The Duty isn’t bad by any stretch, but it’s also not exactly cutting edge in 2025. I wish Aimpoint would have modernized the design, and I agree with others who speculated that they didn’t in order to not take sales away from the T2.
The Aimpoint Duty is pretty mid
- Thread starter Bluedog82
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The Duty isn’t bad by any stretch, but it’s also not exactly cutting edge in 2025. I wish Aimpoint would have modernized the design, and I agree with others who speculated that they didn’t in order to not take sales away from the T2.
The Pro is definitely a good optic. While bigger/heavier, it definitely has a retro cool factor.
I have the Duty and T2 models, but don't see $300 or more difference between the two. The duty is also much smaller and lighter than the pro, and it is very noticeable on a lighter weight AR.
All three are reliable, so it just comes to preference and budget.
All three are reliable, so it just comes to preference and budget.
I believe the T2 is better under NV (no experience). The Duty is okay but not great.
Agreed; but for about the same money I think I’d do the Sig Romeo 4 XT Pro which is supposed to be fantastic under NV.
About 6 months ago, I was about to buy the Duty. My shooting buddy has the T2 on his
SR-15 and it’s a great red dot.
I ended up going with the Sig Romeo 4XT Pro
We put his and mine side by side, and we both agree that the Sig is slightly clearer. Both have no bloom
However, the T2 does have a “cool factor”
SR-15 and it’s a great red dot.
I ended up going with the Sig Romeo 4XT Pro
We put his and mine side by side, and we both agree that the Sig is slightly clearer. Both have no bloom
However, the T2 does have a “cool factor”
I thought this was exaggeration since I think the last one I bought was maybe 2022, no mount, for like $650-ish, but I looked around just now and no they’re seriously $900 now with no mount. Wtf
Yeah at that point I’m paying a couple hundred more bucks and getting a 1-6 Razor. This also coming from the company that will sell you a magnifier for a grand.
Definitely not bad, just probably not as good as it could have been.I really like my duty
The PRO is still the best red dot out there for actually shooting things with a red dot. FOV and head position forgiveness when shooting on the move. People should be happy they came out with a small form factory cheaper T2 for like $400-450. I don't use gay terms like mid, but that's exactly what it is, a mid priced optic designed with everything you need for a duty/hard use gun. Expecting more than that is unrealistic.
Chris here does some of the best actual reviews on YT. He explains what the use case for it is pretty well.
I mean if you care about the opinions of un-experienced kids who have never used optics in violence than youtube is awesome.
99% of the time its the Blind leading the Blind. People too ignorant to know any better.
99% of the time its the Blind leading the Blind. People too ignorant to know any better.
My duty rds models last an entire year before I swap out the battery, just like the T2. I swap batteries every year, regardless of how much longer it could last. I am surprised to see issues with the battery life by other members on this thread.
Same here. But my batteries last a year easily, so there may be some variance in the quality. Or just a lot of bad batteries out there. Who knows?I really like my duty
He's been in combat from what I remember. He's in his 30s.
He's the only "reviewer" that will put tens of thousands of rounds through a gun or through an optic before doing a review that I know of.
The YouTube LARP community is strong. We're finally starting to see some of it cave in on guys who made a lot of bold claims (and dollars) ever since the GWOT started.
I'm pretty sure that the "Regular Guy" above was infantry at some point, so he *may* have some experiences. He *may* have also been a royal screw-up and spent his days moving the 'piss tube' back and forth inside the wire. We'll never know.
Where you lose me though is when you get into full battle rattle to train in your backyard, and then do a 'defensive' gear review. You'll never have time to put all that crap on when someone is kicking in your door and stabbing your wife.
Tabletop it, tell me what you like and don't, then let me make up my mind. Beat the hell out of it too if you want to play outside, so we can see the durability. You aren't going to impress me though with theatrics and timed splits (that is training, not equipment).
*****
That being said, the Pro has long been a great buy for what you paid. I think it is an excellent option for home defensive setups, and I had one and recommended it for a long time.
I have since switched to EOTech, and realize it's limitations vs most Aimpoints... however the utilization of buttons and similar reticle in my thermal give me a ton of familiarity with employing a circle dot outside of a 'flat range', and with a little adrenaline included. YMMV.
The original reviewer said that he had batteries die around six months of continuously being on. That negates the biggest positive of buying an Aimpoint in my book. Again, YMMV.
I'm pretty sure that the "Regular Guy" above was infantry at some point, so he *may* have some experiences. He *may* have also been a royal screw-up and spent his days moving the 'piss tube' back and forth inside the wire. We'll never know.
Where you lose me though is when you get into full battle rattle to train in your backyard, and then do a 'defensive' gear review. You'll never have time to put all that crap on when someone is kicking in your door and stabbing your wife.
Tabletop it, tell me what you like and don't, then let me make up my mind. Beat the hell out of it too if you want to play outside, so we can see the durability. You aren't going to impress me though with theatrics and timed splits (that is training, not equipment).
*****
That being said, the Pro has long been a great buy for what you paid. I think it is an excellent option for home defensive setups, and I had one and recommended it for a long time.
I have since switched to EOTech, and realize it's limitations vs most Aimpoints... however the utilization of buttons and similar reticle in my thermal give me a ton of familiarity with employing a circle dot outside of a 'flat range', and with a little adrenaline included. YMMV.
The original reviewer said that he had batteries die around six months of continuously being on. That negates the biggest positive of buying an Aimpoint in my book. Again, YMMV.
This is so true man. Blows my mind people walk past $350-400 pros to get Chinese optics or double priced half windowed ainmpoints.
I absolutely love the brightness knob too.
I liked the Duty I tried out but truth be told....its not really any better than the PA Glx 1x Prism I put on my beater rifle. I still prefer my PRO's
I wish the prisms could be had without that gay as fuck acss reticles. Simple Chevron like acog would be perfect. Probably would buy about half a dozen of them if they had decent reticles designed by people who actually shoot.
Yes, found it dead when putting it in my patrol car. No infantry experience here, just LE.
How is it more master than the Comp M5?
I've had a T1, T2, and Comp M4s, Comp M5 and kept the M5, sold the rest. But, all I do is kill pigs and occasionally other animals. Do enjoy the M5 with the original Aimpoint 3x, that is what rides on my house rifle.
Aimpoint just released a new version of the duty with a circle, circle and dot, and dot reticle. The reticle options remind me of the holosun aems, which I think is the best thing about the aems. I am sure aimpoint was tired of losing business to Holosun, Sig, etc because of a lack of reticle options from police officers and the general public.
I normally never am an early adopter, but I ordered one, so I will share my thoughts once it arrives if anyone is interested.
I normally never am an early adopter, but I ordered one, so I will share my thoughts once it arrives if anyone is interested.
Nice. I’m sure it’s not a coincidence they released this just two weeks after my video dropped
Shake-awake, too.
The thing about the Aimpoint Duty RDS that has kept me away is the wonky centerline height.
It sits taller than absolute co-witness/traditional/normal iron sight height, but below the more standard/common these days lower 1/3 height… which automatically makes whichever gun is wearing a Duty different from most other ARs and their optic heights that many of us are probably used to and have many hours/days/years of muscle-memory with (and makes them wonky for pairing with magnifiers and their mounts).
IMO, it had to have been a willful decision on Aimpoint’s part to separate the Duty from the higher-priced and more industry standard height T2s… or just a mistake.
I still own/run a T2 on a rifle, but my other rifles that don’t pay bills get super affordable (but still good enough for training/fun) Holosun HS403Rs (Holosun’s T2 clone). It’s a shame that the HS403R is more like a T2 than the Duty’s because I wouldn’t mind paying a little more for an Aimpoint that isn’t ~$900.
IMHO, if one wants to spend more than what a Holosun costs, but not as much as what a T2 goes for today at its crazy inflated price, the EOTech EXPS3-1 is the way.
It sits taller than absolute co-witness/traditional/normal iron sight height, but below the more standard/common these days lower 1/3 height… which automatically makes whichever gun is wearing a Duty different from most other ARs and their optic heights that many of us are probably used to and have many hours/days/years of muscle-memory with (and makes them wonky for pairing with magnifiers and their mounts).
IMO, it had to have been a willful decision on Aimpoint’s part to separate the Duty from the higher-priced and more industry standard height T2s… or just a mistake.
I still own/run a T2 on a rifle, but my other rifles that don’t pay bills get super affordable (but still good enough for training/fun) Holosun HS403Rs (Holosun’s T2 clone). It’s a shame that the HS403R is more like a T2 than the Duty’s because I wouldn’t mind paying a little more for an Aimpoint that isn’t ~$900.
IMHO, if one wants to spend more than what a Holosun costs, but not as much as what a T2 goes for today at its crazy inflated price, the EOTech EXPS3-1 is the way.
Interesting. I wonder if they were getting complaints about battery life like I expressed.
