Meeting a 4 MOA standard is not the problem. Maintaining it across the force is.
The Army does not struggle to teach marksmanship. The Army struggles to maintain it.
That is not criticism. It is just reality.
Marksmanship is a perishable skill, especially in formations where range time is limited and priorities constantly compete for attention. Most Soldiers are not lacking motivation. They are lacking repetitions.
The standard itself is straightforward. The Army is looking for roughly a 4 MOA shooter, with 6 MOA generally considered acceptable. In practical terms, that means keeping rounds inside a 12-to-18-inch area at 300 meters. Enough to consistently hit an E-Type silhouette while allowing some margin for error.
The challenge is doing it consistently across the force.
That is where people often start searching for expensive solutions. New optics. New calibers. New technology. Meanwhile, one of the simplest tools for improving shooter stability continues to get overlooked because it is not flashy.
The adjustable two point sling.
Specifically, the Vickers Combat Applications Sling.
When Blue Force Gear conducts New Equipment Training with Army units fielding the VCAS, the same thing tends to happen. Shooters stabilize faster. Confidence improves. Qualification scores climb.
Not because the sling magically creates better marksmen.
Because stability matters.
Without a properly employed sling, shooters often spend the entire shot process fighting unnecessary movement. The rifle shifts in the shoulder. The reticle wanders. Small inconsistencies become misses once time and positional transitions get introduced.
The sling helps tie the rifle into the shooter instead of forcing the shooter to muscle the rifle through every shot.
That is not revolutionary. It is just effective.
That effectiveness is exactly why the Army authorized the Blue Force Gear push button sling as an approved attachment for the M4A1 platform through TACOM.
The important part is this is not about replacing training or pretending equipment solves everything.
It is about helping Soldiers apply the fundamentals more consistently under time and pressure.
Sometimes making better shooters is not about reinventing the rifle.
Sometimes it is simply about giving Soldiers more stability behind it.
Blue Force Gear continues supporting Army and SOF units with sling integration, New Equipment Training, and practical marksmanship application focused on helping Soldiers build confidence, consistency, and stability where it matters most.
Learn more about the Vickers Sling and Blue Force Gear’s full line of weapon slings and load carriage solutions at Blue Force Gear.
For units seeking to increase survivability and operational performance through reduced load carriage by upgrading to Helium Whisper, contact the Blue Force Gear Military Department or visit BlueForceGear.com.
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