Introduction: Paracord Rifle Sling
Back during yourParacord Contest, I made myself a Paracord watch band from one of the Instructables using the weaving method. That got me to thinking. I needed a new sling for one of my deer rifles. Looking on the Internet there are some people out there making them, but the price is way out of my reach for something that I could make myself. Looking over all the Instructables that involve, watch bands and belts I had a pretty good Idea of what I wanted. I have made two of them so far…one in Desert Sand and the other Multi Camo Paracord. In this instructable I will use pictures taken form each of the builds.
Step 1:
Equipment Needed:
100’ of Para cord (I used about 80’)
Needle nose pliers, or forceps, pic
Wood board, flat washers and some screws
Stiff wire
Knife
Swivels off your gun
Step 2: Para Wrap
First off you need to wrap the cord so it will pass under and over… in the weaving process. Follow this link for the best way that I found to do this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrMACtyW7Xo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuBn6KYzFdU
I didn’t wrap mine as tight as this guy, I just needed a small bundle to work with.
Step 3:
To start you will need to find out how long of sling you will need for your gun. The strap will not be adjustable when you are done. I used a sling off another gun to find my length, or you can just use a piece of paracord and some trial and error.
Once you found the size that fits you best, mount your swivels on the board using the screws and washers. Keeping that distance between them.
Step 4:
Now the hard part, take some Paracord and wrap the swivels making 4 parallel runners, all from one peace. (I used black) just the ends will show when the sling is done and I think the black blends in pretty well. It took 15 foot of cord to do this, but leave yourself some extra to work with…. This will be tied off at the end, for now just wrap them to the back side of the board and tie them off. This will keep them from getting in the way.
Step 5:
Take your spool of cord and pull some off, tie this to one of the screws leaving yourself some extra to work with at the end of the weaving process. Start weaving under and over the runners feeding it in and out, I found that it was easier to loosely run about 10 weaves then go back with a pen/pic and tighten them back up one at a time. As you weave along keep everything as tight and work out any twists as you go along. It helps to push the weaves up tight so none of the runners show.
When you get near the end of the strap you will have to cut your feeder spool off, when I did this I pulled off way more then what I would need for the strap. It’s a pain keeping it from getting tangled but you want to make sure that you don’t run out. Take some stiff wire and use it as a needle to help on the last few weaves.
Step 6:
At this point you can take the screws out of the board and untie all the tag ends. Take the wire bent in half and fish it under a weave (3 or 4 if you can) on the inside of the strap leaving a loop to pull the cord tag ends through. Trim off and melt the ends.Do this for each one, fitting them in were you can.
Remount the swivels on your gun
45 Comments
Question 2 years ago on Introduction
1. How wide is this, and 2. how much paracord would I need for a 33.5'' sling? also if I was going to make it 2'' wide, would I use 2 runners or 4?
4 years ago
Really like this. I want to make it but how did you start the black core strings? If you could show how you started them or just instructions would be great and appreciated.
Reply 4 years ago
Look at step #4
Wrap the (black) about 15" around the rings just put the extra to the back of the board. When you are done with the strap they will be part of the weave.
7 years ago
Wow. Good on ya for making this project easy to follow. I have a very heavy big bore rifle with a bull barrel. In your opinion, can this sling be made with 6 runners instead of 4? My swivels are standard size. I realize that it would take more legnth of paracord. Thank you again for making a record of your project for others to use.
Reply 7 years ago
It should, just going to be wider at the mounts. Each line on the paracord is good for 550 pounds so with 4 lines x 550 = 2,200 lbs.
8 years ago
Wow, $64 labor seems kind of high for a copy of a free instructable.
http://www.amazon.com/BackBone-Paracord-Rifle-Sling-BackBone90DCBoa/dp/B00R3G6OUE/ref=sr_1_11?tag=tpsthroughsolu-20&linkCode=w00&creativeASIN=B00R3G6OUE/
Reply 7 years ago
Hi biker_trash_1340, You know what is really strange (but true,) by the time we pay the gals to make them, pay for the materials, pay for shipping, pay to advertise that they exist, and pay the fees to sell them online, we wind-up with a not for profit product. That's why so many companies have things like this made in China. We mostly sell them to provide a few great ladies with "making ends-meet income" and to show another great product that can be made with our top-of-the-line paracord. Personally, I don't have the patience or any desire to make one of these slings ;-) Just not the kind of work/craft I enjoy. Take Good Care, Bill... TOUGH-GRID
Reply 8 years ago
TOUGH-GRID
BackBone(TM) Paracord Rifle Sling - Gun Sling / Rifle Sling - Handmade in the USA With Authentic TOUGH-GRID Mil-Spec 750lb Type IV Paracord and Mil-Spec Swivels - Premium Light-Weight and Wide Paracord Slings
8 years ago
I made one with the same basic idea but I used a cobra stitch /Solomon bar
9 years ago on Introduction
I wont to make a 35 inch strap using this but how much para cord will I need? I wont to use two colours
Reply 8 years ago
Always start with 100' just so you don't run out. It sells in 50' and 100' etc. 50' may be to short
8 years ago on Introduction
Why doesn't my weave look anything like this?
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
You have to really pull it tight. I end up pulling the stringers one way while I pull the weave the opposite. If you let it sit for a day or two you can really pull it tight and fill in the gap before finishing the end.
9 years ago on Introduction
I did a 'test' run fusing together the colors my friend wants and also made it wider (he wants 4" wide) worked great. While doing this I was reminded of making a 'rag rug' on my grandma's loom as a child. We have decided to have a 'fusing party' and fuse together scraps of cord (have a bag full) and different lengths of the colors in the theme he wants. I think it will turn our Very cook and funky which is what my friend wants. Here is the 'test' I did. Thank you for the inspiration!!!!
9 years ago on Step 6
I like this and am looking for weaves I can use for a Guitar strap. Problem.....I need to use multiple colors (making for a friend) Since the cord is wrapped up to weave in and out do you think if I fuse my colors together in say 6 or 8 ft sections and then makes my spool out of that - I think it would work. Gonna do a trial run. Thanks for the instructions - GREAT JOB!
9 years ago
I have been in the paracord gear business for 2 1/2 years, and I have never, EVER soaked/boiled/pre-shrunk paracord. It is not at all needed and the cord BARELY shrinks when wet, but re-stretches when dry. I doubt doing these things hurt the cord, just an uneccesary step. As for "spooling " it to keep out of the way while working,,,i just roll it up around my elbow/hand, fold that in half and tie it off. Untie and take what you need and retie. Very simple. Very cool weave on this sling! Im going to try this weave but wider.
10 years ago on Step 6
Thanks for a great instructable. Built a sling yesterday with Woodland DPM paracord and used it straight away. Worked a treat!
10 years ago on Introduction
Decided to make a new sling for my shotgun before treking through the woods looking for a turkey... Thanks for the instructable!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Very nice. Glad someone posted a pic of one done.
10 years ago on Introduction
Thanks for the sweet sling =) I'm adding one onto my Marlin xt-22 bolt. I was wondering if you knew of a braid that would allow me to store ammunition along the outside of the sling as well?