Aimpoint T-1 Mounting Position

[LRChops]

I noticed on the site pictures of rifles the vast majority of you guys mount the T-1/H-1 more towards the front portion of the upper receiver. Is there a particular reason? I am assuming that it may keep the sight out of the way of brass hitting it??

I purchased the LaRue Quick Detach T-1 Co-Witness mount and it is a top quality CNC machined mount. Very impressed!

[rob_s]

I think most people mount them further forward out of habit carried over from the big Aimpoints. It doesn't logically follow though.

First is the issue of the tube length. The T-1 is shorter than the fullsize Aimpoints and so if you mount it as far forward as possible the rear of the optic is actually further forward than the fullsize. What you really want then is the rear of the T-1 even with the rear of the fullsize.

Second is the issue of tube diameter. The T-1 is a smaller diameter than the fullsize Aimpoints and so if you mount it where the rear of the optic matches where you put the rear of the fullsize it's still going to be more constricting. What you REALLY want then is the rear of the T-1 slightly behind the rear of the fullsize.

What I do is line up the rears, and then bump the T-1 back one notch.

The qualifier here is that if you're trying to mount a magnifier behind the optic this probably won't work for you. In that case you may wish to get the T-1 as far forward on the upper as possible.

[Tomac]

I keep mine mounted as far back as practical for max FOV through the optic (makes for faster acquisition when shooting from awkward positions w/sloppy cheekweld).
Suppose you were on a ship and you wanted to look out a porthole. Would you stand back from the porthole and accept the reduced FOV or would you walk up to the porthole for an expanded FOV?
Tomac

[Hmac]

I mounted the T-1 on my 11.5 SBR only far enough forward to have enough room behind it to mount the QD Eotech FTS magnifier.

[Quiet-Matt]

The field of view is pretty much a non-issue for me when keeping both eyes open. The optic seems to almost dissapear. For the small ammount that does cloud my FOV, I prefer to have it further away and appear smaller as opposed to right in my face and cloud twice as much area. The size of the dot doesn't change either way.
As far a Tomac's analogy of the porthole, it wouldn't matter how close you stood to the porthole if the wall were transparent.

[rob_s]

this is true, but that doesn't mean there isn't a sweet spot. If we strictly follow the logic stated in your post, why wouldn't you then mount it to the very far end of a rail system?

[Tomac]

The field of view is pretty much a non-issue for me when keeping both eyes open. The optic seems to almost dissapear. For the small ammount that does cloud my FOV, I prefer to have it further away and appear smaller as opposed to right in my face and cloud twice as much area. The size of the dot doesn't change either way.
As far a Tomac's analogy of the porthole, it wouldn't matter how close you stood to the porthole if the wall were transparent.

I wasn't referring to overall FOV or SA, I was referring to how quick/easy it is to acquire the reticle. The smaller the tube/FOV, the more precise your eye alignment has to be to acquire the reticle as the smaller FOV through the optic is less forgiving of sloppy cheekweld.
Tomac

[Robb Jensen]

I use mine right up the the front of the upper receiver.

Using both eyes open I don't find any difference using a T1/H1 over a M4S or C3 and I'm left eye dominant. If it bothers you however you can run the T1/H1 further back to simulate having a 30mm tube. I find that I can get the dot on target and a make a COM hit on a target faster out to 50yds with my Aimpoints to the front edge of the upper receiver and if the mount provides a 1/3 cowitness....this is with 30mm Aimpoints like my M4S, my C3 and my 28mm T1s/H1s. I mind absolute cowitness and Aimpoints further back to be slower.

[Quiet-Matt]

this is true, but that doesn't mean there isn't a sweet spot. If we strictly follow the logic stated in your post, why wouldn't you then mount it to the very far end of a rail system?

Well, it is in fact mounted ath the far end of the rail system of the receiver. If I had a monolithic upper, I might in fact mount it further forward. But, while playing arround with mounting positions, I found that placing the optic any further foward than over the mag well didn't do anything to improve the FOV. Having it over the mag well seems to be the sweet spot for me that you refer to Rob. Perhaps thats the distance that my binocular vision takes over and allows the transparancy to occour. Everyones eyes are different and thats why experimentation is necessary to find your own "sweet spot".

[Quiet-Matt]

I wasn't referring to overall FOV or SA, I was referring to how quick/easy it is to acquire the reticle. The smaller the tube/FOV, the more precise your eye alignment has to be to acquire the reticle as the smaller FOV through the optic is less forgiving of sloppy cheekweld.
Tomac

Very true my friend. I mis-understood your point.