Rifle Sling Setup and Why It Matters
Posted by Warrior Poet Society on Oct 17th 2023
A well-placed rifle sling has a profound impact on performance and speed with your weapon. This essential accessory, wisely selected and properly installed, will provide unencumbered movement and seamless transitions when performing tactical tasks. Why do slings matter so much? As you probably know, the point of a sling is to hold your rifle close to your body, to keep it ready for action, all while keeping it out of your way. You want to be able to walk hands-free without it slapping your knees and junk.
I highly recommend a double point sling system for that very reason. If you’d rather have your gun slap and assault your manhood while you walk, a single point sling can provide you with some of that fun. It’s actually zero fun. I’m convinced that single point rifle slings were invented by feminists.
Invest in a Double Point Rifle Sling System
Anyway. Just trust me. Go double point.
The WPS Rifle Sling is, of course, our sling of choice. It’s tight in all the right places, and it gives in all the right spots. It has quick release points and tabs for loosening and tightening quickly. Having the gun tighten and loosen appropriately allows you to be able to work, to transition to a pistol, or use your hands in other ways without the rifle obstructing you.
How to Use a Rifle Sling
A Properly-Positioned Sling Makes You Quicker to the Draw
It can be a lifesaving matter. When your rifle is properly positioned by your sling, the butt stock is hanging near the pocket of the shoulder. This means, if I suddenly have to respond to a threat, I can get my rifle into position with one hand, in one quick motion, and I'm already sighting downrange.
Make it as tight as possible without restricting movement. So when you're thinking about sling length, you want it as tight as you can get it, to bring your gun close to your body while still able to raise the gun and get a sight picture.
The importance of the quick release features. The as-tight-as-possible standard applies to "stowing" the rifle while doing something else. And while it'll still allow enough mobility to raise the rifle quickly, your sling needs to quickly adjust if a real fight ensues. If you need to get in a prone position or work around obstacles, etc., you'll need to quickly adjust.
A Rifle Sling Should Not Cause Pain
One last thing. When you're attaching your sling, you want obstructions (snaps, buckles, attachment points) away from your face and body. Those can tend to rub against you and get in the way of rifle position (cheek weld, shoulder, etc.). Otherwise you'll be experiencing some real discomfort down the road. If you're looking for some good accessories to aid you with sling attachment, most of my rifles have this little QD detach. If your rifle comes with a little ring on the butt stock, that's really good. Just make sure it's pointing away from your shoulder during mount.
If you've been around long enough and trained in rifle tactics, these rifle sling concepts are probably nothing new to you. So feel free to pass this along or share this information with those you love. No matter your equipment and accessories, you want to get to know them well. Field test everything. Give it all some serious range time.
And as always, Train Hard. Train Smart. Live Free. Don't Skimp on Good Gear.
