Aimpoint dot problem?

[GeorgiaBoy]

I would post this in the optics thread, but since this section gets much more views, I'll post it here.

Tuesday I ordered a Comp C3 4MOA off of ebay (not a fake, it was from SWFA, an authorized aimpoint dealer)

It arrived today, and while I was playing around with it I found that the "dot", is not really a dot, but more of a very thin and slightly curved line. Very short in length, and barely noticable, it usually just looks like a bright spec of red light, until you study more closely. I noticed in this picture of a 4 MOA recticle that is there is a much more pronounced dot:



But in mine it really is just a very bright light which is not really a perfect circle. However, at lower brightness settings it looks more like a dot (around 5 or 6) and looks very much like a line at 9. It may be my contacts not correcting my astigmatism or something, but here is a photo (low quality, taken from iphone) where you can clearly see the line:



It looks like two small dots, but you can see the line in the middle. Is this normal? Any help would be appreciated.

[Joeywhat]

I notice the dot will do this to me once in a while as well, and I think it's due to my astigmatism (sp?). I find that if I'm really not looking at the dot or concentrating real hard on it it looks like a small dot...but if I'm REALLY trying to get that dot right on a specific target it distorts and looks like hell.

[spamsammich]

If you have astigmatism, the dot will smear. Mine is so bad that Eotech 1 moa dots smear and the reticle blurs. I use T1/H1 or M3 2moa because the sight picture is less busy for me

You should always focus on the target, not the dot.

[t_ridl]

geogiaboy is this a 2 or 4 moa? I have the same problem with my 2 moa and I contacted aimpoint and what he told me to do is to raise my BUIS and look through it while it is on. If it looks more like a dot it is fine, if it stays the same its the optic. The reason he told me is becasue the eye cannot distinguish(astigisium) the fine line so it makes it looks not as clear. When the BUIS is up and you look through it the eye has to focus a little more on the iron. Hopefully this helps.

[JonnyVain]

geogiaboy is this a 2 or 4 moa? I have the same problem with my 2 moa and I contacted aimpoint and what he told me to do is to raise my BUIS and look through it while it is on. If it looks more like a dot it is fine, if it stays the same its the optic. The reason he told me is becasue the eye cannot distinguish(astigisium) the fine line so it makes it looks not as clear. When the BUIS is up and you look through it the eye has to focus a little more on the iron. Hopefully this helps.

Yeah, looking through a small dot corrects astigmatism.

[tibis3383]

geogiaboy is this a 2 or 4 moa? I have the same problem with my 2 moa and I contacted aimpoint and what he told me to do is to raise my BUIS and look through it while it is on. If it looks more like a dot it is fine, if it stays the same its the optic. The reason he told me is becasue the eye cannot distinguish(astigisium) the fine line so it makes it looks not as clear. When the BUIS is up and you look through it the eye has to focus a little more on the iron. Hopefully this helps.

This works really well. I use the small aperture on my Troy and it clears up the dot. I have started running my BUIS in the deployed position all of the time and if I need to make a more accurate shot I will get my eye behind the sight and the dot clears up. Give this a try and see if it helps.

Semper Fi

Tim

[GeorgiaBoy]

Thanks for the replies guys. I found the problem: it was me. I did some searching on Aimpoint's site and found this FAQ which inlcuded an issue similar to this with a test on how to tell whether it is your eyes or the optic. It said to turn it around its axis and see if the defect (in my case the line) rotates to or stays in the same place. If it moves, its the optic, if it stays, it you. Well, it stayed.

http://www.aimpoint.com/faq

But I will try that BUIS trick when I get my Larue mount (its in the Aimpoint now) and get back up sights.

[Q-1]

Another trick is to tilt your head way down (forward) so that you can just barely see out of the top of your eyes. This changes the focal point in your eyes, and if you have astigmatism, it should clear up.

An eye doctor told my buddy to do this whenever he forgot his glasses...

[citizensoldier16]

Interesting thread.

I have one thing to add however - if it's astigmatism, why did the OP's second photograph capture two dots? The camera obviously does not have visual problems.

[payj]

Interesting thread.

I have one thing to add however - if it's astigmatism, why did the OP's second photograph capture two dots? The camera obviously does not have visual problems.

That's what I was thinking? I thought cameras would see the "perfect" dot if you questioned your eyes? In his picture its clearly not a dot.