Throughout my years of shooting, there’ve been a few things that people purchase a number of times before settling on the product that works best for them. Holsters are typically the item people think about but another shooting product that takes time to find are rifle slings as well. Throughout the years, I have gone through a number of slings and found a number of features I really like and some I dislike when it comes to a good rifle sling. The most recent purchase takes a number of features I like in slings and combined them into one modular unit. Let’s take a closer look at the ANR Design’s New Link Sling.
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Specs
Within the last year, the Link Sling was released by ANR Design who are known for making Kydex holsters and also the ANVL USA products. One thing that separates the Link Sling from other sling systems is the option to have a modular storage system on the sling giving you space for accessories. These accessory pouches are held on by a series of Velcro attachment points, so removing them for a minimalist style sling is incredibly simple. ANR Design worked with Cole-Tac on their new sling who are known in the industry for making PRS shooting bags and other high-quality nylon products. The Link Sling also comes equipped with an ITW Tactical Toggle and Locking Cord Pull Tab system.
With an overall length of pull at 40″, the Link Sling offers a fairly wide range of movement for various-sized shooters. Having this much space inside the sling allows shooters to transition from shoulder to shoulder without having to drop an arm out. This may not seem like a big deal but being able to quickly transitions shooting without changing your arm placement is a huge win for quick transition shooting. ANR Design released the Link Sling in 8 different color configurations including multiple solid and camo options to allow shooters to pick their preferred color options. MSRP on the slings depending on its configuration ranges from $66.99 to $81.99.
Range Use
Slings are like optics and lights when it comes to setting up rifles, you can’t really have enough on hand. I decided to purchase 4 slings from them in a variety of colors to try out and test over the last couple of months. So far, I have used the Link Sling in two training courses and about a dozen range sessions. One of the main things that set the Link Sling apart from other slings on the market is the modularity to add attachments or run it slick depending on your preference. For most of my rifles, I prefer a minimalist setup with no padding, with a quick adjustment lever. The ITW toggle system is quick and requires little effort to manipulate and the larger field of adjustment makes it easy to open up so you can transition to your off shoulder without much effort.
Longevity
I was shooting in a competition a couple weeks ago and used the older sling I have used for the last few years. While tightening the sling, the plastic pull tab became brittle from years of use and tore off. I had no real way to adjust the sling and ended up grabbing a Link Sling to finish the competition. I realized after breaking my older sling is how easily you can maintain the pull tab with the new 550 Cord if the original pull tab becomes worn out which is a plus in my book.
It offers a level of longevity that other slings may not have. The Link Sling does come with an adjustable padded shoulder strap for added comfort which some users may prefer. Personally, I will keep it off to keep things simple, but from others’ feedback who prefer a shoulder strap, they said they like the overall modularity and ability to place it exactly where they want. I ordered my Link Slings without QD attachments but ANR Design also offers them for sale with the purchase of a sling which definitely simplifies things for the customer, so good job on that.
Accessories
The team over at ANR Design has said they are going to be releasing a number of accessories. Currently, the Link Sling has three attachments available that all mount onto the Velcro section of the sling. The first attachment which comes as standard on the sling is the shoulder pad. This simple shoulder pad is attached directly to the sling for added comfort and supports the section a shooter deems most vital.
The second attachment is a tourniquet holder. The TQ holder has a tri-fold design that attaches to the other Velcro section on the sling to act as an emergency medical device. This can be thrown on a truck gun or duty firearm for fast deployment. ANR’s third and final attachment variant for the Link Sling is the option of a tool pouch onto your sling. ANR Design say the tool pouch is great for long-range rifles that oftentimes need Allen keys and other tools to adjust optics and other parts. Every tool kit will come with an elastic sheath along with a sheath cover to make it streamline and portable. The main goal of these attachments is to keep them as low profile as humanly possible.
Overall Thoughts
There are plenty of options on the market when it comes to slings. I’ve bought a number of them and although some are great at the beginning, they deteriorate over time while others are tricky to work straight out of the gate. The Link Sling from ANR Design is one of the better slings I’ve tested out in the last few years and figured it was worth a closer look. Out of all the slings I have used on the market, I can confidently say this one is my favorite in terms of modularity and simplicity. You can add attachments if you’d like or run it minimalist like I do. The Link Sling’s modularity and ability to change based on your needs is what really makes it for me.
Let me know what you guys look for in a sling or what particular sling you guys love down in the comments below. Are there certain features you look for in a sling? I’d love to hear your thoughts so don’t be afraid to let me know down below. If you have questions about slings or firearms in general, don’t hesitate to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there!