Look no further than the 2-point sling if you’re looking for a comfortable and adaptable way to carry your rifle. This kind of sling is ideal for any shooting circumstance because it can be used in a number of different ways.
We’ll show you how to wear a 2-point sling and make the most of it in this guide.
Table of Contents
What is a 2-point Sling?
Let’s define a two-point sling first before we delve too deeply. A two-point sling is one that fastens to a weapon at two different points of contact. One point is typically located near the front of the weapon, close to the trigger. Ordinarily, the second point is attached to the stock or the area close to or behind the trigger.
Two-point slings can be mounted with smash hooks or quick detach push button mounts on any rifle that has the corresponding attachment hardware, or they can be attached with loops to a rifle like the standard M1A that has sling loop mounts. We usually refer to that last option as just “QD mounts.” Most shooters, if given the option, seem to favor the QD mount systems.
Quick Rundown Of 2 Point Sling
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Flexible design.
- Can control movement.
- Safe.
- Secure strap.
Cons
- It’s challenging to change shoulders.
- It’s a little challenging to use the size adjustment unit.
How Does a 2-point Sling Differ from a 1- Or 3-point Sling?
The best sling design overall, arguably, is a 2-point sling. On long guns, however, 1- and 3-point slings are also created, put to use, and deployed.
Traditional applications of a 1-point sling include particular mission sets like vehicle-based operations and urban/CQC operations. Given that it is only mounted to the weapon at one point, a 1-point sling provides minimal retention and a high level of maneuverability but is notably unstable.
When not in use, this can significantly impede mobility as it allows the weapon to move around freely. One-point slings are frequently used by both civilians and members of the armed forces on a wide range of weapons in a variety of contexts.
Instead of using just one sling loop like 1- and 2-point slings do, a 3-point sling offers a much higher level of retention and makes use of two sling loops. By employing two loops, the weapon is also laid upon the user in a much more controlled manner, preventing the weapon from flopping around.
3-point slings in theory and in basic use are comfortable and appear to be practical, but the second any kit or gear are added by the user this style of sling gets easily hung up and snagged on those additions.
The majority of contemporary forces do not frequently issue or employ this style of the sling, and civilians do not frequently use it either.
Benefits of a 2-point Sling
Let’s get into the meat of what makes the two-point sling superb in my opinion.
Hands-Free
The ability to easily sling the rifle for hands-free use is the two-point sling’s greatest benefit. Yes, you’re right; shooting isn’t the two-point sling’s biggest selling point.
A recent image from Afghanistan taken during the U.S. evacuation showed an Armed marine wearing a gun sling across his back. At the Kabul airport, the Marine was hoisting passengers over the wall. The two-point slings’ main selling point is the ability to operate without using your hands. However, you need a quick-adjustable two-point sling in order to fully benefit from it.
How do you lay the rifle across your back in a hands-free position? When I first started using two-point slings, it took me some time to figure this one out. The rifle should be pointed out as if you were going to fire it to really get a sense of the fluid motion. Take your support arm and swim it down outside of the sling loop after that, leaving the sling strap across your shoulder. You then bring your dominant arm down, over, and up inside the sling loop.
Your rifle will be left with the buttstock raised and the muzzle pointing downward across your back. Of course, you can also wear it with the muzzle up if you find yourself in that situation. However, when friends are nearby, it is almost always preferable to keep your mouth shut and face the ground.
Security
You can also just take the rifle sling and tighten it across your torso. By doing this, you can keep the rifle close to your chest out of harm’s way while still having two hands available to hold down bad guys or assist those in need.
This brings up yet another fantastic advantage of this sling option: its security. This sling prevents your rifle from hanging out toward the side, making it more difficult to grab. You cannot cinch the rifle up to you in this way with a single-point sling, for instance. The rifle will still dangle even if the sling is made more restrictive.
Stability
The ability to make a very stable shooting platform with a two-point sling maybe its second greatest benefit. You can create tension in the platform, which will make the weapon much more stable when taking aim, by taking your support arm and pressing it into the sling.
Some slings, such as the Armageddon Gear PRS sling, even have a bicep-specific adjustable loop. This is used to give yourself a much more stable shooting base when firing a rifle while not seated on a bench or in the prone position by slipping your arm into the loop and tightening the sling. With their hunting rifles and conventional slings, shooters have long used the two-point platform to stiffen up their shooting stance; this is really no different.
The Nuances
Because a two-point sling has more material than a single-point sling, you must learn how to avoid becoming tangled in it. With this sling choice, you run the risk of choking yourself to death when shooting, reloading, lying down, kneeling, entering vehicles, or shifting shoulders. Particularly if you have it configured as I mentioned at the outset.
The best way to perform some of these more challenging movements, like reloading your rifle, is to swim out of your sling. That means you should remove the support arm from the sling’s loop that is currently in place. Your two-point sling will now be worn around your neck like a large necklace with a rifle attached. Both the neck and the security of this are compromised. But, this is a very handy option when you are having to do maneuvers and movements under duress
To use a two-point sling correctly, you MUST possess the essential skill set of swimming out of the sling. Without swimming your support arm out of your sling, it is impossible to switch shoulders to accommodate various cover or concealment options.
How to Use a Two-point Sling?
You should learn about the product before learning how to use a two-point sling. We will walk you through the steps to install and use this product effectively:
Step 1: Learn About 2-Point Sling
You need to be fully aware of the gun and your dominant hand before installing a 2-point sling. Both left- and right-handed people can make use of this assistive technology. If you are left-handed, however, connecting a two-point sling will be a little different.
You can tighten or loosen this device by using the adjustment tab-equipped cord that is part of the 2-point sling. The extension cord must be installed on the right side if you are a right-handed person, and vice versa.
Step 2: Connect 2 Point Sling to the Weapon
It’s also very simple to connect a two-point sling to a weapon. The gun’s tail and top barrel must both be threaded with wire.
Push-button quick detach is a further crucial component to which you should pay attention. You can change the strap’s length with the aid of this component.
For there to be no issues when using the wire, it must be installed properly. The 2-point sling will be difficult to tighten or loosen if it is installed incorrectly.
Step 3: Adjust 2-Point Sling
There are two adjustment tabs on a two-point sling that you can use to attach the weapon.
To prevent affecting how the gun operates, please place these two components in the proper position. They ought to be installed in the back. You know it’s in place if you put the gun on and don’t feel like the booster prevents you from using it.
A small note for you is that you need to put a “push-button quick detach” far away from your body, which will make it easier for you to adjust and switch to other weapons.
Step 4: Check
Try wearing the 2-point sling on your body after the installation is finished. After that, pull the gun to aim or the cord to tighten it. You can join the match if you don’t feel uncomfortable using it.
This video shows how to use your 2 Point Sling on your AR15.
What Are the Best Sling Attachments Methods?
The number of sling mounting options has increased significantly over the past few decades, enabling a user to customize and set up their setup as they see fit.
The over-the-shoulder carry method we most frequently associate with the older style of rifles (hunting rifles, military bolt-action rifles, etc.) is still supported by many small arms that still have traditional mounting points like slots or loops.).
Manufacturers are creating and incorporating numerous mounting options on their weapons to further increase a weapon’s capabilities.
Modern long guns come with or can be easily customized to use modular sling mounting options by simply bolting or unbolting small parts.
KeyMod or M-LOK mounting systems, which both made it possible to design and use an infinite number of mounts on small arms, are typically used for long guns.
Afterward, this feature enables users to choose from a variety of options for connecting the sling to the mounts, such as QD loops, metal clips, looping a sling through a mount, or even using a 550 cord (paracords) to loop and attaching the sling to one of these options.
Users must experiment with their sling setup to find the best one for their weapon and use since each of these methods—and others—has advantages and disadvantages.
What Are the Best Spots to Attach the Sling to a Weapon?
The mounting options and sling attachment points available for modern long guns are numerous. The furthest forward and rear points on the majority of weapons can easily be mounted with a 2-point sling.
This frequently entails mounting one on the stock and the other on the forend. However, since this depends on the user, weapon, and mission, people must experiment to find the spots that balance the weapon on their person, maintain good retention, avoid pinch points, and still allow for clean access to the rest of their kit and gear.
How Tight/loose Should the Sling Be?
The user, mission type, and environment all play a significant role in determining the amount of tension used on a 2-point sling. The majority of trustworthy sling producers include a quick-adjust feature in their 2-point sling designs.
Because of this, the sling’s length or tension can be quickly adjusted by pulling or releasing it. This makes it possible for the sling to have a very high and practical level of adjustment that, with sufficient training, the user can adjust and manage while on a mission.
While still allowing for movement freedom, a sling should be snug enough to maintain positive control of the weapon. By having built-in adjustability, tension can be changed throughout an event as the circumstances change and new factors become relevant.
Conclusion
2-point weapon slings are by far the most versatile method for carrying a long gun.
- They offer a great deal of flexibility for customization and modification.
- To optimize setup, users must experiment and practice with their sling setups.
- There are numerous sling mounting options available for small arms today.
- Dynamic changes can be made while a mission is underway thanks to built-in adjustments and features.
- In the end, the 2-point sling setup is user-specific, and each person must choose the configuration and sling that work best for them.
We advise users to look up reliable video reviews of 2-point slings on YouTube and other social media platforms in order to gain more knowledge and perspective.
