Aimpoint T1 Market

[robstercraw]

In the market for a new optic for my MK18. I was pretty set on the T2, but It looks like the used T1 market is pretty attractive. I can grab the T1’s in the $500 range, lots of time with the mount. Any real reason to move to the T2 from the T1? I have an old H1 that’s been bomb proof over the years so I really wanna stick with Aimpoint. I briefly considered the COMPM5, but that top battery compartment looks like a “weak” spot. Any thoughts are appreciated.

[mRad]

The last T2 I bought was less than $600. I waited for a sale at Euro. The T2 is a definite improvement. Well worth $600 over a used T1. But hell, the T1 just works. I have one I’ve been rocking for over a decade.

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[556Cliff]

The parallax on the Aimpoint T1 is pretty bad… Not quite as bad as on the Trijicon MRO, but it’s sill bad. The parallax on the T2 is much improved compared to the T1.

So I’d wait for a sale on the T2, or maybe the COMP M5S.

[Wake27]

Parallax is reportedly trash and it turns into a line if you put a magnifier behind it. Maybe the most overrated optic ever. At least the T2 fixed those faults.

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[dan1612]

T2, H2 owner here.
However, you’ll be fine with a T1. Nobody bitched about them until T2 came out.
Understanding, if you’re like most, you’ll end up with a T2 anyway. Buy it used and cheap so you can get your money back out of the T1 when you’re ready to upgrade. FWIW, and as far as I’m concerned, and if you don’t run NV, much like T2 vs H2, in practical application, T1 is just H1 with black letters. But I’m sure a nerd who memorizes marketing material will arrive shortly to correct me. Can’t comment on dot shape. I have astigmatism.
Good luck with your search Good Sir.

[YutYut]

Several T1s and T2s. Echo the same, dot on T1 is horrible behind magnification. Bikini cover sucks.

Never had any problems with zero on either model.

I run the 4MOA T1 on a Benelli M4 SBS at work. Solid. T2 on the rifle with 3x magnifier.

[Five_Point_Five_Six]

I try not to buy used optics these days. I just find the cost difference to be insignificant when you consider you’re paying around 75% of new and getting no warranty.

The T1/H1’s are good optics but if I were buying a micro today it would be a T2. I have an H1 that is a couple years old that I run with a magnifier on occasion and I don’t experience the dot turning into a line or other weird shape. It’s not perfectly round, but it’s workable if you really like the option to run a magnifier. The parallax is real, but once you know it’s there you can avoid it being a problem most of the time.

If the $500 price point is appealing to you, I would recommend giving consideration to the Aimpoint Pro, that’s what I’m running on my MK18. I’ve come to the conclusion that I prefer the 30mm Aimpoints over the micros unless I’m really trying to save weight, like on my daughters rifles. For $445 you get a solid Aimpoint with a usable mount. I added a SKD riser to the factory mount to bring it up to 1.93" height, which is helpful for all day shooting with my neck problems. It has NV settings built in if you need them. I don’t care for the big knob mount so I purchased the version with the LRP mount instead of the QRP.

[Five_Point_Five_Six]

Double tap…

[Defaultmp3]

@robstercraw

I briefly considered the COMPM5, but that top battery compartment looks like a “weak” spot.

Why would the top battery compartment be a weak spot? There’s never been any durability concerns with the CompM4 even though it, too, has a top battery compartment; the CompM5 even is made of 7075 rather than 6061, so it is in theory physically more durable than the CompM4.

[mebiuspower]

@Defaultmp3

Why would the top battery compartment be a weak spot? There’s never been any durability concerns with the CompM4 even though it, too, has a top battery compartment; the CompM5 even is made of 7075 rather than 6061, so it is in theory physically more durable than the CompM4.

[video=youtube_share;0DVpOCW1Kvo]https://youtu.be/0DVpOCW1Kvo[/video]

[rushca01]

I’ve always been surprised how strong the used Aimpoint market is, especially for a sight that’s what over 11 years old now?

[sidewaysil80]

Honestly I was pretty disappointed with the T-2’s brightness. Only the last 3-4 settings were useable and it was def not as bright as T-1. I never had issue with parallax on T-1 or even MRO for that matter. Not saying the reports aren’t true, just that it never impacted my shooting and brightness was/is more important to me. I’m in the market for a T-1 myself now.

[mebiuspower]

@sidewaysil80

Honestly I was pretty disappointed with the T-2’s brightness. Only the last 3-4 settings were useable and it was def not as bright as T-1.

Do you only shoot towards the sun?

[DefenderAO]

@sidewaysil80

Honestly I was pretty disappointed with the T-2’s brightness. Only the last 3-4 settings were useable and it was def not as bright as T-1. I never had issue with parallax on T-1 or even MRO for that matter. Not saying the reports aren’t true, just that it never impacted my shooting and brightness was/is more important to me. I’m in the market for a T-1 myself now.

A few things here and for OP:

1. The T1 parallax is bad. I owned five and chased zeroes for years. It also has a much bluer lens hue than other optics.
2. The T2 is a much better sight. The housing, glass, lens covers. I believe it to be the best on the market.
3. The CompM5 has two YT videos that fail drop tests y dropping on the battery compartment. The optic fails.
4. Around SN 47K, Aimpoint changed the emitter power where old power 8 now is newer version 9. You need to turn the brightness up one more to get the same output as an older gen. I find this a regression especially since you now lose battery life. I only run T2 gen 1s (all SN 40K and lower) and run them on setting 9 generally. I have owned 11 T2s and sold the 6 that were newer gen.

[mebiuspower]

@DefenderAO

4. Around SN 47K, Aimpoint changed the emitter power where old power 8 now is newer version 9. You need to turn the brightness up one more to get the same output as an older gen. I find this a regression especially since you now lose battery life. I only run T2 gen 1s (all SN 40K and lower) and run them on setting 9 generally. I have owned 11 T2s and sold the 6 that were newer gen.

You sound like a broken record and have regurgitated this over and over and over and over again.

https://www.m4carbine.net/search.php?searchid=4241543

@DefenderAO

The older models are literally -1 for all of those settings getting more battery life and the same brightness. A miss from Aimpoint IMO

@DefenderAO

Heads-up, the newer Aimpoint T2 micro dots (likely H2 as well) have a new LED where brightness setting 9 is the older version’s 8. This change happened around SN# 46000 or so. No reason given by Aimpoint, but you now need to put it on a higher setting to be the equivalent output of an older model, and you lose battery life time.

@DefenderAO

Yes, unfortunately Aimpoint changed its LED settings. Newer models are one setting off older models, meaning a newer T2 (call it SN# 46K+ or so) brightness 10 is an older T2 brightness 9.

I do not know why Aimpoint made this change. I look for used old models if going T2.

@DefenderAO

Aimpoint changed the LED output on its micros. Serial Numbers 46K need a setting of 9 to equal the dot brightness of the older gen’s 8. I have six T2’s, five older gen (used to own three other new gen) and this is the case across the board. I do not know the exact SN# this effect started, and I do nit know why Aimpoint made this change, but it seems like a feature regression. You exponentially lose battery life for the same power output between the two…

I only will look at older T2 models as viable.

@DefenderAO

That is different than my experience where 9 is serviceable indoors but is washed out with a white light. The challenge is knowing Aimpoint did this to their newer models and then determining if one should go back for an RMA…

@DefenderAO

New guy, long-time lurker, very active on the other site. I’ve seen a few comments and threads about newer Aimpoints and brightness/dimness issues. I spoke with some industry guys a few weeks ago as I own multiple T2’s, have had five T1’s, and a few of my T2’s are noticeably dimmer than older T2 models (or T1’s).

Recently, Aimpoint decided to throttle the LED output where newer model brightness settings are one level behind older models. So, new model 10 = old model 9. I do not have a correlation to SN#'s for this effect, but there may be one imperfect tell you have a new vs. old model. Newer Aimpoints have a new logo where it looks more chemically etched than engraved like an old one. There is also a small dot in the “O” of Aimpoint on the newer logo. If you have this logo, it is likely you have an SN# of 43xxxxx-46xxxxx+ and may also have the updated brightness settings.

We don’t know why Aimpoint made this change. If others never had an older Aimpoint, they’d likely not notice or complain about it. Those that have older and newer…this is what happened. And no, the battery life is not changed in the sense that the new 10 (same as older model 9) has more battery life than an older model at 10. The batteries drain at the same rate (10ish months on setting 10), but again, newer models need to be turned up one more setting for its equivalency with older brightness settings.

Lastly, this explanation won’t characterize all models and brightness issues. Some may have a defect though not common with this high quality of an RDS. But many will be in this description above.

Hope this helps.

[DefenderAO]

@mebiuspower

You sound like a broken record and have regurgitated this over and over and over and over again.

https://www.m4carbine.net/search.php?searchid=4241543

1. The references are in separate threads.
2. The questions and concerns about T2 brightness issues persist.

Seems relevant to broaden awareness. Or you can share the search function link in these threads. Or sticky my response where people can go and understand what happened.

[MWAG19919]

If you have astigmatism, the T2 dot is an improvement over the T1

[mrbieler]

Had a number of H1’s and T1’s. I found the post 80k serial # MRO a better optic at a lower price point.

My H2 is an improvement on both, but at a higher cost. With my prescription, I think the MRO has a better dot than my H2, but the H2 has less parallax shift. I still think my M4S has the cleanest dot of all of the ones I still have.

If you’re in that sub $400 range, I think the MRO is still a decent buy and a better choice than a T1/H1 which will most likely cost you a few bucks more.

[chamber143]

@sidewaysil80

Honestly I was pretty disappointed with the T-2’s brightness. Only the last 3-4 settings were useable and it was def not as bright as T-1. I never had issue with parallax on T-1 or even MRO for that matter. Not saying the reports aren’t true, just that it never impacted my shooting and brightness was/is more important to me. I’m in the market for a T-1 myself now.

Amen. I bought a t2 the other month and after about 15 minutes I sold it. Being outside in the shade, 10 was barely visible. I had read that Aimpoint changed their electronics and they were dimmer 1 level. I too could only use the last 4. 9 indoors was the lowest I could go. So much so that I thought the battery was weak and I changed with a fresh one…No dice. I have a t1 that I have had for 10 years and 7-8ish is fine outside unless its super bright. I love the micros but I was super unhappy with the newer batches of t2’s. BTW before any smart assed comments I have 20-10 vision.

[chamber143]

@DefenderAO

1. The references are in separate threads.
2. The questions and concerns about T2 brightness issues persist.

Seems relevant to broaden awareness. Or you can share the search function link in these threads. Or sticky my response where people can go and understand what happened.

Broken record or not I agree with your assessment. Why in the hell have 8 settings that are friggin impossible to see without NVG’s. And yes I have some so I understand the first four levels but what about the next 4. Even in a dark room 5-6 are barely bright enough to see. I would have rather made it -1. i.e 7 is now 6. I cant see paying that kind of scratch and barely can see the damn thing. 10-11 outdoors and then 12, surface of the sun setting. Bad news if you ask me