behind the back, were BDE. I might be wrong.

[Sponsor]

[JdePietro]

I liked it when the ninja threw his rifle over his should and onto his back. Now I want to see him do it with 12lbs of real rifle. 

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I think its funny how market driven, design truly is. I don't think the M14 platform is really viewed as a tactically sound or cool choice for todays riflemen. If you spend any amount of time searching the internet for sling for a M14 varient you can rest assured most of the results will be GI web and 1907 styled slings. While a lot of manufacturers have stepped up and starting offering slings for them they are usually a 3 point design. Maybe they do work well, I don't know, but I do know that and tension on the stock or barrel is going to cause accuracy problems and without the raised sights I don't know how well you will be able to aim.

A few people have recomended I look at the Vickers and Viking designs. While they look pretty trick they all seemed designed around the m4 and friends.

Thanks for the ideas and by all means keep em coming. 

[brosometal]

This would be a market opportunity.  You can make your own.  If it works well, you can license out the design to a manufacture and make some dough.  I haven't had the opportunity to do a lot of shooting with a M1, M1A, M14 type of variety.  I'm sure you could whittle something up that's usable.  If it is something that a lot of similar shooters could use, you have a revenue stream.

[JdePietro]

I wish I had that kind of engineering ability.

[billt]

For what it's worth this is the V-TAC sling that came with my Paul Howe CSAT Edition LWRC Piston AR-15. The sling is beautifully crafted, and works very well. It also fits really nice on my Springfield M-1A SOCOM 16, so it has a dual use. I've found slings are a lot like women, a personal thing a man shouldn't get too intrusive with.         Bill T.

[the chihuahua kid]

After using all types of slings ( 1point 2point 3point chin sling etc.) i stick with the VTAC 
i use it on the mini 14 NRA and the steyr scout.