Best AR15 Slings [2023] The Accessories You Need!

The AR15 is America’s favorite rifle platform. When you purchase an AR15, you’ll need a few accessories. The accessory varies depending on the use of the weapon, but there are three main must-haves for every AR15. First, you need a way to aim it, be it iron sights or an optic. Second, a magazine to feed the weapon. Third, you need a sling. Today we are going to skip the first two and dive right into the very best slings for your AR15. 

Best AR15 Slings

• Viking Tactics Original
• Arbor Arms Dual Adjust Weapon sling
• Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling 
• Ferro Concepts Slingster
• SierraTac Spiritus Systems 
• Magpul MS3 Sling 
• Proctor Sling 
• Armageddon Gear Sling 

Why You Need A Sling 

Why do you need a sling? Well, slings are insanely handy to have in all shooting situations. Retention is my main reason for having a sling. A sling attaches the rifle to your body, and as such, you won’t lose it should you trip and fall, and it makes it impossible for someone to take your rifle.

When used correctly, a sling can be used as a shooting aid. Slings can induce tension, and tension can create a more stable platform for shooting in kneeling or standing positions. That tension can help reduce muzzle movement prior to the shot being fired and increase accuracy. 

You might be tasked with using both hands while carrying a rifle. A sling allows you to hang your rifle against your body and put both hands to use. You might need to drag a deer or help evacuate a wounded comrade, or heck, you might just need to move shooting accessories from place to place. A sling allows you to do that without losing control of your rifle. 

Finally, a sling helps make transporting a rifle a much more comfortable affair. Slings can take a little weight off of your shoulders and help support the weapon. This increases comfort and makes life a fair bit easier. As a dude who has patrolled for miles and miles, I would never do it without a sling. 

The Different Types of Slings For AR15’s 

Slings come in various configurations, and when it comes to the AR-15, you can use basically any sling out there. ARs are short and light rifles most of the time, and you can use dang near any sling on the market with the AR-15. Let’s cover the three most common slings you’ll see in use on the AR-15. 

Single Point – Single point slings connect to the rifle at one point, and that’s typically the rear of the weapon. Single points maximize manoeuvrability but lack support and cannot be used as a shooting aid. A single point sling works very well in and out of vehicles and makes it easy to swap shoulders and manoeuvre the weapon in tight confines. 

Single points are merely okay as far as slings go. They do work well for retaining your weapon, but when released, allow it to bounce around and swing. Their primary advantage is for use in and out of vehicles. These are very niche slings that do not excel in most things a sling should do. 

Two Points – Two points attach to the sling at two points, one near the rear and one at the front of the sling. Two-point slings provide excellent support, and modern two points provide manoeuvrability as well. Two-point slings can be used as shooting aids, provide support over long movements, and allow shooters to easily multitask when necessary. 

Modern tactical two points allow for rapid adjustment and are the best option currently on the market. Tactical two points are in use by every military branch in the US military and are the choice of pro shooters for a good reason. They do everything a sling should do and do it extremely well. 

Three Points – Three-point slings attach at two points to a rifle and a third point around the body of the shooter. These slings provide excellent support and provide retention and can be used as a shooting aid. 

Three-point slings are heavily outdated. They used to combine the support of old-school two points with plenty of manoeuvrability. The modern tactical two-point has made them a thing of the past. Three points are over complicated and a mess of straps that can easily get caught on gear and tends to be a pain. I used a three-point in my early years with an M16A4 and was glad to see it go. 

The Best AR15 Slings

1. Viking Tactics VTAC Original		2 point sling design Non padded Multiple colors	Check Price
2. Arbor Arms Dual Adjust Weapon sling		Cam and Pull Tab Optional Pad Multiple Adjustment Points	Check Price
3. Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling		Widely Issued in US Military Giant Pull Tab for Quick Adjustments Incredibly Durable	Check Price
4. Ferro Concepts Slingster		Soft Rubber Pull Tab Optional Pad Convertible to single point	Check Price
5. SierraTac Spiritus Systems		Aluminium Pull Slider Integrated Pad Super Durable	Check Price
6. Magpul MS3 Sling		Out of the Box Option Converts from Two to One Point Polymer slider for rapid adjustments	Check Price
7. Proctor Sling		Minimalist design Lightweight Out of the Box Ready	Check Price
8. Armageddon Gear Sling		Bungee Integration Quickest means to go hands-free Available in Carbine and Heavy variants	Check Price

The Best AR15 Slings Reviews 

Let us have a look at the individual sling reviews, pros and cons and price point of each the items off our Best Of list above.

Viking Tactics 2-Point Sling Review

The Viking Tactics sling, developed by our very own Kyle Lamb, is very likely the most popular adjustable two point sling in use today.

It is widely used in the U.S. Special Operations community and by military and police units world-wide. Although he’s not the first to make a two point sling, Kyle’s experience in the military helped him to create a quickly adjustable and very robust sling for heavy-duty use.

The sling can be configured with numerous attachment points for almost any rifle system and can be found in various colors and options to include padding.

To tighten the Viking Tactics sling, you simply pull on the tab of sling material and the sling quickly and securely (more secure than most) holds where you what it. To release the sling, simply pull on the lanyard for the metal catch.

Small details like double “tri-glide” buckles make this sling’s bomb-proof construction and real-world use obvious.

Viking Tactics 2-Point Sling Pros and Cons

Viking Tactics 2-Point Sling Deals

Arbor Arms Dual Adjust Weapon Sling Review

Arbor Arms is my top choice for weapon slings. Founded by a Marine Recon vet with tons of experience, the Dual Adjust Weapon Sling is the ultimate AR15 sling. It provides two points of adjustment to go from hands-free to max mobility and everything in between. First, we have a looped slider, and the benefit of a loop is a quick and sure grip. Pull the loop forward to tighten the sling, pull it rearwards to instantly loosen the sling. 

Below the loop sits a cam that allows you to over-tighten the sling for a truly hands-free experience. The Arbor Arms Dual Adjust Weapon sling will enable you to over-tighten without about half the tail of a traditional sling. 

When you move to the back of the sling, you have another point of adjustment that allows you to instantly tighten or loosen the sling for use when running slick, with armor, or warming layers. Maybe you are moving the sling from a carbine to a rifle, well then you can make that LOP adjustment as well. 

The sling is also made from a straight filament webbing. The significant benefit here is that the sling doesn’t harden or stiffen up after getting dirty and wet. It remains smooth and easy to manipulate regardless of the situation. A precision model exists that can tie into your belt and add another degree of tension for long-range shooting. 

Arbor Arms Dual Adjust Weapon Sling Pros and Cons

Arbor Arms Dual Adjust Weapon Sling Deals

Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling Review

Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling is the sling I have the most experience with. I was issued one as a Marine and have kept the same sling for over a decade now. The BFG Vickers sling invented the modern two-point sling and remains one of the military’s most issued slings. The BFG Vickers sling features a quick-adjust pull tab that allows you to come from loosey-goosey to as uptight as an Elks Club meeting. 

This pull tab allows an instant swap from shooting to going hands-free. The BFG Vickers sling works perfectly with any sized AR15 and gives the end-user a ton of adjustment to fit the sling to their individual needs and weapon. BFG makes rigid slings that will last a lifetime or close to it. 

They also make the BFG sling in every configuration you could imagine. This includes padded options, 1.25 inch and 1-inch options, various camouflages, and colors, and more attachment gear than any other company. Heck, even AK guys get sling options with Blue Force Gear. After a decade of use, my sling has gotten a little stiff but still functions like a champ. 

Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling Pros and Cons

Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling Deals

Ferro Concepts Slingster Review

The Ferro Concepts Slingster promises to provide AR 15 owners with the world’s toughest sling. Ferro made quite a name producing goods for elite units like the SEALs and continues to produce top-tier gear. The Slingster is a two-point sling that can easily be converted to a single point with the proper hardware. This allows you to move and groove in any way you choose. 

In two-point mode, the Ferro Concepts Slingster utilizes a quick-adjust pull tab to rock and roll with. Unlike other pull tabs on the market, the Ferro Concepts variant uses an injection molded flexible rubber pull tab. It’s tough, and grippy so it can be deployed with ease when wearing gloves, with wet or cold hands, or any other dexterity-killing complication. 

The pad is integrated but minimalist and can be removed. The open-ended design allows you to utilize a variety of aftermarket sling attachment points. The Ferro Concepts Slingster also uses a captive adjustment system that eliminates the tail when you make quick adjustments. It’s nice and clean without any risk of the sling catching your gear. 

Ferro Concepts Slingster Pros and Cons

Ferro Concepts Slingster Deals

SierraTac Sling Spiritus Systems Review

Spiritus Systems teamed up SierraTac to produce a rather lovely sling that shows the combined methodology of two top-tier companies. The SierraTac sling combines a traditional two-point sling with modern tactical features. This includes an interesting adjustment tab. It’s a CNC machined aluminum tab that provides a solid indexing point. 

It is small, but users can attach their own tab to extend it if they so choose. The benefit of keeping just the aluminum slider is that there is no tab for anything to catch on. It’s a small risk that some shooters may have more than others. This is the only sling I know of that provides options. Additionally, the 1.5-inch pad is a minimalist design implemented directly to the sling and makes toting a hefty AR setup comfy. 

The SierraTac sling provides users with an extremely well-made sling that utilizes 500 Cordura in its construction. The adjustments are smooth, quick, and silent. It’s an impressive but simple design that further refines the tactical two-point. 

SierraTac Sling Spiritus Systems Pros and Cons

SierraTac Sling Spiritus Systems Deals

Magpul MS3 Sling Gen 2 Review

Magpul has its hands in everything gun-related, and most famously, the P-MAG is likely the most used AR-15 magazine in existence. They also dived into the world of slings with some rather revolutionary items. The Magpul MS3 Gen 2 is their latest and to be their greatest sling. The MS3 is a convertible sling that allows the user to swap configurations from a standard tactile two-point to a single point on the fly. 

As a two-point, you have a vast polymer slider that is easy to grip and slide forward and rearward to immediately adjust the length of the sling. Going from tight to lose takes no effort. To swap to a one-point, the user removes the forward paraclip and attaches it to the oversized rear loop behind the rear paraclip. This is easy and can be done on the fly. 

The Magpul MS3 utilizes 1.25-inch webbing, and the MS3 does not accommodate a pad. The MS1 might be more your speed if you want a pad, but you cannot do the quick two to one-point adjustment. I hesitate to call this a budget sling, but it is quite affordable. 

Magpul MS3 Sling Gen 2 Pros and Cons

Magpul MS3 Sling Gen 2 Deals

Proctor Sling Review

The Proctor sling from Special Ops vet Frank Proctor keeps things simple and lightweight. This 1-inch wide slide weighs only 2.4 ounces and provides a minimalist tactical two-point for your AR-15 carbine needs. The Proctor Sling uses a low-profile slider that is ridiculously smooth. Push the slider forward to tighten things up, and pull the slider rearward to loosen things up for more mobility. 

The Proctor Sling’s pull tab also keeps the tail captive. The lack of a traditional pull tab and the captive tail keep things clean and snag-free. Having zero tail bounce around is very nice. Included with the sling is a set of versatile attachment points that makes the sling ready to go out of the box. 

This simple and easy attachment system keeps things simplistic and top tier for saving money. The Proctor Sling comes in at a low price point and offers a professional grade sling for a variety of rifle types. I’d keep it oriented more towards light carbines than heavier rifles. 

Proctor Sling Pros and Cons

Proctor Sling Deals

Armageddon Gear Carbine Sling Review

Armageddon Gear’s take on the tactical two-point differs from everyone else’s. Instead of a quick pull tab design, they utilize a tong of pliable bungee that stretches and contracts. When you go hands-free, the bungee is contracted and keeps the sling tight to your body, and allows you to go hands-free. 

When you need to start shooting and moving, grab the sling and go. The bungee will stretch and accommodate all your tugging and jiving. This way, you can shoot and move with minimal resistance. It also helps create tension and allows you to really lock the gun in and use the sling as a shooting aid. 

Besides the bungee, there is an adjustment point to accommodate different-sized guns and the presence or lack of armor. It’s a neat idea, and the main downside is the difficulty switching shoulders. 

Armageddon Gear Carbine Sling Pros and Cons

Armageddon Gear Carbine Sling Deals

The World of Slings – Buyers Guide

Slings should be pretty simple, right? It’s just a strap that secures the weapon to the shooter. They used to be a lot simpler, but over time they’ve gotten better and predictably more complicated. So before you leave, let’s talk a little bit more about slings. In the end, I also want to provide a few tips that will make implementing a sling much easier. 

What Material? 

In the world of slings, there are three materials that dominate the market. The first is old-school leather, the second is ballistic nylon, and the third is Cordura. Leather is cool, but it’s outdated, and while it works, nylon and Cordura slings will work better. 

Nylon and Cordura slings will last longer when exposed to the elements and are tougher than leather. It is also more malleable and allows for easy and quick adjustment with a friction fit. Leather often requires holes and a belt-like setup for adjustment. Nylon and Cordura can be fine-tuned for fit and adjustment. 

Cordura tends to have higher abrasion resistance, while ballistic nylon tends to have a higher tear resistance. Either one is acceptable in the use of a sling. With that said, the vast majority of professional-grade duty slings are made from Cordura. 

Size Matters 

When shopping for a sling, you’ll need to examine its overall length and its overall width. This is more critical with two point slings and not super necessary for one point. Sling length relates to the shooter, the rifle, and the presence of body armor. 

AR 15s are not large rifles, and even 20-inch variants tend to be somewhat compact compared to other rifles. With that in mind, an overall sling length of 60 to 70 inches will work best with the AR-15. 

This will provide plenty of adjustment for the rifle’s own length, for sling attachment points, and for the shooter. Body armor and an individual’s weight could change the length necessary for the sling. At 60 to 70 inches, the sling will fit the vast majority of rifles and shooters even with the presence of body armor, chest rigs, or warming layers. 

Widthwise there are only two sizes that are seriously used for the AR 15, and that is the 1.25 inch and the 1-inch width. 1-inch slings are typically lightweight but don’t provide the same support as 1.25-inch slings. If you are rocking and rolling with a heavy carbine or rifle, then the 1.25 inch will provide more support and comfort. 

If you are using a lightweight rifle or AR pistol, then maybe a 1-inch sling will work well for you. Any other widths will make it difficult to use aftermarket sling hardware, from sling attachment points on stocks to QD or U-Loop hook-ups. 

Sling Tips 

As you leave, I hope you do so with the reasoning and knowledge to purchase your own sling. Once you decide which sling is for you, I hope you come back to this specific section. I want to leave you with a few tips to ensure you get your rifle and sling set up successfully. 

Adjust It! 

The first thing you should do is attach the sling to your rifle. Next, you want to start making adjustments so it fits your body and if you wear armor. Armor adds inches and needs to be factored in. The way it fits is largely up to you. 

If it’s a quick-adjust sling, as most modern two points are, then I have specific adjustments I want. At the tightest position of the quick-adjust tab, I want it to hang safely, hands-free, without bouncing around. 

At midway between loose and tight, I want enough tension to use the sling as a shooting aid. At the loosest setting of the quick adjustment, I want to be able to easily manoeuvre the rifle and have the ability to switch shoulders. 

Lockback Triglides 

Triglides allow you to easily adjust your sling. Once you get your sling adjusted properly, ensure you lock back your triglides. To do so, take the tail of the sling sticking out of the triglide and weave it over the back of the triglide and under the front of your triglide.  

This ensures the sling doesn’t slowly loosen and lose those adjustments you struggled to make. Locking back your triglides ensures the sling stays tight and your rifle remains in place. 

Invest in Quality Components (Attachments) 

Your rifle and sling are very important. You’ve likely invested a pretty penny in both, right? Well, if so, you want to continue that investment into how you attach your sling to your rifle. If you are attaching it to set sling points on your weapon, you are good to go. 

If you are looking to purchase QD swivels, U-Loops, HK hooks etc., ensure you invest in quality components. The cheap ones will quickly fall apart, rust, twist, deform, and break. If Murphy’s law holds up, it will happen at the worst time possible. 

Attach The Rear On the Dominant Side of Your Rifle

When you set up your sling on your rifle, it can be super helpful to attach the rear point of the sling to the side of the rifle that coordinates with your dominant hand. For me, I attach the rear point over the top of my stock and onto my right side.

The primary benefit to this is allowing the shooter to quickly and easily swap shoulders. This prevents you from having to remove your sling to swap shoulders. It makes things much more manoeuvrable and opens up your freedom of movement. 

Keep It Clean 

You clean your rifle, right? Well, then you need to clean your sling. Cleaning your sling ensures it lasts and works well for years to come. I use dish soap mixed in water and scrub lightly with a scrub brush. I then rinse the soap and dirt off and let it dry. 

It’s pretty easy, and make sure you pay attention to any polymer triglides and keep those clean as well. The same goes for any sling attachments. It takes 10 minutes and will help keep that sling ready and willing to serve. 

Sling It Up 

Slings are a must-have for practically any activity you’d use an AR15 for. Home defense, duty use, competition, hunting, and more. They are a must-have, and as always, I suggest you get a high-quality model from a proven and well-respected company. Don’t cheap out on your sling. It’s a tool you’ll most certainly depend on. 

Final Tips

We want to leave you with some final tips on setting up your sling. Below we have a video by Vickers Tactical that has some good pointers when setting up your sling to suit you.