Thursday, December 10, 2009

Blue Force Gear Vickers Padded Sling



The padded Vickers Combat Applications Sling is the same concept as the original VCAS with the added benefit of wider padding for greater comfort.

When I received this sling BFG had also just started selling their Multicam and ACU patterned slings. I've come to like the Vickers Combat style sling for it's ease of use, simplistic design, and very few extra straps and buckles. 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.

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

All hardware (ITW) and webbing is high quality. This sling is also made in the US, Georgia to be exact. The webbing used in this sling is 1.25" wide with the padded area being 2" wide material covering the closed cell foam padding. For those of you with a lot of gadgets on their rifle, or with a heavy barreled rifle you're like the added benefit of the padding when holding the rifle for long amounts of time.

With this sling being in the Multicam pattern it can be seen in the pictures how it blends right in with the Multicam uniform and doesn't silhouette the sling like a solid black sling will. I really like having the camo patterns available. BFG is the first I've seen do this with a weapon's sling and it makes a big difference if stealth and camo is what you require.

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!

Colors: Black, Coyote, OD Green, Multicam pattern, Universal Camo (ACU), Foliage Green

MSRP: $64.95







3 comments:

Anonymous said...

nice demo.

Anonymous said...

nice demo. I must say that i prefer a single point sling. Mainly for quick attachment/ detachment and i can also switch from my AR to 870 in very little time from the cruiser. Nice paint job on the AR. Did you have that done or did you do it. THANKS

Jake said...

It was dipped by PBR... see the review under the paint/coatings section.