Now please... before ANOTHER thread gets carried away... I want to humbly ask that C4iGrant and anyone else who doesnt have anything constructive to add to the thread... why not just say nothing at all?

Ok.... the title is my opinion based on the fact I now OWN one. I also own and use an Aimpoint CompML2, so I have something to compare it to.... and have used several cheap red-dots previously. A slightly used Tacpoint came up in the EE for $60 shipped... so I figured "why not... surely its gotta be worth $60" so I took the plunge. I really wanted to know what all the hoopla is about.

So I got it. As many have said... it looks just like an aimpoint.... with a few drawbacks.

Well, I think it should be obvious you dont consider a $100 optic to be on par with quality and capability of a $350 Aimpoint... so anyone doing that deserves the ridicule they get. Not everyone did that in the past... and I think several people, including a vendor who cant seem to stay away from these threads, felt like that was what others were saying. I never saw that.

I DONT want to be another person saying "Those tacpoints are crap, get yourself an Aimpoint boy, or go home!" I think budget red-dot optics have their place in recreational shooting, which is what 95% or more of us do. However.... I really dont find it to be worth the $100 price tag... given there are so many budget red-dot choices on the market the would perform as equals to this one.

First, the body is soft aluminum... and is pretty light/weak. There is no rubberized coating or anything like that. The dial for the dot brightness is really mushy, turns the opposite direction of the aimpoint.... and doesnt have a "stop" and a "start" like the aimpoint... so you have to visibly check to make sure it is off when you want it that way. It feels cheap.

I unscrewed the elevation and windage adjustment screws... and the adjuster knobs had firm "clicks" on adjusting (good) but the paint used on the letterings on the knob sirface was already coming off so bad you cant read them anymore (bad). The threads on the adjustment covers were also poorly done... they gall easily in the soft aluminum and arent easy to get back on without cross-threading(bad). They threw some o-rings on the base of the threaded adjustment posts... but you can tell the covers really dont seat well on them, they kinda push the O-ring out of the way... so this wont be water tight for sure... if submerged at all.

The supplied mount does NOT co-witness with AR15 irons (some had asked that). The supplied mount is a two piece aluminum mount, and is about as cheap as it gets. I sure would not trust it to stay in one place. You need a weaver spacer to raise this thing up to where it could co-witness... but using the supplied mount it would not take much force to snap it off a spacer like that. Sure, you could get a good mount for the Tacpoint, but that would be a lot like polishing a turd.

The flip-up dust covers that are supplied are also pretty shoddy. The front wont even pop up... I have to flip it up manually... and the plastic used is soft and weak... you can tell its just a matter of time before they break off. Even the cheap butler creek flips covers are much better.

The dot is fine on mine. It looks the same as the aimpoint I have. The view thru the tube is identical, with a slight greenish effect thru both scopes. It has 5 bightness levels and then off. (the aimpoint has 9... goes a LOT lower) In very low light, the first level of the tacpoint would be too bright.


I do not feel this scope is worth the $100 price tag they seem to be going for. I would put this scope on par with the BSA red dot style scopes.... like this:

www.impactguns.com/store/bsa_bsrd30sb.html

In fact... I would have to give the quality edge to the $39 optic listed above... because it has 11 brightness levels, and rubber coated armour. The only advantage I see to the Tacpoint is that it CAN be mounted in a solid Larue/ARMS mount... so that it can co-witness with irons, and be trusted not to get knocked around. If you really want an optic that can do that... so you can trust it fully.... then you probably should rethink your purchase plans.... and get the cheap BSA scope listed above, while you save up for a real quality optic.

To summarize.... I think the Tacpoint is a cool little red-dot scope.... but for the money, it is in the wrong price class. I think at $40 to $50, it is a more attractive deal. Personally, I think there are $40 scopes that are every bit as good as the Tacpoint... so my biggest beef with it is NOT the quality.... its the price tag set on it... for what you get.

I dont feel like I got screwed at all for my $60.... but if I had payed $100, I would be very dissapointed... because at over twice the price of other budget red-dot optics on the market... this one doesnt have anything compelling over those... other than it LOOKS like an aimpoint, and the ability to use the same mounts.

Thats about all I can describe. I cant give info on a torture test... because I dont plan to use it. I will be putting it on my Dad's AR15, since he wont be shooting it much. His is just recreational bench shooting with me, and likes cheap dots since he cant really see good out of irons.

Anyone using this on their sole or primary AR15... I can only say one thing.... which is true even if you spring for an Aimpoint...... get a decent BUIS

Flame on!

Amazingly, I have nothing to say on this.

Originally Posted By FALARAK: Flame on!

Actually, the flaming needs to stop, otherwise people are going to start having their accounts suspended (or worse!) These forums are intended to help educate shooters; we should all strive to strengthen one another through knowledge, experience and ownership. There is no better way to validate this field of firearms than to encourage ownership for such rifles. However, you all need to remember that not everyone has the same needs as others. Not everyone can afford, a rifle with a Pony on the side, a $300-$1,000+ optic, a $100 scope mount, a $200-400 free-float system or a $200 rifle stock right from the start Just because they don't have a chrome-lined barrel or an Eotech doesn't mean they're inferior and don't belong here.

I know very few shooters in this field who have started with one rifle, bought their list of accessories, installed it all and never modified anything again. I am sure there are numerous instances where folks have tried setups that some very experienced veterans have promoted here only to find it didn't work for them. I'm sure many of us who have been here a while will agree that their collections are constantly evolving, some weapons are range rifles while others are deemed defensive or precision rifles. The AR arena itself is a constantly evolving market, look at the vast number of new accessories that have hit the market in just the past few years!

We also need to remember that others out there are JUST getting started. They may not be able to afford all the luxuries. But they still want to know what it's like to have various optics or accessories and because they can't swing the 'real deal' they have to try lesser alternatives. Don't chastise folks for having to make certain sacrifices, let them learn the benefits of such accessories and I'm sure on down the road their rifles will start to evolve too. I'd rather see them have money leftover to actually go shooting rather than have a peerrttyy rifle but no ammo to feed it.

This post is also aimed at those of you out there who criticize others for the money they've spent on their projects... You don't know their proposed needs, it doesn't matter what they have, you need to focus on what YOU have!

Read what you want, learn what you can and enjoy your rights to own & use what you have!

Kevin
AR15.com Staff

Thanks for the review!

Excellent posting, with first hand, hands on experience, and good detail of what exactly he found. Should be quite useful in determining whether or not to risk a purchase of this type.

Also the followup by a Site Staff Member is clear and to the point.

BOTH postings are exactly what this subject and forum needs.

Kudos to both of you.




Lonny

What is sad, is that people who don't know any better, will see this at a gun show or somewhere and think they are getting a product comparable to the aimpoint.

Like you have said: These optics have there place in the shooters ladder of bad to best.

Very good write up!

Thank You.

Originally Posted By techbrute: I can't believe you didn't bring the Tacpoint to the class today.

I just got it in the mail waiting for me when I got home! But since I dont have a spacer, I couldnt have run it anyway.

I'd take it to gunstock.... but I really dont see the point. For average use, I'm sure it will do just fine for what it is intended. I'm gonna go try and find a spacer tomorrow morning.... so my Dad can use it tomorrow. If not, then maybe he will just put it on one of his .22's or something.

Good to go, thanks for the info.

Originally Posted By mkgunz: So how would one of these be on a 10/22? Just for plinking?

I am sure it would be absolutely fantastic..... even on an AR or shotgun (depending on how it takes recoil) but for the price, I'd rather have the $39 BSA optic listed above.

Originally Posted By ducati650: In short, I don't think the Tacpoint is worth $100 UNLESS you want to keep the look and relative sight picture of an Aimpoint on a weapon that doesn't really need an Aimpoint.

I think you summed it up perfectly!

Originally Posted By FALARAK: Now please... before ANOTHER thread gets carried away... I want to humbly ask that C4iGrant and anyone else who doesnt have anything constructive to add to the thread... why not just say nothing at all? Ok.... the title is my opinion based on the fact I now OWN one. I also own and use an Aimpoint CompML2, so I have something to compare it to.... and have used several cheap red-dots previously. A slightly used Tacpoint came up in the EE for $60 shipped... so I figured "why not... surely its gotta be worth $60" so I took the plunge. I really wanted to know what all the hoopla is about. So I got it. As many have said... it looks just like an aimpoint.... with a few drawbacks. Well, I think it should be obvious you dont consider a $100 optic to be on par with quality and capability of a $350 Aimpoint... so anyone doing that deserves the ridicule they get. Not everyone did that in the past... and I think several people, including a vendor who cant seem to stay away from these threads, felt like that was what others were saying. I never saw that. I DONT want to be another person saying "Those tacpoints are crap, get yourself an Aimpoint boy, or go home!" I think budget red-dot optics have their place in recreational shooting, which is what 95% or more of us do. However.... I really dont find it to be worth the $100 price tag... given there are so many budget red-dot choices on the market the would perform as equals to this one. First, the body is soft aluminum... and is pretty light/weak. There is no rubberized coating or anything like that. The dial for the dot brightness is really mushy, turns the opposite direction of the aimpoint.... and doesnt have a "stop" and a "start" like the aimpoint... so you have to visibly check to make sure it is off when you want it that way. It feels cheap. I unscrewed the elevation and windage adjustment screws... and the adjuster knobs had firm "clicks" on adjusting (good) but the paint used on the letterings on the knob sirface was already coming off so bad you cant read them anymore (bad). The threads on the adjustment covers were also poorly done... they gall easily in the soft aluminum and arent easy to get back on without cross-threading(bad). They threw some o-rings on the base of the threaded adjustment posts... but you can tell the covers really dont seat well on them, they kinda push the O-ring out of the way... so this wont be water tight for sure... if submerged at all. The supplied mount does NOT co-witness with AR15 irons (some had asked that). The supplied mount is a two piece aluminum mount, and is about as cheap as it gets. I sure would not trust it to stay in one place. You need a weaver spacer to raise this thing up to where it could co-witness... but using the supplied mount it would not take much force to snap it off a spacer like that. Sure, you could get a good mount for the Tacpoint, but that would be a lot like polishing a turd. The flip-up dust covers that are supplied are also pretty shoddy. The front wont even pop up... I have to flip it up manually... and the plastic used is soft and weak... you can tell its just a matter of time before they break off. Even the cheap butler creek flips covers are much better. The dot is fine on mine. It looks the same as the aimpoint I have. The view thru the tube is identical, with a slight greenish effect thru both scopes. It has 5 bightness levels and then off. (the aimpoint has 9... goes a LOT lower) In very low light, the first level of the tacpoint would be too bright. I do not feel this scope is worth the $100 price tag they seem to be going for. I would put this scope on par with the BSA red dot style scopes.... like this: www.impactguns.com/store/bsa_bsrd30sb.html In fact... I would have to give the quality edge to the $39 optic listed above... because it has 11 brightness levels, and rubber coated armour. The only advantage I see to the Tacpoint is that it CAN be mounted in a solid Larue/ARMS mount... so that it can co-witness with irons, and be trusted not to get knocked around. If you really want an optic that can do that... so you can trust it fully.... then you probably should rethink your purchase plans.... and get the cheap BSA scope listed above, while you save up for a real quality optic. To summarize.... I think the Tacpoint is a cool little red-dot scope.... but for the money, it is in the wrong price class. I think at $40 to $50, it is a more attractive deal. Personally, I think there are $40 scopes that are every bit as good as the Tacpoint... so my biggest beef with it is NOT the quality.... its the price tag set on it... for what you get. I dont feel like I got screwed at all for my $60.... but if I had payed $100, I would be very dissapointed... because at over twice the price of other budget red-dot optics on the market... this one doesnt have anything compelling over those... other than it LOOKS like an aimpoint, and the ability to use the same mounts. Thats about all I can describe. I cant give info on a torture test... because I dont plan to use it. I will be putting it on my Dad's AR15, since he wont be shooting it much. His is just recreational bench shooting with me, and likes cheap dots since he cant really see good out of irons. Anyone using this on their sole or primary AR15... I can only say one thing.... which is true even if you spring for an Aimpoint...... get a decent BUIS Flame on!

Good review. Aimpoint used to include the same cheap mount with the Comp M/ML series. They found that the Aimpoint will twist in this mount and stopped including it as NO ONE was using it. If someone wants a quality mount that will allow the tacpoint to co-witness should look at the Aimpoint QRP + spacer setup.....



C4

Originally Posted By FALARAK: Originally Posted By mkgunz: So how would one of these be on a 10/22? Just for plinking? I am sure it would be absolutely fantastic..... even on an AR or shotgun (depending on how it takes recoil) but for the price, I'd rather have the $39 BSA optic listed above.

I'm pretty sure the BSA reddot is designed for the 10/22

Im pretty sure some of your complaints are personal and not necessarily poor quality. Not to mention you bought it used. Whos to say the person before you didn't mistreat it? (blah blah to all you "AP will last forever no matter what you do" people) I bet I could break and AP in about 1 minute.

I have a TacPoint, spent all day yesterday beating the shit out of it at the range. It never failed, held zero perfectly, covers flipped as they should, DOT was what I needed when I needed it, zero'd to bullseye at 100 yards with no problems, held zero after that (as stated before), adjustment screw caps were easy on, easy off. (unless you have ham hands you wont have a problem).

All I can say is im very happy with mine. Now granted, ive never owned an AP, I have used an Aimpoint on other peoples rifles but with my Tacpoint functioning the way it is, ill spend the extra $300 on ammo and beer.

Im sure AP's are a better product, especially with the added pricetag but for now ill stick with my Tacpoint until my Agency buys me an AP.