Rail mounted QD sling swivel sockets are one of the most common ways to mount a sling on an AR and, for the most part, these mounts are very similar. They sit directly on the rail and project the socket up so that it has enough depth to accept the swivel. The result is a sling mount that sticks a full inch from the rail with the swivel inserted. Impact Weapon Components (IWC) noticed this and saw it as an opportunity. They created the 45 Offset QD Rotation Limited 1913 Sling MOUNT-N-SLOT (which is a mouthful, so I’ll just refer to it as the Offset Sling MOUNT-N-SLOT) to a be a lower profile alternative to the typical QD sling mount.
Overview
The Offset Sling MOUNT-N-SLOT differs from regular QD sling mounts in that it places the socket to the side of the rail, angled at 45 degrees. This means that the depth of the socket can be placed into the empty space between rails, rather than built up on top of the rail. The result is a sling mount that sits nearly flush with the rail that it is attached to. It is lower profile than some rail covers.
It is machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and hard anodized for a durable, matte black finish. It has several stops machined into the socket to limit rotation. The design allows it to be able to be mounted on either the left or right side of most rails.
45 Offset Sling MOUNT-N-SLOT shown with a typical QD sling mount.
Observations from Use
I am sure that some readers are going to question how the carbine hangs and handles with the sling mounting point offset the way it is. I found no discernable difference. Functionally, it works and operates just as well as any typical QD sling mount but with less bulk.
I tested the Offset Sling MOUNT-N-SLOT on several rails. It worked well on nearly everything I tried. The only exception was the rear 2/3rds Ultimak M1-B AK rail. There is a shoulder on these rails that interferes with the socket. It can be mounted on the front 1/3 of the Ultimak but I prefer to have my sling further back.
This is a good top rail sling mount which a good thing considering the proliferation of rails that are available with top rails only these days. Off set sling mounts like this make it possible for users to mount their sling, light, and front sight all on the top rail. So, unless you need a vertical grip or bipod, there may not be a need for any rail other than the top rail.
The 45 Offset Sling MOUNT-N-SLOT can be seen in the background. This image shows just how low profile it is.
Wrap Up
45 Offset QD Rotation Limited 1913 Sling MOUNT-N-SLOT is just about as low profile as a QD sling swivel can be. IWC claims that it is the lowest profile QD sling mount available. I can’t verify that, but I can say it is easily the lowest profile QD sling mount that I have used by a longshot. I am very impressed with this mount.
Check out the 45 Offset QDRL 1913 Sling MOUNT-N-SLOT on ImpactWeaponsComponents.com. Remember to use the discount code “triggerjerk” for special pricing.
Disclosure: IWC provided this sling mount to me for review, free of charge.
