Buying used aimpoints?

[crathbone78]

I cant afford a new Aimpoint, but I see used beat up one's on ebay all the time that go between $200 and $300. I used one in Iraq and loved it. What do you guys think about buying used, as far as life span. Thanks.

 

[HRnightmare]

You will probably be fine, my concerns on Ebay would be knock-offs AND also being lied to about life, being dropped, etc.

I had one on a rifle that was used when I got it and it was terrible. It seemed to loose it's zero every time I turned it on and off.

 

[Averageman]

I would be sure that what you are getting isn't a repop out of China before dropping your money.
The originals hold up well and I own one, that being said the optics market is flooded with good copies and you wont be able to tell until you unwrap it.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

Are we talking about an aimpoint t-1? comp m4? pro patrol?

A used price of 200-300 for a beat up unit makes me think t-1.

As HR indicated, used value always depends on the usage/user so ebay can make it hard to tell...do they have a strong seller rating with positive reviews? that would be a good way to try to mitigate the risk of a bad unit

Otherwise, maybe consider a less expensive Aimpoint model.

-Matt S.

 

[HRnightmare]

As HR indicated, used value always depends on the usage/user so ebay can make it hard to tell...do they have a strong seller rating with positive reviews? that would be a good way to try to mitigate the risk of a bad unit

If it was from a private seller I would be cautious, but if its from someone with a reputable name, maybe someone that deals in firearm accessories or a refurbisher then you will probably get one that they are willing to stake their name on but Joe Blow may be looking to make a quick buck off of the aimpoint he ran over with his truck and doesn't know if it still works properly or is going to stop working in a week.




Have you considered a Vortex Sparc? I actually prefer it over my EOTECH or Aimpoint. They are about $200 brand new and come with 3 different heights of mounts, a 2X magnifier, a bikini cover, batteries and a cleaning cloth.


They have 1,000s of hours of battery life, use common batteries, have a auto shut off feature after like 6 hrs.

I have one on my SBR and an AK that has held up great. My friend has one on a shotgun and it has suffered ZERO issues.

That might be a better option in your price range.

 

[X-Rap]

If the wear looks similar to what you saw on the ones in Iraq then you can probably guess were the one your looking at came from.
I'd say a fair share of the "real" ACOGS, Aimpoints and EOTecs on the market that have heavy wear came from Uncle Sugars inventory.

 

[crathbone78]

HR, why do you prefer the Vortex over the Aimpoint? Honest question.

 

[HRnightmare]

HR, why do you prefer the Vortex over the Aimpoint? Honest question.

I keep the aimpoint on my "go to" rifle but as far as the vortex, it is night vision compatable (A feature I will surely never use, haha)
It has the auto off feature, and generally I like the location of the buttons better.

I would say it is pretty similar to the aimpoint, but ALOT different then then the EoTech.

The EoTech is a PITA to turn on and off, the stupid two button power is annoying and hard to do, certainly quickly. It is new (was when I bought it) and is nowhere as clear as the aimpoint or SPARC.

Oh and my first EoTech had a short, the batteries overheated and leaked acid onto the rifle ruining the EoTech and damaging the finish on my AR. EoTech wanted nothing to do with me. Luckily the battery company said even if the product did fail the batteries should not have leaked and paid me for the damage and their insurance bought me a new EoTech.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

I will second the recommendation for the Vortex SPARC and here's why:

1) For the original poster's price point, he would be getting a new unit instead of used.

Yes the used optic is an Aimpoint, which will of course be argued as superior to a Vortex, but for the user's primary needs, an Aimpoint is probably overkill. Aimpoints have a high price point in large part because they are rock solid workhorses. They can take whatever beating you hand out and then embarrass you by asking for more. While that is awesome, unless you are a HSLD operator, it is probably more rugged than you need it to be for your range trip/home defense/even 3 gun competition. There is no point in paying for a feature that you would likely never fully utilize. In the case of the used optic, the primary user utilized that feature which is why the optic now has a value comparable to less "bomb-proof" products.

We see this a lot here at Optics Planet with EoTech as well. Customers want to know why an "ordinary red dot" costs $500 or more. "It's not even a green reticle". They don't realize that part of what they are paying for is that durability/reliability through all conditions/drops/situations (which most of your average recreational shooters will never fully require since we tend to "baby" our optics instead of rolling down mountainsides with them).

2) The SPARC is an excellent unit (my first vortex product and it has been mounted at some point on most of my firearms). Verry rugged, crisp, multi purpose optic that comes with a amazingly complete package as stated.

3) Vortex has phenomenal customer service

Sorry HR, didn't mean to swipe the question

-Matt S.

 

[HRnightmare]

NP. I appreciate knowing someone with professional industry experience shares the same opinion.

 

[crathbone78]

Thanks guys, I think Im going to go with the Sparc. What did it for me is the lifetime, no questions asked warranty. I would hate to buy a used aimpoint, and it go TU a month later and im left with a paperweight.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

You definitely won't be disappointed.

-Matt S.

 

[rbernie]

I've bought four used (contractor kit deployed to Iraq/AFG) CompM2 or CompM4s over the last decade - I've never paid more than $200 and they've all worked flawlessly.

 

[Thermactor]

Here's a link to an Aimpoint for sale for a much lower price.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Tact...gun-Scope-w-L-shape-Mount-Best/632083178.html

Check Alibaba and Aliexpress to look at pictures of the model you are looking at buying used.
Then look at the used model on eBay and try to be sure it isn't a used counterfeit one.
Counterfeit scopes are big business.

 

[rbernie]

Tactical CompM2 Replica

That's a 'replica', aka counterfeit.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

ive bought a couple of them used for 300 bucks. Comp 2s. They supposedly came from over in the sand box and both work flawlessly. I also have a couple vortex strikfires. There a good unit too but don't inspire the strong as a hammer feeling I get with an aimpoint and battery life is much shorter. I like to leave my aimpoints turned on all the time so if I have to grab a rifle I don't have to fumble around in the dark trying to turn it on or even have the presence of mind to remember to turn it on. You cold do it with a strikefire but youd have to change batterys every couple months. My comp 2s last a good 2 years on a battery if left just bright enough to see in the daylight. As to ruggedness I once saw a you tube video where reps from aimpoint mounted micros on two ars. Sighted them in and went to a concrete parking lot and took them off, skipped them across the cement 20 yards to each other then back again, remounted them and they had both held zero at 50 yards within an inch. Try that with cheap optics and you are going to end up with a couple rattles.

 

[Slappy White]

Check Primary Arms. They are clones but not cheap junk clones.