Hopefully this write up helps someone:
***Do I need to spend $900 on a basic red dot?***
Only if you need extremely high durability. In 98% of civilian situations, you won't be able to appreciate the difference between a $900 Aimpoint and a $150 red dot. The difference in price really becomes apparent when you start doing stupid stuff. Dragging it through rocks. Banging it into steel. Sleeping with it in the cold and rain.
Aimpoints don't perform better than "mid-tier" red dots, they are just able to maintain that performance under a more extreme range of conditions than their competitors.
***Comp M4 or Comp M4s?***
Personal preference. We were issued them interchangeably in the Army. They are all M68 Close Combat Optics.
The brightness adjustments on the M4 are slightly easier to access while wearing gloves. The M4s is a little more sleek, snag resistant, and offers a cleaner sight picture.
I've never heard a truly compelling argument that one is significantly better than the other. I have a slight preference for the M4s, for the aforementioned reasons.
***Comp M4 or Comp M5?***
If you are chasing "peak performance", I'd argue the M5 is a better optic. Smaller, lighter, crisper. Allegedly even more durable. Nearly the same price.
I went Comp M4 for familiarity (nostalgia?) and battery standardization. I like the fact that all my enablers run off AA.
***Should I buy an Aimpoint on Amazon?***
Honestly, probably not. I realize that might sound weird considering I obviously did, but... I didn't realize that Aimpoint sells directly to consumers, and offers a $100 discount to qualified professionals.
I did receive an authentic Aimpoint, but in retrospect I would have just gone straight to the manufacturer, especially if I would have saved $100.
***How does the M4 compare to other types of optics?***
Arguably, not that well. You can get a pretty nice LPVO for $900, with a wider range of applications. Eotechs have earned a similar reputation for durability - at half the price.
***So why 5-stars?***
I didn't want the latest and greatest optic. I'm not chasing peak performance. I just wanted the optic I am used to, and the optic which I have already learned to trust. That's the Comp M4s. That's what I was willing to pay $900 for, and that's what I got. Too easy.
| Brand | Aimpoint |
|---|---|
| Color | matte black |
| Style | Modern Sporting |
| Sport | Hunting |
| Item Weight | 1.1 Pounds |
| Material | Aluminum,Rubber |
| Magnification Maximum | 1 |
| Objective Lens Diameter | 23 Millimeters |
| Magnification Minimum | 1 x |
| Mounting Type | Picatinny Mount |
| Night vision | No |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 6.8 x 4.6 x 3.4 inches |
| Package Weight | 0.52 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 6.75 x 4.5 x 3.5 inches |
| Brand Name | Aimpoint |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Aimpoint |
| Part Number | 12172 |
| Included Components | QRP2 Mount & Spacer, Rubber Bikini lens cover, Anti-reflection device, AA battery, Allen key |
