Posted on Jul 27, 2014
LTC Operations Officer (Opso)
15.1K
234
84
3
3
0
I have seen and heard so many different ways to sling a M4/M16. If having the issued slings I was told have the rifle pointing up. Wait no have it pointing down. Then if having the three point sling I saw rifle slung on back. I saw rifle hanging in the front.

I never saw it in regulations. What do you think it should be?
Avatar feed
See Results
Responses: 42
PO1 Retired Usn Fleet Reserve
1
1
0
it is pointed up during road march for safety, unless raining then down, anyway you carry it you must maintain positive control which is why I hate the new front slings because they let go of the weapon like it was not there. and the new reg in navy for qual is no sling which sucks because I use the sling.
(1)
Comment
(0)
PO1 Master-at-Arms
PO1 (Join to see)
>1 y
I remember the old days ( about 15 years for me) when they wanted us to fasten the sling around your arm when firing from the prone.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Terminal Operations Nco
1
1
0
How about a 3 point sling, outside of ceremonial duties, of course, pointed down and at the ready?
(1)
Comment
(0)
SSG Terminal Operations Nco
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
Although I do prefer a 1 point tactical sling.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
MAJ Assistant Operations Officer (S3)
1
1
0
VTAC 2-point sling...end of thread
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Saun Lehar
1
1
0
If a round gets negligently discharged irt goes in the ground, not in the are
(1)
Comment
(0)
SSG Saun Lehar
SSG Saun Lehar
>1 y
Let me re type this, it looks like I can't spell.
It should be muzzle down on the front or back in case a round is negligently discharged it goes in the dirt not in the air.
Besides, Muzzle down slung across the front is low ready.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
PFC Zanie Young
1
1
0
At the ready is ideal in combat, in D&C, when ordered, slung, pointed up. That's the way I learned, anyway...
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Section Ncoic
1
1
0
At the low ready with the slung up front. Having it on the back is too impractical and uncomfortable.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Motor Transport Operator
1
1
0
What I was instructed to do in basic last August was: slung over the left shoulder, on your back, barrel pointed downward. I've obviously never been deployed, but this seems impractical to me for anything other than garrison... Thoughts?
(1)
Comment
(0)
SGT Blair Drechsel
SGT Blair Drechsel
>1 y
Low Ready!! Or you know, whatever doesn't get you yelled at lol
(2)
Reply
(0)
SGT Motor Transport Operator
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
Haha yeah, I heard that a lot in basic too :P Although honestly, when we went to range, I was too afraid to sling my weapon at first because I wasn't sure what our SOP was at 477th, so I went low ready for the first day. Turns out that gets you made fun of :P
(0)
Reply
(0)
LTC Paul Labrador
LTC Paul Labrador
>1 y
With your rifle slung the way you described, assuming you are right handed, you can swing it around your body fairly quickly and go to a firing posture at lot more smoothly than the "traditional" way of slinging a rifle (left shoulder, muzzle up). This way, you can also control your muzzle with your right hand. And if you're running around locked and loaded (as is the case in some FOBs) a ND will go into the ground.
(2)
Reply
(0)
SGT Motor Transport Operator
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
That makes a lot of sense! Thank you, sir!
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist
0
0
0
Regulation does not standardize it because it is subjective to the loadout SOP of the unit/mission they are assigned. A medic is going to be carrying different load outs than a mortar team, a machine gun team, a sniper team, etc. Those load outs may dictate the best way to sling the weapons.

Additionally, the training they have undergone for the mission set (rural vs. mout, mounted vs. dismounted, combat arms vs. combat service and support) may dictate different requirements and SOPs.

Beyond that, not every unit has the same budget to equip their Soldiers with the identical slings.

Just don’t try and standardize this. It is way too much work for an outcome that hurts more than helps.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Kenneth Partyka
0
0
0
I'm going to ask this question in all seriousness. With the current configurations of one-point and two point slings, you have the rifle slung around you neck. That makes hand-to-hand a little difficult when you have to get the weapon off your head. Sure, I'm old-school as we all trained with a shoulder sling 30 years ago but this is a serious question.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC S3 Operations Ncoic
0
0
0
Follow your SOP. End of story.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close