My Aimpoint Review of the M4 and T1

**Robb Jensen** · 01-27-08, 17:33

My Aimpoint Review

A few months back, Aimpoint sent me an Aimpoint M4 and an Aimpoint T1 for test and evaluation (T&E). This is my review of both products.

The M4 is Aimpoint’s new full size military grade red dot optic. The CompM4 is now the latest version of the US Army’s M68 CCO. It has a removable integral mount. It uses the very common commercially available AA battery. This is especially good for military personnel that are issued AA batteries anyway for things like night vision goggles. Also good for everyone else because AA batteries are as close at your local 'stop and rob'. The battery life can be up to 80K hours, so you won't really need but 1 spare battery.

I replaced the factory installed two-piece twist mount with a LaRue mount (LaRue part #LT659) which is made specifically for the Aimpoint M4. I have the tall version and used blue Loc-tite on the screws, per the instructions. The factory mount is decent, but what I disliked about it is the huge twist knob on the left side of the rifle. I find that this huge knob when doing transitions to handgun, the factory M4 mount got hung up on the mags in my chest rig, and makes the rifle bounce around unpredictably. The M4 is a well thought out design and built like a tank. The adjustment turrets are protected by reinforcement integral ridges in the body of the optic.

Including a mount with the optic is smart. It makes the system rigid, not allowing any shifting optic within its mount, which could happen if someone were to drop a weapon on the optic with a M3. The smaller the chances are for movement, the better. The optic has sixteen brightness settings. This is six more than the M3. I also find for some reason that the dot appears clearer and more “in focus” for me, than with some earlier Aimpoint optics. I have 20/20 corrected vision so I'm not sure why this is noticeable. My M2 and C3 appear a bit fuzzier for some reason and a slightly different shade of red. I've used the M4 on my 16" Colt 6721/6920, and on my competition 3gun rifle. The optic is very fast and due to its extremely long battery life there is simply no reason to ever really turn it off completely. The M4 has a 2MOA dot which I find ideal for possible use with a magnifier or night vision device used behind it. The LaRue mount is an excellent addition to the M4 and I think should be a factory option. Once properly adjusted the mount returns to zero very well, I've noticed no shift in zero removing it probably 30 times. The M4 comes with a killflash and rubber bikini style lens covers. I never installed the rubber cover but did install a brand new set of Aimpoint brand lens covers (a set retails for roughly $30). I find that this size optic is best used on a 14.5-16" or larger AR. I shot 1200 rounds between the two rifles using this optic. This is an excellent optic for anyone needing a red dot optic on a M4 type carbine. The M4 retails for around $700

My 3gun rifle with the Aimpoint M4.

My Colt 6721/6920 with the Aimpoint M4.

The T1 Aimpoint is another great new product by Aimpoint. It's a very small, very well-designed 4MOA red dot sight. It's also very light, weighing less than 4ozs. It uses the coin-size commercial battery CR2032. These are also pretty easy to find at hardware stores and drug stores. My vehicle keyless entry remotes use these batteries, so these are something I always have on hand. The T1, H1 and R1 are all from the same family of micro sights by Aimpoint.

The T1 has 12 brightness settings which are 2 more than even the much larger M3. The T1 has the protective coatings on the lenses to protect night vision devices that might be used behind it (these coatings aren't on the H1 and R1). It also has a very tough non-glare flat black external finish. The factory mount is simple and very low. It is so low that if used on an AK or M1a, with an UltiMak optic rail, you can get a very nice co-witness of the iron sights. The battery life of the T1 is an excellent 50K hours, like the M4, so long a battery life that there is no reason to ever turn it off.

The T1 is very versatile. It can be used on shotguns, handguns, large machineguns like the M240 and M249, and pretty much anything with a Picatinny or Weaver rail. You can also mount it as a close range optic on a rifle. I used a H1 this way when shooting Open class 3-gun. I put my T1 mount on a tall LaRue mount, which is now available directly from Aimpoint at the time of purchase (LaRue part #LT660). The tall mount raises the optic high enough so that you can use it as a primary optic on a flat top AR rifle/carbine. My LMT 10" SBR is currently equipped with the KAC RAS2 rail which has a hump on the front end of the receiver. This would have made the T1 way too tall, so I had to mount the T1 out on the top of the handguard rail. I thought this might make it hard to use since the tube diameter is smaller than other larger Aimpoints. I was wrong. It allows for very fast target acquisition at this height (with the LaRue mount). The T1 with tall LaRue mount gives a lower 1/3 co-witness. I shoot this type of optic with both eyes open, and I'm at a slight disadvantage being left eye dominant. My only complaint with the T1 is that when removing the adjustment covers, the o-rings will sometimes come off with the covers, and you have to be careful to get them back on correctly. I shot 900 rounds through my LMT using this T1. For anyone need a very small and very light red dot optic the T1 is going to be hard to beat. This is a very good design and I highly recommend it. The T1 retails for roughly $600.

My 10" LMT short barreled rifle with the Aimpoint T1.

Both the M4 and T1 with my SIG 225 for size comparison.

For more information on Aimpoint and their optics visit their web site at www.aimpoint.com

**Pat_D** · 01-27-08, 20:11

Thanks for this very informative post. I may be buying a micro in the future for my short gun.

**FJB** · 01-27-08, 21:38

Robb,
Thanks. Great post. I will add the following information that I have posted at M4C and elsewhere regarding the CompM4 and Micro T-1.

The Advance Circuitry Technology that Aimpoint developed and patent protects is literally light years (no pun intended, well maybe a little) of all of our competitors. It is so good that a battery will actually expend more energy setting unused on a shelf than it will running our optics at the specified settings (or lower) i.e. CompM3/ML3/M3 on setting 6 of 10, CompM4 on setting 12 of 16, Micro T-1/H-1 setting on 8 of 12. You can take a AA battery out of our competitor's optic that will no longer run it and put that AA battery in the CompM4 and run the optic for another year. CompM4 battery life is essentially 7 years with an AA Alkaline and 10 years with a AA Lithium. Battery life of the Micro T-1 is 5 years on setting 8 and 1 year on setting 12.

As an aside, you would expend additional $365 in AA batteries if you bought a competitors optic because you thought you would "save" a few hundred because it is cheaper than an Aimpoint. Another example is if an Infantry Bn used a competitors optic vice a CompM4 they could expect to spend an additional $30-50,000 in batteries during the length of their deployment. That also translates in to more trucks, convoys, soldiers and Marines protecting them on the highways exposed to IEDs, just to move batteries. As my father likes to say, "Trying to save dime you'll spend a dollar every time."

There is a perception that the CompM4 is much larger than the CompM2/M3. Actually, the CompM4 weighs 11.8 ounces at 2.1"X 2.4" and the CompM2/M3 with QRP mount weighs 11.7 ounces at 2.2"X2.2". They are essentially the same weight and size dimensionally. The larger battery box of the CompM4 gives the perception it is bigger. The CompM4 (B or S model - designator has not been determined yet) has the battery box at 5 0'clock vice 1 0'clock giving the perception that model is smaller or more compact than the standard CompM4 and CompM2/M3.

The initial issue CompM4s (new M68 CCO) did not have their mounting bolts loctited per Army PEO request. This allowed for the end user to adjust the height by removing the spacer. There are two short bolts included with every CompM4 for use when you remove the spacer. However, as a result of extensive T&E by Pat Rogers Aimpoint identified these bolts loosing. Aimpoint started putting thread tightener on the bolts and I observed this at the factory in December when I was visiting. Even with the bolts loosing if you applied loctite and retightened them I can guarantee you that the CompM4 will return to established BZO. I know this because I perform hundreds of demonstrations to this effect. I shoot a group often out to 200 yards, remove the CompM4 from the carbine, throw it across the range, have it thrown back to me, put it back on the carbine, and then shoot the same POA/POI. Starting Wednesday 30 Jan 2008 you will be able to see a video clip of me doing this on Down Range TV www.downrange.tv as well as another half dozen video clips on Aimpoint sights.

The QRPII mount on the CompM4 is significantly better than the original QRP. Aimpoint also has its own Lever Release Picatinny (LRP) Mount that will be released in the spring after some suggested improvements after I T&E'd it during one of Jeff's Carbine classes last October. LRP and CompM(B or S model) went 2300 rounds and maintained zero amazingly well. The only issue was the lever needing a locking device. Of course LaRue Tactical makes superb mounts for all Aimpoint sights to include the CompM4.

As an aside, Aimpoint will be releasing a new QRP mount this year that is a significant improvement over the original QRP. The new QRP mount uses the same mounting and spacers that are used in the CompM4.

R&D for the CompM4 was fully funded by Aimpoint. The U.S. Army did not have to use any money developing the new M68 CCO. Plus, Aimpoint sells the CompM4 to the Army at the same price as the CompM2. Thus, it cost the Army nothing to upgrade their M68 to a better sight. This price is well below MSRP or even the best Dealer pricing.

One last thing. When the Army solicited and then extensively tested all new sights to find a new M68 CCO, our competitors asked that whoever placed second should split the contract with the winner. Aimpoint submitted two versions of the CompM4 and won 1st and 2nd by a wide margin, thereby receiving the whole contract. The initial contract was for 163,000 CompM4s with another contract let this summer for 93,000 more for a total of 256,000. Aimpoint in less than two years will have completely filled this contract by this spring.

S/F

**Telperion** · 01-27-08, 21:59

What kind of cowitness is there with the M4 standard mount?

**Robb Jensen** · 01-27-08, 22:09

Originally Posted by Telperion

What kind of cowitness is there with the M4 standard mount?

I only used it with the spacer and it was a lower 1/3.

**Pat_D** · 01-28-08, 10:11

gotM4's eyes and mine must be a little different as my M4 appears to give me absolute co witness with the front sight tip smack dab in the middle of the sightpicture even with the spacer in use.

**rob_s** · 01-28-08, 10:25

The T-1 is on my very short-list of things to pick up shortly. I can't decide which of my pre-conceived notions need busting more, the one that says optics don't go on an AK or optics don't go on a shotgun, to decide on a host for the little bugger.

When we saw the T-1 at SHOT last year, everyone else at the Aimpoint table was crowded around the M4 and gushing over it. After spending all of 30 seconds with the "micros" I decided very quickly that this thing was the real news of the show.

Don't get me wrong, the M4 is a great optic and a very nice step forward in the evolution of these sights (especially from a technical aspect), but for all the reasons FJB mentioned above, coupled with the fact that frankly 99.99% of non-military users would be more than well-served with a C3, the added cost of the M4 is hard to justify. The "micros" however have reduced weight, lower mounting height, and overall smaller profile to justify the added cost to most of us "regular people" users. I believe I saw FJB post somewhere that the H-1 would be available soon in a matte finish, which then allows one to get a micro that otherwise mimics the features of the C3 (no NV settings and shallower water-proofing).

There is a chart here where one can see the relative features of all the common Aimpoint models.

**Patrick Aherne** · 01-28-08, 12:19

I have two issued Eotechs. I paid my own money for an Aimpoint ML2 after the Eotechs failed, numerous times. I prefer the Eotech reticle, it is faster on moving targets and on multiple targets, but I just never know if it's going to be there when I need it.

**Howard N.** · 02-02-08, 10:56

I just wanted to add my 2 cents worth. Just put a M4 on a new Noveske 6.8 SPC upper. Don't get me wrong, I really like the optic, however the dot gives an elongated line appearance. This line really exaggerates with the 3X magnifier behind it. Called Aimpoint USA Tech (have the name written somewhere) and we went through rotating the sight through a 360 to see if the line rotated with the scope or stayed in the same relative location. It rotated with the sight as you would expect if it was a projection problem rather than my eye distortion. Tech said that no 2 mil dot would be exactly visually correct and I know and expect that. Decided to not send it back as the problem does not bother enough to really cause any problems. I do think the dot image should be better though.

FJB, maybe you might comment on this if you would.