Home AR-15 Quick Tip: How To Mount a Sling on Your AR-15

Quick Tip: How To Mount a Sling on Your AR-15

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If you’ve ever lugged a rifle around in the field for a day, you appreciate the value of a good sling on your AR-15. But what’s the best way to mount that sling? Brownells Gun Tech™ Caleb Savant demonstrates the basics of proper sling setup for us by putting a Viking Tactics sling on his AR-15 (similar slings are offered by Blue Force Gear, Magpul, Blackhawk, Phase 5 Tactical, and many other sling makers). Caleb attaches his sling via QD “quick detach” sling swivel sockets because many AR-15 stocks and handguards now come with those sockets. For right-handed shooters, mount the rear of the sling to the RIGHT-hand (ejection port) side of the AR-15; this makes it easier to shoulder the rifle quickly. Attach the front of the sling to the LEFT side of the rifle. Is it better to attach the front close to the receiver or farther up toward the muzzle? Caleb has recommendations. (Hint: it depends partly on the length of your AR-15’s handguard.) The Viking Tactics sling is a TWO-point sling. SINGLE-point slings were popular a few years back, and there are also THREE-point slings. Caleb explains why he prefers the two-point configuration.

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37 COMMENTS

  1. I had always placed both front (H.K. Hook) and rear (Button) on my Ferro sling on the same side of the rifle. I’m switching from 16” to 18”/20” barrels on all my uppers. I have since tried it your way and found it more comfortable.

  2. I'm not sure I trust the QD connections across so many different stocks and sockets, but the ones I've come to like are Magpul's Paraclips. My wish would be for more stock manufacturers to build their stocks with metal loops on either side to accommodate them.

  3. A very informative video. With an explanation of Why you set up your sling in this manner.
    I am sorta of a lefty-rightly person. So your explanation as to the QD placement is very useful.

  4. I have a sling now that I’m older, it’s easier for me. But there’s no rule that says you need a sling. I carried an M16 for 14 months in Vietnam and never used a sling. I don’t remember anyone in my platoon using a sling. Back then, slings were for REMFs, MPs, etc etc. It’s a choice

  5. Another great video! Thanks Caleb. I don't know if you're related to Marilyn Savant or not; but, you're both highly knowledgeable. Your extensive knowledge of firearms and your ability to relay that information in cogent terms for we mere mortals is greatly appreciated.

  6. A while back, I saw a similar tutorial. It took me a while to accept the idea that the connection to the stock should be on the opposite side, but I've finally come to prefer it. Where I still go back and forth is whether to attach close to the receiver or farther out on the handguard (I have a 15 inch rail). I think I'll try next to the receiver for a while.

  7. Laughed out loud about the 3 pt sling
    Also, another advantage to attaching the opposite side of the rear stock is it pulls the muzzle off your knees, especially when wearing armor and such.

  8. People often ask me what accessories to buy with their new rifle. The answer is:

    irons, sling, weapon light, optic.

    In that order. You don’t buy a pistol without a holster, and you don’t buy a rifle without a sling

  9. I have a sling that I can unclip my forward mount and re clip on it's self for a makeshift single point sling, let me tell you after my first course of fire at the range I left my rifle drop and learned real quick why single point slings suck so I just use the 2 point slings from here on out.

  10. One of the ways I can tell I'm getting old is the new ways of wearing a sling look strange to me. Always was taught to run the sling as far toward the muzzle as safely possible, so that when you wrap your support forearm in it and grip the handguard you've got that extra point of contact and tension from the sling, tightening down the whole rifle and reducing wobble. But I suppose that's less of a concern with the smaller, lighter SBR trend.
    I will say that if you run an AR-10 with a 20" barrel and a light and a can on the end, you want every last possible bit of leverage you can get. If you find AR-10s heavy, push that sling farther forward and tighten it up even more; makes a world of difference.

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