Best Rifle Slings | Outdoor Life

A rifle sling is one of those standard yet under-appreciated pieces of gear that hunters and shooters depend on. It’s easy to let a sling for your hunting rifle or AR be an afterthought, but choosing the best rifle sling for you can make a big difference when it comes to carrying and handling your rifle or shotgun. A bad sling will have you cussing it from the start.

Picking the Best Rifle Slings for You

Picking the best sling for your rifle and application isn’t hard, but it does pay to do it right the first time. There are lots of great rifle slings on the market, and just about anyone could find something on this list that works for them.

The Firearm

Many slings work fine on a variety of rifles or shotguns, but the gun itself (and how you’ll carry it) is the first thing you’ll want to consider. Different rifles and shotguns have different mounting options for rifle slings. What orientation do you want the sling set up in? Are you going to carry on your shoulder or across your chest?

Application

How you want to use your sling will affect both the orientation of how you’ll set it up and the specific type of sling for you. A sling for service rifle competition will be set up differently than one on a PRC rifle, or a hunting rifle, or the sling on a waterfowl shotgun.

Comfort and Simplicity

For any rifle sling, comfort and simplicity are key factors that make it work for you. Many slings have fancy features and adjustments, but simplicity and ease-of-use win the day. A sling needs to be comfortable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be excessively padded or stretchy. Often, a simple sling with minimal stretch and some texture that prevents slippage is the most comfortable to carry.

Best Rifle Slings: Reviews and Recommendations:

Best Overall: Blue Force Gear Hunting Rifle Sling

Key Features

• Heavy-duty Cordura webbing
• Simple, durable swivels
• Vickers-style design

Less is more when it comes to the best rifle slings — especially for a hunting rifle. Some slings with bells and whistles can be nice, but for a hard-working hunting rifle, durability, simplicity, and function are king. The hunting rifle sling from Blue Force Gear is probably the best general-use hunting rifle sling that I’ve used. It’s similar to the Vickers sling in design and is easily adjustable for length via a single polymer buckle. The webbing on this sling is heavy-duty Cordura nylon and the texture of the weave provides a great grip on your shoulder as you carry a slung rifle, but it also holds tight in the buckle. There’s nothing more annoying than a sling that won’t hold it’s set position.

I would like to see this model offered with QD swivels too, but the side-locking swivels are well-made and weather resistant. I carried this sling on my boat/brush rifle (a Ruger .338 Win. Mag.) for the past couple months, and I don’t think i’ve used a better sling. If you’re wanting an affordable sling that’s tough, durable, has excellent stitching, and made in the USA, look no further.

Best Leather Sling: Turner M1907 Leather Sling

Key Features

• Fully adjustable
• 1.25-inch strap
• Made for competition shooting
• Extra thick blued steel riveted hooks
• hand-stitched keepers
• Price: $82

The M1907 is one of the best rifle slings ever designed, and is still used today in service rifle and high-power competition. This sling is built for sling-supported positional shooting. It’s a rugged, ultra-durable leather sling that is a good option for hunting rifles too. The M1907 sling consists of two leather straps with a pattern of double holes, each with steel hooks riveted to one end, and two leather rings or “keepers.” One strap is run through the forward sling swivel, the other through the rear. The sling can be used in different configurations and lengths, but it’s held together by the steel hooks that are fitted into the corresponding holes in the sling.

Slings like this were used on the 1903 Springfield and M1 Garand rifles, and are still used in competition today. As they come, they are designed to be used with rifles that have sling swivels installed, but they can be used on any rifle by simply installing standard or QD sling swivels onto the sling. Competition shooters use the sling to make a loop that can cinch down on the upper arm for supported sitting and prone positions, but this is an excellent sling for general-purpose use. The only downside — compared to synthetic materials — is that the leather isn’t as resistant to moisture and will stretch more.

Key Features

• Two-point attachment design
• 1.25-inch wide cordura webbing
• Quick adjuster with fabric pull tab
• Compatible with a variety of sling mounting hardware
• Price: $114

One of the best slings for AR-15 style rifles is the padded Vickers sling from Blue Force Gear. This is a rugged, simple, and effective two-point AR sling that doesn’t have any fluff. It’s fast and easy to adjust with one hand. You can use it with traditional-style sling swivels or modern QD cups. It can be used to carry rifles muzzle-up or muzzle-down, and is a great option for non-AR hunting rifles too.

This sling has a 1.25-inch web that’s entirely cordura fabric. It has buckles on each end to attach to mounting hardware and set the overall sling length, but it also has a quick adjuster with a fabric tab that’s easy to manipulate with one hand. One end of the sling has a padded section that makes it a lot more comfortable to carry heavy rifles or to use for long periods of time. This sling sets the standard for AR two-point slings.

Best Hunting Rifle Sling: Armageddon Gear Hunter’s Rifle Sling

Key Features

• 1.25-inch nylon strap
• Rubber-backed buffalo leather shoulder pad
• Quick-adjust buckles
• QD or traditional sling swivels
• Price: $86

A good hunting rifle sling is simple, light, and comfortable. We’ve used many different types of slings ranging from gawdy and ornate to utterly simple. Usually we like the simple ones the best. This rugged sling from Armageddon gear gives us everything we want in a hunting sling, and not much we don’t. It’s got simple 1.25-inch webbing with a sliding buckle to easily adjust length. Notably, it’s got a buffalo-hide shoulder pad that’s backed with shark-skin-textured neoprene to grip your shoulder while walking with your rifle slung.

You can choose between QD sling swivels and more traditional Grove Tech swivels depending on your rifle. You can use the sling to carry your rifle muzzle up or muzzle down, but when using the muzzle-up configuration, we really like the thumb loop, which provides better control and an easy place to hold onto the sling and keep your rifle from tipping if you’re covering rough terrain.

Best Minimalist Sling: Q G Sling

Key Features

• 1-inch webbing strap
• Paracord and Sling Devil attachments on each end
• Quick-adjust buckle
• Variety of colors
• Price: $50

The G Sling by Q is an ultra simple, ultra versatile sling that’s great for any rifle you can attach it to. It’s light and uses one-inch webbing that’s a bit thinner than many other slings. This makes is a bit less comfortable than some other slings, but it’s not intended to help you carry a belt-fed machine gun. A unique approach with the G Sling is to forego mounting hardware altogether. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sling swivels can be a pain to maintain and they are sometimes noisy. The G Sling has paracord loops at each end that are equipped with sling devils — small nylon fittings that provide a quick and secure way to connect the paracord to your rifle.

The great thing about this minimalist rifle sling is that you don’t need any QD cups or specialized stuff to tie the paracord in. You do, however, need something to loop the cord through. It’s most ideal on AR-type handguards or stocks with some sort of slot, and not as great for most traditional hunting rifles.

Butler Creek Comfort Stretch

Key Features

• Two-point attachment, includes sling swivels
• 3-inch-wide neoprene shoulder pad
• Shoulder strap holds four cartridges
• Adjustable for length
• Price: $25

One of the best (and most recognizable) hunting rifle slings in the U.S. is the Butler Creek Comfort Stretch sling. Its most notable features are a thick and wide neoprene shoulder pad that has four elastic cartridge holders. Some slings hold cartridges perpendicular to the sling strap, but they can easily be dislodged and lost. The parallel orientation of the cartridge holders on the Butler Creek slings hang onto cartridges pretty well and they don’t get knocked loose easily.

This sling has several iterations, but the neoprene pad, cartridge holders, and nylon strap are the same on most. This rifle sling is adjustable for length and includes sling swivels that are ready to be mounted to studs on the rifle.

There are some more durable and versatile slings out there, but for the average hunter, this is a solid bet. This sling is most-often set up for muzzle-up carry, and the thinner bottom strap isn’t very comfortable if you switch to muzzle-down. If you prefer muzzle-down carry, just attach the padded end of the sling to your stock’s swivel stud.

Viking Tactics Two-Point Padded Sling

Key Features

• Two points of attachment
• Single quick-adjustment point
• Padded shoulder strap
• Berry compliant
• Price: $50

The Viking Tactics two-point padded sling was designed by Kyle Lamb, and it’s one of the most popular (and copied) sling designs out there. It’s an ultra-simple sling with two points of attachment and a single quick-adjustment point.

With one hand, the user can quickly adjust the length of the sling while wearing it. The user can carry a rifle securely in several positions, both in front and on the back, but the sling is intended to be worn with the rifle across the chest or back, rather than over one shoulder.

The VTAC sling is made with resin-treated nylon and the shoulder strap has closed-cell foam padding. This sling doesn’t include any mounting hardware but does have buckles on each end to attach to swivels. It’s made in the USA and carried by many SOF troops. Being simple and versatile is what makes this one of the best rifle slings you can use for an AR or similar style rifle.

Turner M1907 All-Weather Sling

Key Features

• M1907 style
• Synthetic biothane construction
• 1.25-inches wide
• CMP and NRA approved for service rifle
• Price: $73.95

After several years of service rifle shooting, I ended up shooting a Turner Saddlery all weather sling, and I still carry it on some of my hunting rifles today. In a nutshell, it’s a synthetic version of the M1907 sling that was issued with 1903 Springfield and M1 Garand rifles. It uses the same hook-and-hole adjustment system and comes in two pieces; it’s just made of durable biothane material rather than leather.

This is an excellent service rifle and high-power competition sling, and it eliminates the break-in period that leather slings have. It also grips the shooter’s jacket better and resists slipping when shooting from sling-supported positions.

The Turner AWS is also functional as a hunting rifle sling. It’s not as light as some nylon slings, and isn’t quick to adjust, but it’s very durable and comfortable to carry muzzle-up or muzzle-down. I’ve used the same sling on my service rifle, Winchester SXP 12 gauge, Henry .45/70, and .375 Ruger rifles. Although I do like a real leather M1907 sling, this is an excellent choice too.

Magpul MS1 DQM 2-Point Sling

Key Features

• MS1 quick-adjust slider
• 1.25-inch webbing
• QDM quick-detach swivels
• Berry Compliant

Another great two-point sling is the MS1 QDM from Magpul. It has 1.25-inch nylon webbing and is highly adjustable. The MS1 comes with a long tag end, and overall length is adjusted and set using two buckles. Additionally, it has the MS1 quick-adjust slider to rapidly tighten or loosen the sling. The slider is made of reinforced polymer and can be manipulated with one hand to quickly loosen or tighten the sling on the go. On each end, this sling comes with Magpul’s QDM quick-detach swivels, which are a bit different than the standard QD swivels. Normal QD swivels have a central button that is pushed to relax pressure on the ball bearings and allow the stud to be installed or removed. The Magpul system used two tabs which are drawn to the rear to accomplish this. They are a bit more difficult to install, but less subject to binding and are quicker to remove.

This is an excellent all-around sling for an AR or hunting rifle. We are seeing many manufacturers adopt QD cups on their rifle stocks, and this is a perfect fit for any of those.

Magpul RLS Rifleman Sling

Key Features

• 1.25-inch webbing
• Nylon mesh webbing, polymer hardware
• Proprietary sling keeper leaves no loose tails
• Loop design for sling-supported positions
• Price: $25

In many ways, simpler is better in a rifle sling, and the Magpul RLS Rifleman is a simple, clean, and useful sling. It features 1.25-inch-wide nylon webbing and polymer hardware. That hardware consists of two buckles and an injection-molded keeper to capture the tag end or tail of the sling. One buckle is used for adjusting the upper loop that the shooter can use for a supported position, and the other is to adjust overall length.

This sling doesn’t come with sling swivels, but it’s easily installed on standard 1-inch swivels. This is a simple sling that’s great for a bolt-action or lever gun, and ideal for the shooter who likes to use their sling for support. It’s affordable, durable, and impervious to weather.

Quake The Claw Slimline Rifle Sling

Key Features

• 1-inch-wide nylon strap
• Slim rubber non-slip shoulder pad
• Includes sling swivel studs
• Price: $27.99

If you have a light rifle or don’t spend a ton of time with the sling on your shoulder, a slim, minimalistic sling can be an attractive option. The Claw Slimline is a great hunting rifle sling for just that purpose. It has 1-inch-wide webbing, and a section with thin molded-rubber padding to help hold the sling in place on your shoulder.

The nylon sling webbing doesn’t stretch, and it’s not quick-adjustable, but it’s durable and includes sling swivels to quickly install on any rifle with studs. This is a good sling without a lot of bulk.

Hunter Company Cobra-Style Leather Sling

Key Features

• Leather “cobra-style” shoulder strap
• American steer hide with nylon stitching
• Basket-weave pattern
• 3.5 inches wide
• Price: $60

This classic cobra-styled leather hunting rifle sling is a great option for hunters who don’t want to defile their rifle with nylon and plastic. The widened “cobra-style” shoulder strap is comfortable, and this model features a basket-weave pattern and durable synthetic stitching.

The steer hide sling is built to mount on 1-inch swivels, and features “bronze-looking” studs—likely some kind of alloy. Over time, some studs (brass in particular) can corrode from moisture in the leather. Attachments and sling adjustments are simple, but you won’t be able to adjust length on the fly. It’s a simple, rugged sling that’s great for anyone who wants leather.

BLACKHAWK! Storm Single-Point Sling

Key Features

• 1.25-inch webbing
• Elliptical bungee with tubular nylon sheathing
• Mash clip connector
• Adjustable from 46-to-64-inches
• Price: $50

Single-point slings aren’t for everybody or every application, but they offer great mobility when used with a rifle or PCC. The sling is only attached at one point (typically at the back of the receiver), so things like switching from left-handed to right-handed shooting are faster with a single-point sling. The tradeoff is that the rifle isn’t held as securely to the body when slung—rather it dangles.

This simple single-point sling from Blackhawk has a durable 1.25-inch nylon webbing strap, and elliptical elastic that’s covered in a tubular nylon webbing sleeve. This helps prevent bounce and also protects the elastic. The elastic has about 4-inches of stretch, so it allows room for movement without being too sloppy. The sling has almost 20-inches in length adjustment and a single buckle for quick removal. The Storm sling is attached to an adapter ring on the rifle with a Mash hook, which resembles a keychain ring. Because the basic Storm sling doesn’t have an additional buckle above the Mash clip, it’s not as easy to detach the rifle from the main portion of the sling, but it’s a more secure connection.

FAQs

Final Thoughts on The Best Rifle Slings

Rifle slings are usually an afterthought for many hunters and shooters, but a good rifle sling can make your gun more comfortable to carry and keep at the ready. Slings don’t have to be expensive to be good, and typically the gawdy, accessory-loaded slings are more of a pain-in-the-ass than they are helpful tools.

There are lots of excellent slings on the market, and most of them are affordable. Pick one that’s comfortable to carry and easy for you to use. You might like to learn and use a sling like the M1907 style, but there’s nothing wrong with simple and quickly adjustable slings either. The best rifle sling for you is the one that helps you hunt and shoot as effectively as possible.