Slings for Airsoft Guns
Just like in real-world applications, slings are used in airsoft as well. If you think about it, what we're doing is different from what real-world users would face (albeit we're just talking about this in a recreational sense in our context).
The sling is an underrated piece of gear that should be high on your list of things to get. The sling does several things for you and is more than a carrying strap. Yes, it will keep your airsoft gun on you without any added fatigue. On top of that, a sling retains your weapon while you are doing other things, such as performing tasks within a scenario of an airsoft game. Having your hands free to manipulate objects, carry things, and so on while being able to carry your rifle is a huge advantage. If you have ever rented an airsoft gun and tried to play a scenario game, you'll realize a sling is a good idea. Back to the point about having one to carry your rifle easier, though, players of more diminutive stature or younger players would also appreciate a sling once they try it.
Okay, now that we've established what a sling is helpful for and why it's a great idea, let's talk about how to get a sling and put it onto your gun.
Slings are categorized by how many mounting points they utilize. There are single, two-point, and three-point slings. I’ll skip talking about 3-point slings altogether because they have fallen out of fashion. You can do some more research on those on your own.
So, starting with the single-point sling: A single-point sling has one mounting point. It’s pretty handy and quick and allows you to transition very quickly. The con is that the rifle is dangling when you are not actively holding it, so you could smack it around if you go hands-free and start moving. This is a pretty simple solution if you have nothing to work with, and single-point slings are handy in CQB due to their simplicity.
A two-point sling attaches at two different locations and is generally the preferred setup for some. This keeps the long gun secure to the body when you need to use both hands to do something. We have scenarios in some of our milsim-themed games, such as rescuing downed pilots where you have to carry a dummy out on a stretcher, or games that require moving objects such as (fake) bombs that require you to go hands-on. A two-point sling would make life easier on the airsoft battlefield by freeing up your hands for such tasks while retaining your rifle as securely as possible, leaving you with the option of having your rifle ready to deploy and get into the fight.
How do we mount them? If you have a single-point sling, you will mount at one attachment point. If you have a two-point sling, you will have two connecting to your rifle.
Slings will come in many styles when it comes to mounting. The primary kind will use simple sling loops found in many types of guns. This will require you to install the sling through the sling loop(s), fold them over, and pull the strap through a buckle to keep it secure.
Some slings can come with mash hooks, which secure a ring-type attachment on a gun. The mash hook is spring-loaded, and once you snap the hook in and it closes, it does not come off until you depress the spring-loaded arm.
The last common attachment type is slings using a QD (quick detach) swivel. These have a traditional sling loop like the first type I described, with a button built into it. The sling is attached to a QD socket and clicks into place. Once it's clicked in, it cannot come out without you pressing the spring-loaded button on the socket.
The traditional loop-type sling can be retrofitted with mash hooks and QD sockets to interface with more varieties of mounts.
One notable exception you might see is sling mounts on the sniper. Sniper rifles may come with studs on both ends of the gun. They look like a metal nub with a hole through it. These studs are used to mount either bipods or sling swivels that are explicitly designed to work with the stud. Mounting the correct sling swivels will allow you to attach a two-point sling to your sniper rifle.
If all else fails, use a paracord to give yourself some mounting points, and you will have a much better time than without a sling.
