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Rifle Scopes Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

ericf

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
May 27, 2007
81
9
66
texas gulf coast (Pasadena)
ML3 is mounted to a safe queen, (no comment please).
I pulled it out a few nights ago and noticed that when viewing through the sight, there is some visual apparitions. With the scope on or off, from the 10 o'clock position straight to the 5 o'clock, there is a red reflective line. (just below and left of the dot). Then from this line, left and down, the whole lens has a red tint. At first I thought something internal had possibly cracked. But upon further exam, it appears undamaged. If the scope is viewed with a bluish white wall as the background, the red becomes invisible. Different lighting either accentuates or diminishes the red "halo" through the scope. Blue wall is the only thing that eliminates it.
Does anyone have any ideas what has happened or is happening?
I'm thinking something is delaminating internally.
No there isn't any damage. period. I thought there may be smudging or something on the glass, but they are as clean as new.
Ideas??
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

Let me guess, you wear eyeglasses and have a bit of an astigmatisim, or you don't wear glasses and should. Some people see some flaring of the dot, mostly at higher intensities due to that.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

You got me curious on this one so I had to check...
I have an ML3 and it does the same thing. There isn't anything wrong with it as far as I can tell. It shows up or disappears depending on the backlighting and the viewing angle. I can tilt the sight to make it disappear. I believe the red tint is fron the coating on the front lens.

I'm sure there is a long scientific explanation but I would chalk it up as a reflection off the lens.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

WHAT? now we are discovering chromatic abberation in reflex sights too? HOLY FUCKING SHIT, call bushnell and tell them their disease is spreading
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

I'm thinking you might be seeing something off the reflection of light too. How significant is it, and is it along the edge that it's tracing or through the image?

It might have something to do with the red coating on the objective lens and you're catching a reflection/refraction off of it. I can't repeat what you're seeing with mine under fluorescent light indoors, but it's dark out and I can't try it in the sunlight either and I've never noticed what you're seeing either.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

Take a photo of it with your camera, if it's not there with the camera, its your eyes messing it up. If it's there and its bothersome even with the camera photo, then there is something wrong with your aimpoint.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: VJJPunisher</div><div class="ubbcode-body">WHAT? now we are discovering chromatic abberation in reflex sights too? HOLY FUCKING SHIT, call bushnell and tell them their disease is spreading </div></div>

Yes, I have seen this before, gona-herpe-syphilitis of the optic, condition is terminal, fatal to brand names, and thankfully curable with antibiotics and a bounteous lathering of vagisil... of note, I have also observed "chromatic abberations" of the female anus... awful sight....
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

more than likely there's nothing wrong with it,it's just a refection coming right back at you.

coatings on rds are not the same and serve a different purpose(for the most part) as the coatings on scopes. with scopes,the coatings are all about image quality and clarity,etc.,etc.. on rds,the coating is mostly about showing the red dot from the LED. the coating allows most colors withing the light spectrum to go through but reflects back particular ones(the one the LED is emitting).

this is also why rds have a tint to the glass,sometimes reddish,pinkish,bluish,greenish,etc...some are even proprietary.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: VJJPunisher</div><div class="ubbcode-body">WHAT? now we are discovering chromatic abberation in reflex sights too? HOLY FUCKING SHIT, call bushnell and tell them their disease is spreading</div></div>

Don't tell Bushnell but their elite tacticals have been "infected" by the HDMRs. They do the same thing...
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

here is the best photo I could get. It sucks but you get the idea. The scope is off.
PAS_0004-2.jpg
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

Personally, I'd not be happy with a big red stripe going diagonal in my sight window. I'd ask for a repair. It shouldn't be doing that.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

I sent an email to Aimpoint attempting to explain the perceived problem. Hopefully they will respond.
Maybe I should send them a photo also.
One thing, It wasnt like this when purchased new. And it has only been to the range a few times. Never hunted with, never abused.
I'll have to wait for them to reply
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

I just tried this with my Aimpoint and it would illuminate red, mostly in the lower left corner, if I look at it at the right angle in the right light which means its just a reflection.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

Have you seen the reflection while your out shooting or just in the bathroom?
My bathroom is well lit and I can get weird reflections if I hold it just right and enter the room. It hasn't ever been an issue while shooting, just playing with it around bright lights.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

My brand new Comp M2 had the same reflection.

It's just a reflection, it's fine.

The bottom of the lens does curve back as part of its design.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

I just went outside with it. If the scope is pointed at any darker background, (red brick wall, plants, trees, fence, etc.) I still get a red thread diagonal and visible across the view. Although Not nearly as bad (bright) as indoors. If background is light, the red line disappears. And, outside I don't get the whole quadrant below the line appearing red, just a red line.
I think if Aimpoint will give me a RA# I'll let them have a look.
My concern is that it is annoying and distracting, and it wasn't like this last year.
For some reason I get the idea that something internal has shifted or moved which is causing this .
I don't have any Bushnell scopes, so I can rule out "cross-contamination". I'm not sure what is wrong with Bushnell, but I guess that's another topic.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

My ML3 does the same as your picture. The T1 does the same thing as well only the red line/area is in a different spot.

It really is a reflection and it is most noticeable with a strong backlight and when looking through the sight at an odd angle.
Anyway, let us know what they say.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

How are you guys making this happen? Pine Log you say when viewing at an odd angle with a strong backlight. Is that to say not viewing it through as if you're aiming in to shoot?

I've been carrying a Comp ML3 every day for over four years and have never noticed any kind of reflection such as this. Am I doing it wrong by doing it right?
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

I'm looking through the sight as though I was going to fire (actually aiming). I have no strange head tilt, nor weird viewing angle. I'm just looking Straight through the glass.
Outdoor lighting shows single red line through lens. (see above post). Viewing with a white or lighter background, the line isn't visible.
It's the same with the scope turned on or off.
If the line wasn't so very straight and uniform, I'd swear there was an internal crack. But given the fact that it changes with intensity of backlighting, and gets very bad indoors, I'm leaning to something in mal-adjustment internally, or some kind of a coating delamination.
either way, it's very distracting.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompML3 DO I have a problem??

I have never noticed it until this thread came up. It still isn't anything I am worried about. Ericf sounds like his might be more noticeable.

I notice it the most when viewing through the sight into the house (darker background) with my back to a window or door. It is basically the reflection from behind. The red tint is from the coating on the front of the lens.

And when sighting from a normal position behind the rifle it's fine.