The sling swivels on the M16/AR15 rifle are found in the same location as those of the Model 1873 Trapdoor Springfield, and every U.S. infantry rifle in between. Always placed thus on the underside of these rifles, there can be no doubt that this tradition comes out of the early U.S. Army emphasis on "dismounted drill" from the parade ground. In the field, rifles were usually slung over the soldier's back or off the shoulder and carried in that manner with no particular thought to rapid tactical deployment of the weapon. With the appearance of the CAR-15 and its collapsible stock, the rear sling-mounting point was improved somewhat by placing it on the top of the stock.
All of this has changed dramatically in recent years as special operations personnel and law enforcement SWAT teams have emphasized the importance of transitioning to the service sidearm without discarding the shoulder-mounted weapon and the need to have both hands free to operate ancillary equipment or control adversaries and still maintain instant accessibility to the urban rifle. It was for this reason that tactical slings, such as the superb Giles Sling, were developed. However, the problem of how to attach these slings still remained. It's now generally accepted that tactical slings should be mounted on the side of the weapon.
Our "Sling Things" provide a lightweight, durable, easy-to-install and inexpensive method to do so. Both our standard front Sling Thing and front QD (Quick Detachable) Sling Thing install easily onto the M16/AR15's "A-frame" front sight assembly, on either the right or left sides using socket head cap screws. Mounted high in this manner "rifle roll" is completely prevented. The rear Sling Thing is designed for easy attachment to the M16/AR15 collapsible stock. The standard Sling Thing uses Colt 1"-inch sling swivels. Our QD model utilizes sturdy Uncle Mike's 1"-inch QD sling swivels which are included in the package and the price. Manufactured from tough 6061 T6 billet aluminum alloy, the Sling Thing is Type III hard-coat anodized in a matte black combat finish. Both models are compatible with the Surefire Millenium 500 flashlight forearm.
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