KIT & GEAR: BEARBACK SLINGS

BEARBACK IND. 2-POINT SLING

OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND RARELY COMMENTED UPON, A SLING CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR DAY. PHIL BUCKNALL HAS QUITE A COLLECTION ALREADY BUT IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW TO TRY.

I’m a big believer in slings and also in using good quality ones, after all, why spend several hundred pounds on a gun and then trust its safety to a $4 sling off eBay. Y’know the one that lets go as you’re running and watch in slo-mo as your pride and joy crashes into a tree and snaps! If you’re going to make an investment in decent kit, then a decent sling should be right at the top of your shopping list.

I’ve tried quite a few different slings and I’ve been an ardent fan of the Ferro Concepts Slingster, amongst others such as the Magpul range of slings and also the Vickers VCAS padded sling but I am always looking to see what else is out there. I’ve even used the new Viper VX sling on a couple of lighter and cheaper guns and for the money they are pretty good gear.

A little while back I got a message about a new sling from a company called Bearback Industries. Its a QD lightweight sling that is designed so that it is easy to transition from shoulder to shoulder, avoiding snags on kit or clothing, yet easy to adjust and when used, your rifle will just hang centrally without putting undue pressure on your neck.

The top end sling is £35 ex P&P and is made using genuine Multicam material as well as climbing rated parts for buckles, from the venerable metal AustriAlpin. They will also do a slightly cheaper version with polymer fittings a little further down the line and they will be available in other colours too.

It’s simply a case of attaching it to the gun using the fairly large para cord loops. The size of which means there is unlikely to be a gun that it won’t fit on. Once you’ve looped it through wherever it’s going then you can slide the little PU tubes down the cord to the loop to lock it in place. Very simple but very effective too.

In use it took a little getting used to after the Slingster as it is a lot more flexible - the fabric being much softer - but that’s what allows it to be so maneuverable. It is very easy to loosen or tighten with the toggle plenty big enough to get a good purchase, even if your hands are wet or wearing gloves.

The sling is more than capable of taking a fair amount of weight and I tried it on a few guns - a couple of ERGs which are quite heavy and also my KWA Ronins. In the end I left it on my T6 as it just works really well on it. The construction is very good and it’s obvious to see that high standards are enforced in the factory, from the quality of the material, to the stitching holding it all together. I’ve used it for a few months now and it’s not showing any signs of wear or tear thus far and I’m very happy with it.

Check them out on Instagram @ bearbackindustriesofficial to find out more about them and see some images of the slings in use.

Stay safe out there folks and see you back in the game as soon as possible! AA