Proper Use of the M1907 Rifle Sling

Proper Use of the M1907 Rifle Sling - Outside of the National Matches I'm not sure this would be of much use. Nonetheless, for what it's worth...

Actually I shouldn't make that brash statement.

The proper use of a sling does greatly aid in accuracy. Based upon that truth, and assuming one is using a (Colonel Townsend) Whelen or M1907 pattern sling, this is the correct procedure for it's usage.

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From FM 23-5, October 1951:

(a.) Place the rifle butt on your right hip and cradle the rifle on the inside of your right forearm, sights to the right (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Both of your hands are now free to adjust the sling. Loosen the sling, then unhook the lower hook and rehook it down near the butt swivel (Figure 1, note 1).

(b.) The loop to be placed on your arm is formed by that part of the long strap between the D-ring and the lower keeper. For the average sling adjustment, unhook the upper hook and engage it four to six holes from the end of the long strap (Figure 1, note 2). To shorten or lengthen the sling to conform with your body and arms, make the adjustment by moving the upper hook. Push the lower keeper up (Figure 2, note 3); the loop now formed is the loop for your left arm (Figure 2, note 4).

Figure 2

Straighten out the sling so that it lies flat, then give it a half turn to the left (Figure 2, note 5). Insert your left arm through the loop until the loop is high on the upper arm, above the biceps (Figure 2, note 6). Now, using both hands, left hand on the outside strap, right hand on the inside, rotate the sling through the upper swivel, moving the lower keeper and upper hook downward to your arm (Figure 3, note 7).

Figure 3

This tightens the loop on your arm. Now, to keep the loop from slipping, pull the upper keeper down tight against the upper hook, locking it in place (Figure 3, note . The feed end of the sling is left hanging downward. Do not roll it up between the keepers as this will stretch them.

(c.) For the average soldier, the adjustment of the loop sling in the kneeling, squatting, and sitting positions is about two holes shorter than that for the prone position.

(d.) After the sling has been adusted on the upper arm, grasp the rifle so that the hand is against the stock ferrule swivel (Figure 4, note 9) and the sling lies flat against the back of the left hand (Figure 4, note 10).

Figure 4

(e.) Before taking your position, place your left hand so that the rifle lies in the center of the V formed by your thumb and first finger.

(f.) Some leeway in the position of the loop on the arm is permitted. In general, the loop should be above the biceps; however, experience has shown that many men get good results with the sling somewhat lower. It is important that daylight be visible between the sling and the crook of the arm formed at the elbow.

(g.) Be sure the sling is doing its share of the work in giving your rifle full support. The tendency of most men is to use a sling adjustment which is too long (loose). A properly adujsted sling means a steady rifle (Figure 5).

Figure 5: A Properly Adjusted Sling!
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Here's some additional rifle sling instruction from Uncle Sam...

These photos are from The G. I. Intelligence Dept. website. A site dedicated to World War II Living History & Reenacting Information. For the record I attempted to contact them for permission. Alas, still no response....

Also note the use of the sling AND the proper shooting positions...bonus!

awesome..thanks Kilo!

I actually don't have the hooked type sling for my garand, I have the web type...the same principle applies though.

Unless I am mistaken, the Garand was the first issue rifle wherein the sling was actually a tool to improve marksmanship as well as a way to carry the rifle.
I love mine and it's accuracy.

Thanks TC...actually i think the first was the 1903 Springfield, the M1907 sling was developed for that weapon.

This may help with your GI web sling...

"Another sling that can be used as a shooting aid is the U.S. G.I. web sling. I refer to the cotton sling only, as the nylon sling is a bit too slippery to use effectively. It is slightly different than the M1907 sling. This sling is constructed of one strap instead of 2. It has a hook on the bottom to attach to the rear sling swivel & the top end is run through the front sling swivel. The top of the sling is secured by a clasp. What makes it capable of being used as a shooting aid is its metal slider positioned at the bottom of the sling. It’s simply a rectangular piece of metal with two slots. The middle piece of this slider has the bottom of the sling wrapped around it & stitched in place. The top of the sling has the hook installed first and then it is run through both slots in the slider. It then runs through the bottom half of the clasp & two pieces of metal are bent to prevent the sling from slipping back through.

To attach it to your rifle for carrying make a loop by sliding the slider about 6 inches or so from the bottom of the sling. Hold the slider in place & hook the sling onto the rear sling swivel. The feed end of the sling is then run through the front sling swivel & back into the clasp. Pull the feed end tight for storage or leave it a bit looser for carrying. The clasp is then latched a few inches from the tip of the feed end to hold the sling in place.

To use the G.I. web sling as a shooting aid, start by unlatching the clasp to put a little slack in the sling & latch it again. Unhook the hook from the bottom sling swivel. Push the bottom end of the sling through the slider to form a slip loop big enough to fit on your left bicep. Next give the slip loop a ¾ turn to the right so that the hook will be on the outside of your arm. Insert your arm through the slip loop & tighten it. Now place your left hand on the rifle as you would with a leather sling, partially wrapping the sling around your hand & forearm while the sling rests flat against the back of your hand. Be sure to pull the clasp down so it won’t dig into your hand when you fire. Place the rifle against your shoulder as you would fire it. Now take the feed end of the sling & loosen the clasp. Pull the feed end towards you to tighten the sling or let it pull away from you to loosen the sling. When you have the sling properly adjusted tighten the clasp.

Just as with a leather sling it takes a little experimenting to get the adjustments right, but the adjustments are a bit easier to make while slung up than with the leather sling. It is just as important to have the G.I. web sling fit tight to get any benefit from it as it is with the M1907 sling. The cotton web slings are quite common at gun shows & Army-Navy stores & should sell for around $10 to $15."

The nylon slings are a POS as they slip, so I'd pass on those.

I have two PDF on proper sling usage. Email me if anyone's interested.

oof..Ok, I guess I should have said cotton as that's what mine is. My brother (mark@sea on the TGO forum) is actually a big proponent of the M1 Garand and got me into them. Of course, after I got mine he trained me on how to use the sling, how to care for the rifle and the ins and outs of it's shooting characteristics.
He was a member of the East coast Navy rifle/pistol team so I think I got good instruction.

I really love my rifle. It's still got the original furniture on it..I haven't bought a new stock set for it yet, but I will.
The barrel gauges at a 1 and the Throat is a little better than that, so I know I'll have a nice rifle for a long time to come.

I love the M1 Garand...a real rifleman's rifle.

Ya got pics?

:) actually, I do





Those are the only 2 I have right now..

When I got it, I found a range card, written in greek, with sight adjustments out to 800 yards. Apparently, this was a rifle used for marksmanship by the greek army. That card is still in the buttstock

One thing I learned about this rifle, after I got it, was that you don't use oil, you use grease, to lubricate it.
I have tetra grease but for summertime use I simply get the 2.00 axle grease from wally world. I found that using oil to lube the op rod will actually cause catastrophic failure of the operation rod...grease that sucker!!

I like that. Not that I'm a cro-mag, but I like a rifle that uses grease, shoots way the heck out there and comes with a fine pedigree of accomplishments. THAT is the rifle I'll bet my life on.

Very nice...one of these days....