Slings: Single-point or Two-point?

This is a question that comes up quite frequently in forums and Facebook groups. If you want the TL;DR version: I believe the two-point sling offers greater capability across a wider range of mission sets.

If you want the expanded version, here’s a quick discussion on the positives and negatives of each:

Purpose

First, we need to understand the purpose a sling performs. A sling is to a rifle what a holster is to a pistol, and more. It allows the user to stow the weapon out of the way when they need their hands for other pursuits while retaining the rifle on the body, and can also assist in bracing the rifle for more accurate shots when precision is in higher demand. In the world of slings, there are no shortage of individual brands and models, but there are really only three overall types of slings worth discussing: single point, two point, and convertible.

Single point slings

Of all the sling types, the single point allows the greatest maneuverability to the user, especially in tight quarter scenarios such as CQB or vehicles. However, this maneuverability comes at a cost, in that single point slings are notoriously hard to secure. Because of its attachment method, the rifle on a single point is basically a pendulum with a bullet in it unless in the shooter’s hands or in a retention device. This is especially important if your job requires lots of hands-free tasks like handling prisoners or carrying equipment or injured members. The single point sling’s design also tends to cause the rifle to center itself during weapons transitions or movement, which can interfere with transitions, or just generally cause discomfort as it bounces about merrily while you move and smacks you in your most sensitive point repeatedly.

Two point sling

These attach at two points of your choosing, meaning that they provide more security than a single point, but you can also change up your mounting points to find the balance of stability and maneuverability that works for you. These are not the old WWII era two point slings, so remove that image from your mind, although they do still allow many of the traditional stabilizing methods for precision shooting. Now, you will give up some maneuverability, especially if you run your sling over/under a shoulder, but if you plan on having to use your hands frequently, the security provided by slinging your rifle and tightening it down cannot be matched by a single point on its best day. I tend to run my attachment points on the buttstock and just behind my support hand, which pulls the rifle tight to me when slung, but doesn’t interfere with my grips or the rifle’s controls.

Convertible slings

Convertible slings are two-point slings that allow you to convert to a single-point sling if your mission requires. In theory, they are the best of both worlds, although it does take some practice to learn how and when to convert as your mission may change.

Conclusion

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