View Full Version : How resistant to losing zero is an Aimpoint supposed to be?
A couple of weeks ago I was swapping optics around and put an Aimpoint Pro on the standard factory QRP-2 mount on one of my carbines. I took it to the range and zeroed the backup sights and then the Aimpoint.
Fast forward to a couple days ago and I took the carbine with the Aimpoint out of the safe and leaned it against the wall so i could retrieve a different gun, and, wouldn't you know it, the carbine ended up falling over and smacking the wooden floor pretty good.
This annoyed me because, OCD as I am (literally, I've been basically diagnosed with mild OCD) I now knew I needed to confirm zero on the optic even though I figured it was *probably* ok, because it's an Aimpoint.
So I took it to the range today to check the POI, figuring it would be fine but knowing it needed to be checked "just in case" and as it turns out the POI did in fact seem to have shifted. At 50yards I had to go 3clicks UP and 3clicks RIGHT to get back on target. Prior to making the adjustments I removed the Aimpoint and reinstalled it as well. Not a huge deal, but I was somewhat disappointed it had shifted at all.
Are Aimpoints supposed to be more shock resistant than that or is that loss of zero unsurprising considering the rifle and optic fell on the floor?
I am still using the factory QRP-2, which I've heard described as an "OK" mount in terms of retaining zero, but not great.
Don’t blame the aimpoint the mount is the most likely culprit.
QRP mounts arent held in the highest regard.
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I haven't had any issues, but a friend has.
Did you give the torque knob a couple of clicks after firing a few rounds during your initial zero?
OCD ;) so same ammunition.
That is a 1" shift per an Aimpoint zero target, so was the lighting conditions and temperature the same?
Don’t blame the aimpoint the mount is the most likely culprit.
QRP mounts arent held in the highest regard.
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Yeah I am somewhat more inclined to blame the mount than the optic per se.
I haven't had any issues, but a friend has.
Did you give the torque knob a couple of clicks after firing a few rounds during your initial zero?
OCD ;) so same ammunition.
That is a 1" shift per an Aimpoint zero target, so was the lighting conditions and temperature the same?
Same ammo, temperature and lighting pretty similar from what I recall of the day I did my original zeroing.
When I did the initial zero I put the Aimpoint on, and, while pushing forward on the mount, tightened the knob three clicks. Then I zeroed. The way I zero, I don't just get one group that hits where I want it and call it a day. Once I think I'm on, then I check for repeatability, usually firing several three- or five-shot groups on top of each other at both 50 and 100 yards.
I agree.. It's probably the mount but try this anyway. Take a hardwood dowel (3/4-1" dia and 8-10" long) to the range with you. After zeroing rap the scope 6-8 times in different places with the dowel. Sometimes the internal mechanisms that do the adjusting don't settle right. The fall may have jared everything into place. This is SOP with some acogs.
I had this same thing happen to me a few years ago. My gun was leaning on the coffee table, butt pad down, and fell over onto my Aimpoint C3. Knocked the sight 10-12 MOA out of zero.
Mine is in a Wilcox Mount. I really think the Aimpoint Micros are better suited for rough use.
dwhitehorne
09-16-19, 15:01
We%u2019ve got 50 Aimpoint pros on rifles at work. All in factory mounts since 2014. 3 clicks at 50 yards is 3/4 of an inch. That%u2019s not a huge shift for what I%u2019ve seen from a red dot. I%u2019ve seen changes in ammo lot numbers from year to year move more than that. With your general 3 to 4 moa ammo I would not loose sleep with 3/4 of an inch. Just the rail slop from front to back on the picatinny rail slot could move your impact a little if the mount slipped on the rail. David
dwhitehorne
09-16-19, 15:19
Not sure what the %u00252019 is in the above post. Won%u2019t let me edit it out either??
I had this same thing happen to me a few years ago. My gun was leaning on the coffee table, butt pad down, and fell over onto my Aimpoint C3. Knocked the sight 10-12 MOA out of zero.
Mine is in a Wilcox Mount. I really think the Aimpoint Micros are better suited for rough use.
Yikes, 10-12 MOA, I guess I got off easy.
We%u2019ve got 50 Aimpoint pros on rifles at work. All in factory mounts since 2014. 3 clicks at 50 yards is 3/4 of an inch. That%u2019s not a huge shift for what I%u2019ve seen from a red dot. I%u2019ve seen changes in ammo lot numbers from year to year move more than that. With your general 3 to 4 moa ammo I would not loose sleep with 3/4 of an inch. Just the rail slop from front to back on the picatinny rail slot could move your impact a little if the mount slipped on the rail. David
Yeah I know it's only 1.5MOA but I was just surprised something relatively minor like just falling over would be enough to cause a loss of zero considering the Aimpoint reputation and the fact the PRO is marketed for patrol use (Although I'm still more inclined to blame the mount, not the optic itself, but in the case of the PRO they are sold as one "duty ready" unit.).
Have you experienced losses of zero due to impacts, drops, riding around in a cruiser etc.. on the PROs at your job?
Not sure what the %u00252019 is in the above post. Won%u2019t let me edit it out either??
Henry Standing Bear virus. No contractions allowed.
I doubt it would make a difference, but fairly sure the M68 manual (which my copy of has been misplaced) says to click QRP/QRP2 2 or 3 times after firing the first shot. Any issues should have been noticed considering your zero process, but could be worth a try.
grizzlyblake
09-17-19, 05:53
I had issues with the QRP mount on a PRO coming loose during shooting. I read some recommendations to just bear down on the knob and force it to go tighter than the torque click-off naturally would go. That helped a bit, but in my opinion it's just a bandaid and not acceptable for an optic mount.
I think the PRO itself is a fine optic when mated to another mount (Geissele, ADM, etc.). It is, however, unnecessarily large for what it is these days.
Also -
Henry Standing Bear virus. No contractions allowed.
LOL. Zing.
dwhitehorne
09-17-19, 08:38
Have you experienced losses of zero due to impacts, drops, riding around in a cruiser etc.. on the PROs at your job?
Nothing that I have noticed. I run quals most days of the week and we have a mix of mostly Eotechs and 50 Aimpoint pro's. I would say the optics get more abuse in the racks in the station being banged around at shift change more than the 6 foot drop test. I haven't seen any massive shifts from duty use. I would say considering the average officer's skill at our 100 yard qual course, I wouldn't really notice 3 clicks ;) David
The_War_Wagon
09-17-19, 08:54
Break a Grant for a DECENT mount. ANY mount NOT named "QRP" will be an improvement.
I would say considering the average officer's skill at our 100 yard qual course, I wouldn't really notice 3 clicks ;) David
I'm actually a fair bit more accurate at 100yds with irons than I am with an Aimpoint, but also slower, hence why even though I tend to use a 100 yard zero I generally start zeroing an Aimpoint at 50yards, get it hitting consistently a bit low on a 3" bullseye then check it at 100 to make sure the groups are landing be where I want them.
Good grief... My house gun was leaning on my bed this morning, and I heard something fall over from the kitchen. Walked in and my carbine had fallen over on the thick area rug. (was leaning muzzle up and sideways, and fell optic first.... knocked out of zero again. Not as bad as last time, but definitely out of zero compared to the FSB and Carry handle cut down Irons.
I'm tempted to buy another mount and do the rug drop test again.
mebiuspower
12-06-19, 11:39
Spuhr is known to make the strongest Aimpoint mount, period. Just get the non-QD version.
Spuhr is known to make the strongest Aimpoint mount, period. Just get the non-QD version.
I may try another mount for my PROs at some point, im only seeing mounts for the Micros on the Spuhr site.
Geissele and ADM make some good mounts. Never had an issue with either. Also look at reptilia, although they only make Micros right now.
vicious_cb
12-06-19, 18:28
I threw my carbine with an Aimpoint H-1 on a DD mount from the 2nd story onto a wooden deck, about a 10 foot drop. Guess what, it was still zeroed when I checked it.
Stop being poor and buy good mounts.
It sucks but mounts are critical, I have a Brobo on mine. Mount cost about as much as RDS. Have not drop tested mine.
PB
I threw my carbine with an Aimpoint H-1 on a DD mount from the 2nd story onto a wooden deck, about a 10 foot drop. Guess what, it was still zeroed when I checked it.
Stop being poor and buy good mounts.
Guess I'm going to have to. last night I took the PRO that sparked this thread off the gun to put it on a different one and now the knob won't tighten down. Kind of feels like something is stripped inside or the mechanism is just not engaging. I wonder if whatever is wrong now is related to the original zero loss issue I had with this unit, although the knob would at least tighten down and "snap" like it was supposed to up until last night.
In any case, I guess I need a better mount. My other PRO hasn't really had this issue but eventually I'm sure I'll end up replacing vthat one too
The aimpoint isn't loosing zero, the marginal mount is.
End of story.
The aimpoint isn't loosing zero, the marginal mount is.
End of story.
Yep. Even though one of the QRP-2 mounts seems to retain zero alright, I'm going to replace that one preemptively as well once I get the the problem mount replaced.
Come to think of it, the problems i had with the one mount may go back even further than the fall it took that prompted this thread. A while back I had an absolute bitch of a time getting it zeroed and wrote it off as me just shooting really poorly, and maybe it was, but there might have been other factors in play too.
Five_Point_Five_Six
12-16-19, 19:28
The Scalarworks LEAP mount fixed the problem of my Comp M2 losing zero over time. The QRP mounts are garbage.
I ended up ordering an ADM just this morning actually. I'll end up getting another mount for my other PRO in the near future, but I at least want to get the known problem mount replaced ASAP. I didn't realize how heavy the QRP-2 itself actually was until I had it separated from the sight, it's quite a pig.
The Scalarworks LEAP mount fixed the problem of my Comp M2 losing zero over time.
That mount looks interesting.
Five_Point_Five_Six
12-17-19, 17:27
That mount looks interesting.
They're well worth the cost in my opinion.
They're well worth the cost in my opinion.
At first glance, I almost dumped the idea because it looks too light/weak. But they actually put some real design into it.
Says it's a 1.57" high mount? Out of stock for now, but that'll give me time to pay for some holiday expenses.
I threw my carbine with an Aimpoint H-1 on a DD mount from the 2nd story onto a wooden deck, about a 10 foot drop. Guess what, it was still zeroed when I checked it.
Stop being poor and buy good mounts.
Remember the old LV DD M4 torture test:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMUASQMt5l8
or how about house fires?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXdriW3KfwU
There used to be a Aimpoint Rep on Lightefighter who would start his demo by taking his AP off the rifle chunking it across the range reinstalling and shooting to prove zero. Bottom line is Aimpoints are pretty durable but not to say some can't be knocked off zero.
Five_Point_Five_Six
12-19-19, 09:01
At first glance, I almost dumped the idea because it looks too light/weak. But they actually put some real design into it.
Says it's a 1.57" high mount? Out of stock for now, but that'll give me time to pay for some holiday expenses.
Yeah it's lower 1/3 cowitness.
Five_Point_Five_Six
12-19-19, 09:14
Remember the old LV DD M4 torture test:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMUASQMt5l8
or how about house fires?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXdriW3KfwU
There used to be a Aimpoint Rep on Lightefighter who would start his demo by taking his AP off the rifle chunking it across the range reinstalling and shooting to prove zero. Bottom line is Aimpoints are pretty durable but not to say some can't be knocked off zero.
I'm a firm believer that the mounts are the weak point. I have a couple Primary Arms and Holosun optics on various rifles, any issue of losing zero has been fixed by replacing the factory mounts with quality ones.
Yeah it's lower 1/3 cowitness.
Perfect. I'm sure I'll get the in stock notice when I'm broke again. I'm sold on it though.
The Scalarworks LEAP mount fixed the problem of my Comp M2 losing zero over time.
My mount arrives today. I can't wait.
I ended up ordering two ADM AD-68 Standard mounts. First one, and then a second a couple weeks later. One is on my SBR and the other, well I ended up getting an AD-68L “low” mount in an AD-68 Standard box so Optics Planet will hopefully get the exchange for the right item processed quickly.
The Scalarworks mounts look nice but are a bit pricey considering I needed two mounts because I wanted to dump both QRP-2s.
The Scalarworks mounts look nice but are a bit pricey considering I needed two mounts because I wanted to dump both QRP-2s.
The Scalarworks Leap is very nice. The grip it gets on the aimpoint body is really solid compared to the Wilcox it replaced. I don't regret the $199 spent on it one bit.. so far.
https://i.imgur.com/RHjL5At.jpg
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