Gun Slings

The owners of shotguns and rifles know that having a gun sling is essential. This piece of gear should become your first purchase after buying a firearm.

There are multiple reasons for that. First of all, obviously, a slung firearm frees your hands to do other stuff. Depending on the sling design, you can carry your firearm upfront, on the side, or on your back while moving around, running, climbing a ladder, or leaping obstacles.

Carrying a long gun with your bare hands with nothing to support it is tedious. A gun sling shifts some amount of the weight from your hands to your shoulders and, thus, diminishes arm fatigue.

Those who carry a sidearm can’t do without a sling too as it allows for safe transition and prevents accidental discharge resulting from a dropped firearm.

Gun slings ensure better control over your weapon which results in steady aiming and more accurate shots due to reduced recoil. Slings also secure your weapon from being grabbed by another person.

There are three types of gun slings. Those are single-point (sometimes called one-point), two-point, and three-point slings. To choose a gun sling that will ensure comfortable handling and carrying, you need to consider the intended application, your skills, and your personal preferences.

Let’s talk about their advantages and disadvantages now.

Single-point gun slings

These slings are attached to the rear of your weapon, leaving the muzzle free. The loop goes over the neck and underneath the support arm.

The single-point design gives you the most freedom of movement allowing you to easily maneuver the firearm and change shoulders which can be crucial in close-quarters battle situations where space is limited. That’s why sometimes people refer to them as tactical gun slings.

However, in some cases, this freedom of movement backfires on the user. Carrying a weapon that has only one point of attachment is very inconvenient. When you let it off and start moving around, it sways and bounces. Climbing and leaping obstacles give trouble. And a quick transition to your sidearm can result in pain from your weapon hitting you.

Still, if freedom of movement is important, but you don’t want to suffer from carrying a firearm that can’t be properly controlled, there is a solution - holster sling or storage sling. It allows for carrying a weapon on the side.

Two-point gun slings

This type is the most common. Two-point slings attach to the muzzle and the rear and make good tactical and hunting slings.

The two-point design gives you the most control over a firearm. Doing such stuff as climbing, carrying something with two hands, moving around while your weapon rests on your shoulder comes very easy and comfortable. A switch to your secondary gun won’t result in delay and pain.

The downside of such type will be more limited handleability.

Three-point gun slings

Actually, three-point slings also attach to two points of a firearm. The third point is your body. This design is considered a bit obsolete today.

Though it provides great control and a wide range of carrying positions, the strap that goes close along the weapon can cover gun parts and controls that need to be exposed. Struggling with this strap can cost you time and nerves.

Leather vs. Synthetic

Besides looking cool and classic, leather gun slings are durable and strong. They are often used by owners of hunting rifles and shotguns as durability is prioritized over maneuverability.

Paracord and other synthetic options (nylon, neoprene, polyester) are also great because they are robust, lightweight, and malleable.

If you are looking for a sling for your AR-15 or any other rifle, Gritr Sports has the best gun slings for tactical and hunting use for sale. Our slings are made by such trusted brands as Magpul, Butler-Creek, Blue Force Gear, NCStar, and others.