GI Loop Sling Alternatives

[kayak-man]

I was going to post a really, REALLY long thread about the GI loop sling, and if it really is practical for field use, either in a military, law enforcement, hunting, or competition (other than high-power) setting, with a lot of analogies to traditional martial arts with katas vs MMA with sparring.... But then I stumbled across the Ching Sling, Rhodesian Sling, and CW Sling, so all y'all are off the hook

I'm looking for something that can be used as a carry strap and a shooting aid, but that would give me better support than a hasty sling.

Right now I'm looking at the following:
- Armegeddon rifle sling
http://www.armageddongear.com/Precision-Rifle-Gear/Precision-Rifle-Sling

- Rifles Only FTW sling
https://www.riflesonly.com/pro-shop/tactical-kit/slings/ftw-carbine-long-gun-sling.html

-Rifle Craft RS1 sling
http://rifle-craft.com/product/rs1-reinforced-loop-sling/

Right now, due to price, the RS1 is at the top of the list. This would be for an AR15 initially (although eventually, I'll probably put some kind of sling on all my rifles) does anyone have any experience with any of those slings, or is there another key player that I'm leaving out? I've also been playing around with the idea of something like the MagPul sling, and using the quick disconnect hooks to configure it as a CW sling.

Thanks for the input, it is apreciated

 

[taliv]

i've been using the armageddon gear sling for 2 years. it's very popular among the top PRS shooters. it is a good compromise between a carry sling and a shooting sling.

I used the 1907 sling for a long time, then upgraded to the TIS quick cuff, which you should look at. The quick cuff allows you to get in and out of the sling extremely fast, and offers similar support to the 1907 sling. however, imho, it sucks as a carry strap. then i upgraded to the armageddon gear sling and it's worked pretty well for me.

I wouldn't get the FTW sling. it's sort of a knockoff of the TAB sling, but with the addition of bungee and different buckles. way too expensive for what it is

overall though, slings are cheap enough to buy several, try them and use the one that works for you. so i wouldn't lose sleep over it

edit: there's also some mountain shooter sling that i haven't used but seems to have a loyal following. may be worth checking out

 

[henschman]

A regular old VCAS sling works just fine as a shooting sling -- adjust it nice and tight, and wrap your wrist just like you would on a hasty sling. With the sling running over your back, it holds the sling high above your bicep, and doesn't tend to slip down like a regular shoulder carry sling does with a hasty sling. The key to making it work is locating the front attachment point in the right place. You want it on the side of the handguard just forward of where your hand goes when you are in prone with your support elbow at a 90 degree angle. The bent support elbow also keeps the sling from slipping down your arm. You use the sling swivel as a hand stop, with the web of your support hand up against it.

 

[kayak-man]

Thanks for the input guys.

Taliv, thanks for the input. I think you're right about eventually buying a bunch of slings, since my rifles are all a little different. I looked at the TIS, but I'm not a huge fan of the constrictor style loops. What are some of the things you are giving up with the Armageddon sling in terms of use as either a carrying strap or shooting aid?

Henschman, if I'm visulizing it right, it sounds like just about any kind of 2 point sling with a quick adjust would work well in the way you described using a VCAS. Have you found any difference in stability between that method and a more traditional loop sling?
I would think that it might cant the rifle less, since the tension is also being applied to the stock. Any input on how well that method works shooting from prone?

 

[taliv]

as a shooting aid, the armageddon sling is good for a couple shots, but it won't stay in place for a long string. it will slide down your arm. that's what's great about the quick cuff... it's sewn into your jacket so it is always in exactly the same spot.

 

[kayak-man]

Right on. I'm picking up what you're laying down with the quick cuff, and I'll keep looking into it, although Ive got mixed feelings about sewing the cuff into your jacket. I can see how that would be awesome from a consistency stand point, but I can't see it working for someone like me who changes up his outerwear depending on the weather and activity level.

 

[taliv]

when i was using the TIS, i kept a soft shell type jacket and a heavier jacket, both used with layers. just to be clear, the TIS sucks as a carry sling, which is why i moved away from it. every choice is a compromise

 

[kayak-man]

Taliv, I've reconsidered the quick cuff. When you say it sucks as a carry sling, what exactly was so bad about it? Was it worse than literally just a nylon strap? Also, does the cuff constrict like the GI web sling, or will I actually be able to feel a radial pulse?

Thanks for your help

 

[taliv]

i want a sling to be able to be carried over one shoulder (african style) and if hands-free is required, to stick my head and one shoulder through the sling so i can wear it across my chest or across my back depending on what i'm doing.
in order to do that, it needs to be adjustable relatively quickly. the quick cuff has buckles so you have to futz with them using both hands for 5 minutes to adjust it. the armageddon gear sling can be adjusted with one hand longer or shorter in 2 seconds, just like a VTAC or blue force gear ar15 carbine sling.
heck, even the 1907 sling can be adjusted from parade tight to all the way out in a couple seconds (though it takes two hands)

it is not worse than a nylon strap

the quick cuff itself is just a strap with velcro on it, so you wear it around adjusted to an inch or two larger circumference than your bicep, and when you wnat to use it, you CAN peel the velcro back, pull it as tight as you want, and put the velcro back together.
i don't get a pulse when i do it, even fairly tight, because of where i put it

 

[kayak-man]

AWESOME!

i DEFINATELY hate the GI web sling enough that the quick cuff sounds pretty good as a dedicated shooting sling that I can use as a carry strap when I'm out hunting. I'm kind of excited to not have my arm go numb when I'm shooting

 

[taliv]

random google image search... you can see the cuff is just a strap with velcro, set at whatever size you want. and it attaches/detaches from the sling as fast as you can squeeze the buckle. you can also see the length of the rest of the sling is adjusted by the metal buckle thingy and is a PITA to move

fwiw, i modified mine by sewing multiple buckles on to the sling. i want a different sling length when i shoot seated vs prone vs kneeling. so i have a couple extra buckles hanging off and i just clip into whichever one is appropriate

 

[Skylerbone]

I still have 1907s on most of my rifles but I really like the Padded VTAC (not the standard one) on my AR. Adjusts quickly and comfortable for carry compared to the strap I was using.

 

[kayak-man]

ndom google image search... you can see the cuff is just a strap with velcro, set at whatever size you want. and it attaches/detaches from the sling as fast as you can squeeze the buckle. you can also see the length of the rest of the sling is adjusted by the metal buckle thingy and is a PITA to move

Ok, I think I was getting the quick cuff and the slip cuff mixed up. If the quick cuff is actually practical (which it sounds like it is) and won't cut off the circulation in my arm, I'm all for it. Also, I like your added buckle idea. There's a voice in my head that wants to just sew a buckle onto a VTAC and make hybrid....