The short answer
If you want a “buy once, cry never” two-point that just works in the field and at class, this is it. The Vickers 2-Point (54–64″) hits the geometry sweet spot for most shooters, gives you a confident, glove-friendly pull tab, and ditches the gimmicks for durable webbing and hardware that won’t roll over and die the first time you snag a cedar branch. The 54–64″ length window and patented quick-adjust are straight from Blue Force Gear’s own spec sheets—no guessing, no mystery numbers.
What makes the Vickers “Vickers”
The Vickers Combat Applications Sling (VCAS) comes out of a collaboration with Larry Vickers, and it’s been issued, NSN’d, and battle-proven—not just a pretty nylon strap for Instagram. In the BFG line, the unpadded Vickers 2-Point is the lean, everyday workhorse: 1.25″ webbing, a patented Quick Adjuster with a contrasting tab, and clean routing that keeps the rifle where you set it. The 54–64″ overall adjustment range is explicitly documented on BFG’s tech pages (unpadded 54–64; padded models are 57–67)
Blue Force Gear also lists multiple NSNs for Vickers variants (e.g., NSN 1005-01-604-0627 for the coyote model fielded with the M27), underscoring that this isn’t some flavor-of-the-month sling—it’s a known quantity across services.
Tactile feel:
Pick it up and tug the pull tab: it glides to tighten, then sits where you leave it. No “reefing on a buckle” drama. The webbing is stiff enough to resist bunching, but not so rigid that it chews your neck once it’s broken in. The contact friction is “just right”—it hugs the chest when cinched and slides free when you loosen for a shoulder swap. (If you want max plushness for long hauls, the padded Vickers is your upgrade path; this review focuses on the standard unpadded 54–64″.)
Specs at a glance
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Type: 2-point sling with patented Quick Adjuster
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Webbing: 1.25″ nylon; padded models use 2.0″ tubular in the pad section
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Overall length (unpadded): 54″ (tightened) to 64″ (extended)
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Overall length (padded, FYI): 57″ to 67″
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Hardware: Nylon (Zytel) or metal options depending on configuration
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Origin: Made in USA; Berry Compliant (per model)
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NSN(s): Multiple variants; e.g., 1005-01-604-0627 (coyote)
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Official product/tech pages: Blue Force Gear Sling Technology & Vickers pages.
Who it fits
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You’ll love it if: you want a proven 2-point with fast, reliable on-the-move length changes; you hike, train, or hunt more than a quick bay-to-bench session; you prefer zero-drama gear.
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You might want the padded version if: your rifle is heavy, your hikes are long, or your shoulder has a grudge against nylon. (Padded adds bulk but buys comfort.)
The 54–64″ question—why it matters
That range covers most shooters in most setups (T-shirt to light jacket), and leaves room to cinch tight for a stable shot or loosen for a shoulder transition. If you run armor, chest rigs, winter layers, or you’re 6’5″ with a barrel-chest, you can still make the standard work, but the padded length window (57–67″) or other long-routing tricks might be friendlier. Either way, the factory numbers prevent guesswork.
How to mount it
1) Choose your attachment points
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Front: as far forward on the handguard as practical. This tames muzzle flop and gives your support hand room.
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Rear: the stock’s QD cup or rear plate QD. If no QD sockets, thread through fixed loops (BFG has videos/guides for that).
2) Thread and dress the webbing
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Keep the adjuster path straight—no twists before the slider.
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Elastic keepers or a tidy fold with tape keep tails from grabbing brush and door latches.
3) Set a “default length”
Stand upright with the rifle across your chest. Tighten until the stock nestles into your pec line without choking the neck; loosen a hair so you can shoulder quickly. This is your “home” setting.
4) Dry reps
Practice: tighten for prone, loosen for shoulder swap. Build the habit before you’re winded, muddy, and wearing gloves.
Pro tip: If you rub your neck raw in low/compressed ready, you’re either too tight, routing across bare skin, or running the wrong sling for your body/kit. The padded Vickers, collared shirts, or simply re-positioning the strap path solves 90% of the “neck burn” complaints. (Plenty of shooters report the strap softens after a break-in period, too.)
Real-world use
The Vickers excels at hands-free control—climbing a ladder, stepping a fence, scanning with binos—without the rifle flopping like a trout. Cinch the tab and the gun locks to your chest; loosen a touch and it floats to the shoulder. In seated/kneeling, the sling becomes a human bipod: a slight tighten removes the last bit of sight wobble. That “free accuracy” is why field-craft nerds swear by a good two-point.
And while we’re not turning this into a policy piece, it’s worth remembering why a ready, controlled rifle matters: defensive gun uses are far more common than the headlines imply, and most never involve firing—brandish and deter is the norm. That context explains why experienced shooters treat the sling as essential kit, not an accessory.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros (Vickers 2-Point, 54–64″)
- Patented Quick Adjuster with an easy, glove-friendly pull tab.
- Battle-proven pedigree, multiple NSN’d variants.
- Smart 54–64″ length window suits most shooters and layers.
- 1.25″ webbing that balances structure with comfort once broken in.
- Clean routing that hugs the chest and stabilizes shots when cinched.
❌ Cons (Tradeoffs to know)
- Not padded—heavy rifles and long hikes may bite the shoulder.
- No sewn-in QD by default—add QD swivels or thread to fixed loops.
- Minimalism over bells/whistles; if you want dual-adjust tails, look elsewhere.
Padded vs. this standard model
The padded Vickers adds a 2.0″ tubular shoulder pad, pushing the comfort lever way up at the cost of extra bulk under chest rigs. Its longer adjustment window (57–67″) is also handy for winter layers or taller/larger shooters. If you primarily hike, hunt, or attend day-long classes, padding is a legit upgrade. For mixed use or minimalist rigs, the standard 54–64″ keeps things sleek.
Vickers vs. the usual suspects (quick, honest comparisons)
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Magpul MS1 slider: Slick, snag-resistant slider feel; less “grabby” than a pull-tab. Add QDM swivels for bomb-proof hardware. If you love ultra-smooth sliders, MS1 is home—if you love positive tabs, Vickers wins the hand feel. (Different philosophies; both proven.)
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VTAC pull-handle: Big travel and a long tail—blazing fast, but tame that tail or the woods will claim it. Vickers is tidier by default.
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ESD padded: Modern ergonomics + built-in elastic to stow webbing. Great for barricades and vehicles. Vickers is more classic, ESD is more “modern athlete.”
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Old-school sewn leather/rubber slings: Super comfy for deer woods, but limited on-the-fly adjustability. Vickers is vastly more dynamic.
(Those models are covered in our pillar guide; this post stays focused on the Vickers 2-Point 54–64″.)
Step-by-step setup (with time-saving tweaks)
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Mount points: Front QD at the furthest forward practical M-LOK QD socket; rear QD in the stock cup. Fixed loops? BFG has attachment guides and videos—you’ll thread the triglides, then set slack.
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Dress the path: Keep the adjuster free of twists. Use an elastic keeper near the rear to collect the tail.
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Find home length: With a T-shirt/light jacket, set the sling to keep the rifle flat on chest without choking your neck.
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Reps: Build muscle memory: tighten → prone; loosen → shoulder swap; safe carry → tighten a hair so the muzzle stays in line as you move.
Troubleshooting (so you don’t hate your sling)
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“It’s chewing my neck.”
Re-route across the shirt collar, loosen one notch, or go padded. Plenty of shooters report the webbing softens after break-in. -
“Can’t get it tight enough with plates.”
Consider padded (longer window, 57–67″) or move hardware points slightly forward/back to exploit more travel. -
“My tail snags on brush.”
Add an elastic keeper or small piece of Velcro; stow the extra. -
“I want single-point sometimes.”
Vickers isn’t made to convert; if that’s your thing, Magpul’s MS1+MS4 adapter ecosystem converts 2↔1 with QD hardware.
Care & longevity
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Rinse + air dry after mud and salt; don’t bake it on a truck dash.
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Inspect triglides/adjuster quarterly if you’re hard on gear.
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Replace if you see frayed bar-tacks or crushed webbing from a door strike. Quality slings last years, but nothing is immortal.
FAQ
Q: Is the Vickers 54–64″ length enough for big/tall shooters?
A: Usually yes—especially without armor. For heavy layering or taller frames, the padded’s 57–67″ gives extra room.
Q: Does it include QD swivels?
A: Typically no, unless you buy a specific variant; plan to add QDs or thread to loops.
Q: What’s the real benefit of quick-adjust?
A: Stability and control. Tighten for shooting/retention, loosen for transitions or climbing. It’s faster than re-threading a buckle mid-movement.
Q: Is there a “Medic” Vickers with dual quick-adjusts?
A: That special variant is hard to source now; if you want dual-end adjust, you’ll likely need other models/brands or a custom solution.
Q: Why do experienced shooters treat slings as mandatory?
A: Beyond comfort and control, a sling is part of a ready, responsible posture. Defensive gun uses rarely make headlines, but they’re far from rare—and the vast majority don’t involve firing. Control matters.
Internal linking
The Ultimate Rifle Sling Guide
One last thing
Put it on. Let the rifle hang chest-high with the muzzle down and away. Now tighten the tab and try to jog in place. If the gun stays glued and you can still shoulder it in one motion after a quick loosen, you nailed it. If not, adjust an inch, repeat. Two reps later, it’ll feel like it’s always belonged there.