What a boring topic, but does anyone have any strong feelings on Rifle slings? QD swivels? padded, just the strap? 1.5 inch? 1 inch?

I hear people like the Vickers sling, and the Viking tactical. both 2 point slings...

Vickers unpadded is what I prefer for ARs. We used the Viking sling at work. It was fine, but the tail got in the way and i can adjust the Vickers easier.

I just use plain old M16 "silent" slings on my rifles. Nothing fancy but they are rugged, take a lot of abuse & do just what a sling was designed to do.

Kind of depends what you want to do with it.

On my AK, I have a Blue Force Gear sling. It allows me to carry on my chest, or slung over my back or shoulder. This is 1 inch width.

On my 10/22 and Remington 700, I use Tactical Intervention Specialists quick cuff slings, that allow me to stabilize my offhand arm when shooting while standing, and can be slung over my back or shoulder. These are 1.5 inch width.

I do use QDs on the TIS slings, but not on the AK. None of them have swivels.

Like I said, kinda depends what you want them to do, and how long they're going to be there (if you want padded, none of mine are).

Good luck in your search!

Blue Force Gear VCAS Unpadded slings are what I have on every single one of my serious use rifles and shotguns.

https://blueforcegear.com/vickers-sling

They just work, and work well. Super durable too. There are lots of other adjustable 2 point sling competitors/imitators out there, but none do it any better, and lots do it worse.

If I was carrying a really heavy gun all day - like if I was a SAW gunner - I might go with the padded VCAS. But it's not needed on normal long guns, even things like M14s/FALs/etc. that are on the higher end of "normal" at 10+ pounds. The padded portion limits the adjustability of the sling. So it's little to no benefit in exchange for some drawbacks.

QD sling attachments are nice to have, but not a must have. Be sure to get limited swivel sockets if you do go with QD attachments, otherwise your sling will be prone to tangling. The main benefit of the QD swivels is that there are a ton of different socket mount options out there for just about any long gun setup. Plus you can remove the sling if needed, though I rarely find that to be needed. Or quickly unclip an end of the sling in the event it got hung up on something, though that's mainly a concern for high speed guys who are jumping fences, fast-roping, climbing through windows, etc.

I'm also a fan of the BFG VCAS unpadded slings. Their padded ones are just too big and bulky. TRex Arms makes a nice compromise, a clone of the same sling but with thin, minimal padding, and overall lighter weight.

quote:

Originally posted by Shackelford:
I'm also a fan of the BFG VCAS unpadded slings. Their padded ones are just too big and bulky. TRex Arms makes a nice compromise, a clone of the same sling but with thin, minimal padding, and overall lighter weight.

This is the conclusion I have come to. Started out with a VCAS padded sling, which is comfortable, but realized the rifle is stowed a lot of the time, and that pad is bulky. If I knew I was going to an all day training I would be glad to have it, but I have more basic 1" Edgar Sherman slings now.

Another vote for the Blue Force Vickers, unpadded. I use them on my AR, AUG, and PCC. They are simple and fast.

I prefer unpadded slings, even with a 16" gun and heavy optic. I also prefer QD mounted slings.

Everyone loves a VCAS, but I also enjoy the Ed Sherman and more recently the G2 Gear slings. I find I can get the G2 snug tight to my body while still keeping it long enough to shoot with, and it doesn't require swimming out of the sling.

https://blueforcegear.com/padded-vickers-sling

I use these, very nice slings.

I like the BFG padded along the best for an AR.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0896WZV7F?th=1

First I have no real world experience with carrying a tactical type rifle afield so my choice of sling is based on 35 years of bolt action rifle hunting in Florida, PA, & Ga. This may not apply to your needs but maybe someone else could benefit from it.

I do not use a sling to stabilize the rifle when shooting the rifle. I will use the stand I'm in, a tree branch, shooting stick, or grip it and rip it. I use the sling for what It's for. To give me a break from carrying it in my hands and when I need to use both hands in the field. Like climbing/descending steep areas, tree climbers, ladder stands, tripods, elevated box stands, mounting/dismounting 4 wheeler, and tracking a shot animal through brush. My conclusion is that you need some type of traction on the sling to keep the rifle in place on my back when doing said activities. In my opinion a nylon/cloth type of sling with no rubberized traction suck for my needs. I also recommend quick disconnect as once I get into a stand or blind I disconnect sling to avoid any noise or unfortunate movement the sling could make while getting on shot.

The above linked sling (slim version) is what I have used for the last 3 years and other than some Ga. clay staining has held up great and is cheap. Note I did round off the square area of QD attachment to give a little more clearance for rifle studs. Other than that it has been great and comfortable. Hray

This message has been edited. Last edited by: hray,

It would seem the BFG vickers is basically the Coca-cola of slings. Does anyone dislike this sling?

hray, I appreciate the other perspective, especially with the idea of regular sling use really would look a lot more like hunting than Black hawk down.

Primary Arms has Blue Force Gear slings on sale for Easter.

https://www.primaryarms.com/ad...ster_New_Deals_Added

Check out Savvy Sniper. I like them better than the BFG slings.

https://savvysniper.com/slings

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
I like the BFG padded along the best for an AR.

I've got one on my primary AR & it's great.

I have a Magpul 2 point with the QD mounts. It's solid and works just fine. Haven't tried enough others to say it is the best.

I also use the Blue Force Vickers, both padded and unpadded. Maybe I am getting soft in my old age, as I prefer the padded.