This past fall, I found myself in need of a good two point rifle sling at short notice. Elzetta was kind enough to sponsor me for their low light training and zombie shoot at the American Institute of Marksmanship where I would learn defensive uses for rifle, shotgun, and pistol in low light conditions. As two thirds of the all-day event was centered around long gun use, I needed a sling for my newly finished AR 15 and borrowed Remington 870 Tactical that would allow me to carry either long gun comfortably throughout the day and that would be convenient enough for me to use with both. After some research, I dropped $45 on a VTAC Upgraded Wide Padded Sling and headed off to Cave City, KY for the event to test it out.
The AR I assembled to my preferences for size and weight, but I used my dad’s shotgun for the training. So, while my rifle fit my cheek weld and length of pull, the 12 gauge’s stock is too long to be considered convenient. Because of this, I most appreciated the comfort and ease of adjustment the VTAC Wide Padded Sling offered me when using the Remmy during this training. Fully loaded, the 870 is not exactly a lightweight. However, the sling dispersed the weight comfortably across my shoulder even after carrying the shotgun for several hours. Using the VTAC in a sort of hasty sling position also made it easier for me to shoulder the shotgun and keep it steady, despite the stock being too large (and heavy) for me.
As I only had the means to bring one sling to use for training with both long guns, I needed something that could be easily interchanged between carrying with the Remington 870 and my LMT/Daniel Defense AR 15. The VTAC Upgraded Padded Sling fit the bill perfectly. The sling has metal hardware that, once adjusted, keeps it in place. It also has a rubber “quick adjustment” tab that allowed me to easily tweak how snug the sling fit me. I found that feature particularly helpful when swapping it from my comparatively shorter rifle to the somewhat oversized shotgun.
The VTAC Upgraded Padded Sling was easy to use, comfortable, and helped me both to carry my long guns when not in use, but also aided in wielding my rifle and shotgun effectively during an all-day training event. The nylon strap is weather resistant and the metal hardware contributes to an overall functional and wear-resistant sling. I wouldn’t have been able to train successfully without it.
