I've been both a friend and training partner with Adam Roth (The owner of Aridus Industries and inventor of the Q-DC) for years. How many I cant recall,
most like due to the number of times he's punched me in the head. Adam has
always been a intelligent and hard working training partner. Always looking to
improve, always putting in the work, and always getting better and better.
I've been shooting competitively (not that I'm any good at it), and
taking/hosting firearms courses for over a decade. I put that out there only to
give folks an understanding that these thoughts are from someone more active
than your average casual shooter.
When he first told me the concept for the Q-DC it was one of those moments
where you go "and nobody has done this yet?". I mean seriously, I've had all
kinds of side saddles and they all have some part of them that sucks. The Velcro
ones are less than robust, don't index consistently to the receiver if you try
to toss it on quick, and get beat up and loose over time. The big solid ones are
cool, but usually have pin shear issues with the mounting, bad retention for the
shells over time, are hard to refill under time pressure, and lack the ability
to replace that the Velcro ones have.

I received a QD-C beta test model a few months back for my 870. First off,
I'm not a shotgun guy, never really liked them much or shot them much. Signing
the beta test and NDA agreement on the QD-C required me to shoot 250 rounds of
buckshot at minimum. Over the course of the testing I shot 300 buckshot, a
handful of slugs (less than 50) and while I stopped shooting the birdshot and
target loads to get through the buckshot I estimate I shot around 300 of that as
well. Most range sessions would be shooting 50 rounds. I tried to concentrate
on single loads from the carrier to test the shell retention, and changing out
the carrier to get used to the mechanics of the device. Adam provided a few
different carriers with different dimensions and varied leaf springs to change
retention that he wanted feedback on. I must say this forced me into actually
started to enjoy shooting the boom stick.
The testing became mundane. I really cant imagine how this unit would fail
in any way. I mean this isn't a youtube lets drop it from a helicopter and run
it over with a tank review. Just normal use in real practice. Dropping carriers
in range dirt, gravel, mud, and exposing it to the elements while shooting. I
did mock runs around the house, deployed from the trunk, used my sling on
transitions and with movement and experienced no hang ups of any kind.
I imagine once these go live it will become a must have accessory for
everyone running a shotgun.
Shawn Lupka