If you want a new sling for your AR-15, the Grovtec QS 2-Point SENTINEL Sling is one of the best in the business. They also make a cool Rail Wrap for your rifle’s handguard. I started using Grovtec slings several years ago when the sling on my rifle broke. At a training event, a friend handed me an extra sling from his bag: a Grovtec OD Green SENTINEL sling. After the training was over, I went out and purchased my own and have used them ever since.
There are a ton of different brands and styles to choose from, so selecting a good rifle sling is not easy. Everyone has their own preference when it comes to rifle slings, and Grovtec checks all the boxes for me. It was some time before I crossed paths with the Grovtec Rail Wrap. Strangely enough, someone let me borrow one at the range during a gun review. I was doing a 1,000-round test on an AR-15 rifle, and the handguard and barrel were starting to smoke. Yikes.
I’ll talk about the Rail Wrap in a minute, but first, let’s examine the SENTINEL sling by Grovtec.
Grovtec QS 2-Point SENTINEL Rifle Sling
Some adjustable slings use a low-profile plastic or metal adjustment tab. Some prefer this, but I’ve always found it hard to find the tab when adjusting on the go. The SENTINEL sling mitigated the issue with a quick slide handle that is large enough to find without fumbling around or looking away from your target while your rifle is in use.
Another thing that stands out about the quick-adjust loop is the ease with which it moves. Some of my other slings have a quick-adjust loop, but it takes a lot of force to slide back and forth. This causes the sling to pull against my neck as I adjust it. Grovtec’s is by far the easiest quick-adjust sling I’ve used so far.
The next thing I like about the SENTINEL is the shoulder pad. In the past, I steered away from slings with shoulder pads because they tend to be bulky and too flimsy. Some also slide around on the sling and get in the way. Grovtec uses an integrated two-inch shoulder pad, meaning it doesn’t move around on the sling. It’s about 13.5 inches long, so it’s not too big but just enough to cover your shoulder. It has some padding to make it comfortable, but it’s not bulky at all.
A quick-detach buckle is located next to the shoulder pad for fast disconnect from the sling. This is a nice feature in case you need to pull the sling off quickly and don’t have time to use the QD mount. In the past, I’ve had trouble with some QD mounts disconnecting from my rifle when they shouldn’t. This isn’t an issue I’ve ever had with Grovtec slings.
What about the rail wrap?
The concept of a rail wrap is simple, yet many might not be aware of it. The handguard of an AR-15 protects your hands from heat, for the most part. But when you start to shoot a lot in a short period, it can still get pretty dang hot. I’ve fired a lot of rifles to the point where gloves were required just to hold onto the handguard.
Not everyone keeps gloves with their rifle, and you never know when you will be shooting enough to heat up your handguard. A rifle barrel can get hot quickly when fired rapidly, and it doesn’t take a lot of ammo to do so. The Grovtec Rail Wrap is designed to fit around the handguard of AR- and non-AR-style rifles alike. Paracord is weaved inside the wrap to tighten it to the handguard, and the material has vent holes on the bottom to allow air to flow through the wrap.
A cool feature of the Grovtec Rail Wrap is the elastic bands on either side. One side has larger bands to tuck the sling into when it’s not being used. A loose sling can catch on things when pulling it from a vehicle, safe, or other area. I have always used ranger bands for this, but this feature alone makes the rail wrap worth the money.
The other side has smaller elastic bands for running wires through when mounting accessories on your rifle. Three holes on the bottom of the wrap provide access to M-LOK mounts. This is ideal for those needing to mount something to the bottom, like a vertical grip.
Installing the rail wrap is easy and doesn’t require any tools. The paracord is long enough that you can slide the wrap over a fixed sight, large-size handguard, or rail. You can even add your own paracord if you need it to be longer or want a different color. Grovtec offers the rail wrap in black, multi-cam, multi-cam black, and coyote brown. Butting it on is the same process as tying a shoe. Once you tie off the ends, cut them off or tuck them under the wrap.
Have you tried Grovtec?
Just about any rifle should have a sling on it (in my opinion), and finding a good one is like anything else. It sounds easy until you start looking, and it quickly becomes a daunting task. It turns out a lot of companies make rifle slings. Like any other product that is widely manufactured, there’s a wide range of quality and price. The SENTINEL sling from Grovtec is functional, high quality, and priced well for a good sling.
The only complaint I have heard about this sling is the length. For those who need or prefer a longer sling, this one may be a little short. I am 6’ and weigh 200 pounds, and the sling is the perfect length for me. But it is shorter than a lot of other slings on the market. Mine measures 48 inches from buckle to buckle, which, again, works great for me. Other brands, however, are 55-65 inches in length and might be a bit too big for some shooters.
This sling and rail guard would be a great accessory for just about any rifle but would work exceptionally well on AR-15s. The color choice is great for those wanting to add some contrast to their rifle, and the product quality is among the best. I haven’t had either one break or tear on me yet, and I’ve used them extensively on the range. If you want an adjustable 2-point sling that is easy to use and comfortable, try this one out. And while you’re at it, give the rail wrap a try as well.
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