I’m not compensated in any way by Aimpoint, nor did I write this to bash EO Tech. I’m just a big-ole’-dumb patrol SGT. in a big city that shoots more than your average cop, and likes to share what little knowledge I have so others don’t make the same mistakes. We have been “about to get” patrol rifles for a couple years now, I guess time will tell…
Until about a year ago I didn’t know what an Aimpoint was. I had heard the name before, but I thought they were cheap airsoft toys. I owned EO-Techs, and through my own first-hand experience I became aware of the shortcomings of EO, (especially the “N” batteries,) but I still thought they were the best thing out there.
In May of ‘07, I took Pat Rogers’ class when he came to WI. I saw several Aimpoints in the class, and decided to start doing a little research.
In the fall of '07 I obtained a Comp M4 and a Micro T-1. I sighted them in on identical DPMS/Rock River M4 type carbines at 25 yards, the length of our indoor range.
Using the standard Aimpoint mount on the M4, and a LaRue on the T1, I took the sights off the rifles, then put them right back on and fired a few groups…no change in the POI. Put them on my patio for two nights in the 30-ish degree weather, then back to the range to shoot a few groups…no change. In the big freezer (0 degrees) for 2 nights, no change. Into a 5-gallon bucket of water for 2 nights…yep, right on.
After that, I decided to conduct a throw test of my own. I had a witness shoot a 25-yard group, we then took the M4 sight off the rifle and threw it the length of the range. It bounced off the concrete floor a couple times. I figured that wasn’t enough, so I threw it back, bouncing it off the floor a few more times. There was some slight damage to the housing after this:
https://www.m4carbine.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=916&stc=1&d=1211902216
https://www.m4carbine.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=917&stc=1&d=1211902365
however, I put it back on the gun and it was still right on.
There was one problem, though. I left the kill flash in place during the throw test, and a slight dent in the housing locked it in place. After a little more shooting I discovered the kill flash was a real PITA in a low-light environment, so I decided it had to go.
Over the course of a couple days I tried everything I could think of to “un-bend” the housing and remove the kill flash. There just wasn’t enough material anywhere for anything to grab hold of. My last resort was the Dremel tool. It was going just fine. I had about 75% of the kill flash out without damaging the threads or anything else. One last area I had to hit with the Dremel when it happened…the tool skipped, and I whacked the threads and the glass:
https://www.m4carbine.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=918&stc=1&d=121190
The threads were now useless, but the crack in the glass didn’t look bad. I decided to make the best of a bad situation, so I put the sight through the freezer and dunk tank again, as I described above. It is still watertight and still right on the money.
Since the damage, I’ve shot about 500 rounds with this sight on a couple different rifles. I’m no expert shot, however with a 16" JP-VTAC carbine 1/2" to 1" at 50 yards and head shots at 100 yards on a standard USPSA target is the norm.
I did the exact same testing with a Micro-T1. I learnd a little from the Comp test, though. During the throw testing, the T1 had its lens caps and a single wrap of duct tape around it so as to not bend it up. I think that was fair, it got the same “jarring” around, but no marks were left on the sight.
In the interests of total disclosure, I did not do any of the above to my EO Techs. In simply looking at an EO next to an Aimpoint, there is no comparison. I have absolutely no faith whatsoever that the EO would survive. I sold 2 EO’s to help fund the purchase of Aimpoints. When my third EO didn’t sell right away I decided to keep it, to be able to show others the differences first hand, and sold some other stuff instead.
On another forum, a member of this site made the point that, when speaking of the differences of EO vs. Aimpoint, (please correct me if I’m wrong or have misquoted you in any way) “the truth of the matter is that they bought a less expensive optic and then had to come up with a reason to justify it when they found out they purchased poorly.”
I agree 110% The confidence I have in Aimpoint goes beyond words.