Formatted Transcript:

Hey, I’m Jared Reston with Reston Group Training, here at Blue Force Gear to discuss my sling setup and what I do.

First things first: based on my experience, a two-point sling is non-negotiable. You have to have a two-point sling because it’s not all about shooting—it’s also about doing life and work with your rifle. On my rifle, I have the Blue Force Gear GMT, which is a tailed sling. I like a tailed sling because it gives me much more adjustment, allowing me to really tighten it down. It also means I can be a bit less precise when sizing my sling because the GMT’s extra adjustment compensates for changes, like going in and out of vests or different-size plates. It can really cinch the rifle to my body.

The first thing I do is run my sling as far out on the rail as possible, toward the muzzle, to provide extra support and stability when I need a solid shot. As I run it down, I attach the rear of the sling on the outboard side of the gun (I’m left-handed, so this is on the left side). This setup really seats the gun in when I tighten the sling, and it also allows me to transition from shoulder to shoulder without choking myself out. Over my career, I’ve tried attaching the sling at different points on the rail—some people like the midpoint, some like it further back, and some like attaching at the castle nut. However, I don’t prefer the castle nut attachment because when I tighten the sling, the buttstock rides too high and can hit the back of my head if I go to carry the rifle on my back to jump a fence. I prefer the extra control of having it attached farther back on the stock and out near the muzzle.

When I’m working or getting ready to go on a warrant, for instance, I’ll usually wear it in a traditional two-point configuration at first. Then, as we approach the target, I’ll loosen it and wear it more like a necklace. That gives me a sort of single-point feel without actually using a single-point sling, and it’s handy in close-quarters environments where I may not need as much stability for a long shot. Wearing it “necklace style” also keeps it from choking me when I switch shoulders—say, if I’m approaching a right-side cover. I can easily transition to my opposite shoulder, and it doesn’t restrict my neck.

If I need to go hands-on or do something else, I can swim through the sling and tighten it up, moving the rifle to my back. It stays tight against my back because of the way the rear attachment is set up. If I need more stability—maybe for a longer-distance shot or as I’m covering more ground—I can swim fully into the sling. Then, as I come up to a supported or unsupported position, I can pull the sling tighter to gain extra stability. From the back, you’ll see the rear portion pulling the rifle into my body. If the rear were attached on the inside, it would kick the buttstock outward when I shoot, creating more recoil and slowing down follow-up shots. With it set up this way, I get better recoil management and can shoot faster and more accurately.

That’s why, in my opinion, a two-point sling is so important. In conclusion, when you set it up, try to place the front attachment as far out on the rail as you can and attach the rear on the opposite side of the buttstock. That way, you’re controlling both ends of the gun effectively. From there, adjust or wear your sling as appropriate for the mission you’re doing.

I’m Jared Reston—thank you very much.