Getting the 3x Magnifier closer to the Aimpoint Micro T1 (w/ pics)

Tactical Gear Optics & Mounts
1

In February of 2008 I wrote a review on the Aimpoint 3x Magnifier. As a result of that review some shooters reported having no issues with the magnifier, while others reported having issues with the magnifier causing dot distortion, and one or two shooters even reported seeing two separate dots that were touching and looked like a figure 8.

A couple months later I reported trying the Aimpoint 3x Magnifier with the ML2, ML3, Comp M4, M4S, and T1 Micro. Through trial and error I found that the closer you could get the 3x Magnifier to the Aimpoint the crisper the dot was, and the better the sight picture looked. I don’t know why the sight picture looked better, it’s something that I can’t articulate.

During this same time frame (April / May 2008) I had gotten some new Aimpoint Micro T1’s and LaRue Tactical Aimpoint T1 mounts. With the LaRue Tactical Aimpoint T1 mount, the throw lever is on the same side of the upper receiver as the ejection port (right side of the receiver), with the throw lever pointing to the rear. From past experience I knew it was the throw lever on the Aimpoint T1 mount that was interfering with getting the LaRue 3x Magnifier mount one space closer on the upper receiver to the Aimpoint Micro T1.

While mounting a Aimpoint Micro T1 onto the LaRue Aimpoint T1 mount I decided to turn the LaRue Aimpoint T1 mount around 180 degrees so that the throw lever was on the left side of the upper receiver and pointing forward. After attaching the Aimpoint Micro T1 to the LaRue mount and mounting the Aimpoint Micro T1 on the upper, I was able to get the Aimpoint 3x Magnifier butted up against the T1. Thus making the dot crisper and providing a better sight picture.

I posted this info on the original review on another board over a year ago. What follows is another technique I figured out (in May / June of 2008) for getting the Aimpoint 3x Magnifier one spot closer to the Micro T1 when using LaRue mounts for both the 3x Magnifier and the T1.

This is the distance between the Aimpoint 3x Magnifier in LaRue mount and the Aimpoint Micro T1 in LaRue Aimpoint T1 mount with the mount in it’s conventional position:

Same position, side view:

  1. Open the LaRue Aimpoint T1 mount slightly as shown in this pic (note the throw lever doesn‘t need to be opened much):

  2. While the throw lever on the LaRue Aimpoint T1 mount is slightly opened, move the LaRue Aimpoint 3x Magnifier mount one spot closer to the Aimpoint Micro T1:

Same position, side view:

  1. Close and lock the throw lever on the LaRue Aimpoint T1 mount:

Same position, side view:

This is as close as you can get the 3x Magnifier to the Aimpoint Micro T1 without using the technique outlined above:

Open the throw lever on the LaRue Aimpoint T1 mount slightly when attaching the 3x Magnifier to the upper receiver and you can get the 3x Magnifier mount one space closer to the Aimpoint Micro T1:

This is a technique that can be used easily and quickly in the field, and works even if you have your LaRue mount tightened to the point where you can’t get the mount off the receiver.

The throw lever only needs to be opened just enough to allow the 3x Magnifier to be mounted on the rail.

Quick, simple, easy, and doesn’t require remounting the optic.

Putting the 3x Magnifier in this position also provides a much more natural head position for me, with the 3x Magnifier one space to the rear, I would have to move my head back on the stock in order to get proper eye relief.

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Cool! :cool:

3

Thanks for the tip, Jeff!

Stay safe. :slight_smile:

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Great idea- I didn’t figure that one out. I ended up removing the T-1 from its mount and flipping it 180 degrees (with the throw lever on the left) to accomplish the same thing, but I think this is a much better solution.

5

I’m considering this combination, after I get good on my iron sights. But I’m a leftie - does the magnifier block both-eyes-open use of the T1?

And does moving the magnifier closer to the T1 have any degradation of the sight picture due to the vertical misalignment? (The “step” is more gradual the further apart they are.) I’ve read that they’re not quite centered, and can see it in these great photos.

6

Flip the mount so it swings out to the left.

7

I always notice that the Larue T1 mount doesn’t line up with the 3X mount. How does the small mis-alignment affect the sight picture?

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It doesn’t. I was playing with my new T-1 with Larue mount today, and switched it out with the Comp M4 on the gun that I have a 3x with Larue FTS mount. The sight picture was great, and I really didn’t notice the difference in height until I read your post.

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Is there a link to your thoughts on the 3x magnifier? I’d love to see your take.

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USMC03 posted a 3x review here.

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I know this is an old thread, but would be better the Aimpoint comp m4, or the micro T1 for a 14.5 inch ar with a 3x magnifier?

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If you do a search there are MANY threads on this.

I believe most of the knowledgeable people agreed that it was mostly subjective to the shooter and his needs.

A) Weight
B) How much of the target he wanted to see since one is 4 (or closer to 3.4) MOA & the other is 2 MOA
C) The larger ring on the M4S helps some shooters find the RD easier from unorthodox shooting positons.

They are both great… do a search and get ready to read alot:D

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Keep in mind the info I wrote above about getting the magnifier as close as possible to the Aimpoint as you read what I wrote below.

Aimpoint M4 = battery box at the 1 o’clock position
Aimpoint M4S = battery box at the 5 o’clock position

The Aimpoint 3x magnifier butts right up against the Aimpoint M4 because the M4 mount doesn’t interfer with the 3x magnifier and the battery box on the Aimpoint M4 (located at 1 o’clock) doesn’t interfer with the 3x magnifer mount:

Often times on the internet things get regergitatied several times and guys don’t understand the how’s or why’s behind things. I have seen several guys recommending turining the mount around on the M4S in order to get the 3x magnifier closer to the M4S.

The LaRue throw lever mount on the M4S has nothing to do with getting the magnifier as close as possible to the M4S. The problem with the M4S is the batter box is located at the 5 o’clock position, and the batter box is in the same position as the pivot point on the LaRue 3x Magnifier mount.

If you are a left handed shooter, this is a non issue, because you have the LaRue 3x magnifier mount turned around 180 degrees (throw lever for the magnifier mount will be on the ejection port side of the gun, and the pivot part of the mount is on the left side of the gun and won’t interfer with the battery box of the M4S). If the 3x magnifier mount is set up for a left handed shooter, you can get the 3x magnifier as close to the M4S as the 3x magnifier and M4 pictured above.

Aimpoint 3x magnifier with Aimpoint M4S. Note how the pivot portion of the 3x magnifier mount is located in the the same area as the battery box on the M4S. The battery box / pivot location is the issue with this set up, not the mount on the M4S. Hopefully this pic will give you a better visual:

The Aimpoint M4 and M4S have a 2 MOA dot. The Micro T1 has a 3.4 MOA dot

The Aimpoint M4 and M4S in a LaRue mount weigh 12.8 oz. The Micro T1 in a LaRue mount weights 6.4 oz.

I have found that I’m slightly faster with the Micro T1 due to the small tube size (kind of hard to explain but due to the small footprint of the T1 there isn’t much in your field of view and I find that I can get on target a little faster with the T1).

Currently I have (1) Comp M4, (1) Comp M4S, and (13) Micro T1’s.

All of my 14.5" M4’s have Micro T1’s on them

Hope this information helps


03designgroup | [b]Getting the 3x Magnifier closer to the Aimpoint Micro T1 [/b]


03designgroup | [b]Aimpoint 3x Magnifier and LaRue Tactical QD Pivot Mount [/b]

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This is good info - As a lefty, my M4S works well with the magnifier, as described above, with the battery box on the lower right and my magnifier off to the left. Excellent pics, too, showing this. I was able to get mine this close with no problem.

Just to add, I got my M4S first and tried the T-1 later. I like the dot on the M4S (crisp and sharp), the diameter of the tube (larger = better?), but get this: I shot better with the T-1, for some reason!! So now I have quite a few more T-1 sights than my lone M4S.

I’ve also found that I don’t use my Aimpoint 3x as much as I thought I would, either.

15

nice write up.