Got my first serious RDS (a used Aimpoint M2) today, which is far cry from my first RDS, which was those plastic ones that came from a Daisy CO2 pistol.
I can’t afford a new one so I must settle with a used one. But to my understanding these things last forever so there’s not reason not to buy old. Also, I’m not going on patrol with my rifle so I don’t mind the relative extra weight of the M2.
Got a bit more camera crazy with so enjoy the photos. These pictures are taken before I did some touch up painting. I might take some “after” pictures of the sight later.
Your post reminds me of a story about when my dad moved from Wyoming to Texas.
He got a new job in Texas working for ExxonMobil (same company he worked for before). He wanted to look professional before his first day, and him and my mom had spent the last two months moving their house down south, so he decided to take his cowboy hat in for a cleaning. He had worn this hat on site for about ten years in the toughest fields in the nation. After taking the hat to the best recommended guy in Houston, he sets it down, and the owner laughs. Long story short, they guy was shocked my dad wanted to clean his hat, as the owner of the store spent all of his time taking new hats and making them look old so city boys could look tough. Turns out there’s a lot of money in making stuff luck used…
I’ve spent many hours making brand new cabinets from scratch, painting them, and then scuffing them up with an orbital sander to sell them as “antique chic”.
All that said, your scope has some character! Don’t dis-honor its history by attempting to paint over the wear. I can tell you whatever you do it wont look new, it will look like your trying to hide something. That optic has history, and let it show.
I picked it up from another board member here a year or so back and it’s lived a relatively pampered life with me. All I did was mark the lines on the rheostat and mount screws and shoot it in a few classes and some occasionally foul weather. The wear was there when I got it. I thought about sending it in to Aimpoint for refurbishment, but it went on my training gun so I wasn’t exceptionally concerned with appearance. Clearly it’s been used but I didn’t think to ask the previous owner about it so long as it was functional.
I got a nice front rest and rear bag, but the wobbly extension stock and even a 20 rd. PMAG is a bit too long for easy setup as the mag would hit either the foot of my rest or the bench. I’ll get a 10 rd. eventually.
The ammo used for all targets are IMI M855 bought from Widener, which is only 25 mi. from my home!
Initial Zeroing from 25 yds:
2nd Confirmation/Practice Target from 25 yds:
50 yds zeroing Target:
100 yds zeroing Target:
It’s a homemade target, but the green was invisible against the white background so I have to stick the black sticker target on there so I can see, but the black dot is 3MOA so it’s a bit too small. The pencil circle is 4MOA in diameter and drawn 1.5" above the center of the square, where the theoretical center of group is for M855 with a 50yds zero.
Finally, also zeroed my BUIS using a standard Amry zeroing target:
Afterwards, I used some wolf to shoot at paper plates from 25 yds standing. It works beautifully.
It was a good day for shooting and I really like the way the Aimpoint M2 works. Now I gonna need a good flashlight mounted and I’ll have the perfect SHTF rifle!
I don’t know if Aimpoint will take military issued ones in for servicing. I seriously doubt it. As long as the switch is still good, it should be ok. The switches are known to go bad and I got one that is broken.
Some spray paint will make this one look like new…
The switch feels kind of loose, despite the clicks are still crisp upon each brightness setting, not sure that’s normal. The dot is very sharp. However, the plastic part that holds all the caps together is starting tear apart at the rivets.
I picked up a Caldwell Matrix bench rest yesterday. I have yet hit the range with it but it fits the AR w/30 rnd mag very nicely. It’s a light weight rest so I doubt the usefulness for large bore but it should be fine for 223/5.56
I think the minor wear is fine, I just picked one up that was a mil issue M2 like yours, but it has the mil issue mount as well with the big clubby nob on the left side…
I already bought it, but what is a M2 like this worth in the worn condition it is in? I’m just curious what everyone thinks as I hope I didn’t pay to much for it…
