Padded Rifle Sling

[Chief31794]

I make unlined rifle slings and lately lots of folks are asking for padded rifle slings. I could put some padding beneath a liner and sew it in or I could sew padding material to the sling (like shearling?), does anyone do this and if so, what have you found to be the best type of material and do you glue and sew it into a lining or glue and sew a padding material to the underside of the strap?

Thanks in advance,

Chief

[IngleGunLeather]

Bump. I'd like to know as well.

[Tree Reaper]

The padded sling I bought years ago is most likely foam sandwiched between the leather and a suede backing.

[David8386]

I have done a guitar strap with the foam from a craft store that they sell for kids crafts. It is closed cell foam, I put one layer in " about an 1/8 th inch thick" and then lined it with 2 ounce leather and laced it. You can get thicker closed cell foam at Wally World in the sporting goods section the work out mats are about 1/2 inch thick. Let me know if find a better idea.

David

[bikerbronco]

I make rifle slings using 9-10 oz leather backed with saddle shearling. I was sewing by hand, but recently bought a sewing machine. Orders for slings with the shearlings are really picking up.

[mikesmith648]

Now I know that I can do with that big box of shearling scraps besides using it for staining! Do you have any pics of how you do it?

[bikerbronco]

I don't have any pics now, but I take some this weekend and post them.

[mikesmith648]

I don't have any pics now, but I take some this weekend and post them.

that would be great, thanks

[dirtclod]

The ones i made had a piece of 1/4 inch neoprene for the padding and then covered with a piece of 3 / 4 ounce of what ever looked good. IMO the trouble with sheepskin by it's self is that it gets matted down with time and gets full of all kinds of begger lice, small sticks and junk and it's a PITA to try to get them out.

[IngleGunLeather]

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I found some neoprene sheets online and was surprised that it's pretty inexpensive. Looks like I'll be ordering a sheet of 1/4" thick neoprene.

Edited December 21, 2012 by CountryTrash