A rifle sling may not be an exciting firearm accessory, but it is without any doubt one of the most useful, and if you carry your rifle in the field (we’re talking to you, hunters) a sling is something you’ll be glad you added to your gun. A long day, or several days, of carrying around a 6 or 7 pound rifle without a sling is tiring work. Plus, if you have to pack out any game at the end of it all, it’ll be all the more cumbersome without the help of a sling.
Here are some of the top features you should look for in gun slings. They can take a serviceable tool and make it much better than it is.
● Quick Detach (QD) Mounts or Swivels
Quick detach mounts or swivels will make it much easier for you to add or remove your sling as you see fit. Since slings sometimes get in the way of shooting, you might want to easily be able to add your sling before you take it in the field but remove it for range time. Quick detach, or QD mounts, make that easy.
● Compatibility with rifles that lack swivels
There are also some rifles out there that lack swivels, and so they lack compatibility with most slings on the market. Also, some gun owners are not willing to drill into their stocks or make alterations to their rifles. However, there are slings available that don’t require a swivel to mount to a firearm, and can easily be added to a rifle that lacks them.
● Easy adjustability
Most, but not all, slings are easily adjustable, often only by the aid of one hand. Sometimes when you’re in the field and need to shift the load your carrying, you need to make quick adjustments. Look for a sling that makes that easy, or even can enable you to do so while your hands are partially full.
● A thumb strap for additional support and control
Many rifle slings also have thumb straps which serve a few unique functions. For one, sometimes you can adjust the sling via the strap. Additionally, these straps give you a place to rest your hand, and finally they can make it much easier to manipulate how the rifle lays on your shoulder.
● Space for storage, such as for extra cartridges
Many slings have storage loops for spare cartridges, and some slings for muzzleloaders have loops or space for other loading and cleaning essentials. It’s a nice convenient feature; not entirely necessary, but nice to have.
● Padded, anti-fatigue shoulder support
Finally, and possibly most importantly, a sling that has anti-fatigue shoulder pads is worth the price. Some heavy leather slings are beautiful, but there’s no comparison to a sling that is well padded, ergonomic, and forms to fit your contours. That will help evenly distribute the weight of your rifle and keep fatigue at bay.
Whether you’re picking up your first rifle sling in anticipation of a trip or you’re just looking to add to your collection, make the process easy on yourself and visit Sarco Inc. at SarcoInc.com. They have a huge collection of slings and they put you in touch with a model that has the features you need. Just check out their website and give them a call today if you need any help – 610-250-3960.
