Quick Detach vs Direct Thread Suppressor
There are a variety of suppressor mounting systems available today that all have their own unique advantages, allowing you to set up your firearm perfectly for your use case. The primary suppressor mounting solutions available fall into two main camps:
- Quick detach suppressors (QD)
- Direct thread suppressors (DT)
QD suppressor mounts allow you to easily attach your silencer or swap it to different host weapons. Direct thread mounts are simple, inexpensive, and save weight and length compared to most quick detach systems.
Table of Contents
Quick Detach Suppressor
Quick detach, or QD suppressor mounts, allow you to quickly install or remove your silencer from your gun. These systems consist of two parts; a muzzle device, such as a muzzle brake or flash hider, and a quick detach suppressor adapter.
The muzzle device installs onto your firearm, and the adapter installs into the base of your suppressor. In some cases, the adapter may be built into the suppressor, including:
Benefits of a Quick Detach Silencer
As the name implies, QD systems make attaching or detaching the suppressor much faster than threading the silencer onto the muzzle threads. While speed is great, there are also many other benefits of using these systems.
Swapping to different hosts
QD systems allow you to move suppressors from rifle to rifle simply, even if they don’t have the same thread pitch. The common AR15 barrel thread is 1/2x28, but what happens when I want to use the same 30cal suppressor on a 300BLK with 5/8x24 threads? With a QD system it is easy, just get a muzzle device for both thread pitches, and leave those attached to the rifles. Then, you can easily swap the suppressor between them without changing any mounts or muzzle devices.
Muzzle devices
Once you start shooting suppressed, it is nearly impossible to go back to shooting without a silencer, but on the off chance that you do need to shoot without your silencer, it's nice to have a muzzle device on your rifle. With a QD system, you’ll likely have a muzzle brake or flash hider that stays on the gun, so when your silencer is not in use you still get the benefits of those devices.
Secure lock up
Many of the best QD suppressor mounts feature a locking mechanism or taper that secures the silencer onto your gun. These systems make it nearly impossible for the suppressor to come loose while you're shooting and will only detach when you want to remove the can. Modern suppressor mounts also offer great point-of-aim (POI) repeatability, meaning that your zero doesn’t change when removing or attaching the silencer.
What are the Different Types of QD Suppressors?
There are a plethora of excellent QD mounting systems available today, both built into the suppressor and HUB-compatible adapter systems.
The most popular QD systems for silencers are:
Direct Thread Suppressor
Direct thread, or DT, silencers are simple and straightforward. So, what is a direct thread suppressor? These suppressors attach directly to your gun barrel threads. Direct thread suppressors do not require any additional muzzle devices to mount the silencer, all you need is a properly threaded barrel.
For example, if your 5.56 AR15 thread pitch is 1/2-28, a 1/2-28 thread suppressor will screw right on. It is super simple. HUB-compatible silencers can accept nearly any direct thread suppressor adapter, allowing you to adapt the silencer to different thread pitches, as long as the silencer is compatible with the firearm’s caliber.
Some suppressors have built-in threads, such as:
Benefits of a Direct Thread Silencer
There are a number of reasons you might want to use a direct thread silencer instead of a QD system. Direct thread is less expensive, simple to use, saves weight and length, and direct thread has less tolerance stacking.
Cost savings
Direct thread will usually save you money over a QD system. Most HUB compatible silencers include a direct thread mount in the box, and additional direct thread mounts are inexpensive. There is also no QD adapter required, so you save on the muzzle device and suppressor adapter.
Easy attachment
Direct thread is simple, just match your barrel threads to the thread adapter. If your AR barrel thread is 5/8x24, any 5/8x24 thread adapter will work, just screw it on righty-tighty, and you’re good to go.
Lightweight and compact
If size and weight are a concern, direct thread is the way to go. Direct thread mounts generally add about half of an inch to your suppressor, some are even less, and weigh only a few ounces.
Tolerance stacking
Direct thread suppressors have less parts, so there is less potential for tolerance issues. Because there are fewer interfaces between components, there is a lower likelihood of out-of-spec pieces causing an issue.
NOTE: With modern machining, tolerance stacking issues with QD or DT adapters are incredibly rare.
Is a Direct Thread Suppressor More Accurate?
Yes, direct thread silencers can be more accurate than QD silencers. Both systems allow for excellent accuracy and repeatability, but because there is less tolerance stacking, direct thread tends to be more consistent.
You can get excellent precision out of either style of suppressor, and all silencers will help to reduce recoil and make you a more accurate shooter.
Conclusion
The wide variety of mounting systems available today gives you the freedom to perfectly dial in your suppressed weapon system for your unique use case. Your preferred mounting style will depend on which silencer and firearms you have and your use cases for each. QD systems give you maximum swap-ability and provide a secure locking mechanism, while direct thread options save money, weight, and length. If you need any assistance figuring out which mounting system is best for you, please reach out to our knowledgeable team at 512-931-4556 or by email.
