I recently bought a Colt M4 and I’m trying to make an intelligent decision on optics. I haven’t owned an AR rifle for 30+ years. It was a SP1. Now, as you can surmise, I’m a geezer and and not up to speed on all the current technologies.
A few years back, when prices were out of sight, I bought a SAM7R AK47. Later I bought an Aimpoint Pro Patrol red dot and a good quality mount for it. After getting everything mounted, I took it the range to sight it in. After shooting maybe 40-50 rounds I started seeing 3 red dots, closely grouped together. My efforts to zero it in were gone! I asked the range master to aim it and tell me what he saw. He said 3 dots. Two of my friends later, at my home, saw the same thing.
So I called Aimpoint and left messages for a tech fellow by the name of John. I had read good reviews about his service. Never got a return call. After waiting a few weeks, I called again and spoke with another tech who patiently walked me through several tests after which he provided me an R/A number so they could check it themselves.
After a couple of months I received a call from “John” who informs me they had sent it back to the factory (Sweden?) and it checked out perfectly. I asked him what could cause me (and others) to see 3 dots. He huffed and said it damn well is not the Aimpoint! Click!
When it came back I re-installed and…3 dots. Now I don’t have the eye sight of a young man, but my vision is 20-25 with some developing cataracts.
So now I’m hesitant to go down that road again, so I’m hoping you resident experts to help me out a bit. I’d appreciate your suggestions. Kindly provide specific make as well as the model numbers. Thanks to all for your time and sage advice. JR
In all seriousness though the PRO doesn’t seem to be as clear of a dot as a T1 or M4 in my experience. Another thing is many people crank up the brightness more than is necessary causing the bloom to be worse.
Make a very small pin hole in a piece of paper and hold it centered on and touching the eye piece end of the PRO with the brightness turned down to a visible level.
Looking through the pin hole, if the multitude of dots go away…it ain’t the Swede’s fault.
Just an idea
But maybe it just me…
Thanks. The other tech fellow I spoke with had me try that while we were on the phone. I did that and it showed 3 dots. I tried to photograph it without success.
That’s the reason he assigned me an R/A number.
At this point I’m looking for other quality alternatives. Any suggestions…anyone?? Thanks, JR
I’m not sure if it has been said before, but I think of the aiming technique like looking at a Magic Eye picture. Your eyes are looking at close range objects but need to focus as if looking at a long range object. I too got a small bloom from time to time. I trained my self to avoid this by putting the Aimpoint on the lowest visible setting, mounting the rifle at low ready, focusing on a target at the intended range, and then mounting the rifle without taking my eyes off the target. The trick is to bring something (the red dot) into the line of sight while focused at range without shifting focus from the target to the red dot.
If there really is 3 distinct dots, I would think they’d still be visible through a magnifier. That should determine if its human or optic related. If Aimpoint won’t do anything more with it then try returning it to the seller. If still no joy, sell it.
Have you tried any other red dot sights? Better yet, do you know someone else with an AP Pro you can look through? This would help you determine pretty quickly whether it’s your eyes or the Aimpoint.
Just a shot in the dark, but also check brightness. Based on your opening post, the scope initially checked good, and then bad after 45-50 rounds. That means something went wrong with it, or the environment changed (it got cloudy or dark at the range.) I find if I have my RDS too bright, I get ghosting and lens flare (it is a cheaper optic than an AP though, so I don’t worry about it too much). Is it possible you have the brightness way up to compensate for cataracts?
try photographing it again - that will help a lot. use a clear background and focus the camera on infinity, or point autofocus on the dot. if there are three clear dots, then it’s the optic. if it’s one clear dot, then it isn’t.
Sounds like it’s your eyes. I have the same problem. I just turn mine down as low as possible, and look through the rear sight when I need a very precise shot placement.
Also I have a TR24 that is a bit more versatile and eliminates the problem. I prefer the Aimpoint for speed despite seeing a snowman looking star through the optic.