Anyone that has followed my work at GunsAmerica Digest over the years knows I am a little bit of a sling snob. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find me saying anything good about ANY sling besides the VTAC since I started here. I have, in my capacity as both a writer and soldier, probably seen just about every new sling to hit the market. And most of them I have dismissed as less than good. But, even us dinosaurs must be able to adapt. And last month, I found a sling that has finally knocked the VTAC off of its pedestal.
Armageddon Gear was founded by Tom Fuller, a pretty amazing dude in his own right. A 22 year Army Veteran of both Ranger Regiment and the Army Marksmanship Unit, Tom has led an amazing life. In retirement, he worked for Bushnell and was a sponsored shooter for Hornady, so I think we can assume he knows his way around a gun. A few years back Tom settled into Georgia to grow Armageddon Gear as a resource for top quality, American-made products for the competitive and tactical shooter.
I have owned quite a few products from Armageddon Gear over the years, from rock bags to beer cozy’s. That last one is both a serious product and just about the most Ranger thing I have ever seen. It isn’t some neoprene junk with the company logo cheaply stenciled on. They make it from exactly the same 500D Cordura and rubber inserts as their suppressor covers, including shock cord adjustment to keep it tight. And it really will keep a frosty beverage cold significantly longer, as well as keep your fingers from freezing. It’s kind of an insane commitment to quality that really sums the company up.
Having loved some of their products before, it made sense to me to order a new sling for testing a few months back. And while I really didn’t expect anyone to be able to beat the VTAC, I am always looking for improvements to all my equipment. I was happily surprised by the results.
The model I opted to test was the Convertible Carbine Sling with QD sling swivels. And I like it now for a variety of reasons. On the surface, it is very similar to the VTAC two-point sling I have known and loved. It attaches at the front and rear of the rifle, with a simple pull method of tightening and loosening. But, the Armageddon Gear model has a twist. Or two.
The first twist is the bungee section sewn into the length of the sling. This offers one distinct advantage in carry. You can keep it pulled tight to your body, which is more comfortable for walking long distances. But without adjustment, thanks to the bungee, you can still snap it to your shoulder and use it. A funny thing often happens to new guys learning the VTAC. They start a drill or a movement with the sling pulling the rifle tight to their torso. Immediate action is called and they twist in knots trying to pull the rifle up. It is hilarious on a flat range but could be life-ending on a battlefield. The Armageddon Gear model not only makes it a non-issue but allows you to carry in that more comfortable tight position. Side benefit? It also seems to help stabilize the rifle for a snapshot. When run up-tight, the Armageddon model actually pulls the rifle into your shoulder. The VTAC can help stabilize your body for positional shooting as well, but it’s a bit more involved to use as such. With the Armageddon, it’s a natural occurrence.
Twist number two is in the name, Convertible. The Armageddon Gear sling features a sewn in QD loop that converts the sling from a two-point to a single point. And while I don’t generally prefer a single-point sling, there is one exception. AR pistols.
Most AR pistol braces do not have a QD attachment point on the rear of the brace, due to design parameters. How are you going to get your forearm into that Velcro strap if a sling is in the way? You can McGuyver some zip ties in a manner to make it work, but it never feels quite right. Also, in this day and age, I do worry somewhat about legalities. A single point sling, that in no way supports shooting from the shoulder, is much easier to classify as an equivalent to a pistol lanyard. It keeps the gun from falling in the dirt, and that is about all. It is very comfy for long walks in the woods with Mr. 300 Blackout, but in no way contributes to my pistol being mistakenly classified as an unlicensed SBR.
At $79.95, this is not the cheapest sling I have ever seen. But it does fill a lot of rolls for that outlay of cash. And this isn’t made in some Chinese sweatshop from leftover Nike scraps. Every product I have ever owned from Armageddon Gear is as tough as nails. If you haven’t tried them out, this sling is a great place to start.
For more information go to Armageddon Gear.
Ha.. one of the best lines in the article: “Cardio obviously not included with this model.” Can cardio be added at the next price point? lol