Hidden on the aimpoint site is the fact that 5 to 10 percent of the population can not see a 2moa red dot properly. I see it as a hairy star. When I add the 3x I see it as 6 hairy stars in a constellation. The exact size and shape of the contellation depends on the EXACT angle between my eye, my glasses, which pair of glasses and the sight. This gives me 8 inch groups at 100 yards. It's very hard to detect this in the shop before you buy :-(.
The Leupold Prismatic does not have this problem. Advantages: 1) The black crosshairs are visible with or without a battery. 2) the mount is included in the package. Disadvantages:1) the 3.6 inch eye relief prevents you from using the Aimpoint 3x behind the Prismatic. It may be possible to use the 3x in front of the Prismatic, I have not tried it. 2) The light uses a STUPID push button. I put the sight back in it's box and when I got it out to mount on my rifle the battery was dead. Of course since it was daytime the sight still worked. The Aimpoint uses a rotory knob which is much harder to 'bump' on, and you can leave the Aimpoint on for several years unless you are paranoid. 3) Like the Aimpoint M3 it uses the DL1/3N or 2L76 battery which is available from camera shops everywhere. If you can find a camera shop. (CR123,AAAA and AAA are availabe in supermarkets, Staples, drug stores etc) This is not such a problem with the Aimpoint because you can leave it on for several years. The Aimpoint M4 uses AA batteries which can be found anywhere.
At 25 yards the other day using the Aimpoint and 3x I got a 1 inch group, which is good for me and that sight combination. Switching to the Leupold, after a quick boresighting, 2 holes were overlapped 60 percent and the third was touching them, this is better than I could do with irons.
The Leupold is the way to go if you (or someone in your family) can't use the red dot.
