Sling Attachment Points:

06 Oct 07

Sling Attachment Points:

For most serious uses, I prefer a two-point sling on urban rifles, with attachment points on the top side of the rifle, rather than the traditional, underneath arrangement.

Underside attachment points have been the norm since WWI, when rifles were routinely slung, muzzle-up, and carried that way. However, American soldiers soon found that getting the rifle into action from that posture was awkward, slow, and dangerous, as the muzzle invariably pointed in multiple unsafe defections during the procedure. During the Finnish Invasion of 1939-1940, Russian soldiers learned this painful lesson many times over, as they unhappily discovered they could not quickly unsling and return fire when attacked by rapidly-moving, Finnish Ski Troops.

South Africans were the first, as a matter of policy, to abandon the practice in favor of muzzle-down carry. Most of us have now come to accept the inherent superiority of carrying slung rifles with the muzzle down. However, in order to sling the rifle with the muzzle down, sling attachment points need to be moved from the bottom, to the top, of the weapon. Otherwise (at least when slung, muzzle-down, in front) the rifle will hang upside-down! So, we find ourselves today in a classic "cultural lag," as the vast majority of rifles, even military rifles, are still being produced with sling attachment points only on the underside.

The Vickers Sling, produced by Blue-Force Gear, and some others, now comes with a butt harness that instantly generates a top attachment point on the butt of nearly any rifle. No gunsmithing necessary. However, moving the front attachment point presents difficulties.

Relocating the front attachment point to the top may occlude the sighting plane. Leaving it on the bottom makes it impossible to use a co-axial flashlight on the underside of the rifle, as the light will do little more than illuminate the sling! Thus, the best place for the forward sling-attachment point is on the side of the forend. With rifles like the RA/XCR, which come with mounting rails on the top, both sides, and the bottom of the forend, this is no problem, as an after-market attachment point can simply be plunked on the side rail at any point. Again, no gunsmithing necessary. To make this change on other rifles may indeed require the services of a gunsmith, but it needs to be done.

Just a many new pistol owners never think about holsters and other carry options until it suddenly occurs to them that their shiny, new pistol willbe a scant use if it is not with them constantly, urban rifle owners need to think about how they are going to comfortably carry their rifle for long periods, yet still have it instantly available when the need arises.

Again, untested gear, great as it may look in the showroom, will be the source of monumental unhappiness after the fight starts. All tactical gear must be (1) carefully selected, (2) sternly tested, and (3) frequently exercised, if it is going to have any chance of serving its owner as intended.

/John

Hypocrisy!

06 Oct 07

Hypocrisy, the curse that haunts Western Civilization:

In our Advanced Classes, I often find it necessary to remind students that many pay lip service to the Way of the Warrior, but few actually live it. Heaven knows, we've all fallen short, but professing one personal philosophy, yet living another, smacks of "Do as I say, not as I do." No place is this more evident than among "professing" gunmen.

Here is the way a great general put it:

"You profess to have boldly claimed your own magnificence, yet you act as if you were worthless! Where are your weapons? Why do you wear them only when at the range? Why does your professed "plan" include things that you won't have?

You profess to be the proud protector of your family, and that they can all count upon you in an emergency, yet you act is if they were all expendable! Are you really in a position to protect them? How?

You profess great faith, yet you act as if God has abandoned you! Warriors are dashing and daring, animated by unshakable belief and righteous elan. But, you are fearful and confused. Instead of acting boldly, with strength and audaciously, you exhibit only timidity and disarray."

Again, when we think wrongly, we will act poorly, no matter how thoroughly we've deceived ourselves. "Self-esteem," when it has no legitimate foundation, is little more than groundless arrogance. It will fall apart when the first shot is fired.

/John