It’s kind of crazy to think that Magpul created a legendary company by making some rubbery things (the original “Magpul”) to attach to USGI magazines. These Magpuls formed the name Magpul, and now, Magpul does everything. They’ve developed the famed P-MAG and numerous stocks for rifles and shotguns. They now make dummy rounds and gun furniture; they even developed a few gun designs. Sadly, the waffle maker will never see the light of day. With that said, Magpul slings are often overlooked.
Most people don’t associate Magpul with slings but with magazines these days. It’s easy to see why. We have companies like Blue Force Gear, Arbor Arms, and Viking Tactical making excellent slings, and the market is crowded, so it’s easy to get lost. That’s somewhat sad because Magpul makes some awesome slings. I’ve been using the MS1 for a few years now and recently got my hands on the MS3.
I liked the MS1, but I really love the MS3. The MS3 takes all the features I like from the MS1 and creates a modern, modular sling design that’s perfect for a variety of platforms, both big and small.
What Makes the MS3 Different
Magpul’s MS3 is their top-of-the-line sling. It’s their Cadillac, if you will. The MS1 is kind of simple, and most people have forgotten about the MS2. As the middle child, I know the feeling MS2. The MS3’s big stand-apart feature is its ability to convert from a two-point to a three-point in about three seconds. That’s certainly something new. Although the MS2 did it first, the MS3 does it with more modern sling attachment methods and a better slider design.
There are a few different models of the MS3, and my particular model uses a single para clip with a QD mount to lock the sling to the gun. The paraclip is up front, and the QD is in the back of the gun. If you need to convert the sling to a single-point design, unclip it from the front and attach the paraclip to a ring at the ring, and bam, you now have a single-point sling. It’s easy to swap just using your support hand. It’s quick and easy and a downright genius design.
Like the MS1, the MS3 features an adjustable slider that allows you to instantly loosen or tighten the sling as needed. It’s a polymer tab that glides upward and downward to give you the right size sling when you need it. The MS3 provides shooters with a highly adjustable sling to fit both slick and armored shooters.
The MS3 In Action
The Magpul MS3 isn’t just designed for the AR-15 like every other rifle sling. Admittedly, the MS3 will work perfectly on your AR-15, but it can be swapped over to shotguns, bolt action rifles, and even pistols. Yes, pistols, but I mean large-format pistols, like the Beretta PMXs. On these guns, it’s an awesome tool for using the SAS tension technique to steady this big stockless weapon.
I started with the MS3 on the PMXs and walked away impressed. Originally, I used it as a single point with the classic tension design. However, I swapped it to the two-point mode and quickly found that it not only provided better tension, but the sling even acted as a cheek rest. My use of the PMXs sold me on the MS3.
I moved the MS3 to my CMMG and once more put it to work but as a more traditional sling. The MS3 worked perfectly on the rifle. Adjusting to fit the rifle was easy. Getting just right ended with me getting a supportive sling that provided slight tension to steady the rifle when it ran loose. When I run the slider tight, it gives me a hands-free way to carry my rifle.
Finally, I moved the sling to my Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical. Once more, it was easy to adjust and set up for the shotgun. The sling provided plenty of support for the longer, heavier gun. It didn’t get in the way, and the tension once more helped steady the gun and even helped fight muzzle rise.
The MS3 proved to be a versatile and easily adaptable sling for a variety of platforms.
At the Range
Regardless of the gun being used, the Magpul MS3 provided consistent quality. The sling is 1.25 inches wide and provides a comfortable amount of support to the weight of your weapon. It doesn’t cut in or become irritable when used for long periods. The material is somewhat slick and smooth, which likely helps reduce friction when it rubs against the body. The MS3’s slider glides over the sling for quick and easy adjustments.
The slider design helps you rapidly adjust the sling but isn’t a tab that can catch on to something when it’s needed. It doesn’t flap around but instead sits flat on the sling. I initially thought the soldier might be tougher to grab and use, but I was proven wrong. It’s easy to grab and adjust on the fly.
I believe in adjusting the sling just right to provide tension when the slider is run loose and to provide a hands-free experience when it’s run tight. Doing so was easy enough, and a little adjustment at the rear for the different platforms made this more than possible. It was easy to swap between the different platforms and get the sling right where I wanted it.
Can a sling improve your accuracy? If you use it right, it sure can. Modern slings like the MS3 can easily help you in both the accuracy and control departments. The tension provided by proper adjustment helps keep the rifle steady as you aim. The tension applied pulls the rifle and helps keep the muzzle rise under control.
At a square range, in normal shooting positions, this is nice, but where it really shines is in those weird positions—those positions where you are lying, bending, and trying to stay behind cover. It’s tough to use body mechanics in some positions, and the MS3 provides the extra support to make it much easier to fire a stable shot.
Going From Two to One
Why would you ever want to switch from a two-point sling to a single-point? Two points provide more support, are more adjustable, and keep your rifle from swinging into your nether regions. Two points have almost universally replaced single-point slings. Two-points rule.
The thing is, single-point slings do have a niche use. They allow for maximum maneuverability, and you can really move and groove with a single point. Single-point slings tend to work very well in and out of vehicles. These few niche use cases make it tough to justify always using a single point, but a convertible sling makes a ton of sense.
For that reason, the MS3 is unique in the world of weapon slings. It’s quite handy and very useful. It’s an excellent sling overall and has become one of my new favorite options for all manner of firearms.
