With the advent of red dots and inexpensive optics, I have heard from more than a few “old timers” that “marksmanship” is a dying trade. While I disagree, as it is just evolving (as the fundamentals are still the same), I do understand it personally.

When I first enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, iron sights was the chosen tool of the trade. Shooting on 1970’s M16-A2’s (we traced our serial numbers for the lowers), the weapons were still very much capable of reaching out and putting holes in bad-guys out past 500 meters. To do that, we had to master the use of loop slings.

New Marines are now taught far differently, using 3-point slings or often forgoing them completely, especially for “Table II” courses of fire. The use of the 4x ACOG on the rifles has given individual Marines an advantage with their weapons by being able to see their targets and “time” the shot a bit easier.

While one-point and and three-point slings are all the rage for modern tactical operations, the loop sling has served the shooter well. When used in the prone or sitting position, its ability to “lock-in” the shooter into a tight position is unmatched.

Just know when done right, you are basically putting on a tourniquet!