Who's heard of this aimpoint?

[Tomac]

Can't read the script but here are some more pics & a good diagram of the CS:
http://www.gun-world.net/sight/aimpoint/cs.htm
Tomac

[bkb0000]

what is this rifle?

[Tomac]

what is this rifle?

FNC?
Tomac

[Robb Jensen]

Looks like a FNC to me too.

[IrishDevil]

Ak5, Swedish version of the FNC.

[Tomac]

My Aimpoint CS sights arrived from MidwayUSA today, here's what you get:
Box
Manual (English!)
Aimpoint CS
Small hex wrench (for adjusting BUIS)

The CS is hefty but it's built so rugged that I don't doubt you could brain someone w/o it losing zero!
The integral rubber armor is very nice for protection w/o looking like an add-on.
The windage adjustment cap is slightly difficult to get to as it's protected in part by the battery compartment (a good thing, IMHO) and when removed the windage adjustment mechanism has its own little adjustment lever that comes up so no tools or coins are needed to make adjustments.
The elevation adjustment is on the bottom and has its own locking lever so you can't accidentally change your elevation setting. Windage/elevation adjustment clicks are 1"@50yds (somewhat coarse).
The mount is extremely rugged w/2 massive bolts holding it to the rail. Even if one fails the other should hold it just fine.
The flipups are interesting: The back is clear so you can shoot w/o flipping it up but the front is actually in 2 parts. The first part simply protects the lens and flips up to shoot. The second part holds the ARD killflash and flips up when you don't want to use the killflash. So, for the front you have a couple of options: Flip up the very front cover to shoot w/the ARD or flip up the ARD (which also flips up the front cover) in lowlight situations or for precision shooting where the ARD hinders more than it helps. They flip out horizontally so they don't block the BUIS (nice touch, that) although the very front cover can be flipped all the way up if desired.
The BUIS are very basic and require you to give up most if not all of your cheekweld to use. However, they are instantly available, don't take up any rail space and they are crudely adjustable.
Dot appears to be about 2moa w/solid click adjustments in brightness, the last is extra-bright which is nice.
The 3.6v AA lithium battery will supposedly last for 10yrs of 24/7 use at setting 13 of 16 and is supposedly not user-replaceable, but I'm looking into that...
Cheekweld: Excellent! I measure 1.2" from top of rail to the center of the CS's 26mm tube. The LaRue LT-152 mount w/30mm Aimpoint measures about 1.25" so for all practical purposes they're the same. The Aimpoint Micro in the LaRue low mount is only .875" which is a very solid cheekweld and I have to force down hard to see any lower than that.

CS Pros:
Excellent height w/integral mount.
Crude but instantly available BUIS.
10yr battery life.
Lots of goodies (flipups, ARD killflash, rubber armor, integral mount/BUIS).
Military issue, can't get much tougher than that!
Good price on sale ($399).
Solid, rugged mount, no spacer/riser needed.

CS Cons:
Hefty (nearly 14 ounces)
Mount bolts on left will interfere w/charging handle use if mounted too far forward.
Battery not user-replaceable (although Aimpoint will replace the battery if needbe).
BUIS are usable but I'm being charitable when I estimate 50yds max effective range (I'll find out for certain when I range test this weekend).
Coarse W/E adjustments (a moot point once it's sighted in).

Bottom line: The CS seems almost tailor-made for the STG w/it's near-perfect mount height & integral BUIS. The only serious flaw IMHO is the non-replaceable battery issue and I'm hoping I can find a user-friendly fix for that. Other than that I believe the CS to be an excellent choice for the STG but if the battery issue bothers you then check into a LaRue LT-152 w/the M2/ML2/M3/ML3/C3 of your choice or the M4 w/its integral mount minus the riser (but then you get no BUIS and will probably pay more than the cost of the CS).
However, due to the short mount height & the AR's usually generous rail space (which allows for decent BUIS) there are probably better choices than the CS for the AR.
Tomac
STG-556 w/Aimpoint CS:

Closeup of CS right side showing battery compartment, windage cap & brightness control:

Closeup of CS left side showing mounting bolts, elevation dial & dial lock lever:

First flipup opened showing use w/ARD killflash:

First & second flipup opened showing use w/o ARD killflash:

View from the back showing clear flipup, brightness control & BUIS:

[SwatDawg15]

Thaks for taking the time to post the review. Seems like a great option for those type of weapon systems.

[FJB]

"The second part holds the ARD killflash and flips up when you don't want to use the killflash. So, for the front you have a couple of options: Flip up the very front cover to shoot w/the ARD or flip up the ARD (which also flips up the front cover) in lowlight situations or for precision shooting where the ARD hinders more than it helps. They flip out horizontally so they don't block the BUIS (nice touch, that) although the very front cover can be flipped all the way up if desired."

Aimpoint sells a new front flip cover that is like the front flip cover on the CS that fits the CompM2/M3/M4. SKU is 12462 and MSRP is $58. You can get them from any Aimpoint Dealer.

S/F

[koalorka]

I've wanted one of these for years.

[Byron]

The battery info strikes me as odd. The fact that it is 3.6v would suggest that it is Li-Ion chemistry. The AA sized Li-Ion would be the 14500, but why use a rechargeable cell in an optic that's not meant to be recharged?

The literature seems to suggest that the optic is using a primary cell, but I am not aware of an AA sized primary with that voltage. A fresh primary lithium AA is around 1.8v if I recall correctly.

I guess it's possible that it is two lithium primaries stuck together in one AA sized package, but the literature specifically calls it 1 cell. Of course, there are other "single" cells like the A23 that are really a wrapped up stack of smaller batteries. That's the only thing I can figure they are doing...

Enough rambling, but my curiosity is piqued