I have written before that the rifle sling is a piece of gear that is fairly personal and not a “one size fits all”. Each type of sling will do the job, sling your rifle. However, people are picky whether it is one-point, two-point or even a three-point. I spent the large majority of time in the military using a two-point sling. When I had more of a choice when preparing for OIF 1, I quickly began making my own one-point slings. I did this using the standard issued two-point sling and 550 cord. During my law enforcement career, I used Tactical Assault Gear’s one-point sling with molle mount. It did the job and was a solid piece of gear.
As the war economy evolved so did the development of every item of gear you can think of and the sling is no exception. I was recently sent the McLean Dynamic Retention sling to test and evaluate. Before I received the sling I looked into McLean because I have seen them around social media and heard of them by word of mouth. A friend of mine in the Denver area had used the sling before and spoke very highly of the product.
I learned that the Dynamic Retention Sling was created out of necessity when a soldier enjoyed the free movement of a one-point sling, but also enjoyed the control of having a two-point sling. I can honestly say that I shared these thoughts, so the idea of this sling really intrigues me.
McLean bill’s and describes their Dynamic Retention sling as the following:
“McLean Corp Dynamic Retention Sling is not your average 2-point to 1-point conversion sling. It is essentially a single point with a much needed retention system built into it. The ability to transition from a retained position to engaging targets is unmatched by any other sling on the market. The McLean DRS sling offers the best of both worlds. The dynamic shooting abilities of a single point sling with the retention of a 2-point sling.”
Click here for a quick 35-second video on the Dynamic Retention Sling (DRS)
Impressions:
The Dynamic Retention Sling (DRS) is a well-made piece of gear. The material is soft to the touch yet strong and the stitching is solid. I received the Ranger Green version and for anyone who is a stickler on uniformity the green matches well with the green used in Multicam.
The rifle I used for this review is my Salient AR (Salient GRY minus the handguard). The handguard that is mounted on my AR is an SLR rail and the sling mount is a Magpul quick detach. The clasp on the DRS is well made, it catches the sling mount very well and shows no sign of coming loose even during vigorous use. The quick pull cord that detaches the sling catch from the sling mount that converts the sling from two-point to one point is solid and easy to grab. With one quick purposeful motion, the sling catch releases and you now have a one-point sling.
I spent about 10 mins adjusting and playing with the length of the sling. For anyone new to the DRS I would recommend doing the same prior to going to the range and do some dry practice with it. I found by doing this prior it helped establish some muscle memory. Once I was actually began using the sling I started out half speed and did a few drills before going live.
The DRS does an excellent job of providing the user with the best of both worlds. The ability to go from a solid two-point sling to carry your rifle while handling admin duties, like loading mags and changing targets. Then when it was time to shoot with the more maneuverable one-point it provides a very quick and smooth transition. I was very impressed and I feel the need to train more with it to get the most out of the sling.
Final thoughts:
In the end, I have found the McLean DRS sling to be a very well thought out, well made and well thought out sling. The price point of $74.99, on sale for $69.99 at the moment, prices the sling exactly where it should be. It is not a cheap throw away range sling, this is something that a shooter of every cut can incorporate into their main loadout. If this sling were around while I was working the streets of Richmond still, it would without a doubt be mounted on my Remington 870 and patrol rifle.
Link to DRS sling in ranger green
Material Disclosure
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.
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