HD shotgun sling

[tango5]

Who here runs a sling on their HD shotgun? Any pros and cons for a sling on an HD weapon? I am thinking about using a sling for a more ridged hold when its shouldered.

[oldschool88]

I don't just because i would be worried about snagging it on something or it just getting in the way. I don't plan on having time to wrap it properly, so it would just be cause me problems. IMHO.

[randy]

I wouldn't run a sling on a house gun. There's too much to snag and get you screwed up.

[L-2]

I use slings on my home defense (& work) shotguns. I prefer 2-point slings.
My training & experience involves using a sling. Get a 2-point sling; take a class or two; go from there.

I'm brainstorming here..
PROS:
-ability to secure and keep gun with you if/when something needs to be done with your hands, instead of putting gun down. It's like having a holster for a handgun; safety.
-telephoning; climbing up something; picking up a child/person; transitioning to a handgun; for me, handcuffing, taking notes; immediately presenting a less hostile appearance to the public by slinging.
-ability to use sling for added support if & when taking a longer distance shot (slug round).

CONS:
-snagging on things, in the house, on your person.
-being unfamiliar with it, and the shotgun in general, during manipulation.
-different types of slings will require more or some degree of practice to remember how to use.

In use, the pros outweigh the cons

[tango5]

I use slings on my home defense (& work) shotguns. I prefer 2-point slings.
My training & experience involves using a sling. Get a 2-point sling; take a class or two; go from there.

I'm brainstorming here..
PROS:
-ability to secure and keep gun with you if/when something needs to be done with your hands, instead of putting gun down. It's like having a holster for a handgun; safety.
-telephoning; climbing up something; picking up a child/person; transitioning to a handgun; for me, handcuffing, taking notes; immediately presenting a less hostile appearance to the public by slinging.
-ability to use sling for added support if & when taking a longer distance shot (slug round).

CONS:
-snagging on things, in the house, on your person.
-being unfamiliar with it, and the shotgun in general, during manipulation.
-different types of slings will require more or some degree of practice to remember how to use.

In use, the pros outweigh the cons

Your ideas make sense. I do agree, it can get caught up on things, but once i grab it, my left arm will wrap around the sling, bringing it tight into my right shoulder. I can keep it at the ready, or have it pointed down in front of me while keeping the butt next to my shoulder/chest.

[esskay]

I'm still trying to figure this one out.

I am a believer that any long gun you intend to fight with should have a sling, but not so much to sling up and provide shooting support (how long a shot are you guys envisioning? Maybe you guys have bigger houses than me!! ) but for the other reasons cited. e.g. I run the Magpul sling on my carbine, which accomplishes everything mentioned except shooting support.

I took a shotgun class and it illuminated some real issues with shotgun slings (870 with straight stock):

* regular 2 point slings (e.g. attached to typical sling swivels at the bottom of the buttstock and front of the magazine tube) more or less just function for carrying the gun. When you deploy the weapon you've pretty much dumped out of the sling. So doesn't help with handgun transitions, etc.

* Tried a Vicker's type of 2 point sling, mounted to the front of the magazine tube, and (a) to the side of the buttstock (Benelli style) and (b) to a sling mount between the receiver and buttstock right near the trigger. Very cumbersome - the sling attachment points are too far away from each other, and the "B" setup gets in the way of fire control. Perhaps the shotgun is one weapon system where a 3 point sling still has some merit (but I didn't bring one to try).

* Tried a single point sling. This was the closest to being a workable tactical sling setup. I actually clipped my Magpul carbine sling to the receiver sling point. It worked pretty well for weapon retention (e.g. when transitioning to handgun) and control. It was not so great in doing transitions to your support side, since the sling attachment is stuck on one side of the weapon it gets in the way. I was able to make it kinda work by loosening the sling more than I normally would.

The trainer basically just ran & generally advocated a regular ole sling purely for carrying and would always dump out of the sling for action.

None of these setups were optimal, so still looking...

I've gone full circle back to regular straight stocks on my shotguns, but I'm thinking maybe need to look at the AR stock adapters again because one of those might allow utilizing a Magpul ASAP plate.

[maxicon]

There was some discussion on this recently here:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=168028

I don't use a long gun for primary HD, for a variety of reasons, but in setting up my HD shotgun, I've decided to go for a sling. I may change my mind after more practice, but for now, it's working pretty well.

I agree with L-2's take on it in general, and the ability to use my hands without leaving the gun behind (say, if carrying a sleeping child to a different room) is a pretty major plus to me.

3 point slings really do present an entanglement risk, IMO, with that extra length of webbing along the slide plane, and I'd avoid them.

The rest of the issues can be dealt with by practicing and training. If you don't have the time or inclination to practice with a sling, I'd say leave it off.

[noluv4hoes]

the sling could get in the way. i have one of these http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum3336.php for my remington 870 18" but i have the sling put away just in case the SHTF.

[noluv4hoes]

my sling holds 15 shells. its very tacticool

[SCMA-1]

I have slings on all of my "social" guns. Not only is the proper type of sling important, but you should train using your sling. I've used 3-point "tactical" slings for more than a couple of decades but actually prefer single point rigs now. A proper single point rig allows your weapon to drop clear into the vertical carry position and is faster and more fumble free during cross shoulder transitions than 3-point setups; all of which are important in close quarter environments.

SCMA-1

[popndrop]

i have a sling on my FN SLP - but I take it off when the gun is my HD gun. My main reason for removing it is that my sling is also a shell holder, and therefore has additional weight that just isn't needed in my house. I have 8 shots in the gun, 6 shells in the side saddle, and 5 shells in the buttstock holder. I hope that is enough to keep the badguys at bay until the coppers arrive to save me.