Sling (firearms)

An M16A4 and M4 carbine with different slings. The green sling to the left is a traditional two-point sling, while the tan sling to the right is a modern quick-adjustable two-point sling.

In the context of firearms, a sling is a type of strap or harness designed to allow a shooter to conveniently carry a firearm (usually a long gun such as a rifle, carbine, shotgun, submachine gun or GPMG) on their body, and/or to aid in greater hit probability by allowing the firearm to be better braced and stabilized during aiming. Various types of slings offer their own advantages and disadvantages, and can generally be divided into several categories.