Other than the built-in mount, 30,000 more battery hours, and included flashkill lens, does the M4 offer anything else over the M3? One can get an M3 (which includes rubber coat) and a solid 30mm mount for much less and yes, the battery would be replaced every 5 years vs. every 9 years.
If you’re in the market, I’d get a M4 or T-1 these days. Check out the thread on purchasing optics via Ebay with the Microsoft Live Cashback. There are a number of reputable Aimpoint dealers selling optics on Ebay, and it is possible to get a M4 for much less than you might think. Also, the M4 comes with a mount, which must be factored into the cost of the M3. Food for thought, YMMV.
According to Aimpoint, the M4 has better switching in the rheostat as well. More robust, etc.
Better switching meaning more repeatability in the brightness settings?
Right now there is a coupon floating around for $100 off on the M4. That helped my make up my mind to get one. A guy over on ARF had ahold of a stack of the coupons and was mailing them out to people.
Correct me if I’m wrong, it did NOT apply to the M4S… right?
The knob on the 2 and 3 series can break off. If you pick up a Comp M4/M4S and play with the brightness settings, you’ll immediately feel how loose and (forgive the wording) “cheap” the brightness knob feels. If I hadn’t bought mine from LaRue then I would have thought for certain that is was a fake.
From my limited understanding, the looseness of the M4 series brightness knob is a result of the knob being made more reliable.
Also you have the integral mount which helps eliminate mounting errors and you get a 2 MOA dot (An option on the 3 series). You also get the ability to use AA batteries if that matters.
The M3 is a solid optic. I have and continue to use an older Comp ML2 and it serves me fine. I actually prefer the larger 4 MOA dot for shooting up close. If you wanna save the $$$$ and skip out on the M4, I don’t think your missing much.
I emailed Aimpoint to find out and the coupon is only for the M4, not the M4S.
Unless I’m mistaken I think the Microsoft promo is finished.