Does anyone make a good reproduction (or sell originals) of the original style XM 177 slings? I guess that may be somewhat of a broad question. But, what I am looking for is the sling that attaches to the front sight assembly and buttstock.

Most of the "slings" used by LRRP and Special Forces units were definately non standard.  You see everything from 550 cord to GP equipment straps.  I've even seen M-1 Carbine slings used.

In the "Real Deal" threads, you even see surgical tubing and rappelling rope being used.

For those of you that might not have been hanging around here when I first posted this little write up, I'll repost it. This might not be quite the way it was done in the field but, it looks pretty good when finished.
I thought I might do a little write up on the way I made my field expedient sling that I've got on my 653 clone.


I started with a general purpose sling that has multiple uses in the military.


I started by Dremiling off the snap hook on both ends.


I then take a piece of 550 cord about 12" long and feed it through one end of the sling.



With a piece of the inner cord from another piece of 550 cord, I then tie and wrap the overlapping ends of the 550 cord.



I then feed the tied ends into the end loop on the sling to hide the tied ends and to give it a more finished look. This becomes the end of the sling to be used at the front sight base.


For the butt end, I take another piece of 550 core, this time about 20" long. I feed it through the end of the sling and loop it back through the end a second time.


The front end must be attached first by feeding the looped end of the sling through the FSB and then passing the entire sling through the loop.


The butt end can then be fed through the stock and tied with a square knot.


When it's all done you've got a nice wide sling that's good and quiet because the metal clips have been removed.

Doc

Thank you all for your post, good information. I guess you don’t know something until you do. Doc I like that sling idea and I think I am going to try that. Do you know if that is an old M60 sling?

That is a General Purpose sling.  It was used for 2 qt. canteens, map cases, etc. and still is in more contemporary variants.  You can find these at most surplus stores.  I think you can buy them by the gross from Sportsman's Guide!

101

What he said. GP straps are everywhere and cheap to boot.

Thank you for the clarification. I found one http://www.gunnyssurplus.com/usgi-double-hook-carry-strap.html

Or you could go this route:

Sportsmans Guide - 30 GP straps for $14.97

This is the route I took. Now I have a GP strap on my binoculars, my tool bag in my truck, my range bag, my camera tripod, pretty much anything that can be carried easier with a strap.

Doc

$14.97 + $5.49 shipping - $5.00 off coupon code : SH335 = $15.46 shipped

Grenade Ring in the FSB.  Very nice...  But it would rattle too much on patrol.

The ones I received are all the newer lighter green nylon type with dates in the 1980's.