How should we sling a M4/M16?

As a medic, if on patrol , I kept mine in the front muzzle up . made it easier to drop my aid bag and swing my weapon to my back, muzzle down. This also prevented me from setting my weapon on the ground while treating a patient. On a regular day to day it was on my back muzzle down pointed to the left. Because I am left eye dominate, I shoot left handed. If I needed to swing it to the front, it would already be positioned properly. I use to catch a ton of grief for having my weapon slung with the muzzle to the left.

No slings. They should be carried at the low ready.

During my time in, I have seen a wide variety (in multiple branches) of differences in carry methods. It seemed to change during different decades as prior combat veterans came and went. The best idea for all commands to follow is: to take the lessons learned (by our brothers and sisters in arms) from previous combat experiences. Look into the type of situations that were involved and utilize these as training scenarios for new and non-combat experienced personnel. Certain situations dictate different carry methods, but unless you train in the different types of scenarios – it won’t really matter how you carry it – you won’t be properly prepared to react at a blink of an eye to situations that might be the difference between life and death for you and/or your comrades in arms. Now that the combat environment is downsizing and garrison duty is becoming the name of the game again – commands should be utilizing all the hard won knowledge from recent combat situations and be funneling that knowledge into all aspects of training. If our new personnel are ‘training to operate like they would in a combat environment’ then we would have a better start right off the bat in any next conflict or situation that they are called upon to handle at any given moment. What you put into your training is what you will get out of it in a combat situation - also, no matter how you carry – if you are complacent in your situational awareness be it here stateside or across the pond – it won’t matter. Complacency kills in any locale and it doesn’t differentiate by gender or rank.

Not talking as a Admin FOBit. As a soldier looking to get his troops home, and a SWAT officer in the civilian world. Barrel ALWAYS goes down. You can live without a toe, your chances of surviving a sucking head wound are much less.

It should always be slung so that it falls to the front. A soldiers office space is from the thigh to chest. Everything you need to survive a firefight needs to be in that space.

This is the way I like to carry my weapon all the time:
1. Muzzle down
2. In front, because better control
3. Finally better SA of the weapon

Note:  None of that was allowed when I was in.  It was always present, order, port, right/left shoulder, or slung arms (on back, pointing up).  Nothing else.  Sling had a half-twist in it.

However I could do the least amount of damage to myself or the soldier behind me.

I was always under the impression that the rifle should be slung in front, muzzle pointed down so that if something were to happen, it would be easy to grab the weapon and bring it into action, and if the rifle were to go off, the round would go into the ground in front of you as opposed to somewhere far off in the distance. Granted, it's situation dependent, but that's just always been my default. I don't know the official rules on it.

When I have my gear on I prefer to use a wolf hook. That way there's no sling to get caught up on anything.

Otherwise, I like the 1 point sling.

I always slung my down across my back unless I had my alice pack on. if I had my alice pack on then I slung it across my front still pointing down. but you may not be able to that depending on the load you are carrying and may have to sling it to the side but should be pointing down.