FIRST M16 sling mount

FIRST M16 Side Sling Mount
by Permian

	Stock Specifications
RRP	???

Despite being arguably the best AEG’s Tokyo Marui (TM) make, the M16 series of weapons does have its faults; barrel wobble, receiver flex, HOP problems to name a few. One of the more practical problems with the AEG’s for CQB users is fixing an assault sling to them. First off you have to be sure your M16 will be strong enough to take the extra force exerted by the sling. I have seen an M16A2 snapped in half as a result of a sling being used over actively. This is primarily a result of the ABS receiver not being strong enough to take the extra force. In my particular case this is not a problem as my all metal M4A1 can happily withstand the extra force exerted upon it.

The second problem is the sling mounts themselves. On all the AR16 variants, bar the M4’s and SR16 the front sight sling mount is located on the underside of the front sight assembly. On all solid stock variants the rear sling mount is located on the underside of the stock, and on the sliding stock variants sling mount is incorporated into the stock. The problem is that 99% of assault slings are designed to be fixed to mounts on the side of rifle, so the underside mounts render the assault slings difficult to use. Also on the sliding stock variants, as the sling is mounted on the sliding stock itself it means that moving the stock with he sling on is difficult. Because there is a constant amount of material in the sling my moving the stock you are reducing the available material that goes round you!

FIRST have taken a KISS approach to solving part of the problem, the rear part of the problem. The Keep-It-Simple-Stupid has resulted in the FIRST side sling mount, a piece of Stainless Steel 3mm thick that sits between the back of the receiver and the stock spacer.

The sling mount is jet black with white engraved letters “S.S. 33x5.0mm” (the specific dimensions of the gap for the sling in the mount). With a gap 33mm wide the mount has the size to cope with just about any sling on the market. It has 2 other holes machined into it, the first to allow it to fit over the stock support on the back of the receiver. The second is to allow for the stock pacer of the M4 to mate with it properly and to allow for the wires in the solid stock variants to pass through it.

Fitting it involves removing both the stock and the stock spacer. Once done you just slide the sling mount along the stock support tube so it fits flush up against the receiver. Then you slide the stock spacer on next and finally the stock itself. Simple.

After fitting it I slung the M4 with my SA80 3-point sling I noticed immediately that stock was more usable, since the new sling mount allowed the stock to move independently of the sling. As an offshoot I believe the weapon will be more solid and will have a lower chance of breaking (ok not liable with the metal body), since the 2 sling mount points are now closer together, and also because the new sling mount is attached to the strongest section of the receiver. For the £15 it cost me I believe the sling will make a significant difference in CQB environments. Perhaps a little pricey, and only recommended to those with reinforced AR15 variants – M4 owners might want to have a look at investing in one if CQB is you thing.

by Permian

External Links: FirstFactory

Site links: TBA

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