Did a search and an archive search, even googled a bit. Lots of opinions, but nothing really concrete, or so it seems to me.

Here's the thing. My .mil training is around 35 years old, when a sling was what you used to keep the rifle off the ground, period. (Army, not Marines). Since then, most of my "tactical" work has been with one-handers. I'm only just getting back to playing hardball with rifles again.

To that end, I'm trying to decide what sling configuration to use on my basic go-to AR. There seem to be a goodly number of configuration choices, and even a number of choices within the choices.

Without starting a fight, is there a generally useful sling setup for a non-door kicker?

What I think I've learned in looking this over:

Single point is for active door monkeying. Gives you the best control while the weapon is in hand, but is kind of hard on "th' boys" when you let it hang. Also, loop v vest attachment?

Two point. Hangs better when you're not actively F&Ming, but sacrifices some control when you are. Particularly, shouldering the weapon on the support side seems to require you wrapping the webbing around your neck. Of course, I've located at least four different variants of the two-point not including the sliders like the VTac.

My rifle is currently set up (by a former door monkey) with a standard M16 cotton web sling, as a two point with one end tied off at the D-ring, run back tight to clamp behind the pistol grip and then loose to the rear mount (fixed A2 stock). I'm not sure I like it like this. For one thing, although it hangs pretty securely when I let it hang, (over right shoulder, under left arm) it tends to paint my left foot, which I'm not crazy about. For another, by the time I get it tight enough to hang right and shoulder quickly, switching to support side wraps the sling uncomfortably tight around my neck.

Three point. I don't know what the heck this is all about! What are the advantages over the two point?

Also, is there any validity to the "old school" sling (which I suppose is a two point by default)? Up until I started hanging with all you tactical yahoos, I thought the height of high speed was "taking a loop". With my current setup, I get to choose between slack when I present or having the butt knock on my teeth when I walk and the strap choke me if I have to go to support side.

Are those supercoolguy sliding adjustable slings (VTac etc.) really all that?

I'll be carrying more than shooting, and I'm pretty sure my potential door kicking days are behind me (although, anything's possible these days).

Also I'd prefer something that doesn't have a battery of arms twelve pages long. (if it takes longer to learn how to use the sling than it does to learn how to deploy the rifle, it's too farkin' complicated!)


So....

Viking Tactics quick adjustt two point padded sling.

Cave man simple.... hence why I have many of them.

Good slings, you can carry with them one minute and snap in to a target nice and tight the next. Check out Viking Tactics on the internets and see the video of the sling.

Three point has strap that lays tight from front of forearm to back of stock normally. Sling portion is fixed to the stock and additionally adjusts from front of forearm to point near upper. Three point and two point are most comfortable for walking around. Singlepoint is normally attached to point where stock attaches to upper.

There is also one sling made so you can carry the rifle over both shoulders like a backpack. Video on utube under Specter 3 point sling. Video shows it can also be used for African carry, patrol carry as well. Moves very smoothly between different kinds of carry.

I liked the three point sling because I could carry rifle across front muzzel down on low left and quickly change it to muzzel down behind shoulder where I could control muzzel better in chow hall when eating. All I had to do was remove left arm from inside sling and insert right arm and rotate rifle to low right. Head remains inside sling the whole time.

If you like the singlepoint sling and would still like a sling for rifle support you could add a "Safari Ching Sling" to the forearm area. Not the Galco one but just the right sized strap from one ond of the forearm to the other. Not the full system which has 3 mounting points.

I've a similar sling I made from a 1inch reign with holes punched every 3/4." The leather was already broke in with URAD products and dead soft for as thick as it was. Attachment points are two removable sling attachment points that go on and off my rail forearms. Third attachment point is rear of A2 Stock. If I put a collapsable stock on I'll just make a short sling that fits the front two attachment points and use a singlepoint sling for body carry attachment.

BFG, Vikings Tactics and Magpul all make great slings.

I think the best slings are by Gear Sector, and I use single point slings.

I've got 2 of the Blue Force Vickers padded slings and they are great.

same here. I think they work better mounted to the side of the forend rather than the bottom

+1

My only warning would be if you choose the padded version, you will be limited on how short you can make the sling as the padded portion is a fixed length. The non-padded you can shorten as much as you want. I use the padded on my heavier rifles and the non-padded on my carbine FWIW.

+1

I'm thinking about doing this with my Vickers. Best of both worlds then.