How do I Replace a Broken Sling Swivel?

Some say that a sling is like a holster for your rifle or shotgun, allowing you to easily and safely go from a firing position to having both hands free. This provides an incredible advantage in many situations, as long firearms can be cumbersome and awkward to handle, especially when trying to carry other gear. Many rifles and shotguns come from the factory fitted for sling swivels, but some will have to be adapted. Over time your sling swivels may work loose of their threads or snap off altogether and need to be replaced.

Things You'll Need

  • Rifle sling
  • Two sling swivels
  • Two replacement sling studs
  • Screwdriver set
  • Wrench set
  • Electric drill
  • Screw extractor set
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • 6d wood nail
Show More

Instructions

  1. Remove Original Hardware

    • 1

      Make sure that your firearm is unloaded with the safety in the "On" position before replacing the sling swivels. Loosen the thumb screw on your old sling swivel to release the retaining bolt and slide the bolt out of your old swivel stud.

    • 2

      Remove the sling swivel on the stock end of your rifle or shotgun in the same manner.

    • 3

      Remove your sling if it can be separated from the broken sling swivel. If your sling was designed with integrated sling swivels, you will need to replace the entire sling.

    • 4

      Remove the old sling stud from the stock by passing the 6d wood nail through the eye of the stud and using it as a lever to unscrew the threads.

    • 5

      Check the stud to see if turns but does not loosen. If so, then the nut on the inside of the stock that retains the stud is turning freely. Remove the gun from the stock to access the nut and use a wrench to hold it still while you unscrew the stud.

    • 6

      Use your needle-nose pliers to unscrew the stud if your sling stud has broken off at the eye. If it has broken off level with the stock, preventing you from gripping it with the pliers, you may need to use a screw extractor to remove the broken piece from the threads. Choose a drill bit that is about half the diameter of the broken screw and drill a shallow hole down into the top of the shank with your electric drill. Fit a small screw extractor bit into your electric drill and put the threaded end of it into the hole in the shank. Once the screw extractor has drilled down into the shank, it will continue to turn the entire shaft, unscrewing it from the threads.

    • 7

      Remove the other sling stud from the front end of your rifle, or, for most shotguns, remove the sling stud lug from the end of the magazine tube.

    Install the New Hardware

    • 8

      Place the threaded shank of one of you replacement swivel studs in the stud hole on the bottom of the stock and tighten it with your fingers to make sure it is screwing into the hold properly and not stripping the threads. Slide your 6d nail into the eye of the stud and use it as a lever to tighten down the rest of the way.

    • 9

      Repeat this process to install the other swivel stud, or, for shotguns, screw the new swivel stud lug onto the end of the magazine tube.

    • 10

      Unscrew the thumb screw on your new sling swivels to release the retaining bolt and rotate the side piece to expose the bolt. Slide the bolt into the eye of the swivel stud and rotate the side piece back so that the hole lines up with the end of the bolt and tighten the thumb screw. Repeat this process to attach the sling swivel to the other sling stud.

    • 11

      Attach both ends of the sling to the slotted openings in the two sling swivels as instructed by the sling's manufacturer. Installing the sling is often a simple matter of loosening a nylon strap from a plastic or metal strap adjuster, threading the end through the swivel's opening and then threading the end back through the strap adjuster.