This project is a 2 point sling for a assault weapon. The weapon would ideally have a sling mount point at the stock and one at the barrel. I have making this to go on my ICS M4 airsoft rifle. I am copying the design from a well known tactical manufacture. This sling will be good enough for airsoft, but I don't think it would last very long on a real steel weapon in heavy use. Please don't think this would be a good idea to make and sell. It would probably get you sued.
Our first task will be to gather the materials together. I purchased half of the items at Wal-Mart! The picture below will show you the items needed. Pictures are always better than trying to give a good description of something.
Walmart List:
Outdoor Products Lashing Strap 1 inch size - need 2 (Price at my local Wally World - $1.88 each)
Outdoor Products Buckle & Slider 1 inch size - need 2 (Price - .58 each)
Joann's Fabric list:
Oritz 2 strap Adjusters 1 inch size - need 1 (price $1.99 on sale the day I purchased)
Optional pieces:
Paracord - 1 foot.
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Now it's time to separate the parts we need and don't need.
The lashing straps are 6 feet long with a buckle and a slider on it. Take all the plastic parts off the straps. We are going to use both 6 foot pieces to make our sling. I made my first sling without cutting these. It best to wait until after final assembly so you can play with the lengths and get it the way it fits you best. I used about 5 feet of one strap and 3 feet of the other. I'm not a tall person so your strap lengths will be different. Take the buckles you removed from the straps and put them in a drawer for future use. You won't be using these. Each strap comes with 1 slider each, for a total of 2. You will need these. Set them aside for now.
Next is the Buckle & Slider boxes. Each box has 2 buckles and 2 sliders. Remove the sliders only, you will not need the buckles. I know you are asking why didn't I just purchase the sliders by themselves. The answer is simple. Joann's doesn't sell the sliders. Plus the fact that they were only .58 cents! Put these sliders with the other 2 you removed from the straps. You should now have a total of 6.
Last is the strap adjusters from Joann's. You will only need 1 of these. The other can be for your next sling.
You should now have the following items in front of you.
2 - 6 foot nylon straps
6 - Plastic sliders
1 - strap adjuster
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It's assembly time.
Take 1 strap and thread 2 sliders onto one end. Move them about 6 inches and 9 inches onto the strap. Leave about 3 inches between them for now. This is going to be the end that you attached to the front sling mount on your rifle.
Now repeat this on the second strap. But, this time move them about 2 foot and 3 feet down the strap. This second strap will be now you adjust the sling to fit you. All the size adjust will be done on this one. That's why you want to have these set so from up the strap for now.
Now, take the second strap you just had. Now, add the 2 last sliders on the other end. Put one at 9 inches and the other at 6 inches. This will look just like the end of the first strap. Now your going to add the strap adjuster. You will thread the strap thru the flat end not the end with the lip. There are three slots on the adjuster. feed the strap thru the middle one. Move the adjuster right up to the first slider. Maybe about an inch from it. Take the loose end and thread it thru the last slot and back toward the sliders. Now thread the loose end back thru both sliders. The first slider will each the adjuster in place and the second slider holds the loose end of the strap. See the picture below for a better idea of what I just said.
Now, we are ready for the first strap you set aside. Take the end that doesn't have any sliders. You are going to thread it thru the middle slot on the strap adjuster on the second strap. This end you are going to thread it back thru the first slot or going the opposite way you thread the adjuster before. It's best you look at the picture. You will want to thread half of this strap thru the adjuster. You should have a 2 foot tail of strap hanging loose.
Assembly is now finished. You now need to attach the loose ends to your weapon. I 'm using a master lock as an example of how to thread it on since I'm doing this at my desk. With the sliders facing up, thread the strap thru the bottom of sling mount and up toward you. Thread this end back thru the two sliders. Move the first slider close to the weapon, maybe leave an inch of strap showing. Use the second slider as a way to keep the loose end tied down. The end with the sliders close to the end of the strap will go on the front sling mount. The end with the sliders 2 feet or so up the strap will go on the stock sling mount. See picture below.
Here's come the fun part. It time for you to adjust the sling to fit you. This will take some time. It will a bit difficult to try to explain. But, the muzzle end of the strap will be for adjusting the weapon closer to to your body when not in use. I left my front strap tail about 6 inches long after final assembly and when the weapon is hanging loose or for firing it. The stock end will have more material left on it. This end is going to be where you are adjusting to fit you. I most important part of the adjustment is the strap adjuster is below your left arm and where you can reach it with your left hand. You will pull the loose strap to tighten the strap and weapon to you and lift up on the adjuster plate (the lip end) to loosen the weapon away from your body. It is best to watch the video and it will give you a better understanding of what I am talking about.
Hopefully, you now have your sling adjusted to your liking. You can now cut off the loose ends you don't need. On the stock end of the strap, I left 2 feet or so. This is in case someone larger than me can adjust the sling to fit them. The muzzle end strap was cut off with about a foot and half hanging when the weapon is pulled close to my body. The original paracord was used to add a cord for easier adjusting of the front strap, just like in the video above. I drilled a hole thru the strap adjuster lip and tired a 6 inch piece of cord to it. When doubled to tie, it leaves a 3 inch cord to grab. Since this sling isn't sewn anywhere on the ends to keep the strap from coming out of the strap adjuster. I drill or poked a hole thru the strap about an 1/2 inch from the end. After i got the hole big enough to get a paracord thru it, I stuck a phillips head screw driver thru it and used a lighter to melt the hole open. After it cooled for a few seconds, I removed the screw driver and threaded a short piece of paracord thru it and tied it off. This cord will keep the loose end from coming out of the adjuster and dumping your weapon onto the ground if you pull the adjuster to far up. The picture below is the final product. It will probably be easier to understand some of this after see it.
