Blue Force Gear UWL (Universal Wire Loop) Adapter

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

The Blue Force Gear UWL has come up in conversation here an on other boards in recent months, I had the oppertunity to check a couple out at a class last fall and recently received one for a project I was working on. So I figured I’d do a short review on it.

A year or so ago when Blue Force Gear first introducted their Universal Wire Loop (UWL) Adapter, the product didn’t really catch my attention because most of my guns use rail mounted sling swivels.

I didn’t see much utility for the UWL on the AR platform. I wrote the UWL off as a product that may be useful on AK’s and other platforms that did not lend themselves to effectively mounting the numerous types of nylon slings currently avalible on the market.

I have overestimated the utility of a product in the past and I have underestimated the utility of a product in the past. This is another example of me underestimating the utility / usefulness of a product.

In September of 2008 I hosted Larry Vickers for a 2 day pistol / 2 day carbine course. During the carbine course a couple students were running the Blue Force Gear Universal Wire Loop on their guns. One shooter was using the UWL as both the front and rear sling attachment points on his carbine. Here’s a couple pics of Denmark’s set up from the Vickers Tactical Carbine Course:

And the other student was using the UWL only on as the front sling attachment. Here’s a pic of 1Source’s set up from the Vickers Tactical Carbine Course:

After looking at both of these students set up’s, I wondered if they would have any issues with the UWL moving around / twisting / etc. during the carbine course. I saw no issues and talked with both guys and neither had any problems with the UWL.

Initial impression of the UWL at the range was that it was made of durable materials and it was a very simplistic and modular design.

I knew in the upcoming month I was going to be in the market for a side sling mount. Colt charges $50+ for their M4 side sling mount, and I have seen simular side sling mounts made by other companies that cost around $35. The Blue Force Gear UWL is under $20, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.

I’ve had the UWL mounted on a gun for about a month now and have encountered no issues. I’m liking it better than I thought it would.

As men, we often over look the economical, simplistic, and effective solution to a problem.

S/F,
Jeff

2

Jeff,
Have you seen anyone running the shorter (3.25") loop at the rear of standard handguards, just forward of the delta ring? I have seen a single picture of this setup but no report afterwards of whether or not it actually worked.

I’ve been looking for a good way to mount a sling in the vicinity of the delta ring (similiar to the QD position on Larue rails) on a KISS type gun. Mounting the sling off the FSB would interfere with my preferred light placement… I may have to give up and just mount the light elsewhere.

Just wondering if you’ve seen it in action.

3

Lok, I have mine in the location you describe. I’ll try to get photos up tonight.

4

Cool, thanks Rob. I bet it was a picture of yours that I had seen previously…working out alright for you in that spot?

5

Only run it dryfire around the house so far, so I can’t offer a qualified opinion. Definitely wasn’t mine you saw pics of as I haven’t taken any yet!:wink:

6

That’d be nice for my AK, but I already dismembered my military sling for the D ring to use with my VCAS.

7

When 550 cord won’t do the trick (like around an FSB), the UWL is a great solution.

I didn’t know they were making a shorter version. That’d go nicely on my AK.

8

Promised photos. They suck (black object on light carpet, bad contrast) but they’re here.

9

Interesting, thanks Rob. Any concern with it applying pressure to the gas tube?

The picture I had seen had the loop actually on the handguards. Not sure how well it would stay put.

10

Nice place to put it Rob!

I was trying to come up ways to mount a sling close to the receiver the other day and was thinking of using some kind of wire but the plastic covered wire rope looks like an even better idea. :cool:

The other way was a piece of narrow webbing around the delta ring.

11

When I first installed it I just pushed it back on the handguards. This was, for me, a no go. For one thing no matter how far back I pushed it and how tight I wedged it onto the taper of the handguards, it would eventually come loose and move around. For another thing, it wanted to rest at an awkward location when it was “locked” into place. Being neither fore nor aft it was just wrong.

As to the gas tube, I’ve heard that concern from others. I’m not worried about it, but will deal with it if it happens. The location is so close to the hole in the receiver that it’s not going to bend the gas tube significantly. The only thing it could do, in theory, is crush it and with the light weight of this rifle I don’t see that happening.

12

You may try the long one and run it through the top hg hole, down the right inside and out the bottom hg hole? That’s if you want it near the back

13

I have mine through the front sight, I would prefer the smaller loop, but the large one works just fine, no complaints here.

14

I wish this had existed in '94. It would have been on my M16a2 in Somalia, and kept me out of some trouble.:stuck_out_tongue:

15

I ran one while I was mobilized last year. It was hooked up to the FSB. It worked great for what I needed it for.

Dan

16

S/F,
Jeff

17

Any results on how the barrel heat may affect the plastic covered wire loop in that configuration?

18

Hehe,
I guess I’m not the only one who does this.
Sometimes I even practice tactical entries/room clearing in the house. Hell, I’d probably turn my crib into a shoothouse if I could…

19

My entire basement is EMPTY save for my workshop area. 4 rooms down there…all finished…

I set up target stands and use airsoft for practicing movement and hitting targets. Poor mans home IPSC.

20

I didn’t have an issue with it while going through range quals at Ft. Jackson while doing NArmy training.

Dan