I have built an AR from the ground up exactly the way I want it. The only thing I have left to do is optics. Currently I have iron sights and I would like to get a red dot. I'm really leaning towards the Aimpoint Pro. I have a coupon and can get this for $359 right now. I would like to hear comments from anyone regarding this particular item or red dot opinions in general. Part of me thinks I should get the Pro and spend the money and it will last me a long time. The other part of me thinks I could save a lot of money and get a Primary Arms or Vortex red dot and still be happy. My main dilemma is I don't want to be in this situation again in a couple years, I want a quality product that will last. Thanks in advance for the help.

Buy the Aimpoint..
done

don't even think twice about it

I have the Primary Arms micro dot. It's great. I can't afford an aimpoint and even if I could I would still probably go for the Primary Arms. It's $90 for a very high quality optic! Just read the reviews if you are having second thoughts. Primary Arms as a company is second to none in terms of customer service as well.

They always have a big sale for black friday/cyber monday. I am planning on adding the long eye relief 3x mag with the flip to the side mount.

Thanks for the review. I'm probably going to get one.

OP, you can't go wrong with the aimpoint. I have several AR's but will only allow myself one expensive scope/red dot. I already have the Burris AR-536. I like it.

I lost my T1 at our lease a few summers ago, about 3 months later with the help of a metal detector I found it buried in clay mud.

Picked it up, washed it off and it was still on, I submerged it in water, cleaned it off and it's been fine ever since.

It has survived hundreds of rounds on a 44 mag that killed cheap ones and has been ran on AR15s, beat up, dropped, etc..

Aimpoint. they will take a beating and keep on going.

That's a pretty good review right there!

yep

watch this

[video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xfojMy1MWok[/video]

Yeah I've seen those videos. I love DD as well.

yep

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like I can't go wrong with the Aimpoint. Buy once cry once I guess...

Agree on the Aimpoint. The PRO is hard to beat for the price.

agreed on the Pro

Aimpoint all the way. Have a pro and an H-1. They're both top notch. For that price on the pro, I'd do that in a second.

I have 4 EoTechs, (1- 552, 2 512s and an EXPS2) and 2 Aimpoint Pros. The EoTechs have a smaller dot, (1moa) which is better for longer shots because you can see a dog easy at say 200yds. The dot doesn't cover the target at longer ranges. They EoTech also has a stronger mount and a protective hood over the optic. Those are the strong points about the EoTech. The downside is the battery life is, (depending on the model and batteries)between 300-1000hrs.To me that is the only downside to the Eotech.
The Aimpoint pro has a 2moa dot that will cover a target at 200yds so you can't really see it clearly. Inside that range it is fine. The battery life of Aimpoints in general is simply amazing. 3-5 yrs on continuous. The other downsides to the Aimpoint is the optic sits higher on the rail and the mount is not as solid as the EoTech. This allows it to be knocked off zero easier. I love both the EoTech and the Aimpoint. For hunting I would say the EoTech is a better optic because of the smaller dot. You can buy a 512 from The Digital Oasis for 359.00. If you want an optic that will last go ahead and spend the money on either the Aimpoint or the EoTech. Yes, there are others out there that are ok but those 2 have both been in combat for a good number of years and they are performing beautifully. Buy quality and be happy about it for years. Buy cheap and you'll be happy till it breaks.

to me the trick with Aimpoints is to turn the dot down very low for longer shots

+1 This goes for any red dot sight really. Turn it down so you can see through the dot. It makes the dot smaller and sharper. However, you can't pick it up as quickly if you are going for speed. Still, if you are going for accuracy you can actually shoot half way decent groups this way. My best was a 1.5" group at 100yrds from the bench the the PA Micro's 3 MOA dot. I doubt I could repliacate those results on command but that kind of accuracy is definitely possible.

just find the right balance

I am testing a Steiner 1-5 that is awesome
1 MOA dot that can go from "Aimpoint" bright to almost invisible in low light and as fast as a red dot at 1X to being able to crank up the magnification for 500 yard shots with outstanding glass.

Of course, it's also 2500 bucks!

I get the turning the light down. We do it with the EoTechs too. I can assure you tho when we shoot competition at 400 mtrs you can't see the target with the Aimpoint worth a crap. It literally covers the target. Not good. Again, I love both of the systems. They are mission specific. For my duty weapon I like the Aimpoint because I leave it on and if I need it immediately it is ready to go, no, "hold you fire while I turn on my optic" just go to work. The EoTech is a quicker to aquire target optic in my opinion.

I shoot 3 gun and have ran a few matches on 18" steel out to 500 with a 2MOA T1, I am holding about the target so view is not obscured. I will take a 1-x optic over it for that role though.

For SHTF scenario: Aimpoint

I run an Aimpoint T1 in ADM absolute co-witness mount (flip sights) and absolutely love it. It is tiny, extremely light weight, and the battery life is unreal.

I've been toying with the idea of getting one of those PA 1-6x in a QD ADM mount so I can use both either the T1 for SHTF/Home defense or the 1-6x for hunting and a little further shooting.

I just can't get on board with the ACSS reticle. It just looks so busy. A couple days ago I finally decided against the 3x magnifier and to go with their illuminated 1-4x scope instead for hunting and medium-longish range and keep the microdot for home defense.

Their FFP scope looks pretty sweet for the price too. If I ever get a .308 upper I would seriously consider it.

My buddy just got one of the 1-6x I kind of like the ACSS reticle. We still need to sight it in though. I've tried their 1-4x and Millet DMS1. They are too big and heavy for my taste to only be a 1-4x. Now that I've been using my T1 I'm too spoiled to go back to the heavy scopes.

By the way magnifiers suck.. Regular magnifiers have hardly any eye relief at all. PA has long eye relief magnifiers, but they just don't work that great.

I do what others have said. When I hunt hogs at night I just turn my red dot down to where I can see through it. Once I put my Hogzilla light on them I can see them no problem through the dot. I just need a good pair of binoculars and a range finder. I'm terrible at estimating ranges haha. As long as I know my range I should be able to hit very accurately with my T1 out a good ways.

Love the Aimpoint PRO on my Colt 6920. My AR pistol build will have an H-1 on it. 5 years of constant use is a long, long time. Keep it on the lowest setting, put it by your bed, and don't worry about the battery until sometime in 2019.