A gun sling is a valuable piece of shooting equipment. A gun sling attaches to a rifle or shotgun and enables to shooter to shoulder carry the firearm and is also an invaluable shooting aid to brace the firearm to assist with shooting accuracy and to reduce recoil. So, how do you attach your gun sling to your firearm? Most people use gun sling swivels, which some folks also refer to as “sling loops” or “sling clips.”
There are other methods to attach a sling to a firearm and some firearms require a specific attachment method, such as HK Snap Hooks and pushbutton sling swivels. This article is limited to a discussion of quick detach (QD) tri-lock sling swivels like the type that Detroit Leather Shop most commonly uses and sells. They are simple to use and securely attach your gun sling to your rifle, carbine or shotgun.
The gun sling swivel is affixed to the gun sling and then attached to a sling stud on the firearm. It is easily and quickly attached and detached. The sling swivel has a pin that is inserted into the gun sling screw stud hole. Sling studs and swivels are generally standardized to fit together. This article addresses how to use sling swivels like the style of the ones we use and sell at Detroit Leather Shop, but the instructions are generally applicable to many brands of sling swivels including Uncle Mike’s, Magpul, Allen Company, GrovTec, Outdoor Connection and others.
Some sling studs are simply screwed into the forearm or stock and some are attached with a bolt and nut, depending on the firearm.
It is important to know the parts of a gun sling swivel so that you understand their function. Here is a picture of a Detroit Leather Shop gun sling swivel with the parts labeled by name:
Note on quality and sizing
Detroit Leather Shop sling swivels are made with all steel components. Some competitors’ swivels have plastic sleeves. Also, note how our sleeves are knurled for better grip in all weather conditions.
Generally, gun sling swivels come in two common sizes, one inch (1.0”) and one and one quarter inch (1.25”) swivels. That measurement refers to the inside diameter of the sling swivel loop, meaning that a 1-inch swivel will accommodate a 1-inch wide sling and a 1.25-inch swivel will handle a 1.25-inch wide sling. There are other less common sizes available through other sellers.
How to attach the swivels and sling to the firearm
As an initial step that you must always take, VISUALLY INSPECT YOUR FIREARM TO MAKE SURE IT IS UNLOADED. Slide the swivel onto the sling passing it through the sling swivel loop. Secure it with Chicago screws if that is what the sling design calls for.
Double check your connections to ensure that the swivels are securely attached to the sling stud.
Note: The plunger sleeve in the closed position rotates freely and will not open
until positively engaged. This is an intentional design feature to prevent
accidental opening.
Summary of Steps
- VISUALLY INSPECT YOUR FIREARM TO MAKE SURE IT IS UNLOADED
- Turn the spring plunger sleeve counterclockwise until it stops.
- Push in on the end of the spring plunger until the gate is disengaged from the pin.
- Rotate the gate off the pin.
- Align the pin with the swivel stud screw hole.
- Insert the pin through your firearm’s swivel stud.
- Rotate the gate until the gate hole is aligned with the pin.
- Release the plunger so that the gate slides onto the pin.
- Rotate the plunger sleeve clockwise until it is back to the starting closed position.
- Double check your connections to ensure that the swivels are securely attached to the sling stud.
Please feel free to contact Detroit Leather Shop if you have any questions. We will do our best to help you out.
detroitleathershop@gmail.com