Rifle Sling – What The Pros Use

This post reviews the rifle slings the best precision rifle shooters are using. This data is based on a survey of the top 50 shooters in the 2014 Precision Rifle Series (PRS). The PRS tracks how top competitors place in major rifle matches across the country. These are the major leagues of sniper-style competitions, with targets typically in the 300-1000 yard range. For more info on the Precision Rifle Series and who these guys are, or to view the data for other pieces of gear scroll to the bottom of this article.

Rifle Sling

The chart below illustrates the rifle slings that were used by the top precision rifle shooters in the country in 2014:

Here are the results if you exclusively focused on the top 20 shooters:

TAB Gear Sling

The TAB Gear Sling was the most popular among the best precision rifle competitors. The TAB Gear Sling is a simple, but versatile sling. It features an adjustable loop for shooting support, industrial grade webbing, and is available with a few different options. First, you have a choice of connection hardware: flush cup, HK/AI hook, or traditional swivel stud. Second, you have a choice of buckle types. The Fastex buckles are the standard choice, but the AustriAlpin Cobra buckles are rated up to 4,000 pounds! The sling with Fastex buckles is $70-75, and Cobra buckles is $140-145 (depending on the connectors you pick).

Here is TAB Gear’s description of their 3 section design:

The front, is simply used to shoot slung up. This can be done connected to the rest of the sling or not. It has a slider that can move very easily to lock down the loop on the shooters arm.

The center is where the shooter adjusts the sling for the carry length. It can be removed and connected to itself for easy storage allowing the remaining two sections of the sling to attach like a carry strap with shooting loop still in place. The reasons for the two buckles are two fold, first it allows the shooter to get out of the sling quickly because regardless of how you sling your rifle there is an accessible buckle you can unclip in order to get the rifle into action quickly. Second, it is designed to allow the removal of a rifle from an injured soldier in case he is incapacitated.

The rear section of the sling is a 5″ section of webbing that is three layers triple stitched and is stiff enough to use as a hasty rear support.

SAP Rifle Sling

The Short Action Precision (SAP) Postional Rifle Sling was the 2nd most popular sling. This sling is a minimalist design, but incorporates some foundational features that help you get a more stable shot from improvised shooting positions. This rifle sling retails for $90.

Here is SAP’s description of this rifle sling design:

The Short Action Precision Positional Rifle Sling is an evolution of years of shooting experience, with competition and unsupported positional shooting in mind. The sling has a proprietary noose cuff that tightens securely around your arm for a solid foundation. The quick adjust front strap lets you adjust for the perfect tension or elevation. When you are done taking a nice, stable kneeling or seated shot, you can instantly exit the arm cuff with a quick escape buckle. Rugged and reliable for carrying and shooting.

Rifles Only FTW Sling

The next most popular sling was the Rifles Only FTW Sling. FTW Gear is a Rifles Only brand. For several years, Rifles Only sold and promoted the TAB Gear sling, but apparently, there was a following out in there somewhere. Now they’ve started designing a few products themselves under the FTW label, and one of those is this new sling. This sling retails for $130.

Here is Rifle Only’s description of their FTW sling, along with a video demo by Jacob Bynum:

The critical adjustment features of the FTW sling include: two quick adjusting cam-buckles (one in the front, and one in the rear) as well as a revolutionary bungee strap. The forward cam-buckle allows micro adjustments to the overall sling tension. The rear cam-buckle serves to adjust the overall length of the sling and to tighten the sling around the bicep. The bungee section of the sling provides consistent tension pulling the weapon system snugly into the shooter’s shoulder pocket, and reducing the perceived weight when the weapon is slung over the shoulder or around the neck. All of the features combine to make a sling that can be deployed much faster, while providing a more stable shooting position. It is incredible what the bungee portion of this sling adds to so many areas. High quality cam-buckles and materials as well as exceptional craftsmanship provide years of reliable service.

 

Armageddon Gear Sling

The Armageddon Gear Precision Rifle Sling was the 4th most popular, with about 12% of the top 50 running it. It looks like a similar design to the others, but it has an innovative way to “sling in” to a supported sling position. The manufacturer says it takes less than 5 seconds to “sling in” or unsling, which they say makes this the fastest sling-support available. This sling retails for $70.

Here is Armageddon Gear’s description of their Precision Rifle Sling:

The Armageddon Gear Precision Rifle Sling is a highly versatile tool that can be used as a patrol/assault sling, yet also provides support when firing from alternate positions. No other sling allows shooters to “Sling in” to a sling-supported position and unsling from that position as quickly and easily as the Armageddon Gear Precision Rifle Sling.

The Precision Rifle Sling comes with your choice of attachment methods; QD swivels, AI Hooks, or universal webbing tails to route through the loops on your stock or through your preferred swivel type.

Tactical Intervention Specialists Sling

Tactical Intervention Specialists (TIS) Precision Rifle Slings were also represented among the top 50 shooters, with 4 shooters opting for it … and 3 of those ending up in the top 20. It looks like TIS makes a few different models of slings for use with precision rifles, and I’m not sure exactly which models these shooters were using. TIS offers a quick cuff model (they have a contract with the US Army for one version of this), and a slip cuff model (inspired by ideas from a veteran defense contractor). Here are the best photos I could find for each. I’m really digging the police costume and mask. Classic!

You can check out the Tactical Intervention Specialists website to find out more about these products. There is a lot of information, but it’s fragmented and hard to follow. While they may not be great at marketing … the product looks solid!

Meet The Pros

You know NASCAR? Yes, I’m talking about the racing-cars-in-a-circle NASCAR. Before NASCAR, there were just a bunch of unaffiliated, regional car races. NASCAR brought structure by unifying those races, and created the idea of a season … and an overall champion. NASCAR identified the top races across the country (that were similar in nature), then combined results and ranked competitors. The Precision Rifle Series (PRS) is like NASCAR, but for rifle matches.

The PRS is a championship style point series race based on the best precision rifle matches nationwide. PRS matches are recognized as the major league of sniper-style rifle matches. At the end of each year, the scores from around 15 different national matches are evaluated and the top shooters are invited to compete head to head in the PRS Season Championship Match. We surveyed the shooters who qualified for the finale, asking all kinds of questions about the equipment they ran that season. This is a great set of data, because 50+ shooters is a significant sample size, and this particular group are also considered experts among experts. It includes guys like George Gardner (President/Senior Rifle Builder of GA Precision), Francis Kuehl, Wade Stuteville, the GAP Team, the Surgeon Rifles Team, shooters from the US Army Marksmenship Unit, and many other world-class shooters. Thanks to Rich Emmons for allowing me to share this info. To find out more about the PRS, check out What Is The Precision Rifle Series?

Other “What The Pros Use” Articles

This post was one of a series of posts that look at the equipment the top PRS shooters use. Check out these other posts:

• Calibers & Cartridges
• Tactical Scopes
• Scope Mount
• Gunsmiths
• Rifle Actions
• Rifle Barrels
• Custom Rifle Stocks
• Reloading Components (Bullets, Powders & Brass)
• Muzzle Brake & Suppressor
• Shooting Bags
• Bipod
• Rifle Sling