Member Survey: Which Red Dot Sight (& mount) do you use and why?

[d90king]

I currently run 3 Aimpoint T1's in LT660 mounts. I run the T1 on carbines and also run the T1 on my AK's setup with the Ultimax rail system.

I run the T1 based on a couple features that it excels in IMHO. First being the overall size/weight of the optic and the battery life is outstanding. The size works well for me in that I don't have an issue with the tube effect that I don't care for on the larger sized Aimpoints. I also like the 3-4 moa dot as it is very fast inside 50yds but is also satisfactory out to 500 yds. When you learn to use the edges of the dot and your holds, it is surprising suited for far greater distances than most realize.

I also like the fact that Aimpoint has an exceptional 3X magnifier that I will occasionally run in a LT swivel mount when needed for longer range shooting.

I find them to be very durable and when mounted in the LT660 they hold zero exceptionally well. I also like the fact that I can use them on multiple weapon platforms (must use factory Aimpoint mount when using with an AK).

I have used the T1's for tens of thousands of rounds and am very pleased in every regard.

[kdcgrohl]

My first RDS was an EOTech 512. Common batteries, which you'll need a lot of. I still have it, but is lives on my SBR UMP as I don't use it often. Battery life is my major complaint, I've never had any other issues.

Aimpoints...
CompM2, great sight, mounted solidly in a LaRue LT-150. Only complaint here is having to special order batteries as I can't find them in stock locally. These can be found at very good prices.

CompM4s, better Aimpoint, mounted solidly in a LaRue LT-659 mount. A bit on the big side, but no real complaints.

T1 Micro, my favorite RDS, couple mounted in Larue Tactical mounts(LT-660 & LT-724), couple in their original mounts for non AR applications. All have the Knight's Armament T1 battery cap for on-board battery storage & easier adjustment.
The T1 is smaller, lighter and gets the same job done as the rest. I can't find a down side to this optic.

[sadmin]

Eotech XPS2 in AD QD riser.

I own a CompM2; but despite all claims of what the Eotech is not...I still prefer it as my RDS. Here is why:

I believe the horizontal placement of the battery resolved many issues that could incur from CIVILIAN use.
My light takes a cr123 also.
I can pick up the 65 ring faster on carbine drills inside 50 meters. I would'nt say that im more accurate with this style reticle, but I get faster times on "0-zone" hits.

I would like to get rid of the AD riser as its extra bulk for a EXPS with a lever.

I moved away from the CompM3, which was in a tall Larue mount due to my perceived feeling of it being too tall. Makes no sense I know, as with my riser I have a lower 1/3 with the eotech as well. The Aimpoint just "felt" really high. Perhaps the distance from the top of the adjustment dial to the top of the inside of the glass is greater than the roof of the Eotech to the top of its glass. Lame, I know. I think I may be someone who would prefer absolute co-witness but I have never tried it because, hell...why would I think for myself?

Having an astigmatism, I also see the Eotech reticle clearer than the Aimpoint; which is backwards from what others have said. I will try a 2 MOA Aimpoint soon and report back on that.

[rob_s]

I have owned (optic - mount):

• Eotech (don't recall model now, early one) - no mount
  Battery life was abysmal, reticule appeared pixelated, mount struck me as weak. Currently lives on the 9mm SBR I never shoot.
• Eotech XPS - no mount
  Mounted on a 14.5" BCM mid-length with PWS FS556 brake. So far I like the optic for what it is to me, which is a gaming rig, but I am uncomfortable with the battery life, the mounting system, and the auto-shutoff.
• Aimpoint ML2 - Larue Tactical LT-129 and LT-150
  Tried the canitlever mount and found it unnecessary for me, but still like the ML2 optic and find it fully viable. Currently lives on my HD, suppressed, gun with no BUIS. Other, newer, options are available but I like that this one is still running 5+ years later with nothing but the occasional battery change. Optic stays on 24/7.
• Aimpoint C3 (2 MOA) - American Defense Manufacturing (ADM) AD-68C and AD-68H
  Currently lives on... hell I'm not sure which gun it's on this week. Again tried the cantilever mount but found it useless for my purposes. Again, never gets turned off.
• Aimpoint T-1 - Daniel Defense Mount
  Currently lives on my #1 gun, a Colt 6933 w/ MOE furniture. If all the loaner guns left my safe tomorrow it's this gun, with this optic, that I'd shoot 99.9% of the time. Carbine nirvana for me.
• Aimpoint H-1 - Larue Tactical LT-660
  I believe this is back on the AK now. I ran this mounted to an Ultimak rail on an AK in 2008. No battery change, never turned off, and the optic is still on as of yesterday. Never had an issue with the heat of the Ultimak at all.
• Aimpoint R-1 - Larue Tactical LT-660
  This is now my dedicated optic for loaner guns that come in. Right now it's on a Centurion Arms 10.5" upper but it briefly lived on, and was zeroed on, the Next Generation Arms X7 before I put the TA33 on that gun as it seemed more fitting. Expext same performance here as I've had with the T-1 and H-1 though.

(there may be more, those are off the top of my head)

Generally speaking, if there is no need to reduce profile or weight, or to add night-vision or dive with the thing, I believe the Aimpoint C3 in either ADM or Larue throwlever mount to be the best combination of function and value. I have no "field of view" issues because I keep both eyes open the way God intended. The only reason I like the throwlever mounts is that I don't know of a fixed mount that's as secure, but if I find one and pick a gun to lock the C3 down on I'll do away with the throwlevers. I do find the view angle to be more forgiving in unconventional positions with the 30mm tube vs. the Aimpoint micros but have found no advantage in this regard going to the Eotech. I prefer the 2 MOA dot as I can turn up the brightness to get a bigger perceived dot if needed and turn it down to get a finer point when looking for precision with my astigmatism bloom.

[wahoo95]

Aimpoint Micros on my rifles. They're small and lightweight yet extremely tough with long battery life. I used to have an Eotech and thought I preferred that reticle to the single dot, however I noticed an instant improvement to my raw scores at local fun gun events because my speed and accuracy improved with the Aimpoint.

[J-Dub]

Current: Aimpoint R1 w/ DD micro mount

Past: Weaver 1-3x24mm w/ ADM mount
P.A. el cheapo red dot


I run the Aimpoint now due to the light weight, and faster target acquisition. I've only had two outings with the aimpoint and i am pleased with glass clarity and ease of use.

The weaver was great, and while light for a scope, just too heavy for my taste. The glass was very clear and it held zero without a problem. 1x was not true 1x...there was a bit of magnification.

[ssracer]

Civilian here so my rifle does not see heavy use. Range as often as I can and training courses when I have the opportunity. When I did my initial build I cheaped out in many places including the optic and I was running an NCStar open RDS. It held zero, but was cheap.

Now on my second, more educated build I am running an EoTech 512 with no mount. I like the large window and the reticle gets plenty bright or dim. I picked it up for a good deal slightly used and haven't had any issues out of it so far. The only thing I don't like is the buttons being on the back on this model. There isn't a lot of space between the rear of the optic and my rear MBUIS, so getting to the buttons isn't as easy as it could be, especially with gloves on.

[tgace]

EoTech 512 on a LaRue QD mount.

[Packman73]

I set out to but an Aimpoint Comp m2 originally. After trying out both AP and Eotech on blue rifles at the gunstore, I liked the FOV WAY better on the Eo and hated the tunnel vision of the AP. I ended up with a 552, no mount.

[bnanaphone]

For the past year I have been using a 2 MOA, ML3 in a Bobro #180 cantilever mount. At first I was set on using an eotech, but after reading many user reports regarding battery life, I ended up with the aimpoint. The battery is going strong, I leave it on 4, and the rifle has had a few falls to the ground without any effect on zero. I chose the bobro mount based on Rob Jensen's endorsement of using them in competition with excellent return to zero and auto-adjusting for various rail systems without the need for a tool. When I want some magnification, I put a Po Boy magnifier (hensoldt 2.5x tank monocular with Larue QD side-swivel mount) in line to help me out. I don't compete so I cannot comment on split times, but the aimpoint has never failed in my trips out.

Last week, I received my R-1 and will be getting a DD mount tomorrow to try out. Looking forward to trying the micro aimpoint out and saving about 7 oz from the top of my rifle. I am quite happy with the ML3 but look forward to a lighter setup for my first class this summer.