Few Rifle Sling Questions

[chriscraft]

I'm visiting a friend in South Texas in a couple weeks and would like to make a nice custom rifle sling for him as a gift. I don't hunt with a gun and have never used a rifle sling before. How wide can they be? I'll be tooling some Texas game on this sling and could use the extra width. I've seen pictures of cobra slings with a thumb hole cut out. Would like to use a design like this but need some basic measurements if anyone has any.

He has an old Weatherby rifle that was handed down from his dad he treasures. I'd like to make this sling for this particular rifle as it has an inexpensive sling. Measures on rifle is 34" from sling clip- to-clip attachments . Over all lenght of the nylon sling that is currently on it is 45" long. Thanks, Chris

Edited July 12, 2014 by chriscraft

[Chief31794]

They can be as wide as you want, however, standard size is nominally 2-1/2" at the widest point (maybe a little less), and the ends should be only 1" wide, that is what standard rifle swivels will accept. Standard length is about 44" from tip to tip. Again it can be as long as you want keeping in mind that if you're cutting it from a double shoulder then about 50" is okay, longer and you'll need to get that from a side. Those are general, I cut my strap for the sling 2-1/2" X 50" then I have a template that I use to cut the 44" by tapered 2-1/4 to 1" from.

Hope that helps, like I said, those are the standard ones I make, you can make them longer, wider, narrower, shorter, etc.

Chief

[chriscraft]

That really helps, thanks Cheif. I was hoping you would reply. I've read some of your previous post before. I'll be using this one clean side I have for this sling.

Just finished tooling a short 2 1/2" wide strap that worked out fine so it will not be an issue to carve into this width.

[chriscraft]

Using 8/9 oz. veg tan leather backed with a softer 8 oz. leather. Do slings need to be padded? If so what would you recommend to use as padding.

[Chief31794]

If the other 8oz lining leather is a "Soft" leather that's probably all you need. If I Pad a strap, I use 1/8" thick foam glued to the main strap area then I glue the lining to the strap with the padding sandwiched between (I leave it about 1/2" from the edge. Then trim the lining and sew the lining in.

I normally use 9/10 oz leather with a 2/3 oz liner when I Pad, but I think the 8/8 with the lining being soft would be very nice.

Chief

[Red Cent]

As a hunter, I would suggest adding a suede or something like it to the inside of the strap to keep the rifle on his shoulder. Some do not like the suede because you have to keep it clean, but I know I like the suede. Traipsing up and down the mountains of West Virginia, sometimes I needed two hands and did not "lose" the rifle. Another material that would really work with padding is chamois.

I have three slings that are fully suede backed and a couple that have a section where it goes over the shoulder.