L41A1-L96A1 question

[m4carbine]

I have acquired 2 new slings, they are marked as follows:

SLING L8A1 STI A/1198-1998
1005-99-132-3199

SYNTEX,2004, NSN 1005-99-132-3199
DCIaESL/0156,SLING SMALL ARMS RIFLE L8A1

The first one is Nylon and about 1.5" wide,
the other one is Cotton and is about 1.175" wide

They both have hooks that clip onto the sling loop, they both have the same sliding and fastening hardware.

So the question is how are 2 versions the same NSN/part number and are they interchangeable between the 2 rifles?

Thanks

Information

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[Simon]

I have acquired 2 new slings, they are marked as follows:

SLING L8A1 STI A/1198-1998
1005-99-132-3199

SYNTEX,2004, NSN 1005-99-132-3199
DCIaESL/0156,SLING SMALL ARMS RIFLE L8A1

The first one is Nylon and about 1.5" wide,
the other one is Cotton and is about 1.175" wide

They both have hooks that clip onto the sling loop, they both have the same sliding and fastening hardware.

So the question is how are 2 versions the same NSN/part number and are they interchangeable between the 2 rifles?

Thanks

I don't have the stock numbers to hand but it sounds like your describing two slings which as you rightly say are interchangeable.

The Nylon sling was introduced for use with the L42A1 and carried over to the L96A1 but snipers didn't really like it as it was slippery and next to useless when it got wet.

The Cotton sling is the current replacement for the Nylon item and is far better suited to its intended purpose.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Simon.

[Peter Laidler]

Simon is dead right. We are slowly replacing nylon materials due to the fact that they a) burn and b) stick to you when they do and c) make any burn a xxxxing lot more difficult to cure!
There was also the cost. The nylon sling BUCKLES were made by Irvin parachutes and they alone cost over £110 or so!

The newer webbing sling is far better and is in current use on the L96 and 115 rifles AND is being slowly introduced onto the SA80 L86 squad marksmans rifle. Not official yet but I expect it soon will be, albeit by default

[Mk VII]

I remember those crappy nylon SLR slings appearing in the '80s. Never liked them. Fortunately we had so many old WW2 ones it wasn't too hard to avoid them.

[Peter Laidler]

Hey Mk7, that's bringing back some memories, those nylon SLR slings! They caused some of the first nylon burns in the Falklands that lead to questions being asked. Clearly nobody listened because the little SA80 still has nylon, but at leasy that's very versatile. I used to use a webbing Stering sling on mine though!

[PrinzEugen]

Is it possibly to buy the cotton variant anywhere - presumably if they are currently being produced, then someone sells them new?

Oh and Peter - how would someone get nylon burns in the Falklands - presumably you'd have to roll your sleeve up - unlikely in that environment??? Or does it rise above freezing at some point?

[Brian Dick]

I have new 2005 production at BDL LTD Rifles and Accessories. Contact me directly if interested.

The burns occur when fire is introduced as in an RPG hit on an APC. The U.S. could take a lesson from this also. ATB.

Brian

[Mk VII]

Oh and Peter - how would someone get nylon burns in the Falklands - presumably you'd have to roll your sleeve up - unlikely in that environment??? Or does it rise above freezing at some point?

Lot of people on board ship got burnt in air attacks. Lot of nylon clothing was being worn by then and ships fittings.

[Alan de Enfield]

Lot of people on board ship got burnt in air attacks. Lot of nylon clothing was being worn by then and ships fittings.

After the Falklands I had some small involvement in looking at cable fixings used on ships. Apparently many died as a result of being unable to exit-ship when cables 'fell down' and blocked gangways. Plastic (Nylon) cable ties melted and the metal fixings couldn't stand the G forces generated when an exocet hit.

The cable fixings being used on the new Type 45 Destroyer were developed (by the company I was working for at the time) and tested to be 'Exocet proof' when subject to direct hit on the ship. You should have seen the test rig move !!!!

[m4carbine]

Simon, Peter, thank you for the quick and insightful reply.

In the US there would be a 5-10 year program to determine if cotton web slings would work.

Is it fair to say that the cotton sling would not have been used on the L42A1?