Aimpoint for FAL Carbine: Which model?

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

Nightcrawler

Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2002
Messages
6,950
Location
Utah, inside the Terraformed Zone
I've decided to get a 2MOA Aimpoint sight for my FAL carbine. Most of their new sights come with the ACET circutry allowing for up to 50,000 hours of battery life. Obviously, Aimpoints are known for durability and reliability.

There are two models I'm considering. They have about a thirty dollar difference in price, and I'm wondering if one might be preferable to the other.

The first is the Aimpoint 9000SC 2MOA. It's a little larger, requiring two rings, with a length of about 6".

From the Aimpoint Website:

Available in black and in Camo pattern, the 9000SC is a medium-length sight that is primarily designed to be used with semi-automatic shotguns and rifles. It also works perfectly when you need a really tough sight for handguns with heavy recoil. The 9000SC is the top choice for turkey and deer hunters.
Click to expand...

The other is the Aimpoint Comp-C3 2MOA. This model is smaller and lighter, and comes with a 30mm ring.

I'd prefer the compact model, but...the larger one says that it's better for weapons with heavy recoil. A FAL carbine isn't exactly an ultra-mag, but FALs can be hard on optics. Any thoughts on this? Thanks!

Oh...I'm not interested in the Comp-M series. I'm not paying a hundred dollars more for the increased waterproofing and such. If I'm ever in more than five meters of water, it means I've drowned and the fact that my optic won't work anymore probably won't concern me. :p
 
Have you owned a red dot before?

I have a FAL on order from DSA, but I went ahead and bought my red dot sight. The first one that came into the gun shop was an EOTECH with the single red dot, I loaded the batteries and taped it to a broom stick so I could play with it. My eyes could not find the red dot very well, it was hard to see. The second EOTECH is the 553.A65, it has a reticle patern consisting of a 65 MOA circle with a 1 MOA dot. My eye dials right into the pattern, very easy to place the reticle whee I am looking.

The dot is great for shooting non moving targets, but you might want something more for your carbine. Stuff to consider.

Be safe, KC
 
Yes. I actually rather like collimating sights. The EoTech will sit too high on a FAL, and the Tri-Power is too expensive (though I like the chevron reticule).

I'm just trying to determine if there's any reason to get the larger Aimpoint over the Comp C3.
 
I've got the comp C (older model) and it is plenty durable for the FAL. The 30mm ring it ships with is beefy! More like two standard rings doubled up. The "C" is everything the "M" is except it is not waterproof to the same depth and it's not night vision compatable.

--usp_fan
 
I just ordered the Comp C3 2MOA. I really don't need to be running up my credit card, but I really really want to have an optic for my carbine before the Epic Shoot of the Ages in April.

'Sides, the C3 comes with a ring, which is worth the extra twenty-something bucks. I'll let everyone know how it works out.
 
Okay, so I got my Aimpoint Comp C3 2MOA yesterday, and I've been playing with it. Some thoughts:

-WOW! This thing is fast!
-Even in total darkness I can't see the dot on the lowest intensity setting.
-The dot doesn't appear to be a clean little circle to me. It appears as a point of light with the glare you see when looking at a streetlight at night. Makes it easy to pick up quickly, though. It's probably just my eyes. Stupid astigmatism.
-That is a pretty sturdy ring it comes with.
-Trying to decide if I should mount it forward, middle, or rearward on my optics rail. It seems to handle the same either way.

Will flip-up lens covers work on the Comp-C models?
 
Close to the rear sight.

The closer you can get your eye to it, the better the FOV will be. However, it may take a millisecond longer to pick up the dot. (I doubt it)
On my duty weapon, the aimpoint is mounted directly against the rear sight. I don't use PVS NV, so the mounting position isn't that big a deal.
On my M1 Carbine, the Aimpoint is on the heat sheild mount. I find that I am faster with the M1, but not much, and it's probably more to do with the way the M1 handles. It's also two pound lighter.
Steve
 
I have the Comp M3 on my 10.5" AR. Appears to be the same housing style as yours (I guess the differences are in the waterproofing and such). I mounted mine forward:

LMT_SBR_9.jpg

The Aimpoint is a reflex sight of course, and I find that when mounted rearward, the tube actually ends up blocking more peripheral vision overall. YMMV.

I imagine you'd want the lowest mount ring you could find for use on a FAL... I believe the rail is higher in relation to the cheek weld on a FAL than on an AR. I think with the mount pictured on my AR, it would put the sight too high on a FAL.

I'd also be curious to know how well the sight and mount hold up to the increased recoil of the FAL.

I shot the above setup for groups this past Saturday, and then in 3-gun on Sunday. I was able to shoot 4" 20rd groups at 100 yards with crap ammo, and cold weather/snow flurries (I couldn't feel my hands):

SBR_target.jpg

That is better than I do with carbine length iron sights on an AR. So for me, the sight is more accurate at intermediate ranges, and quicker up close... overall I'm pleased with the sight and mount so far.
 
The ring it came with is fine. My FAL has a shortened buttstock achieve via mounting a steel buttplate to a Penguin hump back stock. The result is your cheek is farther forward along the stock, making your cheek weld a bit higher than normal. You can still use the irons, but the height of the Aimpoint is about perfect, actually.
 
It's probably just my eyes. Stupid astigmatism.
Click to expand...

Bingo. Something we just have to live with. Getting laser surgery can also
affect the "fineness" of objects at long distance and give you a halo effect
around lights. For this reason, some dr's recommend against the surgery for
pilots.

Hmm, this would be an interesting question for the shooting community
as far as before and after....
 
Yes. I actually rather like collimating sights. The EoTech will sit too high on a FAL, and the Tri-Power is too expensive (though I like the chevron reticule).
Click to expand...

I shoot with an EOTech 512 on my DSA para carbine and have not noticed that it sits too high or any problems with acquiring the dots (it does, however, block any use of the irons). The only problem I've encountered with it was I initially had it parked too far forward on the rail, and ejecting brass was hammering the bottom of the sight pretty stoutly sometimes (one case rang its bells hard enough that the reticle faded out for a second, which I've never seen before with an EOTech). Moving the sight further back on the rail fixed the problem.
 
If I squint really hard, the dot becomes more fine. Weird. I never realized that that (and the glare I see around lights at night) might just be my own vision.

Eotech and Reflex II reticules are all crystal clear to me. Wonder if it's just the way the Aimpoint is? As I said, it makes picking up the dot faster, and now I'm really glad I got the 2MOA model instead of the 4.
 
I have the Comp M2/ML2's on a couple of different rifles. .308 isnt going to hurt them, nor will full auto.

The intensity of the dot can change its appearance. The brighter it is, the more irregular it looks. If you turn it down a tad, it cleans up.

I like the sights as far forward as possible. Up front, they are out of the way, dont interfere with handling or block your vision. They are also faster to pick up. You dont look for the dot, you look at the target, the dot just appears where your looking when you shoulder the rifle. The problem I always had with the Eotech type sights was, for some reason, I always had to look around for the dot and then the target. They never worked naturally for me. They also seemed a lot bigger and block a lot more, including the iron sights. With the right mounts on a number of rifles, the Aimpoints will allow you to cowitness your sights.

If you have trouble seeing the dot when moving from light to dark, if you close the front cap, you can set the dot to a comfortable brightness, and then use it like the old OEG type sights. The dot will remain constant, regardless of the background.

ec4ebf48.jpg

eab5ca9a.jpg

ee9e660a.jpg

f4c8debe.jpg

f4c8daae.jpg
 
In case it hasn't been answered yet, yes you can get flip up covers for the "C" model. I like mine forward on the rail. If you are using the Aimpoint QD mount, make sure the sight position doesn't place the long tension screw in the way of your FAL's charging handle. It shouldn't, but you don't want to start an immediate action drill and slap your mount screw on the way to the charging handle.

--usp_fan
 
I bought a used CompML from a guy on the FALFiles about 6-8 months ago. He'd had it installed on his FAL for awhile and I now have it on my AR. It's worked perfectly. No problems. I've spoken to Aimpoint and they say they'll repair it, if it ever goes bad; granted I'll pay but for now...I'm good.

Look for a used CompM/ML, or higher, model. I picked up the first generation, and while it doesn't have the battery life of the later generations, 100-1000 hours is just fine with me. I don't leave it on all the time and never use the higher power settings, not even in full daylight. Simple hand movements will push down the covers and light the fire in less than a second; for me constant "on" isn't required.

And, for seven bucks each, I replace the batteries twice a year.

As far as the red dot, for some of you, being fuzzy, get glasses or get your eyes checked. If I'm not wearing glasses, the red dot is a diffuse fuzzy ball. Glasses on, it's a sharp, very crisp, dot.
 
I'm pretty sure it's astigmatism. It's one of those things I just have to live with, unless the latest in Lasik can correct it.

Anyway, I've got it mounted right above the ejection port on the FAL. I'm hoping that it doesn't get beaten up by ejecting brass, elsewise I'll move it farther back.
 
<hijack>

I'm pretty sure it's astigmatism. It's one of those things I just have to live with, unless the latest in Lasik can correct it.
Click to expand...
PRK - wavefront computer mapping but on the surface instead of under a flap. Works great for correcting astigmatic conditions.... :)

</hijack>
 
Okay, I took my new Aimpoint to the range yesterday to get it zeroed. Started at 15 yards, then back to fifty, intending to go back to one hundred.

Well, just as I was getting it zeroed, I noticed that brass kept bouncing down and hitting me in the right forearm. So I moved my aimpoint back screwing up my zero. This went on for awhile before I came to the conclusion that it's the scope mount, not the knob on the aimpoint right, that's deflecting the brass into my arm. I've emailed DSA about a fix for this. It only does it about once out of every five rounds, but that's enough burns on my right wrist to be annoying.

So I spent a hundred rounds and didn't get my optic zeroed. Oh well. :eek:

I also noticed, after PvtPyle pointed it out, that I put the aimpoint on sideways. The battery compartment is on the upper left instead of the right.

So I checked my manual. Turns out you can put it on either way. The knobs are marked UP-R and UP-L, so it'll adjust the same either the way I have it or rotated 90* clockwise, like they're ususally mounted. Neat.
 
Wow, that really doesn't look like it would interfere with ejection, does it...

So moving it back took care of the problem?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

N
  • Locked
Reconsidering the Aimpoint for my rifle
Replies
6
Views
627
Dienekes
D
N
  • Locked
Aimpoint for .308 Carbine
Replies
1
Views
713
steveracer
S
1
  • Locked
What mounts to Co-Witness?
Replies
12
Views
628
HeavyDuty
H
G
  • Locked
aimpoint sight for dangerous game hunting rifle
2
Replies
35
Views
4K
alfack
A
G
  • Locked
good rings for aimpoint on dangerous game rifle
Replies
16
Views
773
Greg Koziol
G
Back
Top