Rifle Slings

[silverbullet]

I am looking at getting a sling for the rifle (the XCR to be exact). But after reading a lot online, I am totally confused on what I should look at getting. There are so many choices out there. I am looking for something to hold that heavy ass rifle while at the range (got butter-fingers some days). As well as possible PAW use, as I would like something to hold the rifle in case I have to use both hands to do something else, and I would rather not put down the rifle for obvious reasons in a PAW situation.

For instance, some people state that you should have a 1-point harness as you can quickly disconnect from the rifle if needed, as well as having less in the way when using the rifle and moving around. Yet I then read that while that might be all true with a 1-point sling, it also tends to cause the rifle to dangle all over the place. Not only is that a great way to bang up the rifle and have a possible ND, but it is also a great way to get whacked in the balls with your own rifle

That is just one example on a certain type of sling.

There are pros-cons for all types of slings. But I would like to hear what others are using or have used in the past and what they would recommend. Either 1-2-3-etc point slings, different manufacturers, etc.

[DavePAL84]

VTAC or VCAS, no question. I prefer keeping the sling points as far apart as possible (one far front and the other at the top rear of the buttstock) for the best flexibility. YMMV.

[darkmeat]

I'm not HSLD, I just use an old school 2 point sling, a leather one. It makes a handy shooting aid, and I really don't see the point in high tech gear when the rifle I'm running is 40 years old.

[number88]

DO NOT USE A SINGLE POINT SLING!
An "elite tacticle training center" in Oregon has had 3 unintended firearm discharges in less than a year, all with SPS's!
CTD has used 50" G-3 leather slings, with the HK quick detach clip for $5.00. Buy two, get three 1" slide adjusters for a buck and make a proper 2 point sling that will last forever.

[Rfizzle]

VTAC or VCAS, no question. I prefer keeping the sling points as far apart as possible (one far front and the other at the top rear of the buttstock) for the best flexibility. YMMV.

VTAC for two point my Main Rifle has this. I run my rear attachment on the stock and a quick detach swivel in a MI mount about half way down the rail, so a little closer than Dave.

I don't mind single point, I still have a Magpul MS2 with the ASAP plate on one of my AR's.

[mattdettorre123]

i braided three peiced of para cord together and put clipy things on it. then put heavy key rings on my sling points on the rifle. QD when needed. Paracord when needed. Sling when needed.

[silverbullet]

Good suggestions so far. Thanks

i braided three peiced of para cord together and put clipy things on it. then put heavy key rings on my sling points on the rifle. QD when needed. Paracord when needed. Sling when needed.

I hope this will be featured in your videos on being prepared on a budget

[Norsesmithy]

My 16 inch AR has a simple nylon two point "silent sling" that I bought for 4 dollars.

I've got it hooked to the front sight sling attachment and through the vertical attachment point on the inside back of the CTR buttstock. Where I keep my stock set, it hangs nicely, can be used for sling support shooting, and allows me to transition fairly easily.

One of these days I'm gonna cut it up and put a buckle on the thing (ala dog collar), so I can drop the rifle without pulling the sling over my neck, but besides that? It does everything I need.

Though I still want to give the MS2 a try after Johnny endorsed it.

[FireMoth]

DO NOT USE A SINGLE POINT SLING!
An "elite tacticle training center" in Oregon has had 3 unintended firearm discharges in less than a year, all with SPS's!

No offense, but a lot of professionals who's names i don't need to drop use single point slings, particularly for CQB rifles, and they arent plagued with NDs left and right.

Much like SERPA holsters don't cause NDs (the release indexes the finger over the frame, not the trigger guard), Neither do single point slings.

People in a rush to be fast, or high speed without first developing safe, and deliberate habits cause NDs. Blaming gear for training problems, even at a training facility, is foolish.

For those with longer memories than the internet tends to encourage, striker fired guns without manual safeties, most famously the Glock 17 in its early years, were blamed for NDs as well.
No one makes those accusations anymore about the pistol itself, because we know that NDs are caused by cowboys who cant keep their goddamned dick beaters off the bang switch until they are ready to fire.

At the end of the day, a sling has the same likelihood of causing an ND, regardless of configuration, as a chest rig, a holstered pistol, or anything else your rifle can bump, snag, or bang into, or cause the shooter to tense a grip with finger in trigger guard.
Were not going to start dumping all of our supplemental gear because its conceivable that a trigger that isn't blocked on all sides can be tripped with a safety selector in the off position.

So, lets try to keep internet paranoia about gear causing NDs to a minimum, unless we have well founded reasons for making an accusation.
Generally, we can identify grounded accusations by the fact that in this litigious society, a piece of gear actually at fault for something as dangerous as an ND is generally recalled or given additional safety provision by the manufacturer (remember those molded polymer holsters for glocks with lights that left the light exposed?).

I don't think, however, that a couple of ass clowns with bad trigger/safety discipline warrant telling people "don't use single point slings"

[FireMoth]

Oh, yeah, My sling...

I am currently running a Templar Tactical 2 point sling, with the addition of a fastex escape buckle, and some HK style snap hooks.
I run it attached at front and rear of my receiver, to give me single point mobility, while still allowing good carry options.

Its more or less a Vickers style sling for about half the price. Construction is simple, and robust.
I know the guy who designed and produces these, and like his kit a lot. You just have to swallow that its all marketed through Suarez.

[whs78]

Ask Kansas Kraut, he's had some experience in this department.

I've fabricated several items for personal use, and I'm in the process of making some revisions to them.

You can assemble a single point wolf hook pretty easily for less than what it would cost you to buy one new.

The first wolf hook I put together was installed on a Maxpedition Condor II pack it works with an SW5 pistol in SP89 configuration, an AR15 or PS90.
Before that I a single point sling that works with those same weapons.

The wolf hook I made works just as well as an off the shelf part I bought at a later date. Part of the reason I want to rework my current setup is to incorporate bungee material like the store bought sling uses.

Kraut and I have discussed putting together a dual purpose sling that can be used as single point or two point sling. I've seen some out there but really don't feel like dropping that kind of change right now.

Most everything I've built myself use compatible buckles to keep things modular (female end on the sling and male end on the weapon or adapter). I'll usually use a fastex buckle on the sling to attach an HK hook or quick disconnect to the sling, in the case of the PS90 the buckle is attached directly to the weapon (with leftover parts from a three point sling).

You can dump a bunch of money on slings if you aren't careful. Or you can let someone else do that for you, I picked up a three point sling at the surplus store for $5.00. The components worked rather nicely as raw materials for my other creations.

I may do a write-up when I'm feeling motivated.

[KevinB]

Single Points and Two Points.

I prefer the VCAS for most operations, but with a small short gun (like our PDW) I prefer a single point. The Mk18 is about as big as I get using a 1pt.

[xringmick]

While I'm OD'ing a bit on the "Magpul Mania", their MS2 sling is top notch.

I use it as a two point 99% of the time, but it is nice to be able to switch to single-point should the need arise. Really, the only time I use it as a single point is when I'm prone behind a spotting scope and want to keep the rifle strapped to me but I don't want to lay on top of it.

[KevinB]

I generally like Magpul stuff, but the MS2 sling left me asking why - I find the webbing too thin for comfort out of armor, and I generally don't use armor much these days.

[xringmick]

Looking at the MS2, it looks pretty thin.

I comfortably carried my rifle around all day (well, maybe 9-10hrs) of pig hunting and never had a problem.

Believe me, I'm by no means a Magpul fanboy but I think the MS2 works great.

YMMV

Edited to Add: Talking with DavePAL84, he asked/pointed-out that I was wearing a jacket and therefore the sling wasn't rubbing on my bare neck. It makes sense that wearing the sling all day wearing a T-shirt might have been a different story.

[whs78]

1" webbing blows, when it comes to comfort. I've found some 1" tubular webbing that is a bit softer and more comfortable to use.
Specter Gear uses a wider webbing for their slings for comfort, their 3 point slings have 1" webbing on the ends to work with fastening hardware.

One problem is finding buckles and the like that will work with 1.25" or 1.5" webbing. IIRC 1.25" webbing can thread through the HK snap hooks.

Early on I found that adding buckles for convenience can make things awkward really quickly. I've been leaning towards standardizing on type of fastener for all of my long guns.
The pushbutton quick disconnect used by Magpul, KAC, Vltor and MSAR makes this is possible. The quick disconnect swivel is simple to use, and I've acquired several with gear from those companies.

[Johnny Thujone]

Hands down. Magpul MS/2.

Works fucking wonders. And it has the JT "This Shit is BADASS!" seal of approval.