Airsoft Guns

While we’ve covered at length the various choices of airsoft weaponry currently available, I’d like to take a moment to discuss an often-overlooked component: the rifle sling.

Designed to assist a shooter in carrying a carbine, rifle or CQC gun, this simple piece of gear impacts airsoft enthusiasts just as it does real-world operators. After all, with airsoft guns a 1:1 ratio in weight and size to the firearms they mimic, similar amounts of physical stress are endured by both airsoft players and soldiers, in their deployment of the small arms they carry.

So what type of sling should you purchase? There are three main kinds, and your choice in use should be dependent on the style of play you engage in, as well as your tactical approach and choice of airsoft weaponry

One-Point Sling

If you’ve seen the images of modern combat troops patrolling overseas, then you’re already familiar with the ‘One-Point Sling.’ A One-Point Sling is designed to allow the operator to fire their gun from either shoulder. This style of sling provides instantaneous ‘hands free’ action... even when dropped, the weapon remains attached to the shooter’s body, hanging downwards, instantly accessible if needed. As anyone who’s spent time engaging in airsoft close quarter combat knows, it is a highly preferred piece of tactical gear. The one-point sling also works well in the prone position, in that when used properly it can assist in precision shooting, and also allows for easy transitioning from main gun to side arm.

As for the downside of the one-point, the simple fact that the sling allows for the stationing of the gun on the torso of the operator may cause for combat consternation. The gun must be controlled so as to not damage the muzzle (as when ‘taking a knee’), climbing obstacles without repositioning the gun is out of the question, and neck and shoulder fatigue stemming from extended periods of use can be attributed to its design.

Two-Point Sling

Simple in its design, the title of the ‘Two-Point Sling’ says it all: it comes with two attachment points, which correlate to the two attachment points (at the rear and the front) of the rifle it carries. This traditional design allows the airsoft operator the ability to easily carry a gun over the back, torso or shoulder.

Thee-Point Sling

The most advanced of the three, the ‘Three-Point Sling’ straps to the operator not unlike a harness, and like it’s cousin the one-point sling, it is designed to allow the shooter the ability to go hands-free without dropping the weapon. It also keeps the weapon in a ‘ready’ position at the operator’s hip. Consisting of material that loops around the shooter’s body, the three-point sling connects to the front and rear of the weapon, as well as to the shooter, hence the ‘three point’ moniker, and allows for gun weight dispersion. This reduces fatigue, which is a good thing. What’s not is that like the one-point, the three-point sling and the positioning of the airsoft gun it carries can complicate certain activities, as may from time to time catch on an operator’s kit (tactical vest).

Verdict: If you are carrying a M4 (or an airsoft AEG with a similar sling attachment point just behind the receiver) and prefer airsoft CQC over MilSim, then the one-point sling is most likely for you. For airsoft operators who favor lengthy field operations, do yourself a favor and pace your operations by using a two or three point sling.

About the Author: Mike Zhang is the President and COO of Airsoft Megastore, the fastest growing of all airsoft stores in the nation. Airsoft Megastore offers deep discounts on sale items for players interested in cheap AEG airsoft guns and looking to find airsoft sniper rifles cheap.

Labels: airsoft rifle sling, airsoft rifle slings, airsoft sling, airsoft slings