The 8 Best AR-15 One & Two-Point Sling Mounts In 2023

Many accessories can improve your effectiveness when using your AR-15. An essential accessory that every AR-15 should have is a good sling. A rifle sling will help support your rifles’ weight and can be used to improve shooting stability. To attach a sling to your AR-15, you will also need a reliable sling mount.

Our Breakdown Of The Top 8 Best Sling Mounts Available Today

The best rifle sling in the world is useless if your sling mount fails. A high-quality sling mount will allow you to train with confidence that your AR-15 is secure. The eight sling mounts featured in our breakdown are reliable and will provide a solid foundation to mount your rifle sling.

What is an AR-15 sling mount?

Simply put, an AR-15 sling mount is an accessory that allows you to attach your sling to your rifle. Depending on what type of sling you purchase, you will need either one or two sling mounts for your rifle. Without sling mounts, there is no practical way to attach a sling to your rifle. When you purchase a sling, it will have one of several standard attachment mechanisms on it.

One of the simplest and most common means of attaching a sling to your mount is through the use of clips. These clips will vary slightly in style and material but are all very similar. Another common type of sling is a web sling, which is best utilized with a swivel-style sling mount.

A traditional two-point rifle sling has been around for hundreds of years and simply served the purpose of allowing the user to carry the weapon on their back. Modern slings provide a slew of other benefits, thanks largely to the implementation of various sling mounts. Whatever your intended purpose with your AR-15, you will greatly benefit from the use of a sling and high-quality sling mounts.

Why do I need an AR-15 sling anyway?

An AR-15 sling should be one of the first accessories that you purchase for your rifle. A sling can provide you with multiple benefits, whether you are spending the day at the range or on a hunting trip. These benefits vary based on the type of sling you implement and chosen based on your intended purpose and preferences. A good quality sling and sling mounts will provide you with stability and support while utilizing your rifle.

Weight Support

The average AR-15 rifle will weigh approximately six pounds unloaded. This is before you add your magazine, optic, and any additional accessories such as supplemental grips or a weapon-mounted light. One of the principal purposes of the sling is to support the weight of your rifle.

Carrying your rifle without a sling will quickly fatigue your arms and continuously occupy your hands. A sling remedies both of these problems by supporting your rifle’s weight and freeing up your hands. hen needed.

This allows you to walk with greater ease and retrieve additional equipment or a secondary firearm when practicing transitional shooting drills.

Shooting stability

A two-point sling can improve your shooting stability, which is particularly useful if shooting far-away targets. This increased stability is accomplished by wrapping your support arm under and around the sling and grasping your rifle as you normally would.

By wrapping the sling around your arm in such a manner, you pull the stock of your rifle tighter into your shoulder, creating a more stable shooting platform.

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How to choose an AR-15 sling mount

There are several important considerations when choosing your AR-15 sling mount. The first step is to decide what type of sling you want to utilize. As mentioned above, each type of sling offers different benefits and will affect your rifle’s function in different ways.

After selecting a sling, you should then decide if you want QD connections for your sling.

Once you decide between a two-point or single-point sling and the type of connections you want to utilize, you can then select your sling mount(s). The two-point sling connects with your rifle at two different points. Therefore, you will need both a front and rear sling mount if you opt for a two-point sling.

If you have limited or no experience with the use of rifle slings, it may be beneficial to purchase a rear sling mount that can accommodate a QD connector. By opting for a QD compatible rear sling mount, you can easily purchase a front sling mount and two-point sling if you decide to transition from a single-point to a two-point sling. You can then swap slings with the press of a button if you are transitioning between different rifle uses.

Types of AR-15 sling mounts

There are dozens, if not hundreds of AR-15 sling mounts on the market today. However, they primarily fall into two broad categories:

• A front rail mount
• A rear sling mount

A rear sling mount can function independently with a single-point sling, but a front sling mount must always be used in conjunction with a rear mount for multi-point slings.

Front sling mounts

A front sling mount will attach to your rifle by using a Picatinny or Weaver-style rail system. This attachment will need to be tightened with the use of an Allen key. Some other fasteners are utilized to attach these sling mounts, but a bolt with an Allen head is the most common.

The front sling mount will need to be mounted on the bottom or on the weak side of your handguard. For example, if you are a southpaw like me, the front sling mount needs to be attached to the right side of your handguard or underneath it. If you are a right-handed shooter, it can be attached to your handguard’s bottom or left side.

The front sling mount can have various fixtures on it, but the most common is a swivel with a QD button. Front sling mounts are available in a variety of different swivel options. Some of these will rotate 360 degrees, and some will only turn approximately 45 degrees. The more rigid swivels provide the lowest risk of tangles but may limit the maneuverability of your sling slightly.

Rear sling mounts

Rear sling mounts may be attached to your rifle in several locations and through the use of different mechanisms. All of the rear sling mounts are found here to attach to your rifle near the endplate.

Some rear mounts are affixed to the stock itself. However, I find that the rear sling mounts that are attached near the endplate provide better control and are more securely attached to the rifle.

Sling mounts that replace or are affixed behind the endplate will generally have a loop or slot. They may also have a QD button and swivel as opposed to the fixed loop/slot. If the sling mount features a QD style swivel, then it will most likely be wider and inhibit the use of your shortest adjustable stock position.

The thinner sling mounts featuring the fixed loop or slot will not likely not support the use of a QD connector but should allow you to engage all positions of your adjustable stock.

Standard vs quick-detach (QD) AR-15 sling mounts

Both standard and quick detach sling mounts offer several benefits and it really comes down to your intended application and personal preference. A standard sling mount will involve a swivel or loop that is fastened to your rifle. You then attach your sling to this mount by using a clip or by running the sling through the mount and adjusting the fit.

The quick-detach variety of sling mounts allow you to remove the swivel from the mount at the press of a button. These types of mounts are very convenient because they allow you to quickly remove your rifle sling. This may be necessary if your sling becomes entangled in your equipment or objects in your environment (i.e. tree, tree stand).

The QD feature is great if you own multiple rifles and have a sling that you want to utilize on all of them. Standard sling mounts can also allow for easy changing of rifle slings if it utilizes clip connectors. I personally utilize a combination of the two. I have a fixed loop on the rear of my rifle and a QD swivel loop on the front of my rifle, which is most suitable for my uses.

Different ways mounts attach to your AR-15

There are several ways that a rear sling mount may attach to your AR-15, and it is important to choose an attachment method compatible with your intended use and skill level. Front rifle mounts are attached to your rifle through the use of a Picatinny or Weaver-style rail.

Attaching the front sling mount

The front sling mount will be attached to your rail through the use of a bolt. You simply place the mount where on the rail that you want it and insert the bolt. The bolt is then fastened until the front sling mount is snugly attached to your rail and does not shift or wiggle. You may have to reposition the mount a few times to find your ideal positioning, approximately 1-2 inches from the far end of your rail is a good starting point.

Attaching the rear sling mount

Attaching a rear sling mount will require that you first remove the stock from your AR-15. As with any modifications, your first step should always involve clearing your weapon and ensuring that it is unloaded. After this is complete, you will need to remove your stock.

If you have an adjustable stock, a common removal method will involve pulling down the adjustment button and simply sliding the stock off the buffer tube. This may vary depending on the brand and model of adjustable stock on your rifle. After your stock is removed, you will then attach the rear sling mount.

The rear sling mount will either be fastened against the castle nut and butt plate or will simply clamp onto the buffer tube. Both of these options are quick and should only take a few minutes. Rear sling mounts that clamp onto the buffer tube almost always prevent the use of the shortest adjustment setting on your adjustable stock. The rear sling mounts that fasten against the butt plate allow the use of all stock positions but typically do not accommodate QD swivels.

Fixed stocks will require the removal of a screw located on the backside of your stock. Be careful not to lose the detent spring when completing the removal of a fixed stock, as your gun will not function properly without it. The type of rear sling mounts compatible with fixed stocks will be fastened against or even replace your rifle’s butt plate. The stock is then secured to your rifle by replacing the stock screw(s).

Single-point slings vs two-point slings

The single-point versus two-point sling argument really comes down to freedom of movement and control. A single-point sling provides the most freedom of movement while still supporting the weight of your rifle while a two-point sling sacrifices some freedom of movement but improves your level of control over your AR-15.

Pros and cons of a single-point sling

A single-point sling will allow you to aim more quickly, move faster, and transition to other equipment if needed. You can also push your rifle to one side if you need to run. The single-point sling will also allow you to rapidly access and raise your rifle onto your target.

There are two main downsides to a single-point sling. If you do not keep a hand on your rifle to push it to one side, the barrel can swing and hit into your knees when walking or running. This is because the connection point is behind the receivers and does not exert any control over the rifle’s front end. The other downside to a single-point sling is that it does not provide any added shooting support.

Pros and cons of a two-point sling

A two-point sling provides more stability and control over your AR. With a two-point sling, your rifle will fit close to your body while still allowing you to quickly raise and aim your rifle.

Because the rifle fits tighter to your body and has a point of contact on both sides of the rifle, you can walk or run without the barrel striking you in the knees. You can also wrap your support arm underneath and around the strap to provide additional support.

The downsides of the two-point sling are reduced freedom of movement and a more difficult transition between shoulders. However, most shooters do not need to adjust between dominant and off-handed shooting during their rifle’s normal use.

If you do, this can be accomplished by loosening and readjusting your two-point sling, but this task will take some practice to perfect.

What other sling options are there?

The other type of AR-15 sling is the three-point sling. The three-point sling has three points of contact. The first two points of contact attach to your rifle in the same manner as a two-point sling. However, the third point of contact is a sliding loop affixed to the strap connected to your rifle’s front.

The three-point sling is worn similarly to the single-point sling but has that additional segment of strap that allows you to have better control over your rifle. The three-point sling provides the best control and retention but is more complicated and prone to snagging on your rifle. Tangling can even prevent you from shouldering the rifle at all.

Is it hard to install AR-15 sling mounts?

AR-15 sling mounts are extremely easy to install. The front mounts are quickly fastened onto your rail, and the rear mounts should only take a few minutes, especially if you have an adjustable stock. AR-15 sling mounts do not require any special tools, and many of them include the needed Allen wrench with your purchase to make installation a breeze.

The best all-around AR-15 sling mount

My pick for the best AR-15 sling mount adapter is the Midwest Industries End Plate Sling Adapter. This adapter is easy to install and extremely durable. It is also thin enough to allow the majority of adjustable stocks to fully collapse.

The MI End Plate Sling Adapter comes with a QD swivel that can be positioned for both left and right-handed shooters. This is a great all-around AR-15 sling mount that is a good fit whether you opt for a single-point or two-point sling. Regardless of your experience level or the intended application of your AR-15, this sling can get the job done.