sling mounts and slings

[Ballistic Artist]

Hey all,
Im tryin to figure out a sling for my 17 pound 300 win mag. Its got a Mcmillan A5 stock on it. Im kinda at a wall here. I like the TAB gear sling and the biathlon sling. I like the biathlon sling better cuz of the backpack style carry but I dont think I could use it with my camelbak on whereas with the gear sling, I can sling the rifle while wearing a backpack. Ok here is the wall. How the hell do I attach it??!!??

I like the HK hooks cuz they seem to be the strongest but I cant find any mounts for my stock that are HK style. I need something that I can attach to my stock via 2 screws and bed in brass threaded inserts. And the only HK style mounts I can find hook to pic rail. I realize that I could mount short rails to the side of my stock. But by the time I add the rail and the mount, they will stick out damn near an inch on the left side of the stock. Seems like they will be in the way. And Im not really convinced on these "flush cup" swivels. I dont know, they just dont look strong to me. I know its probably just me but I dont have confidence in them. Mainly they way the cups bed into the stock. Im afraid that the cups could pull out of the stock. Or the little ball bearings will slip out of the cup. What do you all think of this?? Its a heavy rifle but ive seen flush cups on alot heavier guns. I just dont want to be walking or running with the rifle on my back and have the front swivel give way and my rifle eat the dirt.

Does anyone know of a HK style mount like Im describing? And are my opinions on the flush cups out the window??
Also, what are your opinions on the tab slings?
Can you adjust the biathlon sling to be useable while wearing a backpack or would it be better to have the gear sling for versatility? Also, How strong are they?
Do they use Heavy duty flush cup swivels on their slings?
Are they good slings or are there better ones out there??
Thanks for the help.

 

[zombiekilla]

Re: sling mounts and slings

Usually the bad QD swivel cup will detach itself. I have McMillan A5 stock with the same issue. 3 out of 6 QD cups were bad. I contacted McMillan, they told me to send it in without the receiver (doh!) so they can repair it. Repair took about 1 week and I got it back within 2 weeks. All the QD cups were working and I am happy now.

To test out your QD cups with swivels; you first lay some type of cushion or matt on the floor. Sling your rifle over, and perform all types of action with it to make sure they don't come off ya. You will look ridiculous but hey it worked for me!

If you still don't trust your QD cups or the swivels, I suggest you go with HK hook but you may need to find a couple small zip ties that's strong enough to let your HK hooks to attach to them (this is the improvised way).

 

[Ballistic Artist]

Re: sling mounts and slings

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: zombiekilla</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
If you still don't trust your QD cups or the swivels, I suggest you go with HK hook but you may need to find a couple small zip ties that's strong enough to let your HK hooks to attach to them (this is the improvised way). </div></div>

Zip ties?? Yeah and some duct tape to mount your scope...

 

[zombiekilla]

Re: sling mounts and slings

I duct tape my flame thrower

 

[SniperCJ]

Re: sling mounts and slings

Whats wrong with just a standard screw in swivel stud and a heavy duty swivel? It a 17lb rifle. Youre not towing a car.

This game has gotten to where its over-engineered everything: slings, rings, bases, mounts.

PS: Never had a flush cup fail on me.

 

[Tburkes]

Re: sling mounts and slings

Ballistic artist, I have no idea how to go about setting your rifle up to use HK Hooks so I won't comment on that.

I've been using flush cup swivels for many years and haven't had any problems with them. Periodically I'll flush out the ball bearing with brake cleaner and re-lube them and will clean out the channel that the ball bearings ride in and re-lube that too.

The flush cup swivels, or push button as some people call them, are becoming standard on more and more rifles. I know that even Accuracy International is giving them a very serious look as an option to replace the HK Hook.

Personally I think the TAB GEAR sling is the best sling on the market, but I'm very biased in that respect.

I have several customers who use our biathlon slings and love them. I've never heard of any of our slings failing anywhere in the world, so I'd say they're holding up very well.

The swivels we use are the best that can be had. We use the Grovtec swivels both in the flushcup version and the Grovtec Milforce swivels in the Heavy Duty stud type swivel.

Zombie, the swivels weren't bad, the cups had been installed too deep into the stock by whomever installed them. McMillan simply pulled them out and re-epoxied them back in place a little higher than they originally were.

When they're too deep the swivels can't seat down into the cup low enough for the ball bearings to engage fully into the cups.

Personally I would not recommend using zip ties to secure a rifle with with HK Hooks.

 

[Jrb572]

Re: sling mounts and slings

TAB makes the best sling out there. Tony is awesome. Go with the flush cup. I bought an AW. I like the HK hooks but would prefer the flush cup. I think the flush cup is a little more comfortable when slung. But it's not always about comfort. Someone needs to make a front adaptor for the flush up on an AW. Victor company already did the rear.

 

[jerseymike]

Re: sling mounts and slings

Flush cups work fine for my 26" mtu contour 300wm, been thru several week long courses and a few matches with it, never failed once. I used grovetec flushcups bedded them into my manners t4 with devcon. No issues.

 

[Ballistic Artist]

Re: sling mounts and slings

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tburkes</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ballistic artist, I have no idea how to go about setting your rifle up to use HK Hooks so I won't comment on that.

I've been using flush cup swivels for many years and haven't had any problems with them. Periodically I'll flush out the ball bearing with brake cleaner and re-lube them and will clean out the channel that the ball bearings ride in and re-lube that too.

The flush cup swivels, or push button as some people call them, are becoming standard on more and more rifles. I know that even Accuracy International is giving them a very serious look as an option to replace the HK Hook.

Personally I think the TAB GEAR sling is the best sling on the market, but I'm very biased in that respect.

I have several customers who use our biathlon slings and love them. I've never heard of any of our slings failing anywhere in the world, so I'd say they're holding up very well.

The swivels we use are the best that can be had. We use the Grovtec swivels both in the flushcup version and the Grovtec Milforce swivels in the Heavy Duty stud type swivel.

Zombie, the swivels weren't bad, the cups had been installed too deep into the stock by whomever installed them. McMillan simply pulled them out and re-epoxied them back in place a little higher than they originally were.

When they're too deep the swivels can't seat down into the cup low enough for the ball bearings to engage fully into the cups.

Personally I would not recommend using zip ties to secure a rifle with with HK Hooks.
</div></div>
Thanks for the info. On the biathlon sling, Can I adjust it to be worn while wearing a backpack?? And for the record, Im definately sold on the TAB elite slings.

Just got to decide which one lol. Do The Tab slings use the Grovetech Heavy duty flushcup swivels? And on the flushcup swivels, where can I find the proper cups for the grovetech swivels on the tab slings? Everyone seems sure that the flush cup system will not fail or detach. Even while running or say riding an atv to your shooting spot with the rifle on your back?? I dont know why Im questioning the flush cups so much

I guess its cuz if my rifle eats shit and or my scope gets scrapped during a fall off of my back, I couldnt afford to replace it for a while. I do like the idea of the flush cup system though. Has anyone ever had the cup pull out of the stock?? With Devcon holding the cup in?? Thanks again for the info.

 

[Tburkes]

Re: sling mounts and slings

Your'e welcome. It's hard for me to answer your question on wearing the biathlon sling with a backpack, considering all the different sizes of packs on the market. It only stands to reason if you've got a pack on that the rifle won't ride as comfortably as it would alone. You can always adjust the straps to make the rifle ride toward one side or the other.

Like I said above, yes, we do use Grovtec flush cup swivels. You can purchase the cups directly from Grovtec, or other places. I think Brownells carries them too.

There are several posts about installing the cups properly here on the Hide. I've never had, nor personally heard of, a cup pulling out of a stock.

 

[k9ghost]

Re: sling mounts and slings

Dont get to hunk up (pun intended) on the HK style hooks for that heavy of a rifle. The HK hooks are ok but don't always hold up that well. I have had their hook springs weaken and allow the gates to open without knowing.

 

[Laseredge]

Re: sling mounts and slings

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: k9ghost</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dont get to hunk up (pun intended) on the HK style hooks for that heavy of a rifle. The HK hooks are ok but don't always hold up that well. I have had their hook springs weaken and allow the gates to open without knowing. </div></div>

+1, If you must have HK hooks, Mash hooks are better IMO.

http://www.triadtactical.com/ITW-1.25-MASH-Hook.html

 

[Ballistic Artist]

Re: sling mounts and slings

Ok guys, to hell with it!! Im goin for the flush cups!! Everyone seems to be runnin these. The Mcmillan Tac 50 even has em. If a 30lb rifle wont hurt em then my 17 pounder should be ok. Mr. Burkes, thanks for your input. Im goin to go with the TAB Elite gear sling for now. I figure I can get a biathlon sling and try it later. I can find one of my other rifles to put the other one on when the time comes. One of the hide members gave me a couple flushcups and I think they are Grovetech. They have threads on the outside like the Grovetech HD's show on their website.(I assume the tab slings use the grovetech HD flushcups) Im goin to get the sling first though to make sure the cups are the right ones before I install em on my stock. lol I guess im goin to be sendin some money to RiflesOnly.
Thanks again everyone for your input.

And for putting up with my damn questions.

 

[J-Ham]

Re: sling mounts and slings

You did the right thing... Tony & his slings are the shit!!!