Could be almost anything. The slack between the buckles, wanting the weapon too tight to the body, etc.
You also have to remember that the pull tab on the sling is NOT made to to take slack out of the sling! It is only made to GIVE slack so that you can shoot offhand. If the sling is configured properly, the tab is ALL the way forward.
See pic below for proper sling configuration. You should be able to shoot the weapon with the tab forward (as seen in pic).
C4
I’m 5’7" 140 lbs, and I think the unpadded BFG VCAS is long. It’s not really an issue with the unpadded BFB VCAS since I can pretty much adjust the rear straps short enough to pit me.
I included the padded VCAS in my next order to Grant and now I think that I should go try it on first. A friend of mine has one and I think I’ll try it on to see how it fits compared to my standard VCAS.
If the sling is on a combat/defensive weapon, it needs to be loose. Reason? So that in a gun grab situation, you can get out of the weapon so that you are not tossed all over the place with your own gun. If you need the weapon out of the way, you throw it behind you.
Having a sling tight to your body in a wrestling match will NOT do you any favors.
On the VCAS padded I received, it’s attached to the standard 6920 side sling mount on the barrel, and to the CTR stock. If one attaches it to the end plate, then pulls it tight, the rifle will ride up, with the butt being level with your face…again unacceptable for LE street use.
Sling attached to the stock is a no go as you will strangle yourself when shooting offhand. This is why the receiver plate mount is king.
I’m 6-2 205, and when wearing a vest, having all 3 adjustments taken up to their fullest, one can not get the rifle to snug up tight to the body.
Grant, nothing against you’re suggestion of how to adjust the sling, for general range use etc., yep it’s the way to go…and the VCAS padded I sling I got would work. But for LE street use, it would not.
Weapon should never be that tight. The tab needs to be all the way forward. This would fix all your problems.
C4
No, get it anyway. I am not big, do not wear a tac vest or body armour and in Texas I pretty much shoot in a t-shirt all year; therefore, I don’t need the sling to be as long as it is.
But if I was up north, or in BDU, or both, I would probably want some or all of what is now excess to me. That is why I haven’t cut the tail off. Who knows, I might want it someday. It is easy enough to secure out of the way. I was just inquiring to see if there was a better way of securing the tail than what I was already doing. So far, I like my way better than tape as it is easy to undo if needed.
Really, it is a great sling - get it. But be aware that BFG is now making a version that is 3" shorter than the original. I am not sure which is which for ordering purposes. Perhaps it is even just a customer service offer only for those who think the original is too long.
Grant, I am doing what you said - I only use the adjust tab to put slack in the sling, or return it to my base agjustment after I have put slack in it. My set up is very nearly like yours (different components) but you have more slack in your upper padded loop than I do.
Here are some pics of how loose your sling needs to be.
C4
Notice the tab is all the way forward
Notice the stock is extended
Folks, it is VERY routine to cut the excess material on both VCAS and VTAC slings once they are properly fitted–they are made to do this!
Grant–for certain uses, it is important to be able to cinch the weapon tighter than shown in your pictures.
We used to use receiver plates, but have gone back to using end of the adj stock–both work fine; front is attached just forward of the delta ring.
Grant, my set up: 
Edited to add: BTW, everything you see in the picture came from Grant, except for the N4 Light Basic Carbine as it came from John.
Maybe so, but putting the weapon behind your back would also serve the purpose. For the majority of the shooting populace, the sling as setup in the pic is the proper way to set it up (slack wise).
Transitioning to your offhand with the sling attached to the stock creates a choke hold and basically requires you to drop your shoulder from out the sling (as you know). While it is a work around, it is not optimal.
C4
Everything looks good so my guess is that you just do not have enough slack in the weapon.
C4
You have to pick your poison I guess. What is more important, being able to get out of the weapon when you are being thrown about like a rag doll or performing adminstrative tasks. It is your call as too what you find more important.
The tab remains forward until you need to shoot offhand. Then you pull the tab back to under your arm pit. This creates the slack you need to switch shoulders.
The VTAC sling is lacking in a good many areas (making it useless).
Instructions on how top properly adjust the Vickers sling is found on BFG’s website: http://www.blueforcegear.com/pdf/INSTRUCTIONS_VICKERS_SLING.pdf
C4
Could you also be so kind as to measure the overall length of the sling at it’s shortest? Thanks! 
The Velcro strip for the folded excess is a good idea. I might have tried a 1"-2" section of bicycle tire inner tube?
This is exactly what I was thinking also. I need it snug against the torso and not swinging around. When shooting starts, I can lengthen the sling with the pull tab.
Because you both have different needs? :rolleyes:
If I have my 16" carbine stock extended one fist width down from my chin (as in your picture) I guess the flash hider swings at knee level? Add to that the sound suppressor. Then bend knees a bit for a reason or another. See where this is going? I don’t know about you, but I don’t like sand and pine needles in my suppressor.
I need the weapon to ride higher. I will be carrying it with the CTR in the shortest possible setting and would like the butt plate to be on my shoulder. And the rifle snugly diagonally across my torso. Also, I would like to attach the sling with a pushbutton swivel to the hole on the CTR. The front goes on either end of the railed FF hand guard. I’m 5’11" and 205 lbs.
Are you saying that the padded BFG VCAS is the wrong sling for my needs? Damn, and I thought I had this already figured out…
The chance of me getting in to a wrestling match etc. with the rifle on my chest is minimal. The need to use my hands and maybe get in to a kneeling position is very likely to arise. If the sling is too long, it won’t stay on my back either (BTDT).
The comparison wichaka made about the one point sling is very good.
Of course, if I were in a hot combat situation the needs might be different. Luckily, I’m not at the moment. In my current situations I have ample time to recognize the need for the rifle and then apply it. I don’t wear armor at all, and tac vests only occasionally, sometimes a camelback or a small backpack. Most of my carrying and shooting is done wearing just a t-shirt or a jacket.
And you see this as a bad thing? What ever happened to the old adage “customer is always right”? If people want to buy it shorter, why not make it shorter?
ak
PS. And regarding to the quote that “the sling is NOT a shooting aid” I will only say that on certain situations this might apply but on some others, it can be quite effectively used to give more support and balance and thus help in aiming and in recoil control, but I have no intention to open this can of worms…
I do when I put some slack in it using the lower loop adjustment, which is how it use it at the ready or running and gunning. That is the difference between the way we run out slings. I want the minimum length to snug up to my body. You don’t. YMMV - MMMV.
Your welcome. It is 45" from the middle of the QD stud at each end…
The VCAS is a great sling and I would buy it again. I am sorry I asked the question that seems to have started this. I am the one not willing to cut off the excess upper loop tail. My choice. YMMV.
Needs vary, as do sling adjustments.
As far as rifle combatives, unless you have been involved in it, I’ll abstain from commenting aside from noting that its different than what you might have read in a book. My experiences have resulted in people going to the nearest trauma center.
Some things to consider. When moving (running, jumping, etc), the weapon is always in your hand. One of the few times the weapon would NOT be in your hand is if you had transitioned to your secondary weapon. In this case the weapon should be pushed to your side (which keeps it from hitting anyting important and keeps it out of the way). You can move and shoot easlily in this manner.
So the 10,000 dollar question is, what are you (or anyone) doing that they A. do not have ahold of their weapon and B. need to have it so tight against their body that it does not move???
I have been through more carbine schools than I can count and have NEVER found a reason to have the weapon snug against my body. I have found countless reason to have it loose though.
So educate me, I am all ears to learn something new here.
C4
Agree. When you do not have the chance to run your weapon in combat, you have to take knowledge from people that have. This is why I said that I draw my gear configuration and manipulation from people like Vickers and Hackathorn. If they do not know how to do it, then no one does.
C4
Your question is fine and has provided a chance to correct some issues with gear configuration (thanks).
C4
My sling operates very much like the picures you posted at 2:59 today. Maybe the problem is the defination of the word snug. It is just a little closer to my body in the first picture, but the chin picture is nearly the same.
I am not in combat, I am not LEO, I am not doing warrants or MJ busts, I am just a civilian in Texas who likes the sling but was trying to figure out if there was a better way to control the floppy tail that results from adjusting for my body and not yours.
Gents
Ashley and I welcome any feedback about length of pad, length of sling, etc. - frankly that is how we got the sling dialed in from the start - and we want to hear your professional contructive criticism to make the sling better
It is a challenge to make the sling adjustable to a wide range of users - almost always there is somebody left out (too big or too small) - but we will strive to answer the mail the best we know how
Yes the sling is left long so it can be trimmed and burned - I understand if some users don’t want to do that based on price and adaptability to other weapons
Drop me a line or Ashley at Blue Force Gear with your input - we will take it into account and see if we can tweak it even more
Lastly let me thank everyone for the support of the sling in general - it is a runaway success , beyond our wildest dreams, and I am personally satisfied that so many end users are happy with it
be safe
LAV
Larry.
Any idea on ETA for the shorter padded version?