Which Forend Sling Plate for 870?

[kotengu]

I've had a clamp up front as a sling attachment point up front, but I can't get it to stop sliding up the barrel with use. I don't see buying an entire new magazine extention and clamp (like the Remington model) to stop this problem, so I'm in the market for a "plate".

Brownell's shows a few options, but there are no good pictures of those on guns, or even with sling in use to get a better idea of how they work:

Looks interesting, but seems like it'd hold the sling kind of high on the left side - any users that can comment?

I don't think I like the underside attachment - but does anyone use this who can comment?

This is what I'm leaning toward so far - any comments?

Are there any that I've missed?

 

[TarpleyG]

I have that last one. Made by GG&G I think. I use it with a CQB Solutions 3 point sling.

Greg

 

[Fred Fuller]

Hmmm. Biggest consideration IMHO of a sling on a working pump shotgun is keeping the forearm from eating it and causing malfunctions. Most of my guns have swivel studs, few wear slings when 'on duty' tho. And all are set up with slings attached so they are very unlikely to get caught up in the forearm.

Hadn't seen #1 before, looks interesting. If you plan on using a team type sling, it might work better than other choices, especially if your rear swivel attachment point is on the side of the stock and not the toe. It looks as if it would let the gun hang naturally set up that way. Disadvantage of the side loop plates is that they get the front attachment point close to where the action is and are potentially more troublesome in that regard. It helps to use a sling made of fairly stiff webbing (new GI 'silent sling' webbing is good IMHO) that fits the slot in the plate, and sewing it on permanently might help.

#2 is of a style that is used with short-short entry guns a lot, it also serves as a 'hand stop' to help keep hapless fingers out from in front of the muzzle if a hand slips off the forearm when pumping. Advantage to it is that it does hang the sling down low, helping keep it more out of the way of the fore-end. But it interferes with SureFire type forearm lights.

#3 works well with a rear sling mount on the side of the stock also, for team type slings or for carrying straps that are a bit longer than usual. Again they put the sling close to where the forearm runs and can get in the way, see #1 above.

I never had problems with clamps wandering, but my working guns have always been phosphate or matte blue finished- that seems to help clamps hold.

Best advice I can give is, don't marry particular idea or piece of equipment, keep an open mind, look for what works for YOU regardless, and practice practice practice with whatever setup you decide to try to make sure the sling won't get eaten.

lpl/nc

 

[ilmonster]

I have seen some seemingly workable sling mounts in the Wilson Combat catalog - you may want to give them a try/looksy!

 

[Gunsnrovers]

option #3 came with my CQB sling, but I was hesitant with it as it eats up a chunk of the thread area for the magazine cap. I worried about it working its way off during firing.

I wound up buying a 1 round extension from Wilsons.

 

[kotengu]

"I was hesitant with it as it eats up a chunk of the thread area for the magazine cap. I worried about it working its way off during firing. "

This was my only concern with these type sling attachements - did you every fire it enough to test it out?

 

[Gunsnrovers]

No I never did. I am also leary of the magazine cap sling points.

The Wilsons 1 shot extension (or the similar one from Vang Comp) seemed like the sturdiest option.

Just don't want to be the first one to post, "it happened to me"

 

[Gewehr98]

How about the mag cap swivel stud technique...

Where it attaches directly to the end of the magazine tube cap, replaces the mag cap, or fits the end of the magazine tube extension? Basically a threaded stud, and you drill a stud-sized hole through the mag cap or mag tube extension, then use either a self-locking nut or lockwasher/nut combo to attach the sling swivel stud.

Just an idea. I don't have problems with my sling attachment moving.



Beefy, ain't it?

 

[sm]

I rarely use a sling except to tote a shotgun to and fro the woods. I don't want a sling on my HDs. I'm a relic and a civilian.

On some guns I have the mag cap set up with the swivel , as pictured above. My favorite is the the mag cap with a Pachmayer Tru- Loc on the buttstock .

Still...have not put any type swivel on the latest shotgun, Length of rawhide or 550 cord slip knotted fore and aft...worked just fine.

 

[kotengu]

'98 - I'd go with the mag cap swivel, but that means I have to lose my mag extension, which I don't want to do.

I do really like your bayo mount/clamp, and think that would be the best solution out there......but I think I could get another 870 for what that would cost me! Unless of course you want to trade me straight across for my current mag clamp

 

[Gewehr98]

Kotengu, I was trying to show an alternative.

My particular shotgun is an example of the brute force method, and I think it was engineered to prevent the shotgun barrel from being bent if the bayonet was actually used to skitch something or someone.

Your mag extension tube may or may not have a hole in the end nearest the muzzle. If the hole's there, find one of those threaded sling swivel studs, and install. If the hole's too small, drill it out larger. If there's no hole, drill one. The AWB is over, so mag tube extensions should drop in price. Have fun!

Make the hole just large enough to accept the sling swivel stud. You may have some fun with a socket and extension putting the self-locking nut on the stud from inside the mag tube, but I doubt there would be any real problems. I also doubt that the rounds inside that mag tube would get close to that sling swivel stud at the end, because the mag spring under compression would stop their forward travel well before the rounds got there.

 

[Bix]

I've used the Wilson extension - which has a #3 built in - and like the setup. Never had a problem with the sling hanging up in the forearm. I did, however, eventually switch over to a single point setup, as I found it much more efficient for most of the thing I do with a slung shotgun.

 

[TarpleyG]

The mag cap will not come off using any of those above mounts. Trust me, if they did, I would have sent plenty of springs down range by now.

Greg