Everything you need to know about slings and swivels for safaris and safari rifles

[Doug Hamilton]

Sure. Trader Keith’s sells a 7/8” wide safari sling. (Only the leather ends are narrow, then it widens)

Thanks!

 

[Altitude sickness]

Jacques Tredoux, South African made
I wrap it several times around the swivel

 

[Ontario Hunter]

My shotgun has a sling. When hunting it is usually detached and inside the game bag on my upland vest. I'll reattach for long wals out,, especially in cold weather so I can tack my hands in pockets or inside the vest.. However, I had problems with the swivel stud on the butt getting caught on my vest when I mounted the shotgun so I removed the stud. I'm in the process of acquiring a set of recessed cup quick detach sling swivels (push button release style). Anybody tried these? They are big with the tacticool crowd apparently.

 

[Altitude sickness]

These work great. But can squeak occasionally

 

[BeeMaa]

These work great. But can squeak occasionally View attachment 624819

That is nearly the exact sling I’m using on my goose shotgun. I’m thinking of taking the swivels off and replacing them with a set of Talon black stainless and having the webbing sewed back to eliminate the squeaks.

 

[Denvir Tire]

Good info. Now I have a question. I inherited my dad's .30-06. It was custom built for a friend of his in Germany just after WW II. Of course it was built on a Mauser 98 action. It has two sling swivels, one on the barrel, and the other in the usual place on the butt stock. They cannot be removed and the inside of the loop only measures 3/4". All standard 1" slings in the US cannot fit in the narrow swivels. Dies anyone make a sling to fit this rifle?

I have encountered the same situation with older M/S rifles and Drillings. Although it might sound crazy, I've been using surplus Chinese SKS slings. They are an olive drab, woven cotton strap with leather ends that have fit all of my older, European sling loops so far.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have encountered the same situation with older M/S rifles and Drillings. Although it might sound crazy, I've been using surplus Chinese SKS slings. They are an olive drab, woven cotton strap with leather ends that have fit all of my older, European sling loops so far.

I suspect a cheap poly webbing sling from Wallmart could be made to work with narrow swivels. Cut the sewn seams to release the cheap detachable swivels that come with the sling (they will eventually fall apart anyway - ask me how I know!). Then turn on a stove burner. When it gets hot enough, simply apply both sides of the webbing loop for swivels until enough is melted away to allow the narrow swivel to fit. Heat up the tip of an awl and use it to punch holes in webbing for Chicago screws to put the sling back together. Don't forget to bugger the threads a bit so the screws don't unthread. It might look like crap but should work. As you may have surmised by now, I've never been overly concerned about appearances ... except when I'm shopping for a date on the internet. A Mossy Oak sling from Walmart on a prewar commercial Mauser would make for an interesting conversation piece over bourbon around the lodge campfire. Bound to get more attention than a $1K safari hat.

 

[godwincp]

Once again this great insight has cost me money!!
Murray sling on the way

 

[rookhawk]

Once again this great insight has cost me money!!
Murray sling on the way

Many years ago one of my kids wanted to make their own Murray sling. After scouring the internet for many hours, including looking at many leather good wholesalers, I concluded Murray’s slider buckle that is the lynchpin of the whole system cannot be found anywhere else.

I called Dick and asked if he’d sell his proprietary buckle explaining it’s a project for a youth hunter. He opted to give us one being the gentleman that he is.

So with my wholesale leather contacts to buy premium US saddle skirt leather, all the tools already owned including skivers, bevelers, punches, barge cement, waxed thread, etc, we set out to work. Oh, and the same US made premium swivels Murray uses.

In the end, I think we spent 6 hours on the project and spent $94. Thus, with the free buckle from Dick Murray calculated in, we saved $6 total for the sake of saying we made our own.

What should the reader get out of this post? The $100 sling Dick Murray sells has about $100 in materials in it. He’s definitely not getting rich off these slings, even with his efficiency of labor and access to bulk material pricing.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Many years ago one of my kids wanted to make their own Murray sling. After scouring the internet for many hours, including looking at many leather good wholesalers, I concluded Murray’s slider buckle that is the lynchpin of the whole system cannot be found anywhere else.

I called Dick and asked if he’d sell his proprietary buckle explaining it’s a project for a youth hunter. He opted to give us one being the gentleman that he is.

So with my wholesale leather contacts to buy premium US saddle skirt leather, all the tools already owned including skivers, bevelers, punches, barge cement, waxed thread, etc, we set out to work. Oh, and the same US made premium swivels Murray uses.

In the end, I think we spent 6 hours on the project and spent $94. Thus, with the free buckle from Dick Murray calculated in, we saved $6 total for the sake of saying we made our own.

What should the reader get out of this post? The $100 sling Dick Murray sells has about $100 in materials in it. He’s definitely not getting rich off these slings, even with his efficiency of labor and access to bulk material pricing.

But your kid has a sling he made with his dad. That should keep you alive well into the next century every time a future generation picks up the gun. "Your great-great grandpa made this. Whatta guy, eh?" Best six dollar investment you'll ever make.

 

[towserthemouser]

Thank you @rookhawk for the education and the information. It strikes me that a sling that combined the silent rawhide ties on the end, along with the Murray sliding buckle adjustment system, would be a pretty handy thing; certainly one that I'd be interested to buy. Perhaps Murray Leather could be induced to offer one. I like the rawhide ties for the historical/romantic aspect, I like the looks, and I like the fact that they're not going to scratch up a firearm or make noise. Having the adjustment buckle would take that sling to another level.

 

[Ridge Runner]

In the end, I think we spent 6 hours on the project and spent $94. Thus, with the free buckle from Dick Murray calculated in, we saved $6 total for the sake of saying we made our own.

DIY projects should be more about making memories, having fun, educational, accomplishment, and most importantly spending quality time with family and friends?

When you can put a price on that; the DIY project becomes priceless. No matter how nice or how bad it turns out.

When DIY projects are more about saving money the projects become meaningless and the only thing being accomplished is doing mundane work at home without earning a steady wage.

What should the reader get out of this post? The $100 sling Dick Murray sells has about $100 in materials in it. He’s definitely not getting rich off these slings, even with his efficiency of labor and access to bulk material pricing.

Sometimes money and time is best saved by having a knowledgable, experienced, properly equipped professional do the work.

 

[franzfmdavis]

Thank you @rookhawk for the very helpful information!

 

[BeeMaa]

BTW - I mailed the sling swivels I wanted to Dick and he DROPPED the price! I’ve bought several items from him and never been disappointed. Can’t say enough good about him as a man or the quality products he produces.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I have encountered the same situation with older M/S rifles and Drillings. Although it might sound crazy, I've been using surplus Chinese SKS slings. They are an olive drab, woven cotton strap with leather ends that have fit all of my older, European sling loops so far.

I'll look into it.

 

[skydiver386]

I've never seen a bottom mounted sling system on a hunting rifle that I thought was worth a nickel. The swivel studs tend to come unscrewed, the trigger guard and pistol grip poke you in the lower back, etc.

One of the few sling systems that seems well thought out is on the Wartime German 98's. Most American shooters could never be talked into this system, but a sling that's mounted on the left side of the rifle vs the bottom just seems like a better idea IMHO.

 

[mdwest]

I've never seen a bottom mounted sling system on a hunting rifle that I thought was worth a nickel. The swivel studs tend to come unscrewed, the trigger guard and pistol grip poke you in the lower back, etc.

agree.... I have this problem with all of my slings, regularly...

 

[Racer00]

You could do it with the GrovTech quick detach style sling swivels and mounts. But it requires drilling a hole in your stock and threading in the insert. Probably be a non starter on a beautiful walnut stock. Very popular in plastic/kevlar stocks and mountain hunting in western US.

 

[skydiver386]

You could do it with the GrovTech quick detach style sling swivels and mounts. But it requires drilling a hole in your stock and threading in the insert. Probably be a non starter on a beautiful walnut stock. Very popular in plastic/kevlar stocks and mountain hunting in western US.

That might be a great idea. Not sure if the base would stay put in walnut, but certainly a synthetic or laminate, especially if a judicious amount of bedding compound were used.

Then again, their website says the use of this product might expose me to dangerous chemicals, like lead.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

agree.... I have this problem with all of my slings, regularly...

What kind of cross fit-yoga gyrations are y’all doing with your rifle sling. Seriously, I did have one come loose on a TC carbine and a 10/22. I took the sling stud out, put some Gorilla glue on it and put piece of toothpick in the hole, that stopped it.

Safe shooting