Tied Down- The How, What, and Why of dummy-cording

in Accessories Misc., Authors, Danielle Vermeulen, Gear Reviews, Optics/Sights
Tied Down- The How, What, and Why of dummy-cording
A few minutes, and less than $1 in supplies gives you a secondary means of retaining costly equipment.

Have you ever heard the deafening thud of $13 000 hitting the cold, hard earth? I have…
During a recent day/night carbine class, two students were sharing NVG’s, unfortunately, his friend was not familiar with the mount and as he was trying to make adjustments, the whole thing dropped. As I stood, momentarily frozen by the nauseating sound, I had two thoughts; “I’m so glad that’s not mine!” and, “This is why we tie down our gear.” Or should, for that matter…

Tied Down- The How, What, and Why of dummy-cording
Scopes or other gear without tie-down points can secured with a 550 cord loop.


Anybody who has spent time in a military infantry unit, or had a parent who did, is probably already familiar with the concept. The term dummy cord refers to tying an essential piece of gear to something else, thus preventing it from falling or getting lost. Whilst most of us understand the military application of it, we see it as unnecessary, tedious, even excessive as civilians. However, mounts can break, accidents happen often, how secure is your gear? Having your belongings tied down might prevent adding insult to injury after taking a spill, on an already fruitless hunting trip.  A couple of minutes, and a few pennies worth of supplies, could potentially save your costly effects.

What should be tied off?

Good kit is an investment,  so anything that you don’t want to lose should be dummy-corded. Night vision devices, scopes, lasers, flashlights can be tied down. As a hunter, you would want to secure your GPS, compass, water bottle, binoculars. We even use it when we go kayaking, to avoid being up ..erm…Shoot creek without a paddle.

What do you need?

Tied Down- The How, What, and Why of dummy-cording
Steel cable, ferrules, crimping and cutting tools, make tying down gear simple.

Gear can be tied down with either galvanized steel cable and ferrules, 550 cord (paracord), zip ties, rubber bands, or commercial lanyards. The preferred method for securing accessories to a firearm is steel cable, as the material is heat resistant, and won’t degrade with use as the barrel heats up. Using wire cable also does not involve tying knots.

Tied Down- The How, What, and Why of dummy-cording
Thread wire through anchor point and crimping sleeve and secure.
Tied Down- The How, What, and Why of dummy-cording
The length of wire needed will depend on individual needs an purposes.
Tied Down- The How, What, and Why of dummy-cording
Leaving a little extra length for a secondary attachment like battery pack or strobe.


How you secure the items to each other will depend on its purpose and use.  Consider using lockable S-Biner, for items that need to be removed for storage or travel, this will prevent shooters from having to cut ties and having to retie at a later stage. These S-Biner have a micro lock system that locks both gates with a simple twist.

What if there are no anchor points?

Tied Down- The How, What, and Why of dummy-cording
Earlier versions of the PVS14 did not have a tie-down anchor, gutted 550 cord can be tied around the tube securing with a simple Prusik knot and finished with an overhand knot to keep it secure.

Most firearms accessories have anchor points, which simplifies the process greatly. However, if it does not, like a scope, it can be secured by tying a loop around the tube and another around the rail, using a bowline knot. I prefer using a end-of-line Prusik knot with an overhand finishing knot directly under the locking bar. It is imperative to ensure that tie-downs do not interfere with any moving parts either the firearm or optic. As habit I recommend running all tie off points on the opposite side of the ejection port.

Tied Down- The How, What, and Why of dummy-cording
The inner Nylon strands of 550 cord can be used to tie off smaller items.

This is where 550 cord is preferable. 550 cord or Paracord (because it was once used as lines for Army parachutes) and has a tensile strength of 550lbs. By removing (or gutting) the 7 internal strands of braided nylon, you’re left with the outer, stretchable sheath that works very much like Chinese finger cuffs, further ensuring that your knots will not come undone.

If convenience is key
There are several commercial alternatives available that make tying down gear easier, and the convenience comes at a price of course. The Blackhawk Pistol Lanyard is a sturdy option for those who prefer an out-of-the-box solution. The Combat Ready Tactical Lanyard System was specifically made with the earlier PVS14 in mind, but can realistically be used on other accessories, the quick release buckle is a convenient touch.

Tied Down- The How, What, and Why of dummy-cording
Secondary attachment for battery pack, wire cable can also be threaded through the mount.

Being able to tie down your belongings is crucial for gear management. When hiking/hunting or camping, being able to find a tool without rummaging through your backpack in the dark will greatly improve the experience. Key pieces of equipment can be securely attached for easy access. With summer and camping trips on our doorstep, tying off personal effects is a great punishment parenting tool for young campers who are prone to lose headlamps, and provides hours of torture entertainment on those long car rides home.

***Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica! All Local Sales are FREE!***

About the author: Danielle Vermeulen Danielle Vermeulen has been shooting competitively for over a decade, with multiple wins to her name in 3 Gun, Pistol, and long-range tactical matches. Her passion for shooting and shooting sports, lead her to turn a hobby into a career. Born and raised in South Africa, she experienced first-hand how critical firearms are to self-defense and maintaining civil rights. She has thus made the education on the importance of the 2nd Amendment her focus. She can be found raising the next generation of young shooting enthusiasts with her husband in the South Western United States

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • jerry June 28, 2021, 1:48 pm

    This is a thought provoking article. I have tied off tools (usually to my wrist) when working above other craftsmen or when working inside of large machinery where retrieval would be difficult and necessary. I think I would favor using heavy braided fishing line or nylon string. I, personally, have never heard of anyone’s scope falling off of a rifle, though. When I do get that $1,800 hand-held thermal, I will certainly remember this article and tie it off securely. Another thought: I have always looked at as suspect the rather flimsy sling swivels that connect the carrying straps to most rifles. I now am considering backing up those attachments with paracord safety cords. Yep, I’m gonna do it. God bless and stay safe.

  • Todd June 28, 2021, 9:36 am

    Never……. EVER use a dummy-cord that can not be cut with a simple swipe of a knife…….. EVER!

    That nonsense can get you killed.

    And really?!?…. A scope?

    Todd.

    • Nicky J June 28, 2021, 4:31 pm

      Dumb People come up with DUMB things to do!!!

      • Rob Riedl June 29, 2021, 9:22 am

        And yes, those same dumb people keep blocking my comments. Commies…no better than the libtards and hiding behind a “guns” URL.

  • survivor50 June 28, 2021, 8:17 am

    You ” DO NOT ” have to tie all your equipment to you !!!

    (Just the stuff you’d like to keep … like your life depended on it … )

    • Alex June 28, 2021, 12:34 pm

      (Just the stuff you’d like to keep … like your life depended on it … )
      Or “like your wallet depended on it”

Send this to a friend