Vickers Combat Applications Sling

The Vickers sling made by Blue Force Gear, is an absolutely excellent sling. You'll notice that some of the info in this review is the same as the review for the Victory sling. This is because it's essentially the same sling, just with some upgrades in features and higher quality materials (not the the Victory sling isn't high quality)!!

This sling is very high quality. The webbing material is excellent and is not only thick and tough, but has a soft texture so that it's not uncomfortable on the neck and shoulder area. This is one difference between the Vickers and the Victory slings. The Victory has a thinner webbing that isn't as "soft" feeling. All hardware is high quality (ITW). This sling is also made in the US, Georgia to be exact.

I have always used 3-point slings as a tactical sling and never really gave much thought to a 2-point sling. I always thought the 2 point sling wasn't as versatile as the 3-point and didn't work well as a tactical sling. My mind was changed greatly when I received Blue Force Gear's slings for review. Here are some things I've found advantageous in the 2-point sling...

1. There isn't the extra material there is in the 3-point sling to get in the way of the functions of the rifle. With the 3-point sling there is the extra material that runs down the side of the rifle and can get in the way.
2. Can perform the same functions as the 3-point sling in a simpler format.
3. Quick and almost instant adjustment to length (on the Blue Force style slings).
4. When switching to your weak side you're not "locked" into the sling like 3-point slings that utilize a release that lengthens the sling but tightens it around your body.
5. The sling can be tightened around your body for things such as fast roping and then instantly loosened for action if set up this way.

The Blue Force 2-point Vickers sling uses a pull tab toward the hand guard end of the sling for instant adjustments. All you have to do is grab that tab and slide it forward to tighten the sling and slide it backward to loosen the sling. It's that easy. This is very useful when transitioning to the weak side. Just loosen the strap and drop your weak side arm out of the sling to grab the pistol grip and transition to your weak side (see video below). The pull tab is a contrasting yet tactically colored webbing in order to help you differentiate it from the rest of the sling in your peripheral vision. This helps you grab it in a hurry.

Another good use for the quick adjustment is when using a collapsible stock. If you want to extend the stock but have the sling set up for when the stock is collapsed you can easily adjust the length of the sling to accommodate the length of the stock. When taking a more precise shot you can lengthen the stock and sling and get a good shooting position. The sling can then be shortened to pull the butt stock back tight to the shoulder and give you a good shooting platform for a better shot.

The Vickers sling differs from the Victory in that it has a quick release SRB (side release buckle). The SRB is larger in size to help you get a good grip on it in a stressful situation where fine motor skills are reduced. This SRB can be completely removed if preferred by the user, however, I feel it's a great addition. First, this sling is a little faster and easier to make your initial adjustments than the Victory because of the setup of the SRB. It also allows you to release the sling if it gets caught on anything and becomes an issue. The placement of the quick release SRB is really nice too. A lot of slings put it toward the hand guard end of the sling. The Vickers puts it at the butt stock end. It is just as easy to get to by reaching over your strong shoulder with your weak hand and unbuckling it. You don't have to stretch to do this either...it's surprisingly easy. I also like it in this spot because it doesn't clutter the buttstock end of the sling like some others I've used.

For those with a standard M16/AR15 buttstock there is a separate sling adapter for that style buttstock.

I highly recommend this sling if you like 2-point slings. If you've never tried a 2-point sling...try it...you won't be disappointed! I know I fell in lvoe with this sling right out of the box. Blue Force is definitely a leader in combat style slings and there gear is top notch.

Available colors: Black, Coyote, OD, Foliage Green

MSRP: $59.95