Best Shotgun Sling: 7 Options Compared for 2026

The best shotgun sling fits your shotgun’s attachment points and feels comfortable with the clothing and gear you carry. Start by deciding whether you want a padded shoulder strap, a slim adjustable two-point sling or a convertible design. Then compare the complete package, including the mounts.

Published by McLean Corp USA. Updated September 6, 2026. McLean manufactures the DRS included here. This guide compares manufacturer-published features and buying considerations. It is not an independent hands-on test, and we do not assign test scores or claim one sling is best for every shotgun.

Seven shotgun sling options compared

The table identifies specific models rather than treating every product from one brand as the same sling. Manufacturer links below provide current specifications, price and availability.

What each shotgun sling offers

1. McLean Dynamic Retention Sling

The DRS combines an adjustable sling with McLean’s retained-carry system. It is the same physical strap sold as our rifle sling, with shotgun-specific purchasing guidance on the product page. Consider it if that carry design suits your needs.

Before you buy: Confirm the exact front and rear attachment provisions before ordering. A shotgun model name does not establish compatible hardware, and this guide does not claim the DRS has a padded shoulder section.

View manufacturer details and current options

2. Blue Force Gear Vickers Padded Sling

Blue Force Gear’s padded Vickers option pairs its adjustment system with a 2-inch padded shoulder section. It is a useful comparison when a broader shoulder contact area is a priority.

Before you buy: Choose the padded model explicitly. The standard unpadded Vickers and packages with different mounting hardware are not identical purchases.

View manufacturer details and current options

3. Magpul MS1 Sling

Magpul lists a two-point sling with its MS1 slider and 1.25-inch webbing. Optional adapters can add one-point functionality. The basic MS1 is distinct from the MS1 Padded and MS4 models.

Before you buy: Check which connecting hardware is included in the exact listing. If shoulder cushioning matters more than a compact strap, compare the padded version too.

View manufacturer details and current options

4. Outdoor Connection Original Padded Super-Sling

The current Boyt listing specifies a tapered padded shoulder section, 1-inch webbing, one-hand length adjustment and a thumb loop. This wire-formed swivel version includes detachable swivels.

Before you buy: Check the swivel-base interface on your shotgun. Detachable stud swivels are different from push-button QD swivels; similar wording does not make them interchangeable.

View manufacturer details and current options

5. Edgar Sherman Design ESD Sling

ESD lists a 1-inch sling with a rear fit section, a quick-adjust section and an elastic regulator for stowage. Its product description includes shotguns among the intended platforms, subject to the correct attachment method.

Before you buy: Its slim profile makes a different comfort tradeoff from a padded shoulder strap. Add your selected attachment hardware to the total price.

View manufacturer details and current options

6. Blackhawk Multi-Point Quick Disconnect Slick

Blackhawk’s current Multi-Point Quick Disconnect Slick listing includes GrovTec push-button QD connections, a 2-to-1 QD link and a length-adjustment slider. It replaces the older Rapid-Adjust entry in this comparison so buyers can review a current manufacturer listing.

Before you buy: This is a different product from Blackhawk’s older Rapid-Adjust two-point sling. Do not transfer the older model’s specifications or photo to it. Included QD connections still need suitable sockets on the shotgun.

View manufacturer details and current options

7. Butler Creek Comfort Stretch Firearm Sling

Butler Creek offers Comfort Stretch slings as part of its shoulder-carry range. Compare the specific product’s materials, connection package and available colors with your shotgun and clothing.

Before you buy: Stretch is a preference to assess, not proof of poor durability or inferior construction. Check the selected model and how much movement you find comfortable under the carried load.

View manufacturer details and current options

Choose the sling for the carry problem you want to solve

Long walks and hunting clothing

If shoulder pressure is the issue, compare a padded Vickers or Padded Super-Sling with a simpler strap. The position of the pad matters as much as its presence. Try the fit with your coat and pack; additional padding can be helpful but also adds bulk.

A compact strap

If a bulky shoulder section conflicts with other gear, look at an unpadded option such as the MS1 or ESD. A narrow strap is not automatically uncomfortable, and a wide one is not automatically comfortable. Carried weight, clothing, adjustment and personal preference determine the result.

Convertible carry

If you want more than one configuration, compare the DRS with other explicitly convertible products. Conversion hardware and adjustment mechanisms differ. Do not select a sling based on an unverified claim about speed or a universal superiority rating.

Shotgun fitment: identify the attachment points first

A fixed sling loop, a swivel stud and a push-button QD socket are three different interfaces. Some shotgun variants have factory provisions; others require approved adapters. A replacement stock or forend may change the hardware needed even when the receiver model is unchanged.

• Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol
• Mossberg 590A1
• Mossberg 500 hunting and field models
• Mossberg 590 Shockwave
• Remington 870 Tactical and Express

Use the relevant guide alongside the shotgun manufacturer’s documentation. Once the interface is confirmed, compare sling mounts and connecting hardware. Ask the manufacturer or a qualified gunsmith about any mounting change that is not explicitly supported.

Compare the complete cost

Check the selected sling variant, attachment hardware, any required shotgun mounts and optional padding. Included swivels do not necessarily mean the shotgun-side mount is included. Current product listings are more useful than a fixed price table that treats every color and hardware option as identical.

Find your model before choosing hardware

Start with the guide for your model, then check your exact version and any replacement stock or accessories. A model guide identifies what to verify; it does not guarantee that every configuration uses the same mounts.

• Mossberg 590A1
• Remington 870 (Tactical/Express)
• Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol
• Benelli M4
• Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical
• Winchester SXP Defender

Search all model fitment guides →

Make your next choice

• Which McLean sling package do I need?
• McLean vs. Vickers vs. Magpul MS4
• Read customer reviews by use and fit

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a rifle sling on a shotgun?

Often, if the strap and hardware are compatible with the shotgun’s approved attachment points and the adjustment range suits the fit. The McLean shotgun and rifle listings sell the same physical DRS strap. Mounting compatibility still needs to be checked.

Should a shotgun sling be padded?

Padding is worth comparing when shoulder pressure is your main concern. A plain strap has less bulk. Choose based on fit with your actual clothing and carried weight rather than a fixed shotgun-weight threshold.

What sling fits a shotgun without swivel studs?

That depends on the exact model and any other factory attachment provisions. Do not buy stud swivels for a shotgun with only fixed loops or QD sockets. Confirm an approved mounting option before ordering or modifying the shotgun.

Are QD swivels included with every sling?

No. Some slings have open ends; some include stud swivels; others include push-button QD swivels. Check the full contents of the selected product and the interface on your shotgun.

What is the best shotgun sling for hunting?

A confirmed fit, comfortable shoulder contact and suitable adjustment are the starting points. A padded shoulder sling may suit a long walk, while a less bulky strap may fit better with your pack. No comparative field test in this guide establishes a universal winner.

Choose a McLean shotgun sling

If the DRS carry design suits your needs, visit the shotgun sling product page for current colors and availability. Confirm your model’s mounting options before choosing hardware.