Nylon, or Leather, that is the question?

blinddog

blinddog

New member
I don't know if this has been discussed here lately, or at all for that matter. But I went for years always useing leather, gunbelts both sport and duty, (I was a cop). Rifle slings,pouches , bags, holsters ect.

I figgure I probibly spent sevral thousands of dollars over the years on leather goods. About ten years ago, I got a rifle that had one of the composite, aka plastic stocks on it. A nicely tooled leather sling just did not look right. So I bought a Yukon sling Black nylon with four bullet loops sewn in. Did not think I would like it because it was streachy, and light wieght , I really did not think it would last very long due to the way I hunt.

Any how since then I have bought several other rifles several with the Black nylon/fiberglass/ whatever stocks. I have found the the better of them is very stable and accurate, they do not change POI with weather or altitude and are light and easy to carry as well as balance well. I have continued to put nylon slings on them, and I have lately bought several other items made from this materiel.

In the last ten years I have not had to replace any of my nylon gear due to dry rot. I do not have to spend much if any time cleaning or oiling slings or nylon gunbelts ect. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif In short while I still like the look and smell of fine leather, for less than half the price nylon will work just as well, is lighter and lasts a whole lot longer. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif What is the opinion of the rest of you?
Oh yea brand don't seem to matter either, you can get good service from the high end nylon, as well as the cheeper stuff. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif
 
I have a good mixture of both. My high end wood grains all have leather. My big game synthetics all have leather. My .223, 17hmr, and 22's all have nylon. I also have leather and nylon holsters for all of my handguns. A lot of my holsters and slings come from used guns that I buy. The guy down at the pawn shop will sell me slings and holsters for almost nothing. I go down and dig through his box about twice a year. Leather or nylon, I like 'em both.
 
In high end competition position shooting almost everybody has used synthetic slings for years. They are noticeably superior to leather. They don't stretch like leather, hold position better, and don't deteriorate like leather. They are a bit more expensive but well worth it.

If you just use the sling to carry the rifle, leather should be fine.

Jack
 
Like blinddog said I always liked the look of leather with a wood stock. I have some synthetic stocked rifles with the nylon slings just because they look better, I never gave the durability issue a thought. Then two years ago I was on a deer hunt in western South Dakota when it started to rain and the temp must have been 33* because I could not believe it was not snowing. Anyway, about 2 miles into an 8 mile hike my leather sling broke. My favorite rifle (Remington Model 721 .270) hit the ground and I ended up carrying it by hand the rest of the day. As soon as I got back to town I bought a brown nylon sling and there will never be another leather sling on any of my rifles.
 
I use to work with leather, and on occasion still make
myself a wallet, checkbook cover, or some other small
leather item. I use to make custom holsters for pistols,
and revolvers. Today, I use synthetic slings on all of my
firearms, and all of my holsters are either hard plastic
forms, or Cordura nylon. I only had to have one pistol
get a pitted finish from being left in a leather holster,
too long, and that ended my love affair with leather holsters.
I had a leather rifle sling break, on the first shotgun, I
ever purchased, and that pretty much ended my use for leather,
with firearms. I use it for wallets, and belts, and such, but
not for my precious shootin' irons...I don't care how good it
looks.

Squeeze
 
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