Luke Cuenco 05.07.21
Slings are an often-misunderstood accessory by many shooters and probably for good reason – we aren’t used to carrying our rifles for long periods of time. Those in the military are properly trained to field such items and I personally had the opportunity to learn some great ways that a sling can go beyond the role of just keeping the rifle attached to the person. A sling can apparently also be used to increase your accuracy when shooting from various positions by making it a 5th point of contact. Popular YouTube channel TFBTV has a great video on that very concept. View it here.
Having learned this new technique, I instantly became enamored with different types of slings and started buying things I found interesting and while it seems like a simple concept, not all slings are created the same or perform the same. Here are my picks for the best rifle slings that you can pair with your rifle or carbine that will serve you well for years to come.
Table of Contents
1. Blue Force Gear Vickers 2-Point Padded Sling – Editor’s Pick
Made from high quality materials right here in the United States, the Vickers 2-point padded sling is a great option for an all around sling. The padded portion is great for those who are planning on carrying a rifle for long periods of time and takes a bit of the weight of a heavy rifle off of your shouldres and distributes it more evenly.
One small downside to the padded portion of the sling is for those who wear plate carriers and have lots of gear on their backs – the padded portion tends to get stuck in your equipment but thankfully Blue Force Gear offers a non-padded version to help the sling slip through the gear more easily.
The Blue Force Gear Vickers 2-Point Sling is very affordable at just $53.87 and comes in many different colors depending on your preferences. My favorite feature of the Vickers style sling is the quick pull tab that can easily adjust the length of the sling to allow for a more stable shooting platform.
Pros/Quick Adjusting padded sling made in the United States out of high-quality Materials
Cons/Padded portion of the sling can get caught in equipment worn on the body
Bottom Line/Great all-around sling for any AR-15 or bolt action gun
2. TAC-SHIELD Universal 3-Point Combat Sling – Most Secure
Now only available in black
This sling is by far one of the most secure and versatile slings on the market. The 1.5” milspec webbing provides great durability and surface area while the fast adjust cam lock can allow AR-15 shooters to adjust between strong and weak side shooting positions in a flash.
The TAC-SHIELD sling also features a universal attachment system meaning you will not need to rely on QD sling studs or proprietary attachment methods. Lastly, the sling also features an ERB release buckle for emergencies when the rifle needs to be removed from the body quickly and safely without going over the head. The Tac-Shield Universal 3-Point Combat sling comes in at a cool $42.99 but color options are limited to that of the Ford Model-T – you can have any color you want as long as its black.
Pros/Will fit on almost any rifle, or carbine due to the universal attachment system
Cons/Only comes in one color – Despite what the picture shows
Bottom Line/Great for versatility for hard core trainers who shoot both weak side and strong side
3. Magpul MS4 Gen 2 Multi-Mission Hybrid Sling – Do-All Pick
I’m not personally a fan of single point slings but I know many people who chose to field them for guns like the MP5 and SIG MPX. The Magpul MS4 Gen 2 Multi-Mission sling is a hybrid between a 2-point and single point sling that features QD swivels that allow you to go from either option quickly.
If I could only afford one sling, this would probably be it as I could use it on any rifle or sub gun that had even a single QD contact point. The sling lacks some of the other features that Vickers slings normally have but I find the adaptability to be a good compromise between the two options. The Magpul MS4 Gen 2 Multi-Mission sling is available for just $59.95.
Pros/Adaptable to almost any gun that has QD studs
Cons/Not as easily adjusted as other slings are
Bottom Line/Great if you had to buy only one sling
4. Butler Creek Ultra Padded Nylon Sling – Budget Pick
This sling is geared more towards the bolt-action guys who are carrying around heavier rifles into the bush. The Butler Creek Sling features a very wide padded portion to keep the weight of the rifle comfortable across your shoulders and even includes 6 slots for spare full size rifle rounds.
The big downside of this sling is that its not very tactical and isn’t easily adjusted so you’ll probably want to do that before you head out into the field with this one. Other than that it is by far the most comfortable option on this list and simultaneously one of the most affordable at around $20.
Pros/One of the most comfortable types of slings on the market
Cons/Not really suitable for anything other than carrying your rifle
Bottom Line/Great for long walks in the forest with your rifle to your favorite hunting spot
5. Ten Point Gear 550 Paracord Sling – Survival Pick
’m always fascinated with survival gear no matter what for it comes in and this sling happens to fall into that category. This sling is not only adjustable but also can be turned into emergency cordage if the need arises. Paracord is well knowing for having a very high tensile strength and can be used for almost any fastening task you set it to.
The sling itself only comes with swivels but I’m sure with a bit of work you could attach QD points to it to adapt it for use with QD studs for slips if you wanted a quick detach option. The sling also comes in a very wide variety of color patterns meaning you can match it to almost any gun in your arsenal while having the peace of mind that having paracord on you provides.
The Ten Point Gear 550 paracord sling comes in at $16.97 and includes swivel attachments and 15 different pattern selection options.
Pros/Works as a great sling and an emergency backup tool
Cons/Doesn’t come with any additional hardware for mounting on AR pattern rifles
Bottom Line/Great for the survivalist who also needs to keep track of their rifle
The different types of slings
Slings generally come in 2 different configurations although there are many more niche types of sling to be found in the firearms world. The main two types of sling are the single point sling, and the two-point sling.
Most slings will be made from some sort of nylon material although some exotic slings featuring bungee do exist out there like the Ryker Sling.
Looking at sling length
The length of your sling is largely going to depend on what you plan on using it for. Slings for AR-pattern rifles or combat rifles in general need to have an adjustable length so that switching between a carry mode and a firing position can be accomplished without leaving a bunch of slack in the sling to get you tangled up.
Using slings for added accuracy
Slings do a lot more than just keep your rifle attached to you. Slings can also be used to instantly increase your off-hand shooting accuracy by providing you with a 5th point of contact. TFBTV ran a great video focusing on that very subject which you can view here.
Should my rifle have a sling?
In all honesty, yes, your rifle needs a sling. In our opinion, every rifle needs one, if for nothing more, to facilitate safe carrying.
Do slings make it easier to shoot?
Most slings allow you to use your non-trigger hand to support the rifle by wrapping the sling around your elbow and drawing it tight. It helps steady the rifle and increase your accuracy. Check the video links in the above article for more on this technique.
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