A single point sling for shotgun use attaches at one place, usually just behind the receiver, and lets the gun hang straight down. It is the fastest sling configuration to get in and out of, and on a shotgun it is also the one most likely to cause you problems.
That is not a reason to dismiss it. Entry teams and breachers run single points for real reasons. It is a reason to understand what you are trading away before you set one up on a nine pound pump gun.
How a single point works on a shotgun
One attachment point, one loop of webbing, usually worn over the head and one shoulder. The gun pivots freely around the mount, which is what makes it fast. Drop it and it hangs muzzle down in front of you. Bring it up and there is almost nothing to fight.
The freedom is the feature and the bug. Nothing controls where the gun goes when you let go of it, so it does exactly what physics tells it to.
A single point works best on a short, light, balanced weapon. A shotgun is usually none of those. A loaded pump is heavy, the mass sits well forward of the mount, and the barrel is long. All three make the swing worse.
The weight problem
Everything hangs from one point on one shoulder. There is no second attachment sharing the load and no way to distribute it across your back. Over minutes that is fine. Over an hour it is a genuinely uncomfortable way to carry a heavy gun.
Single point, one mount
- The whole weight of the gun on one shoulder
- Nothing holding the gun against your body
- Free to swing on every change of direction
Two point, front and rear
- Contact spread across the back and both shoulders
- Gun held against the body rather than hanging
- Two points constrain how far it can travel
The second effect is swing. Because the gun pivots at a point above its center of mass and forward of your body, movement sets it oscillating. Walking is tolerable. Running, climbing, or bending over is where a single point shotgun goes hunting for your kneecaps.
Where a single point genuinely wins
Choose a single point when
- The gun is carried in hands and only occasionally dropped
- You transition shoulders constantly
- You need to get out of the sling instantly
- Working in and out of vehicles or tight doorways
- The gun is short, such as a breaching setup
Avoid a single point when
- You will carry for more than a few minutes at a time
- You are covering ground on foot
- You need hands completely free for long stretches
- Climbing, or working at height
- The shotgun is a full length field gun
Notice that the winning column is all short duration, high tempo work. That is exactly the environment a single point was designed for, and it is why breachers run them. It is also why almost nobody hunts with one.
Mounting a single point
The mount goes behind the receiver, as close to the bore line as the gun allows. On a shotgun with a conventional stock that usually means a sling plate that sandwiches onto the stock bolt, a receiver side QD socket, or a loop at the rear of the receiver. A receiver end plate is an AR part and only appears on a shotgun already running an AR style stock adapter.
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Unload the shotgun first
Clear the chamber and empty the magazine, then confirm both by sight and by feel. The rest of this has you let the gun swing free and work the action.
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Find a mount point behind the receiver
Higher and further back gives less swing. Moving the mount forward brings it closer to the gun’s center of mass, and that is what causes the problem: the further the mass hangs below the pivot, the harder the gun works to return to vertical. Move the mount toward the center of mass and it loses that restoring force and starts to flop.
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Check the muzzle at rest
Let go of the gun and see where it points, then bend forward and check again. The muzzle will cross low ground and your own legs when you bend. That is inherent to a single point rather than a mounting error, and it is managed with your support hand. It is the honest cost of the configuration.
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Set length so you can mount without adjusting
You should reach a full cheek weld with the sling on. If the sling pulls the stock down off your shoulder, it is too short.
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Test the ejection path
Cycle the action with the sling on and slack. Webbing near the ejection port on a shotgun will cause stoppages.
A single point points the gun at the ground in front of you, which sounds safe until you sit, kneel, or lean over. The muzzle traces an arc across everything in front of and below you, including your own legs and anyone at floor level. This is the main reason a two point is the default for anything other than short duration work.
If you need to add a mount point, the quick detach sling mounts range covers the usual options, and tactical shotgun sling setup goes deeper on duty configuration.
The convertible alternative
The trade is not actually forced. A convertible design carries as a two point, which is what controls the gun and spreads the weight, then releases into single point freedom when you need to move or transition.
That is what the McLean shotgun sling does. The patented two point to one point conversion means the retained carry is the default state and the freedom is a deliberate action, rather than choosing one configuration at the start of the day and living with it. It runs maritime grade webbing and all metal hardware, and comes in Black, Coyote Brown, MultiCam and Ranger Green. In single point mode it behaves like any single point, with the same load on one shoulder and the same muzzle arc. The difference is that it is a deliberate choice for a short window rather than your default all day.
Frequently asked questions
Will a single point sling work on a pump shotgun?
Mechanically yes, if you have a mount point behind the receiver and the webbing stays clear of the forend and ejection port. Practically it is a poor match for a full length pump because of the weight and barrel length. Short configurations fare much better.
Does a single point make transitions faster?
Genuinely yes. There is no second point to bind, so moving the gun to your support shoulder is unobstructed. This is the strongest argument for the configuration and the reason it persists despite the drawbacks.
Can I convert a two point sling into a single point?
Some slings are built to convert between the two configurations. A two point that is not designed to convert will leave you with a loose front swivel and webbing to manage, which is worse than either configuration on its own.
Does elastic in the sling help on a heavy gun?
Elastic reduces the initial shock when you drop the gun, but it also lets the shotgun travel further before it stops. On a heavy gun that means more uncontrolled movement, not less. The give that feels comfortable standing still becomes the problem when you move.
Where should the mount sit on the receiver?
As close to the bore line and as far rearward as the gun allows. That keeps the mass well below the pivot so the gun settles quickly instead of oscillating. A mount close to the center of mass has almost nothing pulling it back to vertical.
Is a single point sling for shotgun use worth it?
For short duration, high tempo work where you are constantly transitioning and need out of the sling instantly, yes. For carrying a heavy gun any distance, no, and the weight lands entirely on one shoulder while the muzzle traces an arc you have to actively manage.
For most people the honest answer is a two point that converts, so the default state controls the gun and the single point behavior is available when it earns its place. See how to put a sling on a shotgun for mounting options, or the shotgun sling comparison for a side by side.
