Hybrid rifle slings?

[peacemaker45]

In the course of my rifle usage, I've used the plain padded hunting style carry strap. They work pretty well for carrying a rifle to a tree stand, or the like, but aren't great for keeping a rifle at the ready, or as a shooting aid.

I've used GI style cotton web loop slings. Tolerable for transport, great as a shooting aid, but given how long it takes and how much noise it makes to convert from one mode to the other, I've gotta call them pretty lousy, from a readiness perspective.

I've used the three point Ching Sling, whose virtues Jeff Cooper praised. It is indeed far faster to transition from slung on the shoulder to looped up and ready to shoot than the GI, but compared to the next on the list, there is still a considerable bit of business involved.

I've gotten interested in the modern "tactical," style cross body slings, like the VTAC and others. I haven't used one, but they look to be extremely fast from carry to ready to shoot. Do they have any application as a shooting aid, for longer range/ position shooting, though? Or are they solely for up close, "CQB," type use?

 

[kenboyles72]

I have tried almost every sling out there, and find the tactical sling is the most versatile. They can be used to steady your rifle while shooting. Unlike traditional or GI slings, which is hard to adjust and therefor stay at a certain length, you can adjust the tac slings on the fly and can get good tight shooting support. There are a lot of different positions you can use a tac sling in, depending on your shooting situation. I won't spend the high price on a tac sling, so I have came up with my own design and make them myself, works just as good.

 

[taliv]

the vtac and blue force gear slings are pretty AR15 specific, but they work well. they're probably 90% carry and 10% shooting aid, but they're fast

i used a TIS quick cuff sling for a while too. it works like a shooting sling, but you sew the cuff (loop your arm goes in) into your jacket and just snap it to the sling with a buckle and you're slung in.

armageddon gear sells a similar sling i like a bit better that is more suitable for precision rifle use. in the early days of sniper and PRS matches, it was pretty mandatory as a shooting aid. past several years though, i skipped the sling and carried a tripod for faster, more stable shots.

 

[Gojo03]

I have had a VTAC sling on my work M4 for a few years. I guess I have gotten used to them because I run them on my other ARs at home too. Easy to carry all day and quick to aim. It's pretty easy to use them as a hasty sling too. I usually use a cobra sling for my bolt guns because of the sling stud locations.