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.
Read the rest of this story on Kit Up! hosted by Military.com.
– Eric Daniel
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
I luv the BDS CQB Sling…
http://www.bdstacticalgear.com/pd-bds-tactical-cq…
What you want is the Vickers Combat Applications Sling from Blue Force Gear. Designed by Larry Vickers. Very simple, but still very versatile. I have three for my ARs: regular for the M4 and Recce, and padded for the SPR.
Three point slings don't have to be a pain in the ass, you just have to know how to set them up right. Personally i like the extra retention they give me and the easy transition they give if you have it on right.
Check out the Emdom Gunslinger, you might like it.
I use a Tactical Link single point sling. It has the push button release and can be used left or right handed.
LINK: http://tacticallink.com/Products.aspx?Cat=5
The push button may not have been part of the sling, it might have just been a separate attachment point, I know ACE sells a push button attachment point for their slings: http://riflestocks.com
Jeff, i think you're right. Some one also mentioned Viking Tactical and they have a push button quick release swivel, which is esentially exactly what I'm looking for, since that would allow me to run what ever sling I wanted to, just so long as it terminated in some sort of method to attach to the swivel (how the sling attaches to the swivel would be irrelevant since I'll be detaching the sling from the weapon via the QD swivel.) Now I just need to find a swivel mount for the buffer spring tube.
http://tacticallink.com/Products.aspx?Cat=9
The piece mentions the M4 but the picture is of an MP5. Not to get hung up on details.
Will, yes the weapon displayed is an MP5 and I'm using an M4. However, the silng attached to the MP5 is a 5.11 VTAC, which is mentioned.
I still don't get why single point slings are still so popular. They have very limited advantages and lots of disadvantages – number one being they are impossible to stow if you need to use both hands.
3 point sling with a quick release buckle is the way to go IMO. Secure for administrative weapons handling, easy to ditch during action. Can also be used as a 2 point. Versatile.
Right now I'm using, and very much like, the Black Hawk Storm Sling. Had it for about two years and has worked well.
However, Magpul just released a new single point sling that looks like it will be on my weapon after Christmas. I'd check that out first.
Otter
Brando, In my case, The only time i use a sling is when I'm admin. If I'm out and about, be it training or RW mission, I always detach the weapon from my body. If a situation ever arises where i just need to simply let go of the weapon in a hurry to use both hands, then I'll just let the weapon go. I don't know if this comes from growing up on tanks where straps and things could snag on things in the turret and get you killed, but I'm just not a big fan of the 2 and 3 point slings. Now, obviously they are very popular, and lots of folk use them, and I'm sure they're all smart folk, so they have there reasons. I'm not saying that if I had to choose between razor tape and a 3 point sling I'd take the razor tape, but my preference would be for a 1 point sling.
The problem though is that when you let go you now have the weapon dangling and bouncing around. The only way to make them work is to have some way to stow the weapon. This is the advantage of the adjustable 2-point sling: you can slide it to your weak side and tighten it to secure it properly for hands free. I've seen guys downrange with single points being beaten to death because their rifle is bouncing all around while they frantically help do something that requires both hands (climb a wall, drag someone to safety, help with a stretcher, etc).
I would suggest that you try a boot string.
Tie it from the front sight to wherever it can be tied to the stock. Try it, you might be suprised how well it works.
I used this for a time, then I decided to just carry my weapon ( Car 15 ) in my right hand and forget about straps, slings, and anything else that would catch on the vegetation.
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Anyone got suggestions for an M1A socom 16 sling? what about a Mossberg 590A1 SPX … both guns seem too heavy for single point setups.
Eric I checked out that push button single point…Are you sure you want that? Was your friends rugged enough to shoot move and communicate with? I don't know but just from the pictures I see that thing getting busted up real quick…
Paul, if by durability, you’re referring to the 5.11 VTAC, I had the same question. The photo provided doesn’t give a good view of the hardware. A commentor over on KU said he uses one as a police officer and that he did in fact bend the coupler during training (applied too much force) but that he was able replace the damaged ring with a smaller and stiffer one. Regarding my buddy’s rig, yes, it appeared to be a pretty sturdy lash up and I’d have had no qualms about taking it out. One piece of kit I did tumble on to was the Dedicated Push Button (DPB) by Blue Force Gear http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fus… I think this is exactly the thing I’m looking for. For all intents and purposes, the DPB is really a quick disconnecting sling swivel that has a simple nylon sling run through it. If I don’t care for the sling itself I can ditch it and replace the strap with something else, since the item I’m actually looking for is that push button swivel.
Try http://www.militarymorons.com/ left side menus, Weapons, Slings. Good, interesting, informative site.
Could you please not cross post so much? I already have these other blogs in my rotation. Create your own (non-political) content.