Service Rifle Sling?

Hillside

Well-Known Member
Anyone on here have a "Service Rifle Sling" they would part with? Either a Springfield or similar. Leather or Biothane.

Thanks in advance,
Hillside
 
Thanks Lads;
Before I act on your advice could one of you confirm that the sling shown here has a centre loop that can be used for shooting prone off the elbows? The photo in the add isen't very clear. What I am after is a sling that clips onto the forend and butt as normal and has the aditional loops built in to facilitate multi position
use. If the one shown dose this then the jobs done and dusted!

The Sinclair website has clear pictures of their slings and they are exactly what I require. However, a friend on here has just had major problems with customs (this side) getting his stuff deliverd (a book and a set of dies!). This might just be a one off but I don't want to order from abroad and have to wait a month or more for my gear.

Thanks for your help, Hillside
 
Be aware that new leather ones take some oiling and breaking in. They are still and not very pliable as I found out. I brught two through a friend in the US. One is fitted to my BSA Model E in 303 the other should be in the Mobile home. Being stiff and new they are bit of a bitch to adjust until you break them in and supple them up a bit.
 
Just my luck! They're only open 9 - 5 weekdays. I'll catch them on Monday.

Brithunter; Thanks for the tip. What would you recomend I use to get the sling softened up a bit? Cheers, Hillside

Be aware that new leather ones take some oiling and breaking in. They are still and not very pliable as I found out. I brught two through a friend in the US. One is fitted to my BSA Model E in 303 the other should be in the Mobile home. Being stiff and new they are bit of a bitch to adjust until you break them in and supple them up a bit.
 
Just my luck! They're only open 9 - 5 weekdays. I'll catch them on Monday.

Brithunter; Thanks for the tip. What would you recomend I use to get the sling softened up a bit? Cheers, Hillside

I used saddle soap working in after all it's like horse harness leather. Neats foot oil or even dubbin would help and also prevent water absorbtion in use to some degree. Oh I should mention that it appears most of these leather Pattern 1917 slings seems to be made in the 3rd world somewhere. If I recall correctly the tissue paper wrapping mine said Pakistan:-

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Uncle Mikes do 1 1/4" Q/D Loops as you can see. That is the second of mine the first is still fitted to that BSA Model E. I believe my buddy in St Missouri got me them for about £19 each but that was back in 2009 I think.
 
My new sling is on it's way but minus QD swivels (for some reason they won't export them). So my next question is; Can anyone sell me a pair of 1 & 1/4 inch QD Swivels?

Cheers, Hillside
 
I used saddle soap working in after all it's like horse harness leather. Neats foot oil or even dubbin would help and also prevent water absorbtion in use to some degree. Oh I should mention that it appears most of these leather Pattern 1917 slings seems to be made in the 3rd world somewhere. If I recall correctly the tissue paper wrapping mine said Pakistan...

NO

Don't use Neatsfoot - its utter crap; far too viscous, far too easy to misuse & brings a host of problems with it. Best stuff is Ko-Cho-Line, failing that get some of the Fiebings Mink Oil Paste, or some generic leather/hide food. Other folk reckon that Pecards is best....just avoid NeatsFoot!

Pattern what?? The US issued sling in question is the M1907. I make them, or should say, used to make them: and will do again once I get some more metal hooks and d-rings!!

I have great fun showing folk how the sling shopuld be fitted onto the rifle, as I see all sorts of combinations. There is ONE official way...and a second way advocated by the Marine Corps rifle teams...
 
Well I brought a tin of Robin Liquid dubbin when i got my first leather motor cycle jacket. I used it on it help water proof it and make it more supple. When I outgrew the jacket It went to a friends daughter but it had been in my cupboard for oh about 8 years by then she had it for a number of years before it was stolen at a party she attended. There was nowt wrong with it still. The make was Campari.

Now as I said I used Saddle soap on my sling I also have a blue bottle of leather furniture stuff I have used on some leather including the cars seats.

Sorry about the year being wrong I simply took it off my sling. Should have remembered it was a M1907. As for fitting it up I followed the instructions in Townsend Whelen's book "The Hunting Rifle".

As for the Marine Corp well they always HAVE to be different :rolleyes:.
 
Saddler;
I could use some pointers on the proper fitting and use of these slings if your of a mind to help!

Cheers
Hillside
 
Saddler;
I could use some pointers on the proper fitting and use of these slings if your of a mind to help!

Cheers
Hillside

Not a problem, and as you are not too far I can easliy call over & show you

For fitting info, have a look at the images on my website: http://www.mooreleather.co.uk/rifle-slings-2/rifle-slings---american

There is also a specialist book "Leather Slings and Shooting Positions" by MSgt Owen - I can let you have a look at my copy.

PM me to let me know when you are free...
 
Thanks lads,
That's very usefull information. The next question is; Do any of you use a sling in stead of (or coupled with) a bi - pod? When looking for info on the web
I see that in America the "Across the Course" shooters are capable of incredible accuracy! I don't know how long it takes them to get that good but that level of marksmanship is easilly good enough for real world hunting. Dose anyone have any views either way on this?

Saddler; PM on it's way.

Hillside
 
I was just learning to use the sling coupled with a Sporting Aperture sight:-

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The sling in the Photo is a British M/H or P-14 WW1 sling. Nice but won't hold adjustment (probably did 70+ years ago but not now) which is why I brought the US P1907. Sorry I do not have a photo of the rifle with the US sling fitted.

It's use on the hunting rifle is described well in Townsend's book:-

The Hunting Rifle Wolfe Publishing

He also covers it's use for prone, sitting, standing and kneeling.

No I do not use a Bi-pod on that rifle in fact it has no provision for one and I am not going to modify it so it can use one. The 2nd sling is set up with Uncle Mikes Q/D loops so it can be used on the rifles fitted with Q/D studs.
 
The sling in the Photo is a British M/H or P-14 WW1 sling. Nice but won't hold adjustment (probably did 70+ years ago but not now) which is why I brought the US P1907. Sorry I do not have a photo of the rifle with the US sling fitted.

While the US issued M1907 sling WAS designed to be used as an aid to shooting, the British Patt.'14 (& the earlier versions going back to the pre-Naploenic days) never had that intention. The British pattern slings were only meant as a rifle carrying strap...
 
Hi folks, I now have a service sling on my rifle. I obtained it from Saddler who was kind enough to give me a demonstration on it's fitting and use.
Many thanks to all who gave advice and information. Now to start practicing!

Atb Hillside
 
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