How to Put a Military-Issue Sling Back Together

Military-issue slings are designed for use with the corresponding rifle. In some cases, slings are interchangeable with other rifles. While each rifle has its own dedicated sling, the mechanisms on the slings operate in the same way, with differences coming in length or strap attachment fixtures. If you have a sling that needs to be put back together, use a basic formula to rethread the webbing and fixtures.

Instructions

    • 1

      Stretch out the sling webbing (the nylon or cotton straps) on a flat bench or surface. Place the slider(s) next to one end of the strap. Set the end attachment fixtures, sometimes back triangles of plastic or sometimes just the end of the sling straps that have snaps, at the ends of the webbing straps.

    • 2

      Slide the sling adjuster through one side of the webbing. This is used to adjust length. In the case of the M16 sling, there are two sliders, one for each end. Push the sliders up the webbing so they are about ? the webbing strap length from each respective end of the strap.

    • 3

      Slide any fixture to the end of the webbing. If there are snaps or enclosures, bring them up and around the fixture slit and snap so the webbing locks into the fabric and holds the fixtures in place. The slings are now ready for use.