Aimpoint Pro II Evaluation

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Corporal Shawn Pappas

08-24-2016

On 08-19-2016 I tested the Aimpoint Pro II red dot sight that we recently obtained for evaluation. I found the sight to be extremely easy to mount, sight in and use.  It is a very robust design whose technology has been tested by our military in some of the harshest environments and conditions in the world. I rated the sight in several different categories.  There are numerous advantages to this sight, and the concept of red dot sights in general. I shot numerous courses of fire with it and also shot all of the courses of fire during a Carbine Refresher class. It worked flawlessly and improved my ability to shoot fast and accurately. I used it on targets obscured by shadow and in bright sunlight.  In addition I used the sight from the darkness of the Sim House to a bright target and from a bright environment to the darkness of the Sim House. I experienced no washout or loss of the dot. Here are my impressions of this specific model.

Operation: There is a single rotating knob that controls the operation of the sight. Turning the knob to the right or clockwise turns the sight on and also controls the brightness.  Turning it counter-clockwise dims the brightness of the dot and if turned far enough, turns the sight off. 

When using a red dot sight the shooter is encouraged to select only the amount of brightness needed to readily see the dot to create as precise an aiming point as possible.  An extreme example for this would be to turn the brightness of the dot to its maximum setting in a dark environment.  The contrast of the very bright dot in a dark environment would make the dot appear to “bloom” and potentially obscure some of the target.  On the other hand, a deputy would select a brighter setting in very sunny conditions or where there is an abundance of glare or artificial light such as a sporting event. There is a wide range of tactile and visual adjustment to accommodate our entire spectrum of shooters in any lighting conditions they may find themselves in. 

Mounting: The mount included with the sight will fit any military standard Picatinny rail. The vast majority of our carbines have this rail.  The sight is also compatible with the Rock River Arms carbines that are equipped with the Dominator rear sight. I would recommend mounting the sight as close to the shooter’s eye as practical.  This would maximize the field of view of the target area and allow the most potential for the deputy to gather information.  To mount the sight the deputy only has to place the sight on the Picatinny rail of their rifle and turn a knurled knob on the left side of the mount.  Once the screw has reached a predetermined amount of torque the knob slips, indicating to the deputy that the sight is properly tightened.  This negates the possibility of over-tightening and possibly damaging the mount.  If the sight has to be removed one simply unscrews the knob and removes the sight.

Sighting In/Zeroing: Aimpoint provides a zeroing target to be used in conjunction with this specific sight.  It completely removes any guess work or estimation of the zeroing process.  After mounting the sight and selecting the desired brightness the shooter fires a three shot group at the target from a range of 50 yards.  The target allows the user to shoot from additional ranges also. The shooter then counts the number of squares up or down (elevation) and left or right (windage) that they need to move the point of impact of the rounds to the center of the target. Each square corresponds with a “click” of adjustment on the sight.  If the shooter needs to move their group up 5 squares and right 8 squares they simply dial in that same formula in to the sight, or up 5 clicks and right 8 clicks.

Used in conjunction with a sighting block we can get a deputy sighted in with 10 rounds of ammunition and in approximately a half hour.  This would be a tremendous savings in time and ammunition. I mounted the sight on my rifle and used a total of 9 rounds to get sighted in. I spent more time getting a target and ammunition and loading a magazine than I did shooting zeroing my rifle. 

Once zeroed I fired 10 rounds at 50 yards using the following process. I removed the sight, installed it, fired one round and repeated the process for the other 9 rounds. I detected no noticeable shift or change in zero.

Speed: A red dot sight such as this makes the process of shooting accurately much easier. More importantly for us, it gives the deputy the potential to shoot faster. Iron sights provide the potential for one to shoot very accurately but not nearly with the speed of a red dot. In essence the deputy simply superimposes the dot where they want the bullet to go and squeezes the trigger. With sufficient training the deputy can learn to “notice” the dot while focusing on their target, or more importantly a suspect’s hands for instance. This is a fundamental change in how we use sights. During sighted fire we expect the rear sight and target to be blurry but the front sight to be in as complete focus as possible because the human eye can only focus on one thing at a time. Imagine the difference between staring at a catcher’s glove and pitching a baseball at it or staring at the ball as you throw it.

This advantage carries over to engaging multiple targets or a single target that is moving rapidly.

Aging workforce: Deputies are working more years before retirement. In some cases their eyesight can deteriorate, making the use of iron sights on their weapons difficult for them. A red dot sight negates some of the issues associated with visually lining up a front sight, rear sight and target. 

Implementation, Maintenance and Customer Support: If a sufficient quantity of the sights can be obtained on an on-going basis we could issue them during in-service training during the range day. In this fashion they could be issued, mounted, sighted in with the user receiving training and instruction in their use. The battery for the sight will last for three years of constant use. We could have the battery replaced during preventive maintenance of member’s weapons when the appropriate time frame is reached. 

Aimpoint is an established company with a long history of customer service. They have provided optics of this type to our military and law enforcement for over twenty years.

Conclusion: Optics, either red dot sights or magnified, are now the norm and not the exception they were years ago.  The reliability of sights such as the Aimpoint Pro has relegated iron sights to the role of emergency back-up use.  Red dot sights and magnified optics are standard issue for every rifle in the US Army and Marine Corps for good reason.  The Aimpoint Pro was specifically designed for law enforcement use and I believe it would greatly assist our deputies to be more effective and accountable for shots they will inevitably be forced to fire in the future.  

Included are photos of the weapons carried by the suspects in the recent terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Dallas and Baton Rouge.  All of their weapons are equipped with some form of red dot sight and one magnified optic.

Figure 1. Dallas Shooter's rifle

Figure 2. Rifle carried by shooter in Baton Rouge

Figure 3. Weapons carried by shooters in San Bernardino terrorist attack