Shooting is fun, but lugging around your rifle like a 30-round briefcase is a real drag, and getting your rifle snatched out of your hands is worse. You need a sling, my friend.
If you’ve been putting it off because there are so many confusing options out there, I get it. Slings are fairly affordable, but nobody wants to spend money on gear they don’t really understand.

That’s where I come in! I’ve used great rifle slings and a few downright safety hazards. Today, I’m only bringing you the best rifle slings I was able to personally test in an apples-to-apples comparison.
THE QUICK LIST
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Best AR-15
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Fastest Adjustment
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Best Modular
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Best Convertible
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Best for Vehicles
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Best Single-Point
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Best for Hunting
Table of Contents
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Rifle Sling Comparison Chart
| Price | Best Use | Attachment Points | |
| Pew Pew Tactical Padded Sling | $66 | AR-15, AK | Two-point |
| Agilite Re-Flex3D | $62 | AR-15 | Two-point |
| Ferro Concepts Slingster | $57 | AR-15, AK | Two-point |
| Magpul MS4 | $66 | AR-15 | Two-point / single-point |
| Viking Tactics Street Fighter | $59 | AR-15 | Two-point |
| Tac Shield CQB | $17 | AR-15, AK, PDW | Single-point |
| Galco No-Slip Sling | $88 | Hunting | Two-point |
| MidwayUSA Traditional Leather Rifle Sling | $24 | Hunting, retro builds | Two-point |
How We Tested the Best Rifle Slings
In preparation for this article, I surveyed the Pew Pew Tactical team, chatted up a few people in the industry whom I trust, and read up on what people recommend in various online spaces.

Hands-On Testing and Evaluation
From there, I rounded up some of the most popular slings for hands-on testing. While I can’t get my hands on everything, I tried to include a wide range of manufacturers and price ranges. Initial evaluation covered things like hardware options, materials, and available colors.

Finally, I took each sling to the range to use it in my routine training. I’ve worked with all kinds of styles and designs, so it was pretty easy for me to figure out how well each one would work for the average user, including lots of first-time gun owners who might not be familiar with various sling styles and techniques.
My basic rundown looked like this:
- Mount and adjust the sling.
- Stow the rifle and sling for transportation.
- Quickly retrieve the rifle from the case and don the sling in the shooting bay.
- Tighten the sling fully, and run to the firing line.
- Prepare to fire both by loosening the sling and swimming my left arm out of it.
- Engage multiple targets while wearing the sling.
- Move between shooting positions both with the sling tightened and loosened.
- Tighten the sling before checking targets or returning to my vehicle.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Slings can get tangled and messy in storage, so I used a Savior Equipment Urban Warfare case to see how quickly I could get the rifle out of the vehicle, onto my body, and ready to go.
This soft case is a great option for up to two long guns, several magazines, and a few other essentials. There are even long versions for precision rifles, hunting rifles, and shotguns.
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Some of you might want to know how well a given sling works with body armor. I used these with and without the new Agilite K-Zero SF.
The scalable K-Zero SF is a great platform for this kind of thing because I can run a minimalist setup (which I typically prefer) or slap on all the bells and whistles – whatever the testing of the day requires.
Meet the Experts

This article comes to you from Pew Pew Tactical editor and senior review analyst Scott Murdock. In addition to testing each of these rifle slings, Scott has used and trained with all kinds of slings – he even survived those horrid three-point contraptions from the OIF/OEF era. Backing his analysis is experience passed down from elite instructors, competitive shooters, and military training.
Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.
Best Rifle Slings
1. Pew Pew Tactical Padded Sling – Best AR-15
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- One-handed operation
- Plenty of padding to keep you comfortable
- Nice selection of colors and camo patterns
Cons
- Mounts sold separately
- Some patterns may be sold out
The Bottom Line
We built the Pew Pew Tactical rifle sling just the way we like it! It's got padding, pizzazz, and the ends are open so you can pick whichever mounts you want (or use what you already own). I love how simple this sling is to operate. The hardest part might be choosing which camo pattern you want.
Specs
- Best Use: AR-15, AK
- Attachment: Two-point
- Adjustment: Tri-glides
- Included Hardware: None
- Material: 1” nylon webbing, 1.5” Cordura-wrapped Neoprene padding
- Colors: Ranger green, Multicam, Multicam Arid, Multicam Black, woodland camo
- Country of Origin: USA
We know what we like in an AR-15 sling, so we worked with Flatline Fiber Co. to make our own Pew Pew Tactical sling! Of course I’m partial in this case, but I think it looks pretty awesome, too. This is a comfy, user-friendly, straightforward sling that doesn’t require a manual to operate.

To install this sling on your AR or AK, thread the loose ends through your mount of choice (I used QD mounts, in this case) and secure the sling material in the triglides. Fasten the mounts to your firearm, and experiment with length until you’re happy with how it fits.
To lengthen the sling, pull the reinforced tab toward your body. To tighten, pull it away from your body. This is one of my favorite features about this sling; there’s only one piece you need to manipulate, regardless of how you’re adjusting it.

Maneuvering with this sling was easy and comfortable. That’s partly because of the padding, and partly because there aren’t a bunch of complicated moving parts. It slid across my back or plate carrier smoothly, and allowed me to either adjust the length or swim out of it to shoot without getting tangled. Sometimes, simpler really is better!
The highest praise I can offer a sling during live fire is that I didn’t notice it. Eric knew what he was doing when he designed this one, because it worked seamlessly and let me focus on the important part – getting shots on target.
While it worked well atop a plate carrier, our in-house design feels even better without one. Training is important, and so is firearm retention. This sling will keep you comfortable and in control, no matter how long your range day lasts. Having a bunch of colors and camo patterns to choose from is a nice perk, too (I’m really digging this Multicam Black sling – look for more pics of it on Pew Pew Tactical’s Springfield Saint Victor PCC build in the future).
Are there downsides? That depends on your perspective. This sling doesn’t come with hardware; we made it that way so you don’t have to pay for something you don’t want. I recommend QD mounts for most applications, but your build may require hooks, swivels, or something different. I’ll get into that more at the end of the article.
2. Agilite Re-Flex3D – Fastest Adjustment
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- One-handed operation
- No break-in period
- Foam-free padding
Cons
- Small QD mounts are a challenge to use with gloves
- Not available in camo
The Bottom Line
The Agilite Re-Flex3D is one clever rifle sling. The 3D weave gives it a little cushion and a little flex without adding bulk or weight. The slick pull tab makes one-handed adjustments fast and effortless. Bonus points for the color-matching QD mounts.
Specs
- Best Use: AR-15
- Attachment: Two-point
- Adjustment: Rigid pull tab
- Included Hardware: QD
- Material: 1” – 2” 3D-knit nylon webbing
- Colors: Black, ranger green, tan
- Country of Origin: Vietnam
Agilite is pretty proud of the research and development that went into the Re-Flex3D sling. After using it for several training sessions, I have to say it’s not just marketing hype. I really liked shooting with this cleverly designed rifle sling.

The Re-Flex3D comes with QD mounts, but you’ll still have to adjust them to get a proper fit. It’s the usual triglide arrangement; nothing complicated. These are significantly smaller than other QD mounts I’ve used. They’re a little more tricky to detach because of that, but the reduced size also lets them fit into the corner of my Magpul stock with more room to rotate – I appreciate that.

The Re-Flex3D was very comfortable during testing, but there isn’t any foam sewn into it. Instead, Agilite used an innovative weave pattern to make the sling feel push and flexible without being thick or bouncy. It’s wider where it contacted my shoulder and back, but thin enough to stay out of the way of my support hand.
The scorpion-tail grip was another strong point. It stuck out enough that it was easy to grab without looking and it’s the same component used to lengthen and tighten the sling. That back-and-forth sliding motion was incredibly smooth and fast right out of the box.
Live-fire training gave this sling a chance to impress me; all those little details came together to make shooting and moving just a little bit easier than a lot of alternatives. The smaller QD mounts spin easier in free-spinning QD points. The slick material slid across my body and plate carrier without any resistance. Most noticeable, though, was the fact that the rigid adjustment handle was always there when I reached for it – no searching or wondering if I grabbed the right piece of material.
It’s hard to find flaws in this sling. The QD mounts are smaller than I’m used to, but nothing in my testing suggested they’re fragile. For some readers, I suppose the biggest drawback is that this is the only sling of the bunch that’s not made in the U.S.
3. Ferro Concepts Slingster – Best Modular
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Semi-rigid pull tab is always accessible
- Run it with or without the pad
- Surprisingly affordable
Cons
- Extending it is a push/pull motion
- Single-point-conversion triglide not included
The Bottom Line
The Ferro Concepts Slingster adds tech where it can, and keeps things simple where it should. The polymer pull tab is a nice touch that's easy to find without looking. The rest of the sling is straightforward and focused on quality. It's a beautiful balancing act.
Specs
- Best Use: AR-15, AK
- Attachment: Two-point
- Adjustment: Rigid pull tab
- Included Hardware: None
- Material: 1” nylon webbing, 2” removable pad
- Colors: Black, coyote, ranger green, wolf gray, Multicam, Multicam Black
- Country of Origin: USA
When it comes to rifle slings, the Ferro Concepts Slingster is probably at the top of many people’s list. The praise is deserved, and my favorite version of the Slingset is this one with optional padding that lets you run it your way.

Setting up the Slingster was straightforward. The only extra consideration was whether I wanted to use the pad or not. If you want to run the 1-inch sling as-is, you’ll want to remove the pad before installing mounts or attaching it to your rifle to keep things simple.
Like the Re-Flex3D, the Slingster has a rigid grab handle for making the sling looser or tighter. It’s a very strong piece of hardware that bites into place securely, but it does require both hands to get involved. To lengthen the sling, lift the handle with your support hand and extend the firearm away from your body with your shooting hand. To shorten it, just pull the handle toward your firearm with your support hand.
It didn’t feel likely to break during testing, but you can buy this part individually from Ferro Concepts if you need to. They also sell a triglide to convert the Slingster into a single-point sling on the fly.

Even with the modular pad installed, I never felt any binding or snagging on my plate carrier. The same goes for that grab handle. It’s solid, but flexible enough to bend out of the way. I’ve used a Slingster at training events outside of this test, and it always performed well. It’s a proven design that does its job under the radar – exactly how I like it.
Because I shot with a plate carrier for this test, the removable pad didn’t really matter in terms of comfort. It also didn’t cause any problems, so I recommend leaving it in place in case you want to shoot without body armor. I’ve used this sling without a plate carrier, and I appreciated having a little extra material to distribute the weight of an AR-15.
The two-step process of loosening the Slingster is the closest I can get to finding a fault. This is a really well-made sling, and I can already tell it’s going to break in to be even softer, smoother, and more comfortable with more use (and it will get more use around here).
4. Magpul MS4 – Best Convertible
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Easily switch between single-point and two-point configurations
- Streamlined, one-handed adjustment slider
- Beefy enough for heavier builds
Cons
- Chunky, oversized hardware
- Heavier than most slings
The Bottom Line
If you can't pick between a single-point sling and a two-point sling, the Magpul MS4 can satisfy your indecision. It's also robust enough for heavy rifles, and the polymer slider provides fast adjustments with one hand. This is one of the more versatile rifle slings out there.
Specs
- Best Use: AR-15
- Attachment: Single-point / two-point
- Adjustment: Rigid pull tab
- Included Hardware: QD
- Material: 1.25”
- Colors: Black, coyote, ranger green, stealth gray
- Country of Origin: USA
Can’t decide between a single-point sling and a two-point sling? Want something extra tough? You can change things up on the fly with the Magpul MS4 Gen 2 rifle sling. I used an MS4 as my primary AR-15 sling for years, and it’s a great option for people who want a robust, adaptable system.

Setting up the MS4 is a little different because of its adaptable design. It’s still easy, though; just slide the material through a few oversized triglides until it fits.
It’s designed to be used as a two-point or single-point sling, so position the additional QD point at the end that mounts to your stock. I mount the other end in an M-LOK adapter on my handguard, then move it to the D-ring when I want maximum maneuverability. To make on-the-fly adjustments, rip the polymer slider forward or back with your support hand. It’s a neat, low-profile approach that works very well.

Movement with this sling is easy enough, and I like how easy it is to make adjustments with the slider. Having the option to quickly transform it into a single-point sling is nice, too. The material is quite a bit more bulky than what the other nylon slings here use, so it’s a little more noticeable at the buttstock.
There were times during live fire that I felt the MS4 bunching up at the contact point between the stock, my shoulder, and the shoulder strap of my plate carrier. That’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s worth pointing out. Otherwise, it’s great to shoot with and this one has been extremely durable for the several years I’ve been using it.
I wouldn’t say there are drawbacks to this sling, but some things are a matter of preference. Some of you may rather grab a large tab than reach for the polymer buckle on this sling. It’s not a worse way of adding or removing length, it’s just different.
What do you think of the Magpul sling? Rate it below!
5. Viking Tactics Street Fighter – Best for Vehicles
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Straps down nice and tight
- Deploys with a single pull
- Great materials and construction
Cons
- More complicated than my other picks
- My sling's logo is upside-down!
The Bottom Line
Viking Tactics built the Street Fighter for people who store their AR-15 with a sling, and want to be ready to rumble at a moment's notice. When everything is cinched down, it's a very streamlined package. When you yank the handle, it pops right out and works like a normal sling. There is a bit of a learning curve, though.
Specs
- Best Use: AR-15
- Attachment: Two-point
- Adjustment: Rubberized pull tab (lengthen), webbing pull tab (tighten)
- Included Hardware: QD
- Material: 1.5” nylon webbing
- Colors: Black, coyote, Multicam, OD green
- Country of Origin: USA
If getting your carbine out of its case in a hurry feels like wrestling an octopus, the Viking Tactics Street Fighter can keep your sling tidy, out of the way, and ready at a moment’s notice. This sling requires the most training of the bunch, but it sure makes life easy if you store your AR-15 with its sling installed.

This is the most complicated sling on this list to set up (although it comes with QD mounts, which is nice). Like any other sling, I experimented with each end’s adjustment range to make it fit my torso and plate carrier. To lengthen the Street Fighter, tug on the rubberized tab (not the handle you use to release the sling from its storage position) with your support hand and pull the firearm away from your body with your shooting hand. To tighten it, pull the loose end of the nylon material.

Next came the process of folding it up and strapping it down for storage. The tighter you get it, the less likely it is to get snagged on something when you need to retrieve your rifle. Don’t be afraid to really pull on those loose ends.
Here, watch this demo to see what I mean.
Most slings are easy to maneuver with when you’re wearing them, but they can be a serious snag risk if you’re not. The Street Fighter stays tightly secured along the left side of the firearm (for right-handed shooters) when you aren’t using it. When I grabbed it out of the rifle case on my back seat, this was a huge plus. It did cover the bolt release, but a good slap still worked.
During live fire, there was a lot going on with this sling. There were multiple bits and pieces waving around on my support-hand side, so grabbing the right one to adjust its length was more involved than it was with other slings. This is something you can train around, to be sure, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Let’s be upfront about this sling’s drawbacks. As slings go, it’s kind of complicated to figure out. There are a lot of moving parts, the hook-and-loop fasteners stick to the sling occasionally, and (depending on how you set it up) there can be a few loose ends to sort out by feel when you want to loosen or tighten it.
I love the advanced features of this sling and it’s great at what it does – just don’t expect to be proficient with it without some dedicated practice time.
6. Tac Shield CQB – Best Single-Point
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Unbuckle without detaching the QD mount
- Extremely simple to operate
- Wide sling distributes weight well
Cons
- Not good for going hands-free
- More limited applications
The Bottom Line
Sometimes I do like to use a single-point sling for freedom of movement, and that sling is the Tac Shield CQB. In addition to being well-built and supportive, it lets you unbuckle your rifle without removing the QD mount or hook. That's convenient, and it means you can easily run multiple firearms with the same sling.
Specs
- Best Use: AR-15, AK, PDW
- Attachment: Single-point
- Adjustment: Tri-glide
- Included Hardware: HK hook, loop, QD
- Material: 1.5” nylon webbing
- Colors: Black, coyote, Multicam Black (HK only), OCP (HK and QD only)
- Country of Origin: USA
Single-point slings are somewhat of a niche item these days, but they still have their place. I really enjoy the Tac Shield CQB single-point sling when I want to prioritize mobility, but still maintain a layer of security. It’s been very convenient for testing multiple firearms, or changing targets.

The CQB sling is a piece of cake to set up. Throw it on, slide the triglide until it’s snug, and pop the single QD mount into your stock or lower receiver. You’re done. Time to go shooting.
When you want to set your rifle down, you don’t have to take the whole sling off or detach the QD mount. There’s a plastic buckle that lets you separate the main sling from the QD portion – very convenient! This is particularly useful if you wear shooting gloves.

Unlike a two-point AR-15 sling, there’s no need to adjust this one once you put it on. That’s because there’s a long enough leash, so to say, to shoulder the weapon without letting out more material.
I like to wear it with the triglide up front just in case I want a looser or tighter fit to my torso, with the QD attachment just under and in front of my shooting-hand arm.
Dynamic training is where this sling shines. With only one point of contact, I was free to use low- or high-ready positions, and switch to my non-dominant hand to shoot around barricades or maneuver indoors (hence the CQB name).
It’s not so great for sustained operations, though. If I had to cover miles on foot, or stand duty for hours on end, I’d want a two-point sling with a little more structure to it.
This sling’s drawbacks are true for any single-point sling. While it allows for the best freedom of movement, you need to either keep one hand on your rifle or stand still to prevent it from turning into a wild, swinging mallet.
7. Galco No-Slip Sling – Best for Hunting
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- High-quality leather construction
- Grippy underside is secure but won't tear up your clothes
- Comes with sling swivel mounts
Cons
- Leather requires a little upkeep
- Fairly stiff
The Bottom Line
The Galco No-Slip Sling is a wish come true for hunters who are sick of shrugging their shoulder to keep their rifle from falling off. It's well-built, comes with sling swivel mounts already installed, and adjusting its length doesn't require tools. How soon is opening day?
Specs
- Best Use: Hunting rifles, hunting shotguns
- Attachment: Two-point
- Adjustment: Keyhole
- Included Hardware: Sling swivels
- Material: 1.25” – 2.5” leather
- Colors: Black, dark Havana
- Country of Origin: USA
Not all rifles are ARs or AKs, and not all slings have to be built for carbine drills and action movies. The Galco No-Slip Sling is an all-day-comfortable sling for big-game and upland hunters who need to log miles with a rifle or shotgun ready to go.

Galco installs sling swivels at the factory, so this sling arrives ready to go. All I had to do was mount them to the studs on my rifle and adjust the length to fit. This doesn’t require any tools. The holes in the sling are shaped like an exclamation point; position the metal fastener at the top, and it pops right out; pull it into the bottom, and it stays in place.

This is a hunting-focused sling, so I didn’t run the usual tactical drills to test it. Instead, I just went for a walk with it over my shoulder. This is how I carry a rifle or shotgun when I’m hunting – relaxed, but only a second or two away from getting into a shooting position.
I like the classic aesthetic of a leather sling, and the no-slip material did a nice job of keeping the sling in place and my rifle vertical behind my shoulder blade. I typically don’t use cross-body carry when I’m hunting – the rifle is either on one shoulder or strapped to my pack – but it’s certainly possible.
This sling is quite stiff, so getting into a prone position required me to situate it just so under the stock’s forend. The upside is that it stays semi-rigid and out of the way for standing or kneeling shots. I just couldn’t easily wrap it around my left arm for extra support like I would with a parade sling.
You might notice that some hunting rifles have two studs for sling swivels on the forend. That’s so you can mount the sling in the rear, and use the forward stud for a bipod.
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This sling is made for rifles and shotguns in the field, so remember that it’s made of leather and will need more upkeep than your average nylon web sling. Add conditioner as needed, wipe it down when it gets wet, and you should have a lifetime product on your hands.
8. MidwayUSA Traditional Leather Rifle Sling – Best Retro
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Real leather and metal hardware
- Wraps an arm great for extra stability
- Super affordable, even with sling swivel mounts included
Cons
- Too narrow to be comfortable with heavy rifles
- Slides around a little
The Bottom Line
With the MidwayUSA traditional leather rifle sling, you can get a quality item and some great retro vibes without breaking the bank. It's narrow, so don't plan on carrying too much weight for too long, but I had great success with my upland gun in the field.
Specs
- Best Use: Hunting, retro builds
- Attachment: Two-point
- Adjustment: Chicago screws
- Included Hardware: Sling swivels
- Material: 0.875” leather
- Colors: Black, dark brown, light brown
- Country of Origin: USA
Fancy features are great, but you may not need them. Maybe you just want to keep costs down or find a retro sling for your M1A. In that case, the MidwayUSA traditional leather rifle sling will look the part without blowing the budget.

As with other conventional slings, mounting this one is as easy as clipping in a pair of sling swivels. MidwayUSA provides those, so you’re one step ahead.
To adjust it, there’s a single metal screw that you can position in one of several holes to lengthen or shorten the sling. Once it’s set, you shouldn’t need to mess with it unless you pack on a bunch of warming layers. In that case, you’ll just need a flathead screwdriver, multitool, or coin.

I used this one to walk from one quail spot to another, so my requirements for it were very basic. It did a fine job of keeping my trusty Remington 870 vertical, accessible, and high enough to stay out of the sagebrush.
There’s nothing to get in the way of pouncing on a quick shot opportunity.
The thin, leather sling stayed out of the way during live fire. It’s flexible enough that I was able to wrap it around my left arm for extra stability. That’s not something I do with a shotgun, but it’s helpful for rifle marksmanship.
I love this sling’s old-school charm and budget-friendly price, but its thin profile doesn’t distribute weight all that will. For my 870, that wasn’t an issue. Load it down with something heavier, and it might dig into your shoulder more than you’d prefer.
Best Rifle Sling Mounting Hardware
Some of these slings come with hardware; some don’t. I wouldn’t base your decision solely on that, because you can buy whichever mounts you like separately.
Here are a few different ways to attach a rifle sling.
Quick-Detach (QD)
These days, quick-detach slings are the most popular option for AR-15s and other modern platforms.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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They’re super secure and release with the touch of a button. Many stocks, braces, and handguards come with QD points, so you don’t need to modify your firearm. In some cases, you might need to add a QD adapter to your M-LOK or Keymod rail.
QD slings can spin freely or lock in place. That depends on the QD cup on your firearm, not the attachment on your sling.
I’m a big fan of QD sling mounts. They’re strong, easy to use, and they make it easy to move the sling around to different positions on the fly. There’s a reason they took the market by storm.
Hooks
Sling hooks are simpler and less expensive than QD attachments. They’re fairly reliable, and they work with a lot of different eyelets.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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I used a single-point sling with a hook attachment in Afghanistan. It was sturdy and easy to unclip.
The drawback here is a lot of friction between the hook and the mount. The aluminum sling mount on my M4 wore down quickly during the deployment, and by the time I got home, it was toast.
If you opt for a sling hook, I recommend pairing it with a steel loop on your rifle. Replacing hooks is cheaper and easier than fixing your rifle after you accidentally dump it on the ground.
Sling Swivels
If you have a hunting rifle or shotgun, there’s a good chance it came from the factory with studs that accept sling swivels.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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These were originally designed for traditional leather slings, but any sling that’s the right width can potentially work. Some move freely, while others lock in place. Buy what works for you.
Occasionally, firearm manufacturers will put two sling swivel studs on the forend of a rifle. That’s so you can mount a bipod without giving up your sling point.
Sling swivels and conventional stocks go together like peanut butter and jelly, but I’d look elsewhere for ARs, AKs, and chassis guns.
ULoop
The Blue Force Gear ULoop is a recent addition to the sling world, and it’s quickly become very popular with the Pew Pew Tactical team.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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This style is very versatile and often doesn’t require other accessories or modifications to your firearm.
It’s durable and flexible at the same time. If you’ve ever felt like QD mounts don’t rotate as smoothly as you’d like, or get gummed up with dirt, the ULoop can solve those problems.
How to Pick the Best Rifle Sling
There’s more to picking the right rifle sling than meets the eye. Here’s what you need to know before you swipe that credit card.
Intended Use
What are you putting your sling on, and how do you plan on using it? My go-to AR-15 and hunting rifle have very different slings, because I expect very different things from them.

When people put a sling on an AR or AK, they usually want something that’s secure, light, and allows great freedom of movement. At most, you’ll see a little bit of padding. Hardware tends to be extremely robust, with the option to move it around on the rifle.
Hunting slings typically prioritize comfort. When I use one of these, I’m covering long distances in the field and usually don’t need to do a bunch of tactical movements – I just want to get from point A to point B. Leather is popular for aesthetic reasons.
Single-Point vs. Two-Point vs. Three-Point Slings
Slings can attach to rifles in a variety of ways. Each has pros and cons.

One-point slings offer the most freedom of movement. They keep your rifle connected to your body, but that’s about it. You can quickly switch from right-hand to left-hand shooting, use various high-ready or low-ready positions, and manipulate the rifle as easily as if there were no sling at all.
On the other hand, it’s kind of like wearing a rifle necklace: there’s almost no support. If you need to go hands-free, your rifle is going to swing all over the place and become a liability.

Two-point slings offer a happy middle ground. For most people and most situations, this is my recommendation. You can mount these points in different places on most rifles. If you need to use your hands for something else, you have the option to cinch the rifle to your body so it stays secure and out of the way.
You can use some two-point slings to improve your marksmanship by wrapping your sling around your support arm or disconnecting it from the stock and making it into an arm cuff. I used these techniques for rifle qualification and competition in the Marine Corps, and they’re surprisingly effective.
With a little bit of practice, I don’t really see a downside to two-point slings.

Three-point slings were all the rage for a brief point in time about 20 years ago. The goal was to make something that could be tight and secure, then unclip to offer a better range of motion.
They were mostly a spider web of frustration and sadness.
Comfort vs. Mobility
One decision you’ll have to make is how much you care about comfort.

If you’re only going to wear your sling for short periods of time, you might not need to pay for a bunch of padding. If you wear body armor, padding might not do you any good.
On the other hand, if you spend hours on the range at a time with nothing between your sling and skin but a shirt, some padding will be well worth the upcharge.
Sling Management
Most of the slings you see here require some degree of management once you adjust them to fit your body.

These are one-size-fits-all products, so you’re likely going to end up with several inches of extra metrical at each end. Leaving that loose doesn’t just look messy, it might cause to you grab the wrong bit of material when you need to loosen or tighten the sling. I often leave test slings as-is in case I or another reviewer needs to use them later, but my personal gear is locked down.
One way to do this is to cut any extra length off and melt the fresh end with a lighter so it doesn’t fray. This is effective, but it’s not ideal if you think you might want to make a change down the road.
The other is to fold up the extra material and secure it with electrical tape. Doing this keeps things tidy without making permanent changes to your gear.
Final Thoughts
Rifle slings are kind of like holsters: you’re going to end up with a collection.

The sling I use for range days isn’t the same one I use when I pack a rifle in the car for long road trips through the desert. Neither one goes hunting with me. Fortunately, these high-quality slings are affordable enough that you can pick up two or three over time, and rotate through them depending on your needs.
What’s the best rifle sling you’ve used? Let us know in the comments. Looking for more great gear? Check out our guide to the Best Gun Cases!
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7 Leave a Reply
I always had trouble with the sling wanting to let the rifle slowly slide off my shoulder until I got a Quake the Claw Sling. This sling will not let your rifle slide off your shoulder.
Thanks for the recommendation, Randy!
Hard to believe Blue Force didn't make the cut. They're battle proven and a favorite the spec ops community.
The PewPew Tactical sling looks like it’s made by Blue Force Gear. I own several BFG slings and are hard to beat.
I run Edgar Sherman Designs on all my long arms. They have a great operating mechanics, a comfortable toggle, come in just about every color and camo pattern you might want and cost less than any of the slings reviewed in this article.
I realize that you could not cover every possible sling variant but why is there no mention of one of the most popular 223/556 platforms on the market today? Which just happens to be celebrating its 50th anniversary. Once again, we Mini 14 owners are disrespected and ignored. Not surprised, just disappointed.
Reg
This may seem too basic but if you don't know something, it's not. I would love an article that covered all the ways to use a sling. I remember Marine boot camp showing us the sling around the hand/wrist of the forward hand. That was 40 years ago and I suspect there's more to learn. Please cover professional handling of positions. When I see someone who is trained, I want to be that impressive and competent.