Gun slings allow you to store your hunting rifle at your side or over your back while you trek in and out of your hunting location of choice.
A sling enables you to have your hands free when climbing over tougher terrain and can help you store your gun safely out of your way while maneuvering around tight spots.
A weapon sling connects to both the stock and the muzzle of your rifle and acts as a form of support for both ends.
It allows you to have your weapon balanced over your shoulder or across your back without you having to store it out of the way in a bag.
One of the many perks of owning a sling for your gun is that it gives you easy access to your rifle at a moment’s notice, without requiring you to remove it from a zipped storage case.
This allows you to target your prey on a dime without having to stress about whether your gun is ready for use.
My Personal Pick For The Best Hunting Rifle Slings
BUTLER CREEK COMFORT STRETCH RIFLE SLING
- Item Package Dimension: 17.1L x 2.9W x 1.5H inches
- Item Package Weight - 0.4 Pounds
- Item Package Quantity - 1
Why is it the best?
- It features neoprene padding
- There are four camouflage patterns to choose from
- It reduces felt weight significantly (up to 50%)
Our Top Picks For Gun Slings
With that in mind, let’s now take a closer look at our top picks.
Let’s dive into the specifics and review each sling individually. You can use the list below to jump and review specific models, or you can read along and go through all the information.
Best Overall: Butler Creek Comfort Stretch Rifle Sling
- Item Package Dimension: 17.1L x 2.9W x 1.5H inches
- Item Package Weight - 0.4 Pounds
- Item Package Quantity - 1
Weapon slings can be finicky, just like the strap on your laptop bag, for instance. Butler Creek did their best to make this product simple to use without riding up on you or twisting over during use.
If you look at where the strap meets the hardware, you’ll see it’s on a wide D-ring to prevent everything from getting tangled up.
It’s made from high-quality closed cell neoprene to prevent tearing and abrasions.
But the real prize here is the soft padding. It takes up about half the strap and prevents pain on your shoulder while carrying it around or pulling it up to fire.
Plus, this sling features slip-resistant grippers that keep it securely in place. There are four camouflage patterns to choose from.
You’ve got Mossy Oak Break Up Country as one of the most popular options, but there’s also Mossy Oak Obsession, which does a great job at shielding you in nature.
You practically become a ghost. To see all the patterns, please visit the Amazon link for the product.
Whether your weapon of choice is a rifle, bow or a crossbow, you’ll be glad to learn that this strap works wonders at reducing fatigue and making the journey as comfortable as possible.
Allen Rifle Sling with Swivels & No-Slip
- BACKTRAK ASPEN NUBUCK SLING: This sling is designed for hunting, the...
- CONVENIENT: Our shoulder sling features heavy-duty swivels for easy...
- RUBBER GRIP: A tacky back made from rubber gripping dots grip your...
Right off the bat, I’m going to disclose that I don’t like how heavily branded this sling is. (Their logo is a bit too large and their name is sewn onto the strap.)
I normally don’t mind large branding on products, but this particular one is supposed to help you be discreet on the field.
That being said, the strap itself works a treat.
Built with a web sling material and nubuck leather, it’s as comfortable as it is stretchy. Additionally, this product features heavy-duty 1.25” webbing.
Since nylon straps aren’t usually considered the most comfortable option, Allen Company made the padding cover about 65% of the total surface to account for that.
Speaking of straps, this product comes with swivels with a 300-pound weight limit rating. That’s more than enough to lug around a rifle. Plus, it allows for quick movements when you pull up to shoot.
Ten Point Gear Gun Sling Paracord 550
- Fully Adjustable from 36" to 47"
- Swivels for Standard Swivel Mounts and Loop Connection Clip
- Great for Rifles, Shotguns, and even Crossbows
Paracord usually has its place as a survival bracelet, but what Ten Point Gear has done here is actually pretty ingenious. This material allows you to adjust the sling from 33” up to 44” for maximum comfort and gun adjustment.
On top of that, this sling includes a metal buckle system with a tension peg that attaches perfectly to your rifle. You can pop it on a shotgun or a crossbow as well; it’s a universal weapon sling for the most part.
Paracord comes in handy in survival situations, but there are plenty of hunting applications I could see it being useful in as well.
Of course, don’t expect to weave it back into a sling if you have to cut it loose to use it. This one is a solid sling that’s pretty cheap.
One of the things I appreciate the most is that Ten Point Gear made this sling in six tactical styles, but they didn’t charge a single penny for an aesthetic difference from their Coyote Brown option.
Allen Company Gear Fit Pursuit Hunting Sling
- GUN SLING: This sling is designed for turkey hunting, the shooting...
- CONVENIENT: Our shoulder sling features heavy-duty swivels for easy...
- RUBBER GRIP: A tacky back made from rubber gripping dots grip your...
Allen’s back at it! But this time, they have a whole lineup of pursuit-style slings, and personally, I’m a huge fan of the way they’re carrying this out.
The padding covers more than half of the strap and is made of Hypalon — a comfortable and durable material.
The nylon straps are weight-tested along with the swivels for up to 300 pounds of pressure. That’s more than we expect you’ll need, so these shouldn’t snap for any reason.
Utilizing the non-slip texture, you’ll feel this sling stay firmly on your shoulder as you pull up to fire, giving you maximum control. I would pair this with a gun stock cover for some extra oomph.
If you’re not a fan of the Bruiser style, they have five other types available that are designed to be used with different hunting styles and prey. This is one of the most versatile lineups of weapon slings I’ve used.
Accmor 2-Point Rifle Gun Sling
No products found.
Accmor is a brand I had heard of but wasn’t personally familiar with. They’ve done a good job at creating a budget-friendly two-point sling, and I have to give credit where credit is due.
This one-size-fits-all sling is made of a long-lasting and flexible material that allows you to adjust the length of the sling and gently pull the gun to where you need it to be when firing. It also comes with thick but soft shoulder pads.
When it comes to the hardware, I enjoyed the increased size of the hook to work with most gun swivels. While most of us aren’t going to own SMGs, this sling fits the bill for all times of assault weaponry.
The Accmor sling fits like a glove, has a great budget-friendly price, and comes in an amazing camouflage pattern.
Blue Force Gear Vickers Combat Sling
- Blue Force Gear, Sling, Molded Acetal Adjuster, No Quick Release,...
- This product is manufactured in United States
Blue Force Gear’s Vickers Sling is made in the United States with the help of the retired U.S. Army combat veteran, Larry Vickers.
This product is made of top-rated materials to be able to serve its purpose for a long period of time.
It’s designed to help you switch from transporting your firearm to fighting/shooting with ease.
This sling comes with a molded acetal adjuster. However, it doesn’t feature a quick detach.
Magpul MS1 2-Point Quick-Adjust Padded Sling
- Made using the highest quality materials
- Tested for durability
- Designed to be safe and unique
The Magpul MS1 Padded Sling is designed with the MS1 Slider in mind. The MS1 Slider gives you the chance to adjust the length of the sling without loops, tails, or other snag risks.
Additionally, this sling allows for quick shoulder transitions and offers support for shooting from a number of different positions.
Lastly, Magpul’s MS1 system features a series of adapters based on the MS3 and MS4 slings that can add functionality to the MS1 sling. These can be bought separately.
What Makes A High-Quality Sling?
If you were wondering what makes a good weapon sling, this section’s for you. Here are the four most important factors you should consider when shopping for a sling for your weapon:
COMFORT
If your sling is not comfortable, it’s practically useless.
The point of owning and using a sling (especially a sling for hunting) is to keep your hands free.
A good sling shouldn’t chafe your shoulder. Ideally, it should come with wide paddings, at least two inches thick.
That way, the shoulder strap should reduce stress on your upper body and offer you balance while you’re on the move.
MATERIAL
Whether you prefer using a leather sling, one made of nylon webbing, or even a handmade one, you must be aware of the fact that the material is a key piece of this puzzle.
Not all materials are heavy-duty and durable enough to be used in the making of a weapon sling.
You want something that can withstand harsh conditions as well as weather changes, like a high-density nylon material or neoprene.
ADJUSTABILITY
When it comes to a sling’s adjustability, two important words spring to mind: quick adjustment.
A good sling gives you the ability to quickly adjust it the way you want to, whilst keeping your hands free to focus on other tasks.
An adjustable sling also means that it can fit multiple body sizes thanks to its adjustable length.
For example, you may want a shoulder strap that you can use while wearing body armor.
VERSATILITY
The best slings are multi-use.
Apart from housing a range of rifles and long guns, a sling should be versatile enough to be used as a rope or with a crossbow.
Some slings can even be used to hoist and drag objects (especially if they are made from 550 cord).
Types Of Rifle Slings
There are three main types of slings to consider:
- Single-point slings
- 2-point slings
- 3-point slings
Note: There are some more specific weapon slings applicable for sharpshooting, tactical rifles, assault rifles, and combat, but let’s stick to these three types for now.
Here’s a brief explanation of each sling type and its attachment points so you can get an idea of which gun accessory is best for your specific needs:
SINGLE-POINT SLINGS
As the name suggests, these use one connection point to attach to the gun.
TWO-POINT SLINGS
These attach to the gun with two connection points (sometimes a D-ring).
THREE-POINT SLINGS
These connect to the front and the back of the firearm (like the two-point sling) and have an additional loop that connects around your torso.
Hunting Rifle Slings FAQs
HOW LONG SHOULD YOUR GUN SLING BE?
It should correlate to your height and arm span when stretched out, but everyone is unique. Some people like a tighter control. Something else you have to factor in is the swivel placement on the gun in particular.
I don’t know your gun, and I don’t know your height, but the best place to start is with a sizing guide for your height and then factor in the distance between the gun hardware.
You will need different sling lengths for different weapons, whether it’s a regular rifle or an AR.
WHAT IS THE BEST MATERIAL FOR A GUN SLING?
Slings for guns perform exceptionally well when made of a high denier rating nylon. Denier ratings define the thickness of a strand of fiber and can be applied to multiple strands of fabric or materials.
Low denier means something will be silky and smooth, while a high rating, such as 500D, means that it’s rough, rugged, and durable. If durability is what you’re after, then that’s what you want your gun strap to be made of: high denier fabrics and materials.
Nylon is the best, but you will also see polyester, cordura nylon, and leather on occasions. Other materials to be on the lookout for are the metals used in the hooks.
If the metal is not strong enough to handle the pressure you put when you aim and travel, it’s simply not good enough. Thankfully, most are made from high-grade aluminum and won’t give out on you.
HOW MANY POINTS SHOULD YOUR SLING HAVE?
3-point rifle slings are something that comes up a lot when you research AR slings. You’ll find that a lot of ex-military and military will use a three-point sling because of how familiar it feels. In truth, a three-point sling usually offers more control.
For civilian use of rifles (since we’re not bringing ARs with us when hunting outdoors), a two-point-sling is usually all you need.
It’s the perfect balance between carrying your rifle properly and being able to quickly retrieve it if you run into a buck or whitetail deer unexpectedly.
HOW TO KNOW IF A SLING WILL FIT YOUR GUN?
Look at the width of the strap and the way it connects to the hardware. Finding out the exact specifications of the strap width is crucial before actually committing to the purchase.
If it doesn’t fit, you can always change the hardware on your gun with a basic gunsmithing kit and some know-how.
Changing the hardware on your gun is usually only required in rare circumstances, but it’s something you should be able to do in case you buy a sling that doesn’t fit properly.
I found the perfect sling and did not want to compromise. Boom — pop out the kit, invest fifteen minutes of your time, and you’re right as rain.
CAN YOU REUSE A PARACORD SURVIVAL SLING?
Paracord is basically a survivalist’s best friend, but when manufacturers design items like bracelets or slings that are made of parachute cord, they’re built to come undone when needed — not go back together.
You could take some time to put a paracord sling back together by weaving it in place, but, honestly, it’s not worth it.
If you had to unravel your parachute cord for any reason, it must have been pretty grim or survival-related, and the parachute cord itself is probably tattered by this point. I would just keep it as a coil of parachute cord and use it for other purposes in the future.
HOW MUCH SHOULD MY GUN SLING BE ABLE TO HOLD?
While it may be overkill, many slings and their corresponding hardware are able to hold 250+ pounds.
This is usually related to pounds of pressure, meaning if you hold your weapon sling tightly when pulling up to aim at a target, you’re not even coming close to breaking the swivel or splitting the strap.
Some of us are harder on their slings than others. I had a three-point one that tore after about two hunting trips because I’m a bit rough on it, so it’s definitely wise to get a strap that can handle whatever you throw at it.
Many of the straps on this list have a 300-pound rating, which I don’t anticipate you ever coming close to breaking. You could even use two gun straps to hold up a hammock and it’s not going to break, thanks to modern construction and high denier nylon.
Resources:
