The placement of a sling swivel is not something people tend to think too hard about. It is very straightforward and unexciting. However, it can affect the overall look and function of your firearm.
Using the golden ratio, the placement of the sling swivel stud on the buttstock and forearm is both useful and attractive to the eye. When mounting a sling swivel on the barrel, it should be placed two inches in front of the forearm.
Sling swivel mounting has always been an afterthought for me as it is one of the last steps when making a stock. There are three places a sling swivel is placed on a rifle; the buttstock, the forearm, and the barrel.
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Mounting a Sling Swivel on the Buttstock
On the traditional-style rifle, there is almost always a sling swivel on the buttstock, usually positioned along the toe line. The placement of this sling swivel is seen all over the place on factory rifles of years past, and some look awkward while others are right where they should be. So how do you make sure you install one in the right spot?
Buttstock Sling Stud Placement
The proper placement of the sling stud in the buttstock serves no other purpose than to look good. The best way to go about this is to use the Golden Ratio. This ratio is quick to apply in this situation and requires no extra work. This will give you the most appealing placement of the sling stud.
Take 38.2% of the measurement from the toe to the back of the pistol grip. The number you get will be how far you place the sling stud from the toe. If you are a little too far forward or back, it doesn’t make that much difference. However, if you drill it too far back, you run into the possibility of hitting the recoil pad or buttplate screw.
Forend Swivel Placement
The placement of the front sling swivel on the forend can be all over the place. I have heard of general rules of placing the studs 27 inches apart for the ideal positioning, but I find this false. I have taken many measurements of rifles I own; most fell around 24-25 inches apart. The only one that measured 27 inches in my shop was the Winchester Model 43. And I have always considered the forearm sling stud too far forward on that rifle. There doesn’t seem to be a good hard and fast rule for this distance.
Forend Stud Placement
Instead of having a set distance between the sling studs, it is best to apply the Golden Ratio again. To apply the ratio to the forend length, measure from the front of the receiver to the end of the forend. Multiply that number by .382(38.2%), and the number you get will be how far from the tip of the forend you should place the stud. Just like before, being off a little one way or the other won’t make a huge difference.
The Barrel-Mounted Sling Swivel
Typically seen on custom rifles, the barrel-mounted sling swivel is both attractive and functional. These are soldered on bases in either banded or “island” form. When used, you forgo the forend-mounted sling stud. Functionally, the barrel-mounted sling is intended for the larger caliber rifles typically used in Africa. This keeps the sling swivel well ahead of the hand and out of the way when shooting the heavy recoil calibers. Also, this placement keeps the rifle barrel low when slung over the shoulder, clearing brush and branches.
There are a few downsides to this method of mounting a sling. First, it tends to be much more expensive than mounting it on the forearm and is not a small job when adding one to an existing rifle. Second, if you use a sling as support when firing, you can throw the barrel harmonics off and apply uneven pressures. Lastly, you can not mount a bipod to it. Therefore, your shooting and hunting style needs to be considered with this sling mount style.
Barrel Placement of the Sling Swivel
The placement of the barrel-mounted sling swivel is important and must be considered early on in the build process. When placed too close to the end of the forearm, you will damage the forend tip with the metal sling attachment. If placed too far along the barrel, it is aesthetically displeasing.
In his book The Modern Gunsmith, James Virgil Howe states, “When placing a swivel base on the barrel ahead of the forearm, it should be about 2 inches ahead of the forearm tip, which avoids a cramped or crowded appearance.” I find Mr. Howe’s statement to be very true in this scenario. I’ve tried to apply the golden ratio here with no luck. I’m sure you could divide the ratio a few times and eventually find a number that works, but the approximate 2 inches seems to be a sweet spot.
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Final Notes
As a firm believer in using the golden ratio to aid in decision-making, sometimes it just doesn’t work. Trust your eyes if you run the numbers, and it doesn’t look right. Move it a little one way or another to get it to mesh with your individual firearm. This guide will help mount your sling swivels in the right place, without fear of putting them in an awkward spot.
Written by: Kurt Martonik
Kurt is a Gunsmith, Reloader, Hunter, and Outdoorsman. He grew up in Elk County, Pennsylvania, where he became obsessed with the world of firearms. Following high school, Kurt enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Boom Operator, where he eventually rose to the position of Instructor. After his military service, he attended the Colorado School of Trades(CST) in Lakewood, CO for gunsmithing. Following graduation, he accepted a job at C. Sharps Arms in Montana, where he worked as a full time stockmaker and gunsmith.