During the last 2 days of the Big 3 Media Event, two of the attending companies revealed their new optic mounts. Unlike the new Geissele optic mount, both the Midwest Industries (MI) and Kinetic Development Group (KDG) mounting systems feature quick-detachable (QD) levers.

Midwest Industries (MI)’s new QD system. I have been using the non-QD MI mounts for my TFB optic reviews for a while now, which I found those to be well-made and reasonably priced.

MI QD Aimpoint base for the Aimpoint PRO and CompM4. It’s a simple drop-in replacement for the base that comes with the Aimpoint PRO.

It’s no coincidence that the new MI QD lever looks somewhat similar to another popular QD mount system, the American Defense Mfr (ADM).MI owned ADM until two years ago. During our conversation, MI assured me that their new QD lever is not based on the existing ADM QD lever patent, which went with ADM when it became an independent company.

Since MI makes a number of products that are still using the ADM QD lever, the development of their own QD lever design is just a natural progression to move everything in house. I do find the new MI QD lever design is easier to adjust and has less wobble than the ADM lever system.

Kinetic Development Group (KDG) is a relatively new company, although they have been making modular components for the FNH SCAR for some time now. KDG started making their Sidelok optic mounts a few months back and I finally had a chance to see it in person at the Big 3 Media Event.

The KDG Aimpoint Micro mount has a very slick design with its forward cant and lightening holes. It’s available now.

The KDG Sidelok QD system is not a lever system that’s favored by most of the QD mounts on the market. It doesn’t use a cam (like the LaRue and ARMS) or cross-bolt (like the ADM, Meprolight and the rest). The KDG Sidelok uses a sliding locking piece that clamps onto the Picatinny rail.

To release the KDG QD mount, just push the release button at the front of the mount and its locking piece will release the picatinny rail. The push button has a built-in Glock trigger-like lock to prevent bump release.

Installing is even simpler. Just line up the Picatinny slots and rolls the mount on to it and then release the push button.