AR and AK Slings

Single point slings got that name because they only have one attachment point on the rifle, generally towards the rear of the receiver or stock. Single point slings offer a lot of flexibility, making transitions from shoulder-to-shoulder a quick and effortless affair.

They also allow the rifle to sit directly in front of you (or under one arm), making transitioning from carry to ready very fast. When using a rifle-style pistol, or compact sub-gun style firearm with a PDW-style collapsible stock or a folding stock adapter, you can even push out against the sling and use the tension to improve control in an emergency.

They are not without their cons though. While excellent for static positions where you don't need to move or run, single point slings simply do not secure the rifle very well against movement. Having a large, heavy carbine like an AR-308 swinging free in front of you can be detrimental in multiple ways to your ability to move, especially if you need your hands free at the time.

While they can be a shooting aid with compact, stockless firearms like a KRISS Vector, they can't be used as additional support when shooting offhand with more traditional firearms.

Two point slings attach to your rifle in two places, usually your rifle stock or rear of the receiver and your handguard. Most two point slings offer users the ability to quickly tighten the sling down when the rifle is being carried, preventing the firearm from flopping around when you need your hands free or need to move and you can't spare a hand to retain it directly.

They can also be used as a shooting aid. Simply loop your support arm into your sling and tighten it. The additional tension between your arm and the sling can significantly improve stability when shooting offhand when you don't have the option to use a bipod or a supported position.

While two-point slings offer a lot of options, they lack the flexibility of a single point sling when it comes time to shoot. Poor technique when transitioning shoulders can result in a taught sling digging into your neck and throat.

Especially if you opt for the most comfort while carrying your rifle and run a wide or padded sling. Proper technique and quick-adjust pull tabs can mitigate the risk of ensnaring oneself. While many single point slings offer a quick-release buckle should you need to immediately free yourself from your rifle, very few two point slings offer such a feature.

So, what it really comes down to is how much you're planning on moving with your rifle slung. Pulling guard duty and stuck standing in place, have a compact firearm, or simply want to quickly transition shoulders? You probably want a single point sling. Do you need to hike to your stand, move dynamically, or want the ability to improve your stability when you can’t put a bipod on a shooting bench? Then you're probably going to prefer a two point sling.

Don't want to get too locked into one or the other? There are hybrid options available! line-up of MS4 slings can be readily converted from single point to two point and back with no additional hardware. If you have a two point sling you like but want to be able to convert it to single point? You should check out the Viking Tactics 2-to-1 Sling Conversion attachment.

It simply slides onto your sling and allows you to move your forward quick detach (QD) sling swivel from your rifle to the attachment to run your sling as a single point. Another choice is the Black Rain Ordinance 2-to-1 sling which uses a simple design to give you flexibility.