DD and Vltor seem to sell good ones. I have noticed a few slight compatibility issues, like Vltor swivels not locking into the CASV forearm, and I seem to remember something similar with either DD or Troy. It’s been a couple years since I’ve run into it so I can’t quite remember the details. And those issues may have been fixed by now.
CAA/TDI/whatever-they-call-themselves-today sells chinese made swivels. They’re junk.
As many times as its been mentioned, I still can’t work out how accidentally pushing the button in causes the QD to fall out.
I mean you’d have to have good strain on the sling and something slipped in between the sling loop and button and then depress the button to or even below the plain of the QD body.
Perhaps someone can reproduce it on video as I’ve tried and tried and tried doing it deliberately and it simply will not happen for me when trying several QDs of different make and a pile of sockets on diffrent stocks, forends, rail sections and loose unmounted sockets.
Just by pushing the button the QD will want to stay in the socket as thats the direction its being forced.
However some anti rotation sockets aren’t finished so well in the groove and forcing QD rotation by sling tension or whatever will shove the locking bearings in which creates the same effect as pushing the button and allows the QD to pop right out.
Had a rail or two with that type socket and you could pop the QD out all day long without even touching
the button.
I’m of the belief that most pop outs are a result of faulty socket machine work (groove or anti rotation lumps in the groove) or improperly putting the QD in to begin with.
Of course there is the potential for plain old mechanical failure in the QD mechanism, but unless its being installed and removed many, many times a day for who knows how long or spinning one constantly with strain on the sling in a rotateable socket wear should not really be a factor.
Even if the bearings can completely come free once in the socket it still requires the center post to break or wear out in just the right spot to allow all 4 of the bearings to simultaniously retract into the QD body and release it from the socket.
I’d hazard the odds of ripping the sling loop off one are higher than having one wear to the point of failure unless the bearings or socket is really crap material.
All that being said, I have preference for the DD QDs as they at least look to be of significantly better and beefier construction than say Uncle Mike’s
This guy is a pro and he’s using good quality equipment. And I’ve read other instances as well. I agree that it really requires the moon to turn purple and the stars aligning, but it does and has happened. If a simple act like choosing one swivel over another can make a difference, then why not?
On the other hand, I am probably making a mountain out of a molehill…
Buttstock sling mounts are usually not an issue, but what do you recommend up front if stock sling swivel isn’t present, there’s no rail real estate, or you don’t want to run a clanky dog collar hook?
Its been my experienced that the issue comes not from the QD swivel being inadvertently pressed, but from the mount simply pulling out of the they mounting point. The problem is all of the quality QD mounts are made of good high quality steel while some manufacturers choose to make the attachment points from aluminum. A steel mount will eventually wear an aluminum mount out leading to a less secure mount. I learned about this from reviewing testing done by a local manufacturer which now chooses to makes its attachment points from hardened steel which can be replaced.
Quality differs, I have one MI one, it is harder to push in the QD and take it out. It feels gritty and tight.
Position is a big thing too. I have had a few Daniel Defense ones that I though were great quality, they were also anti rotation which I like a lot. But I didn’t like how big they were and especially the position being at the 3 O’clock on the rail.
The Wilson Combat 10-2 QD is amazing. It is very well made, though not anti rotation which is to bad. The great things are its size, it is low profile, and only take up one and a half rails spaces. The best thing is where t puts the QD like its name it ends up in either the 10 o’clock or 2 o’clock position on an angle. I really love how the carbine hangs with it.
I Love it and as funds allow will up grade all my uppers with them.
Nonsense. While some are chinese crap, there are plenty US-produced versions that are well made. They’re ideal for certain scenarios and are helpful. I don’t always want a sling attached to my rifle and I like the convenience of the QD.
Not at all created equal… once upon a time, most people bought swivels from a big name company, then that company was bought out and outsourced their product; the quality fell off drastically.
Now, there are a couple of companies that have their swivels made in house… and some sell them to other companies, make sure you are getting US made parts is the first part of making sure you are getting a good product.
I’ve had a DD QD swivel for 1 1/2 years or so that I first used on the Magpul MOE carbine hand guard with the DD swivel socket, then on the Troy rail with the built in swivel sockets.
I’ve had 4 occurrences where the QD decided to let go and the weapon had to be caught before taking a full on dive into the dirt. This happened while the weapon was just hanging on my chest and I was walking, while performing dry-runs and dry fires, while I was moving the weapon so to sling it on my back, and while it was on my back as I was walking.
Take it for what it is - 4 times in 1 1/2 years.
I’ve been looking for alternatives that are more secure, if there are such things.
Anti rotation in a mountable rail section a’la Alpha etc.?
If so, that was one that I found could fairly consistantly cause the QD to pop out under rotational stress.
The ‘turnstops’ are more ramp than wall which aids in shoving the lock bearings in.
Well I was just about to order a DD QD swivel. Now you guys have me rethinking it. What would you guys suggest then besides the QDs? Or is their a “good” QD?
DD makes a quality QD. The key is making sure that you’re attaching your quality QD swivel (which is made of steel) in to a quality mount also made of steel rather than aluminum.
I’ve actually got the recessed “heavy duty” QD that MI makes on one of my rifles and it seems to be real well made. Unlike most of the other QD swivels I’ve seen.