Aimpoint, one of the most recognized and trusted names for the last 20 plus years in red dot style optics has recently announced an expansion of their product line. Last week the company did a soft roll out of the new Comp M5, an optic that rumors have it was designed with input from several agencies who hope to use the optic for duty use. The new Comp M5 follows a trend that has been emerging lately particularly in the red dot optics world, and that is smaller, lighter optics with ridiculously long run times. Aside from the obvious features of the new Aimpoint Comp M5, what sets it apart from earlier models? To find the answer to that question and others lets take a look at the specifications and see how it stacks up.
Specifications
Name: Comp M5
Manufacturer: Aimpoint
Optical Magnification: 1X
Aiming Dot Size: 2 MOA
Battery Type: One AAA Battery
Number of Settings: 10 (4 Night Vision, 6 Regular)
Weight: 5.2 Oz
Base: 39mm Spacer Supplied
Battery Life: Up to 50,000 hours
- 5 years continuous on setting #7
- 1 Year at setting #8
- 10 Years using NV setting
Aimpoint really seems to have heard the footsteps of other optics companies like Eotech, Vortex, and Trijicon in the last few years closing in on their market share. On the surface the company seems to have watched and listened to what its end users wanted and made this optics different from their others. The Comp M5 isn’t just a rehash of the Comp M4, in fact its a smaller optic that uses an entirely different mounting system all together. They do share many of the same features such as the build quality and materials used as well as the same environmental tolerance specifications but that is where the similarities end for the most part.
Comp M4 vs Comp M5 : By the numbers
CompM4 Comp M5
Length: 4 3/4″ Length: 3.3″
Width: 2 13/16″ Width: 1.6″
Height Sight Only: 2 3/8″ Height Sight Only: 1.6″
You can see by the red digits above, numbers don’t lie in this case. The Aimpoint CompM5 is indeed a smaller lighter version of the Comp M4 that uses an easier to find battery, but does has a shorter run time. It’s a slight trade-off, one that the executives at Aimpoint are hoping that consumers don’t worry about. One thing that might help the CompM5 win fans is the new mounting system which is very different from earlier optics from Aimpoint.
The new system employed by the CompM5 appears to use a combination quick disconnect quick throw mechanism and a screw style lock. This is very different from the large pronounced knurled knob that adorned the side of other Aimpoint optics like the CompM4 and the Aimpoint Patrol Optic. Having previously looked at the Aimpoint Patrol Optic before I purchased my Trijicon MRO, I will say the large locking knob on the side of the optic was a concern for me, I for one am glad Aimpoint switched tactics on the new models. I’m curious to see if they will upgrade older models with the new locking mechanism.
As of the writing of this article the Aimpoint Comp M5 was only announced just over a week ago, and so far no suggested retail price has been introduced. I’m curious to see were the company sets the price point on this optic in relation to its competitors, the market is crowded and growing more crowded as each month passes. If I had to hazard a guess on pricing the new Comp M5 I would say expect it to be in the $5550-650 range when it first hits retailers. I would love to see it priced down closer to the Patrol Optic or the new line of Eotech sights but I don’t see that happening. We’re curious to hear what our readers think of the new optic, is Aimpoint still as popular as it once was or has the company lost a step and been overtaken by the rest of the pack ?
