Cloth rifle sling

[sharps4590]

You lost me at Velcro...that noisy, cheap stuff has no business around anything related to hunting.

I have to agree with that. I don't even like zippers. Buttons and buckles are best.

[pietro]

You lost me at Velcro...that noisy, cheap stuff has no business around anything related to hunting.

YMMV, as does mine.

Velcro's not noisy if the strap length is adjusted prior to the hunt...…….. When I get to the point when the rifle should be in my hands, I QD the strap & put it in a pocket.

FWIW, I also don't look down on something based on it's cost - IMO, performance counts more..….

.

[fatnhappy]

I once used a dog leash on one of my guns for years.

I have to tell you, that takes "frugal boolit caster" to a whole new level.

Well I would say that if I didn't use nylon banding straps from paper shipments that I sewed on both ends.

[Bazoo]

Interesting replies and discussion. Originally I was thinking of flannel sewn in three layers. Fixed length with sewn on swivels. Something simple as a leather strap but, cloth as I don't really care for leather. I ran the idea past momma and we talked and designed a bit. She thinks it would work and last good.

Not sure about getting it wet, but my clothes don't fall apart when wet, so if it was designed right it would be okay I think.

I appreciate the ideas and the links to new straps I ain't seen. Thank all.

[country gent]

would be a lot of hand work but you could for the sling braid it from string or cord. Would be an interesting look also. Ends could be rolled over and knitted back in to hold swivels.

Maybe 9 strips, braided into 3 strips of 3 then into one sling. would be very strong. braid wet so stretch can be added in, so when it dries it shrinks into a tighter weave. 2 strips one color and the 3rd a lighter or darker color in the center to start then this would again weave thru when the 3 braids are done together.

[curioushooter]

[QUOTE]Velcro's not noisy if the strap length is adjusted prior to the hunt...…….. When I get to the point when the rifle should be in my hands, I QD the strap & put it in a pocket.

Bahahahaha....velcro unexpectedly catching on something and going RIIIIPPPPPPPP as it does I've witnessed SPOOKING deer. No joke. That millitary surplus German flecktarn gear is cheap for a reason...it is dreadful for hunting.

And fiddling with a QD swivel in the cold with gloved hands and nonsense....a lot more difficult than just having nice, quiet, good looking, affordable leather sling on the rifle and being done with it. Spend $40 for a Montana gun sling and use it on everything. Problem solved and will be a whole lot nicer and longer lasting than anything made of fabric. The slings with the decorative colors remind me of my long dead grandma's couch. They are kitchy and detract from an otherwise handsome rifle IMO.

The reason why military slings are canvas or nylon has nothing to do with these materials being functional. It is because it is cheap and mass producible on tremendous scales while meeting a minimum level of function to satisfy the procurement folks. This is true of almost all military stuff. It is good enough to meet the specification, and no better, and cheap enough. Almost every solider/officer than can afford to upgrade his gear does, and soon. My father kept his rattle-trap Goverment Issue 1911 made probably in WWII about one hour before going to a gunstore in Kentucky and buying a nice Belgain Browning HI Power in 9mm which he carried exclusively.

The best fabric slings IMO are made of braided paracord. And this has the advantage of being something you could pilfer in an emergency if you needed it. However, the quantity of paracord needed to make a proper sling is substantial and if good paracord will cost nearly as much as a leather strap will. Braided leather slings are neat too and if you are good at it you can made them seamless and braid on the swivels. There are books and videos on YouTube that can show you how to do this stuff. It is very time consuming which is the reason why you do not see commercial products made this way. For my efforts I concluded that a leather strap is better anyway, having the advantage of being able to easily replace the swivels. GroveTec swivels are much better than Uncle mikes, IMO.

[curioushooter]

I once used a dog leash on one of my guns for years.
I have to tell you, that takes "frugal boolit caster" to a whole new level.

A good dog leash costs more than a slig, BTW. I knew a now dead leatherworker who's bread and butter was making show-quality leather dog leashes. They cost a whole lot more than $40!

If you are going to have a good gun, it should have good accessories. Otherwise you look penny wise dollar foolish. Cheap accessories often RUIN the function of the entire outfit. I cannot number the times cheap scope rings or mounts have ruined a day at the range where the cost of the ammo expended exceeded the cost of good and proper accessory by a factor of 10.

Guns and ammo and components are not cheap. If you can afford to shoot at all you can afford a $40 leather sling, good rings, good mount, etc.

[Bazoo]

My experience with leather slings is from a military style uncle mikes branded sling. After 10 years of using it as my only sling I decided I didn't like it. It was too stiff, cold on the neck, and started to crack so I shed myself of it.

The other experience is from a custom made sling I bought off ebay. It said Bazoo on it and was wider on the top but with a buckle arrangement for adjustment on the south end. No padding and it was thin and light but it never got broken in before I lost it when my house burnt. I tried but cannot find the seller again.

I don't really care for leather I think.

[W.R.Buchanan]

FWIW, I also don't look down on something based on it's cost - IMO, performance counts more..….

I wish more people thought this way. Our country would be alot better off for it.

Randy