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.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
What about the ASP by Gear Sector? It’s got buckles on the loop so you can doff it, and also just above the connection to the weapon so you can switch out the connector. It’s a little cheaper than the VTAC, but on the downside it’s not bungee and doesn’t have the cam lock.
And Midwest Industries makes the endplate adapters to get the QD mount behind the receiver. Those aren’t cheap, though. You’re looking at ~$40 just for the adapter. Blackhawk also makes one, but it’s even more expensive, like $60 or so last I saw it. I bet there are others, but those are the ones I know of that don’t require removal of the castle nut for installation.
Here my two cents, get the 5.11 VTAC! I am a former Marine and now working as a Police Officer in Los Angeles and I have been using this sling for three years. It is easy to adjust to your style of carry and you wiil hard pressed to find a weapon that you can’t attach it to. My only complaint about it is the split-ring that is attached to the weapon quick release is a little flimsy, I bent the first one in training, got excited and yanked too hard on it, but I replaced it with a smaller, stiffer ring and have had zero problems with it. BTW I use it everyday on my Remington 870.
This may seem like a silly suggestion, but from my experience with airsoft, I’d search airsoft sites for a sling, they may not be milspec, but the reviews of how ergonomic they are, and youtube videos showing how they work could make it easier for you to get information on a specific design of sling. Also, back when I was playing all the time, the gear that I got took quite a beating on a weekly basis without degrading.
Jacob, not necessarily a silly idea. Granted, there is a big difference between airsoft weapons and real ones, but the principles behind the function of a sling are the same. The reality is, my very first tactical single point sling consisted of a loop of 550 cord tied around the butt of my M16 with the shoulder strap from my combat lifesaver bag clipped to it.
Hey guys,
Ironically I just got an e-mail from http://www.botachtactical.com they have a good deal on slings running. But I have to concur with Soup 5.11 is really hard to beat, check out http://www.lapg.com. Also, VTAC has lots of additional integrations for slings. I’ve also heard that Single point slings don’t offer the added stability a 2 or 3 point can in a need for an improvised platform. That being said, single point is a good thing with respect to stowing or egress. Also, you can look into a weapons catch that might also serve to help your needs.
The sling with the ambi pushbutton attatchment is probably from Tangodown.
Eric,
The Voodoo Tactical single point sling is one of the best I’ve used. I use it on my patrol rifle and have never had any problems with it. They’re available on Ebay or at voodootacticl.net. Good luck.
How about the MS2 Multi Mission Sling from Magpul? I just installed mine, so I haven’t gotten to the range with it yet.
It seems to offer the best of both worlds – excellent single point function that allows switching to off side shoulder, and great 2 point function for when you really need to sling the weapon.
Single point is excellent in the assault, offering versatility with speed. Two point excels at everything else, like admin chores, repair or maintenance work, pretty much any task you need both hands for.
Hi Eric,
Allow me to agree with crashonhead on the MS2 sling from Magpul.
It does not get in the way, can be used with rack on and off, quite comfortable.
If you are willing to splash out for the ASAP plate as well (another Magpul product developed specifically for the MS2 sling) then switching between action and reaction sides becomes very very easy.
The hook is designed for easy detachment should you want to ditch your weapon, yet it is quite hard to engage the lock if you don’t want to.
Have a nice day
I’m a fan of the BDS Tactical single-point:
http://www.bdstacticalgear.com/pd-multi-cam-cqb-single-point-sling.cfm
couple this with the Tango Down PR-4 Single Point Sling Mount…which requires no weapon mod!
http://tangodown.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=40
Here’s my two cents…I also come from the airsoft world, but I love my TAG CQC Single Point sling. It works by pushing pushing the middle together thus open the “hook” in the middle making it very easy to secure to a rear sling adapter. The nice thing about the sling is that you really can’t accidentally remove the sling from a gun, but it’s very fast to attach to a gun. The downfall of this sling is that you’re looking at $60 for the sling.
http://www.tacticalassaultgearstore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=162
Find the buckle assembly you need at Wal~Mart, even if it is attached to some cheap “female” apparel. Buy the item, cut off the buckle, paint it an acceptable color, bring it to your unit’s parachute rigger and ask him/her to cut your sling at the appropriate place and have him/her sew your new buckle onto your sling!
Just add a duplicate female end connector to an additional cheap sling for admin. If you haved trained to transition with the wolf hook dont change.
Or, just stick with what you know: Spec Ops Lone Star Sling is a bungie sling with double side release buckles and retails for under $40. Runs well on my AR.
-TG
Officially called the Lonestar Rig:
http://specopsbrand.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductID=51
Try going to GG&G, Brownells or Midwest Industries for the pushbutton QD sling attachment. I think GG&G has one that simply clamps around the buffer tube without removing the tube and castle nut. Forty bucks isn’t cheap, but you get what you pay for. I read a lot of gun magazines every month and I have never read about anyone complaining about the price of something that helped save his life.
Semper Fi