Correct sling for M16A1?

[dena...@ix.netcom.com]

What would be the correct mil sling for a used late '70's M16A1? Would
it be in OD or black? Where are they to be found? How much? Also, are
there any mil surp 20 & 30 rnds mags about? What do they cost? Thanks in
advance, Larry.

[Jim Stone]

dena...@ix.netcom.com wrote:
#
# What would be the correct mil sling for a used late '70's M16A1? Would
# it be in OD or black? Where are they to be found? How much? Also, are
# there any mil surp 20 & 30 rnds mags about? What do they cost? Thanks in
# advance, Larry.

Hi Larry,

The M16A1 that I carried (U.S. Army 1971-78) used the black nylon
sling with the snap buckle on one end and the toggle flap buckle on the
other end. This is the same sling as used on late M-14's (Vietnam)
except those on the M16's were black instead of O.D.. By the way this
was apparently not a common configuration for the M-16's, as this
particular sling is very difficult to find on the surplus market. I
managed to find two at a gun show several years ago...haven't seen any
since. Used one on my AR-15 and have the other as a spare.

Jim Stone

[Susan C.]

Jim Stone <jhs...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

#dena...@ix.netcom.com wrote:
##
## What would be the correct mil sling for a used late '70's M16A1? Would
## it be in OD or black? Where are they to be found? How much? Also, are
## there any mil surp 20 & 30 rnds mags about? What do they cost? Thanks in
## advance, Larry.

#Hi Larry,

# The M16A1 that I carried (U.S. Army 1971-78) used the black nylon
#sling with the snap buckle on one end and the toggle flap buckle on the
#other end. This is the same sling as used on late M-14's (Vietnam)
#except those on the M16's were black instead of O.D..
<snip>
# Jim Stone

Guys,

In 1981 all the slings on M-16A1 rifles in 3AD HHB DivArty (some 160)
were OD Green Nylon.

From 1973 to 1976 all the slings in B/2/4 INF were OD green with all
but a hand full being nylon and the remaining ones canvas webing that
would have looked right at home on the Chosen Resivor twenty years
earlier.

The rifles issued Cadets at the 1976 Ft Knox basic summer camp all had
OD Green Nylon slings.

The rifles issued at ROTC Advanced Camp at Ft Bragg in 1980 all had OD
green Nylon Slings.

The nylon slings had a tendency to wear and become very slick and
would unexpectedly slip through the locking buckle resulting in the
rifle swinging down as the sling was still attached at the butt. For
the taller of us it could be a painful experience as the front sight
slammed into the calf of the leg. With the shorter guys we got dinged
flash suppresors (potentually a serious thing with 3 prong types) or
a bent or broken front sight assembly. There were those who insisted
that a military rifle had no need for a sling and that the rifle
should remain in the hands at all times. These guys removed the
slings and taped the sling swivels down with black electricians tape
or green Hundred Mile an Hour tape (aka 90mph tape, 90knots tape, 40
fathom tape, Army duct tape). Some wore the sling as a belt in the
field and others rolled it up and stashed it. A long M-60 canvas
sling in OD Green was popular with some of the hot dogs in 73-76 with
the front attachment being the front sight assembly and the rear loop
around the butt. I didn't like this myself, but it was considered
"neat" by a lot of folks that saw it. Generally when the rifle was not
in the hands for most of us during 73-76, such as when laying land
line or some other two handed task we would shove the rifle between
our canteens and side with the muzzel pointing 3/4 of the way
straight down, the rifle was not through the belt, but the magazine
was thourghly wedged behind the canteen. The rifle could be drawn
like a pistol in an instant. You could not squat or sit down while
toting a rifle this way. On long non-tactical hikes like EIB testing
the rifle was sometimes thust through the front Load Bearing Equipment
suspenders. This was also done when tactical when studying maps and
the like for short periods by the guys who had removed their slings.
Some guys left the slings on their rifles and taped the buckles either
with the sling tight or adjusted to a comfortable position.

It did not take long to convince most guys that using the hasty sling
or making a loop sling with the M-16 for shooting was pretty much a
waste of time. With the light M-16A1 barrels it was difficult to keep
consistant pressure on the sling and barrel, and groups could string
out to a foot at 100 meters. Also the nylon seemed to stretch and
would slide slowly through the locking buckle. As a former small bore
shooter used to really cranking in a loop sling and thus getting great
groups I was upset by this. I still saw NCO's trying to teach the use
of the sling getting frustrated at the trainees for stringing out
groups horizontally with the sling in use. Most folks were as
suprised as I that they shot better groups without the slings. There
were always the odd guys that did seem to have a calibrated set of arm
muscles that could do well with the sling, but they seemed to be the
exception.

Finally I have seen troops who swore by boot laces for a sling. I
thought this was odd, but each to their own said the old lady as she
kissed the cow.

---Bob Hollingsworth
(using my room mate's account)

[Joe Ladislaw]

While in the US Marines ('82-'86), we used the silent black nylon slings
on our M-16A1s.
When the A2s came in we were issued the buttstock clip type of sling,
with the lock down retainer on the forward end. Black nylon.
I personally like the silent type better.
Joe

[Gunnett]

Correct sling, that depends on your point of view. Most soldiers perferred
to use a sling from the M-60 machine gun, cut down and sealed with a
flame.