Visit any internet gun forum or blog and you’ll see plenty of posts and questions about which brand of AR-15 is the best, or which barrel to buy for the next rifle build, and so on. And while these are definitely legitimate questions, shooters often overlook a critical part of the equation: the optic mount.

The optic mount is one of the least “sexy” parts of a rifle. All it needs to do is keep the optic in place, right? Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. The optic mount should maintain zero, yes, but it should also be easy to use.

GDI optic mounts excel at both these purposes. They’re engineered to provide return to zero within .01 MOA when removed and reinstalled, and are robust enough to maintain that zero as long as they’re mounted.

In addition, every interaction the user has with a GDI mount is a smooth and easy one. For tube-style optics, horizontal split rings with the mounting screws attaching from the top make for an easy optic/mount installation process.

From there, the attachment to a picatinny rail is also easy, with an auto-locking quick detach (ALQD) lever that allows for one-handed installation and removal, with no chance of forgetting to lock the lever in place. Also, this design prevents unintentional unlocking of the lever, and adjustment for worn or out-of-spec picatinny rails is easy in the field.

There are a lot of things to check out when looking at new rifles or parts – but whatever you do, don’t forget the optic mount.