A while back I was looking to buy some 338 ammo and ran into Mike Miller, "Tactical" here on the Hide. We set up a time to meet for the swap. We sat down, had dinner, and perused a local gun shop. Of course, you can't sit down with Mike and not have the topic of slings come up. Long story short, I was lucky enough to get one of his early versions of what is now known as his biathlon sling.
I'll give you the back story here. I'm an active duty guy. December of 09 I shattered my Talus and tore the Peroneal Tendon in my right ankle. Over the course of 2010, I ended up having four surgeries piecing it back together. Consequently, I just can't carry the weight I used to. So when I had the chance to pick up a TIS biathlon sling, I hopped on it. Carrying the weight of the rifle on my back and distributing the weight evenly was to my advantage. I believe I got it in October of last year. I used it for the 2010 Nebraska white tail season. At the time, I was using an AICS equipped rifle. It was slightly less than a light weight sporting rifle, so a biathlon style sling to haul it around was welcomed.
Since then I have also acquired a TAB Biathlon Elite sling. This review will simply be a comparison of the two of them, outlining their features. I will not attempt to say which is better and will leave that up to the reader.
<span style="color: #006600"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 26pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">T.I.S. Biathlon Sling</span></span> </span></span>
Here is the TIS laid out:
Like every other TIS that I've used it is made of the traditional heavy webbing and plastic buckles. At the top of the sling are there is the typical removable, non-sewn in swivel connected to a set of two D rings. The swivel is not sewn in and can be swapped between different types swivels.
At the two D rings, the sling splits into the two shoulder straps. The shoulder straps are split in two by two plastic buckles so that the shooter can get out of the sling quickly.
As you proceed down the sling, the two shoulder straps come back together at two D Rings and then, the same as at the top, they join to a piece of webbing that holds the lower swivel.
Additionally, there are two elastic loops that slide the full length of the sling that can be used to hold the two straps together, essentially making it a traditional sling.
The sling is of typical TIS quality. There are zero points of failure, and the sewing was all double stitched. I honestly don't know how one would break it without intentional abuse. The upper portion of the sling comes in two sizes (to my knowledge). I am a big guy, so I needed a larger upper portion than the typical person. That being said, if you were buying one with the intention of slinging the rifle over your kit, I would highly suggest the larger of the two uppers. For hunters, this would not be a consideration.
My version of the sling did not have a cuff or attachments to accept a cuff. It is my understanding the TIS now makes them to accept the cuff, just like all the other TIS quick cuff slings. The shoulder straps adjust just like any ruck or backpack. You simply pull down the straps at the buckle and it cinches right up. It was comfortable, easy to use, and with the elastic loops, could be converted to a traditional single strap sling. Due to the fact that the sling has no cuff, and is perfectly symetrical, the weapon can be slung in the muzzle up or down postion.
Of course, with every thing, people have their opinions about how to improve it. At the top and the bottom of the sling there is a 2.5 inch piece of webbing that attaches the swivel to the two D rings. Even with the sling tight on the body, the webbing allowed the rifle to move around. If I were to change something about this sling, it would be to make that piece of webbing go away. I would suggest that the swivel somehow be directly sewn into D rings to eliminate the play caused by the extra piece of webbing.
The T.I.S. Biathlon Sling will be available through TRIAD TACTICAL in the very near future aka "soon." It will retail at $80 without cuff or swivels/hooks.
<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">Before I go on to the T.A.B. sling, I must note that the T.I.S. Biathlon sling that I used was a very early version. I have a current production model on its way. It has had several changes made to the version I had. When it gets here, I will do a review on it.</span></span></span>
<span style="color: #006600"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 26pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">T.A.B. Biathlon Elite Sling</span></span></span></span>
On to the TAB. Here is a pic of the TAB laid out:
The TAB, like the TIS, is of extreme quality. Unlike the TIS where it is all straight webbing, the TAB shoulder pieces form a "U" shape. These shoulder pieces are padded. Anyone who has used the old school LBE immediately notices that it closely resembles the suspender portion of the kit.
At the top of the "U" is another piece of webbing to utilize whatever swivel or hook is appropriate to your application.
As you follow the shoulder straps down, you find the quick detach buckle. The buckle allows the shooter to unsling the weapon quickly without having to crawl out of it. These buckles are a metal. They have two spring loaded tabs that you pull down on and then it comes apart.
Following the two shoulder straps down, you come across the cuff located on what would be the shooters left shoulder strap. The two shoulder straps come together at the bottom where they are sewn together. A short piece of webbing connects the joint to the lower swivel, again, removable and not sewn in.
The TAB clearly utilizes a lighter weight webbing, but not so light to cause concern. It too is indestructible. If it used the heaver weight webbing of the TIS, the TAB would easily be heaver than the TIS. However as it sits, it is the same weight. It is comfortable, easy to get out of, and has the cuff built in. For positional shooters, this is a must, and it operates like other cuffs. Because the sling has a cuff, and one shoulder strap is different than the other, the rifle can only be effectively slung in the muzzle up configuration. Not a big deal, but worth mentioning.
Here too, I have only one thing worth mentioning. And it is the "Cobra" metal buckles. It seems to me, that the more weight you put on them, the harder they are to get open. Cold fingers, gloves, and a heavy rifle cinched tight against the body makes getting the buckles open somewhat difficult. I have one buckle that is more stubborn than the other. They both take some manipulation to get open when loaded. They are nice, but almost over kill for a rifle sling. Honestly, I like the plastic buckles better. It appears that the standard, not the elite as seen here, does not have the metal buckles. I do not have a standard, so I cannot say for sure and maybe someone can chime that has a standard version.
The T.A.B. Biathlon Elite sling is available through RIFLES ONLY and is $200 USD, which includes the swivel/hook appropriate for your configuration.
In conclusion, I am sold on biathlon slings. They really make carrying a heavy rifle much easier, especially for a guy with a bum ankle. Hope this helps you in your search for a Biathlon Sling.
Kudos to two Hide sponsors and active members on making exceptional products.
I'll give you the back story here. I'm an active duty guy. December of 09 I shattered my Talus and tore the Peroneal Tendon in my right ankle. Over the course of 2010, I ended up having four surgeries piecing it back together. Consequently, I just can't carry the weight I used to. So when I had the chance to pick up a TIS biathlon sling, I hopped on it. Carrying the weight of the rifle on my back and distributing the weight evenly was to my advantage. I believe I got it in October of last year. I used it for the 2010 Nebraska white tail season. At the time, I was using an AICS equipped rifle. It was slightly less than a light weight sporting rifle, so a biathlon style sling to haul it around was welcomed.
Since then I have also acquired a TAB Biathlon Elite sling. This review will simply be a comparison of the two of them, outlining their features. I will not attempt to say which is better and will leave that up to the reader.
<span style="color: #006600"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 26pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">T.I.S. Biathlon Sling</span></span> </span></span>
Here is the TIS laid out:
Like every other TIS that I've used it is made of the traditional heavy webbing and plastic buckles. At the top of the sling are there is the typical removable, non-sewn in swivel connected to a set of two D rings. The swivel is not sewn in and can be swapped between different types swivels.
At the two D rings, the sling splits into the two shoulder straps. The shoulder straps are split in two by two plastic buckles so that the shooter can get out of the sling quickly.
As you proceed down the sling, the two shoulder straps come back together at two D Rings and then, the same as at the top, they join to a piece of webbing that holds the lower swivel.
Additionally, there are two elastic loops that slide the full length of the sling that can be used to hold the two straps together, essentially making it a traditional sling.
The sling is of typical TIS quality. There are zero points of failure, and the sewing was all double stitched. I honestly don't know how one would break it without intentional abuse. The upper portion of the sling comes in two sizes (to my knowledge). I am a big guy, so I needed a larger upper portion than the typical person. That being said, if you were buying one with the intention of slinging the rifle over your kit, I would highly suggest the larger of the two uppers. For hunters, this would not be a consideration.
My version of the sling did not have a cuff or attachments to accept a cuff. It is my understanding the TIS now makes them to accept the cuff, just like all the other TIS quick cuff slings. The shoulder straps adjust just like any ruck or backpack. You simply pull down the straps at the buckle and it cinches right up. It was comfortable, easy to use, and with the elastic loops, could be converted to a traditional single strap sling. Due to the fact that the sling has no cuff, and is perfectly symetrical, the weapon can be slung in the muzzle up or down postion.
Of course, with every thing, people have their opinions about how to improve it. At the top and the bottom of the sling there is a 2.5 inch piece of webbing that attaches the swivel to the two D rings. Even with the sling tight on the body, the webbing allowed the rifle to move around. If I were to change something about this sling, it would be to make that piece of webbing go away. I would suggest that the swivel somehow be directly sewn into D rings to eliminate the play caused by the extra piece of webbing.
The T.I.S. Biathlon Sling will be available through TRIAD TACTICAL in the very near future aka "soon." It will retail at $80 without cuff or swivels/hooks.
<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">Before I go on to the T.A.B. sling, I must note that the T.I.S. Biathlon sling that I used was a very early version. I have a current production model on its way. It has had several changes made to the version I had. When it gets here, I will do a review on it.</span></span></span>
<span style="color: #006600"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"><span style="font-size: 26pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">T.A.B. Biathlon Elite Sling</span></span></span></span>
On to the TAB. Here is a pic of the TAB laid out:
The TAB, like the TIS, is of extreme quality. Unlike the TIS where it is all straight webbing, the TAB shoulder pieces form a "U" shape. These shoulder pieces are padded. Anyone who has used the old school LBE immediately notices that it closely resembles the suspender portion of the kit.
At the top of the "U" is another piece of webbing to utilize whatever swivel or hook is appropriate to your application.
As you follow the shoulder straps down, you find the quick detach buckle. The buckle allows the shooter to unsling the weapon quickly without having to crawl out of it. These buckles are a metal. They have two spring loaded tabs that you pull down on and then it comes apart.
Following the two shoulder straps down, you come across the cuff located on what would be the shooters left shoulder strap. The two shoulder straps come together at the bottom where they are sewn together. A short piece of webbing connects the joint to the lower swivel, again, removable and not sewn in.
The TAB clearly utilizes a lighter weight webbing, but not so light to cause concern. It too is indestructible. If it used the heaver weight webbing of the TIS, the TAB would easily be heaver than the TIS. However as it sits, it is the same weight. It is comfortable, easy to get out of, and has the cuff built in. For positional shooters, this is a must, and it operates like other cuffs. Because the sling has a cuff, and one shoulder strap is different than the other, the rifle can only be effectively slung in the muzzle up configuration. Not a big deal, but worth mentioning.
Here too, I have only one thing worth mentioning. And it is the "Cobra" metal buckles. It seems to me, that the more weight you put on them, the harder they are to get open. Cold fingers, gloves, and a heavy rifle cinched tight against the body makes getting the buckles open somewhat difficult. I have one buckle that is more stubborn than the other. They both take some manipulation to get open when loaded. They are nice, but almost over kill for a rifle sling. Honestly, I like the plastic buckles better. It appears that the standard, not the elite as seen here, does not have the metal buckles. I do not have a standard, so I cannot say for sure and maybe someone can chime that has a standard version.
The T.A.B. Biathlon Elite sling is available through RIFLES ONLY and is $200 USD, which includes the swivel/hook appropriate for your configuration.
In conclusion, I am sold on biathlon slings. They really make carrying a heavy rifle much easier, especially for a guy with a bum ankle. Hope this helps you in your search for a Biathlon Sling.
Kudos to two Hide sponsors and active members on making exceptional products.
