How to Use the Constrictor

How to Use the Constrictor

If you haven’t already done so, check out our blog post labelled Shooting with Slings. It will give some background and perspective on using slings to increase your accuracy.

So how does the Constrictor work?

Let’s start with Captive Adjustment slings.

Captive Adjustment slings.

The Constrictor can be used with the sling being worn, so we will start there. You will need a method of attaching the Constrictor to the forearm of your rifle. With the sling over your head and support arm, let it dangle freely pointed in a safe direction at the ground (when learning to use this, make sure your firearm is unloaded). Install the Constrictor onto the forearm. It will generally be used on the front or rear end of the forearm, opposite of where you attach the front swivel of your sling. It works fine in either location, so don’t change your preferred sling position to use the Constrictor.

Once the Constrictor is attached to the forearm, attach it to your sling over one layer of the closest webbing. The support hand can hold the webbing steady while the shooting hand grips the Constrictor on the stitching right behind the hook. Using a two handed technique makes it very fast to install and makes it so easy that it can be installed in the dark. Once it is hooked to the sling, grip the firearm with the firing hand in place and lift the muzzle up vertically in a safe direction. Doing so will cause the steel webbing hook to slide to the bottom of the adjustment loop, maximizing the loop size and preventing slipping of the slider when tension is added to the sling.

Place your arm through the loop until the webbing touches the back of your arm at the tricep. The sling should contact the tricep as high as possible but not into the pit of the arm. It is best to do a counterclockwise wrap of the sling with the support hand before touching the forearm of the rifle. Doing so places the sling behind the knuckles of the support hand and prevents the sling from slipping off of the arm.

Non-Captive Adjustment Slings

Unlike Captive Adjustment slings, adjustment slippage isn’t a concern for these slings because the adjustment hardware doesn’t allow slippage when tension is applied for shooting. Use the same installation technique described above. Only hook the webbing to the sling in front of the adjustment hardware, which is the ALICE buckle or ladder-lock. Once the hook is installed, hold the rifle vertically in a safe direction. Place your arm through the loop the Constrictor has created, not forgetting the sling wrap prior to touching the forearm of the rifle.

Adjusting the Constrictor

The Constrictor is designed with a range of adjustment to fit a variety of body sizes. Because it is intended to be used with rapidly adjustable slings, gross sizing changes should be done by the sling it is attached to. To size the Constrictor, adjust the length and try your preferred shooting positions. They will generally be variations of kneeling, sitting, and prone. Your goal will be to adjust the Constrictor to a length where it will work with all of your preferred shooting positions without requiring adjustment of the Constrictor. The length of the Constrictor should not place your sling’s adjustment at either extreme end of the adjustment range to account for changes in shooting position caused by clothing, body armor, or other factors.

Once you have the Constrictor's length properly adjusted, it is recommended to mark your sling with a permanent marker or paint pen for each of your preferred shooting positions. That will allow you to find them quickly.

Lastly, tuck the floppy end of the Constrictor’s webbing back over and under the tri-glide to eliminate the chance of the webbing working itself loose.