Aimpoint vs Vortex strikefire?

[piratetech]

I had a Strikefire and it was nice for the price. I beat the crap out of it and had no issues. If you are thinking about getting one go for the red dot only as the red dot on the red/green version is pretty weak.

I replaced the Strikefire with a Vortex Sparc and love that little bastard to death.

[coltm4]

At the end of the day you get what you pay for. Aimpoints are very durable. I've deployed with them, gone to SWAT School and other LE courses with them. If and when they do break down, Aimpoints customer service is excellent and they will rectify the issue. They'll even send a rep out to Iraq or Stan to fix the problem. Coowitnessing sites on an AK is difficult because of the hood over the front site. It obscures you site picture. When coowitnessing sights, you iron sight should be in the bottom third of your optics sight picture. this is hard to do with an AK because of the iron sight's design, the lack of integral picatinny rail and the the stock doesn't give you a good cheek weld when used with optics. Hope this helps.

[Dave_M]

At the end of the day you get what you pay for. Aimpoints are very durable. I've deployed with them, gone to SWAT School and other LE courses with them. If and when they do break down, Aimpoints customer service is excellent and they will rectify the issue. They'll even send a rep out to Iraq or Stan to fix the problem. Coowitnessing sites on an AK is difficult because of the hood over the front site. It obscures you site picture. When coowitnessing sights, you iron sight should be in the bottom third of your optics sight picture. this is hard to do with an AK because of the iron sight's design, the lack of integral picatinny rail and the the stock doesn't give you a good cheek weld when used with optics. Hope this helps.

Only Chicomm AK's have fully hooded front sights, Euro-patterns don't. An Ultimak gas tube replacement makes adding one a breeze.

[coltm4]

Good point

[Vicarious_Lee]

I just put this http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/ind ... ory_id=421 on my Arsenal. Got the Primary Arms combo. Lower 1/3 co-witness, and it works very well. You can swap out the Primary Arms sight later for a mini Aimpoint.

Jim

I thought LaRue built this but couldn't make it reliable enough, and they discontinued it. Anyone got experience with this mount? Is it worth considering over an Ultimak?

[Browning 35]

I just put this http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/ind ... ory_id=421 on my Arsenal. Got the Primary Arms combo. Lower 1/3 co-witness, and it works very well. You can swap out the Primary Arms sight later for a mini Aimpoint.

Jim

I thought LaRue built this but couldn't make it reliable enough, and they discontinued it. Anyone got experience with this mount? Is it worth considering over an Ultimak?

Are you sure that you're not thinking of the LaRue Iron Dot?


(Unless LaRue had something to do with this one too and I'm just unaware of it)

[Uncle Chuck]

My only experience with Aimpoint is with the various versions of the Army issued M68 Close Combat Optic. This has gone through at least three generations of the Comp M. We have a mix in my battalion. Latest batch to be issued is the Comp M4. I've seen quality control problems with the attachment to the mount on all generations in our inventory. Some actually were so loose they would spin in the rings. That said, the optic itself is solid and a good piece of gear, but here is the takeaway:

no matter how good the optic is, it is NOT soldier (or idiot) proof.

If you crank the windage/elevation adjustment too far, you will break it. If you leave the battery compartment cover a little loose and you get rained on and water gets in there, it'll rust. If you have a Comp M4 and you leave a cheap AA battery in there forever, it will probably end up leaking and corroding the contacts and it will never be the same again.

Disclaimer: I was issued a Comp M2 for a couple of years but I used an ACOG TA-31F on my Iraq and Afghanistan deployments, so I make these statements based mostly on my observations and experience as a squad leader and then a platoon sergeant watching with dismay as my soldiers slowly but surely trashed their optics.

[jethroUSMC]

Saw many Strikefires fail on AK's in the middle of classes. Anything man made can and will eventually fail. If this is just a range AK, save the money and go with the Vortex.

If you think your life might depend on it at somepoint, Aimpoint or ACOG.

Vortex does have some good reliable products for heavy use. From what I've seen and heard the strikefire ain't one of 'em.