Rifle Scopes Aimpoint CompM4 Problem

jmerican

Private
Minuteman
Oct 24, 2010
5
0
41
I recently purchased an Aimpoint CompM4 which was shipped directly from Aimpoint and arrived at my house about 4 days ago. I mounted it to by LWRC suppressed 10.5 inch SBR. Today I was mounting a new Magpul AFG to the rail, once I tapped it on I shouldered the weapon and looked through the Aimpoint to get a feel for the new grip. I noticed that the red dot had expanded and was contracting right before my eyes. You could actually watch it get smaller. So I tapped the side of the optic and the red dot expanded, to the point you could see about 6 individual hexagon shaped dots spread apart. Then they gradually melted back together. However, the dot is not as small as when I first looked through it a couple days ago. Instead of a circle its kind of oval shaped. What do you think happened? Im calling Aimpoint in the morning and hopefully I wont have a problem with getting a new one. Just wanted to let everyone know of the issue since I couldnt find anything on the internet about this problem. Thanks.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompM4 Problem

Most likely a fluke. Aimpoint has an extensive track record of excellent reliability. The issue you're seeing is probably a defect in the optic. It's a collimator sight, which basically means it takes light and focuses it into a point. The spreading could be an issue with any number of things, but it's probably something that you'd only see with a collimator sight.

That, or you got goofy eyes.

Contact Aimpoint in the morning. They'll make it right; no worries.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompM4 Problem

This follows any jarring or tapping to the rifle. The light spreads wide probably 1/8 inch from basically a pin head size. I have it on one of the lower settings as well, not the full blown torch setting.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompM4 Problem

Im not saying its your case because it does ondeed sound like you have a bum unit. The reason I asked anout glasses is when I got my first aimpoint I thought it was all messed up. Talked with someone who asked me if I wore glasses. I said no. He said take the aimpoint and look through it and rotate it clockwise. Do the aberations turn with the aimpoint or stay stationary. My answer was they stay. His answer was go get glasses LOL and I did. The tapping thing shoots a hole in this theory though.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompM4 Problem

So I spoke with a guy named John in the Aimpoint Warrenty Department who explained what was going on. He said what I was explaining was next to impossible due to the light in the optic being an LED and went on to explain what I was seeing. Basically rather then focusing on the sight like you normally would on the front sight post you should look at the target first.

When I was picking up the dot and then looking at the target my eye was focusing on the red dot which was causing the distortion. Something about how your brain and eye work. Rather then you seeing a light in the optic your seeing a reflection and apparently according to him your eyes cant focus on a reflection. So the light was not expanding and contracting it was my own eye doing this.

Basically he told me to flip up the front and back sights and look through them which caused my eye to immediatly focus making the red dot crisp and circular. He also recommended doing what shane45 said below. He said that a stigmatism increases the chance of this happening which I do have although I also have 20/20 vision. Apparently your vision status doesnt matter. Anyway hope this helps out anyone who might have the same issue in the future.
 
Re: Aimpoint CompM4 Problem

That's what I figured, but from your post's you seemed pretty confident that the jarring initiated the problem. Well, glad you got it sorted out and at least there is nothing wrong with your optic.