do you use a sling on your "tactical" shotgun?

[AllaSnackbah]

i have a a pistol/shotgun course coming up this weekend at my club, i guess you could call it a competition but its pretty relaxed. anyways, the course of fire is going to include moving from position to position engaging targets with a shotgun, switching to a handgun when needed. i am going to be using my bare bones 870 express HD gun i've had for ever. the only sling mounting options on the gun are your basic QD studs, one on the rear stock and one mounted on the magazine extension/barrel. what type of sling (if any?) would you guys use? looking online i don't see much that appeals to me.

here are some options i looked at.

a) http://www.amazon.com/Specter-Gear-...6O/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1337649859&sr=8-21
looks like too much strappage, thinking i would get tangled up while pumping the action like some 80's bondage porn flick star with a bad hair day.

b) http://www.amazon.com/GG-Remington-Sling-Attachment-Swivel/dp/B005ROL4YK/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_13
this with a single point sling? not sure how i would like it. are single point slings really any good for anything other than playing splinter cell operator in the bathroom mirror for 5 minutes before returning the gun to the dusty closet for the next 6 months? a full size R870 seems like an awful lot of weight swinging around on a pendulum while your running around.

c) http://www.amazon.com/GG-Single-Point-Sling-Attachment/dp/B005R8I7HS/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_2
http://www.amazon.com/GG-Remington-Attachment-Ambidextrous-GGG-1084/dp/B003GSTMRA/ref=pd_sim_sg_5

these with a 2 point sling? again, I'm worried about my arm snagging on the sling while doing offhand reloads or cycling the action.

any advice would be appreciated guys, thanks.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

I just try not to drop my guns.

 

[MisterHappy]

KISS.

that's my general rule. That, and look and see what the majority of the better shooters are doing, and copy it.

That being said, I have slings for some of my field guns ( I don't do the tactical stuff), that I also use for trap. When you have to walk ten fields to get to your bank, carryign your ammo, it's a nice plus!

 

[SMagee]

No sling for me. I know I would fall and wind up hog-tied begging for some help. As stated by Mister Happy K.I.S.S.

 

[Supermoto]

Slings are only useful when you have to carry the shotgun while shooting your handgun. Otherwise its just going to slow you down when you have to dump it or it will get tangled on props or moving.

 

[AllaSnackbah]

Slings are only useful when you have to carry the shotgun while shooting your handgun. Otherwise its just going to slow you down when you have to dump it or it will get tangled on props or moving.

right, which is what im going to have to do

 

[Supermoto]

right, which is what im going to have to do

Any multi gun comp that I have done, you stage the shotgun/rifle or dump the shotgun before transitioning to your pistol. A few matches will have you carry your shotgun while shooting your pistol
The problem with running it slung is it causes all sorts of safety issues for everyone around you

 

[Dan S]

Any multi gun comp that I have done, you stage the shotgun/rifle or dump the shotgun before transitioning to your pistol. A few matches will have you carry your shotgun while shooting your pistol
The problem with running it slung is it causes all sorts of safety issues for everyone around you

You haven't shot enough multigun matches. Blue Ridge has required slings on both the shotgun and rifle.

 

[AllaSnackbah]

Any multi gun comp that I have done, you stage the shotgun/rifle or dump the shotgun before transitioning to your pistol. A few matches will have you carry your shotgun while shooting your pistol
The problem with running it slung is it causes all sorts of safety issues for everyone around you

unfortunately i just found out that this is the case with my match. lame.

 

[Bumpfire1478]

Dump it, think about real life you run out of shotgun ammo, so you sling your shotgun and run. OOPS fell on you azz running now the bad guy has the upper hand. Go low and dump it, been in a few training exercises and we sling over to our backs or dump it.

Keith

 

[M.Nastek]

A 2 point adjustable VTAC (Viking Tactics Sling) or a Vickers Tactical are the best on the market.
Its a draw on which one is the best.

All of my long weapons have one of the 2 on them.

 

[winter]

+1 for the single point sling.

The one point makes for offers faster transition to your secondary and you can get back on your primary faster to reload/clear a malfunction.

If you have to run with a one point when you have your secondary drawn, just secure your primary with your off hand to keep it from grinding you meat/knees.

 

[That Guy]

I don't care for the single point slings - I prefer a very basic two point sling on all my guns for tactical and hunting purposes. I actually have one sling that I switch back and forth between my shotgun and hunting rifle - it's very basic and has a quick release adjustment. I can't remember how much I paid but it's an Uncle Mikes and I'm guessing less than $20. Two point sling is very simple - I only use it for two things. Slung over my back when I am using a secondary weapon or on my shoulder when I am looking to cover a lot of ground fast while I am hunting (although I rarely do that during shooting hours).

 

[Cuda444]

If it's a HD shotgun, my personal opinion is to run the gun like you would in a HD scenario, assuming the match permits. If you don't normally run it with a sling, do the same while you're training with it. This is good for a multitude of reasons, the two biggest being, muscle memory and the second being "does this setup actually work for me?" The training will give you real time feedback as to whether or not you and your rig work well in that configuration, if not, change it up and try again.

That said, all my rifles have the Vicker's slings (2 point). My shotgun is currently running with a simple Specter Gear single point sling that has a quick release buckle so you can dump the gun without removing the sling. Sounds good in practice, and its decent, but I'm not a fan of single point slings because they bounce around too much while you're moving and you end up walking like you have a tree up your ass as you "straddle" the gun to keep it from destroying your knees. It also does a horrible job of keeping the muzzle out of the dirt when you do anything other than stand. With a two point setup you can simply drop the gun and it will be slung and relatively secure and out of the way.

In the end, I'm of the adage that every long gun should have a sling if it is for any type of HD/self defense role. You never know what you'll have to use your hands for and ESPECIALLY with a shotgun, even more so with a pump, holding it up with one hand while using your other hand to actually do something is no easy task after just a few seconds. As always, YMMV.

 

[Mike-Mike]

If it's a HD shotgun, my personal opinion is to run the gun like you would in a HD scenario, assuming the match permits. If you don't normally run it with a sling, do the same while you're training with it. This is good for a multitude of reasons, the two biggest being, muscle memory and the second being "does this setup actually work for me?" The training will give you real time feedback as to whether or not you and your rig work well in that configuration, if not, change it up and try again.

That said, all my rifles have the Vicker's slings (2 point). My shotgun is currently running with a simple Specter Gear single point sling that has a quick release buckle so you can dump the gun without removing the sling. Sounds good in practice, and its decent, but I'm not a fan of single point slings because they bounce around too much while you're moving and you end up walking like you have a tree up your ass as you "straddle" the gun to keep it from destroying your knees. It also does a horrible job of keeping the muzzle out of the dirt when you do anything other than stand. With a two point setup you can simply drop the gun and it will be slung and relatively secure and out of the way.

In the end, I'm of the adage that every long gun should have a sling if it is for any type of HD/self defense role. You never know what you'll have to use your hands for and ESPECIALLY with a shotgun, even more so with a pump, holding it up with one hand while using your other hand to actually do something is no easy task after just a few seconds. As always, YMMV.

Every tome I ever tried to run with a single point I get hit in the dick.

 

[winter]

Every tome I ever tried to run with a single point I get hit in the dick.

It helps if while actually running with a single point, to keep your offhand on the front stock/end of the rifle/shotgun.

Ill post pics when I get back home.