Submitted by Eric Daniel
I'm on the look out for a better sling. Currently I'm using the Spec Ops Wolf Hook sling on my M-4, but I need something different. Mind you, I'm not displeased with the hook, it's cheap, it's simple, and best of all, it doesn't get in the way, but it requires me to wear my rack in order to use it, and there are a great many times where I'm just on the drill floor and I need to secure my weapon to my body without having to wear all the extra kit to use the sling.
Now my preference is for a single point sling. I'm not a big fan, at all, of those 2 and 3 point slings; there's just too much webbing involved. They get cumbersome and they can be a pain in the ass to get in and out of. No, what I'm looking for is something that I can secure my weapon to my body in the simplest, most hands free method possible (I only use the sling to "administratively" secure the weapon. I'm not real comfortable going on a mission with the weapon attached to me. If I have to transition to my pistol I'm not worried about my rifle hitting the ground, I'll deal with it later. I just don't like the idea of being attached to the rifle.)
Now, one of the team leaders in my platoon had a real slick push button type of single point sling. It was an elastic strap that went over the shoulder and attached via a simple push button mechanism attached to the buffer spring housing on the butt of the M-4. Moreover, there was a hole on either side of the attachment point so you could sling the rifle left or right depending on your shooting style. Unfortunately, he couldn't remember where he got it, there were no identifying marks on the sling, and he just ETSed, so I may never find out what he had.
All this has left me surfing the internet looking for a replacement. The Voodoo Tactical single point sling looked like it might have potential; it uses a claw style fastener to clip to the weapon, which, while not exactly what I'm looking for, is certainly simple and serviceable. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Voodoo offers it any more, as I can only find it for sale on eBay.
BDS also offers a bungee style single point sling, but I like that clasp even less than the claw on the voodoo model. I want a quick disconnect clip, not necessarily a quick connect one, something like the one on the Blackhawk Chalker sling. The BDS clip appears to be just the opposite; easy to clip on, but not quick to detach.
The one that really catches my eye though is the 5.11 VTAC single point sling. It's got the bungee action to allow for some shock absorption, and it has two quick detach clips (and of the kind I like) which allow you to not only quickly divest yourself of the weapon, but of the sling as well (which is a good thing if you're trying to bail out of a vehicle in a hurry.) I just wish it wasn't $50, but I guess that's the price of finding a better sling.
