Single-Point Sling

We’re taking a look at several gun accessories, the first being gun slings and straps.  Only a certain number of guns can make use of a sling, so this article will not apply to some guns.  Others, however, are extremely difficult to use for long periods of time without the use of a sling, such as rifles and submachine guns.  Some soldiers rely heavily on their gun slings, so you can be sure that these military surplus items are rigorously field-tested for you.

Slings are some of the cheapest gun accessories, but they are far from least important.  Slings allow the user to perform other tasks while still wearing a firearm.  They also can aid the user in aiming the gun by providing stability.

Two-Point Sling

Single-Point – This sling is attached to the gun at one point, which is where the name comes from.  It is worn around the user’s chest — over and under respective shoulders.  This sling does not benefit the user by providing rest from carrying the gun much, but it does help stabilize the gun for firing.  One drawback to this sling is that when the user kneels, the gun will strike the ground.  Another is that the sling often makes the gun hang in the front of the user’s body, which can interfere with the user’s ability to walk or run freely.  One of the most common firearms to use this style of sling is the M16 rifle.

Two-Point – This is the most common sling used with rifles.  It is attached to two points on the gun (the front and the back) and can be worn around the chest, the neck, or a  shoulder.  Some of the two-point slings can be adjusted easily with a pull on the buckle.  The two-point sling is particularly useful in steadying the gun for the user, and it provides rest from carrying the gun for the user.  These gun accessories can be purchased at Amazon here.

Three-Point – The purpose of the three-point sling is to allow the user to “drop” the weapon in the sling and use another weapon or perform some other task without letting the weapon stray far from his reach.  The sling is made up of a harness wrapped around the user’s body, and straps attached to the front and back of the gun, respectively.  The sling can be attached to the user’s body in a number of different locations, including the hip and chest.

Most slings are made with a durable nylon material, such as cordura, although some leather slings exist.  Some of the best companies that produce these gun accessories are Blackhawk and Spec.-Ops..  Check out Amazon’s complete selection of gun slings.

Read about other gun accessories here.

Written by Craig Kent, member of the Best Military Surplus team.