Need Info On Installing A Gun Sling: Accuracy Issues

[Snareman]

I have a 670a Winchester bolt action and am wanting to put a gun sling on it.  Right now it doesn't have the posts or whatever they're called that screws into the forearm and butt stock; the wood is untouched.

If I install the sling I wanted to know if there are issues with the added hardware interfering with accuracy?  If I install I will be making sure I'm sighted in afterwards.

The other thing is where to place the front sling post?  I don't know it's real name, but I think by "post" you know what I mean.  About how from from the end of the forearm stock should it be tapped or drilled?  I assume there will be drilling?... or does it does screw into place?

Where on the butt stock do I add the rear post?  I'm assuming when/if I get these it will come with directions, but with most things, sometimes the "directions" aren't the best, so relying on your feedback gets me more confidence and better answers.

Thanks,

Snareman

[Val]

Placement of the sling mounting hardware is not a critical issue. Look at a rifle with the Hdwre installed and closely approximate it. The sling mounting posts screw into the stock so drill a hole smaller than the thread diameter and screw them in. Shooting accuracy should not be affected but a few shots to verify won't hurt.

[The Gamemaster]

Take it to a gunsmith!

When I first started working on rifles and shotguns, I attempted to install studs and swivels on a rifle - without a drill press or a jig.  The end result was that the one hole was 1/8" off center and the other came out through the side of the butt.

Furthermore, the one in the butt of the stock was too low and I ended up filling in the holes and moving them closer together.

The best way to install studs is to put it beside another rifle of the same size and put them in the same place as the other one.

Again, without a drill press and a jig - it will probably come out wrong.

Most gunsmiths only charge $5 - $15 to install them.  Some will do it for free - if you buy the swivel kits off them.

[jvs]

You posed an interesting question about slings affecting accuracy.

After thinking about it for a few minutes, my opinion is that installing sling mounts probably does not affect accuracy all that much. 

But I believe that using a sling would affect accuracy. 

[GRIMJIM]

You posed an interesting question about slings affecting accuracy.

After thinking about it for a few minutes, my opinion is that installing sling mounts probably does not affect accuracy all that much. 

But I believe that using a sling would affect accuracy. 

I think that would depend on the type of rifle, if it has a free floated barrel I don't think it would matter that much.

If this is something you can see yourself doing more than just a couple of times it might be worth it to buy the drilling jig (if you already own a drill press), but if you're only doing this one rifle, I think gamemaster had the right idea.

[Rangr44]

Besides the above caveats, re: proper-sized centered holes drilled 90 degrees to the stock bottom line, generally sling swivel posts are installed approx 2" from either end of the wood end of the stock. 

That means no measuring from the end of the buttplate/recoil pad or the end of a contrasting forend tip.

The buttstock stud on a solid wood stock is a wood screw design.

The same type can be used on the forend, specially a beefy one - but on a thinner one, you'd be better off with the other type of front stud, which is a machine screw design with a nut that goes into a recess you cut in the barrel channel for barrel clearance. This type comes extra long, and is shortened for each particular installation.


The machine screw type can be use for both front & rear on hollow (synthetic) stocks, with the use of a backer inside.

[jvs]

I think that would depend on the type of rifle, if it has a free floated barrel I don't think it would matter that much.

Even a floated barrel has a Lug, and any one piece stock, no matter how stiff, will still have stresses from using a sling.  Whether it is pulling or pushing on the stock, movement and stress could be transfered to the Lug.  Which could slightly throw off accuracy. 

I don't believe accuracy will be affected too badly, but it will be affected.  Over time it could become alot worse.  But probably no more than the wood warping from dampness.

[jro45]

I have slings on all my rifles and I put them on myself. I just put them an inch or two up  from the recoil pad, And one or two down from the forearm top of the stock.

[The Gamemaster]

Since I hunt with pump rifles.  I usually install barrel bands on most of my rifles.

Now that I thought of it, a barrel band and sling would absorb some of the harmonics - which would change the resonance of the barrel - which would affect accuracy.  There again, a rifle on a shooting bag will shoot different than a rifle being shot free hand.

On the other hand, most new rifles already has a stud installed on the forearm of bolt action rifles.

One of my favorites is Savage, since they seem to make a pretty good product from a cost vs. performance standpoint.

If you improperly installed a stud in the forearm of the stock and the stud contacted the barrel, it could cause a pressure point in the stock and would affect accuracy.  Some older guns did not have free float barrels and actually had a pressure point manufactured into the stock to hold the barrel in one place.

Some of them were acceptable and some of them ruined the accuracy of the rifle to the point of where it would not hit where it was aimed two days in a row.

So again, my answer is that if you have a quality gunsmith that will install it for you to take it to that person and pay them the couple of dollars to have it done right.

[jvs]

Shooting Off-Hand is probably the most accurate way to shoot when you are not using sand bags under the lug screw and in front of the recoil pad.

But I still believe that using a Sling can affect accuracy, probably no more than screwing Scope Mounts to the top of the Receiver.  I also believe that any accuracy problems from using a sling are minor.   I personally would not seek a gunsmith to install sling studs or barrel clamp.  Installing sling studs isn't Rocket Science.