An admirable addition to the world of micro red dot sights, and the successor of the famous M68 optic used by the US Military. The Comp M5 has all the buzz going around since it has hit the civilian market.
A tougher and lightweight body with a more logical build, the Comp M5 offers a strong justification for its price. Let’s learn more about it in detail.
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Aimpoint CompM5 Red Dot Sight
Pros
Cons
Aimpoint Comp M5 Specs
Take an overview of the prominent specifications of the Aimpoint Comp M5 red dot sight for a quicker initial yes or no.
Eye Relief: Unlimited
Adjustment Options (Parallax, windage, elevation): Adjustable for W/E. Parallax Free
Type of Reticle: 2 MOA Red Dot
Image of Reticle:
Magnification: 1x
Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane
Objective Lens: 18 mm
Weight: 5.2 oz / 148 grams (without mount). 8.4 oz / 238 grams (with mount)
Pros
The Comp M5 is an upgraded version of the previous red dot sights from Aimpoint. Whether it be the T-1/T-2 or the H Series. The M5 has much to offer and for some very good reasons. Let’s find out what they are!
Long Battery Life & Uses Common AAA Battery
The Comp M5 uses a standard AAA battery to power the LED red dot. Yes, that average AAA battery you use to power your TV remote. Now that’s a big plus because these batteries are readily available almost everywhere. Whether it be America or Somalia. You don’t have to prepare yourself and scour retail suppliers for sophisticated batteries that cost four times as much.
Another plus factor is the battery life. The Comp M5 offers a 50,000 hour or 5 years continuous battery life on brightness setting 7. Which can be extended to 8 years on NVD settings 1-4 and will only hit a low of 1 year on the highest setting.
Extremely Strong Construction
The Comp M5 is small but features a robust construction. It is an Aimpoint and stands by that reputation for being rock solid. All that ruggedness with a lesser weight makes the sight even more admirable. The sight is submersible in water up to a depth of 45 metres (150 ft) and has an operating temperature range of -45 to +71 degrees celsius.
Amazing Functionality for Tactical Applications
The sight features a 2 MOA red dot and allows shooting with both-eyes-open. The dot is crisp enough to be used for close and medium-range engagements. The sight is practically parallax-free and can be coupled with magnifiers and any night vision rifle mounted device. Plus the unlimited eye relief is a useful aid to help you shoot regardless of your cheek weld.
Another useful feature is the inclusion of robust polymer flip-up lens covers. The rear one in which is transparent enough to let you use the red dot without flippin’ it up. That can come in handy in situations like patrolling, where soldiers mostly close the rear cover to protect the lens from rain/dirt.
Packaged Includes Mount
The Comp M5 offers an option for a co-witness mount. This means you don’t have to scour gun store shelves and pay another $100 or more for a compatible mount. Their mount has an excellent mounting system and supports your iron sights flawlessly. Plus, the mount base is keyed into the body of the sight to absorb recoil.
Cons
While the Comp M5 is an excellent tactical red dot sight. It certainly has a few drawbacks which are not exactly a deterrent, but a cautious information before you make your purchase.
Comparison With M4
The M5 is called to be an upgraded version of the Comp M4 which is currently in use with the U.S Military. The M5 has a battery life of 50,000 hours compared to the 80,000 hours life of the M4. Additionally, Comp M4 offers a total of 15 brightness settings, whereas the Comp M5 only offers 10 brightness settings. The M5 is also slightly bigger in size but almost half in weight.
Expensive
The Comp M5 red dot costs close to a thousand dollars. That’s a lot of money you’ll be paying for a red dot. Especially when you have a lot of other options with a far lesser price tag. Buying the M5 is more like an investment rather than a simple purchase.
However, the price of this sight is fairly justified because it is an Aimpoint and a dependable optic to trust your life upon.
Best Uses for the Aimpoint Comp M5
Aimpoint Comp M5 is a multipurpose close to medium range scope with a successive design that has been tested extensively upon the field. Let’s take a look at the best uses for this sight.
CQB
This is a fixed magnification red dot sight with parallax free lenses, NVD compatibility, and brightness settings. Not to mention the rocksolid body which is an innate characteristic of all Aimpoint optics. All these factors make it a perfect scope for close-quarter engagements and tactical operations. You can rely upon this sight for the safety of your family in a home defense encounter.
3-Gun Competitions
Quick sight acquisition and precision. That’s the winning factor in 3-gun competitions. Or any other competition you’ll be undergoing with an AR in your hand. This sight offers amazingly quick acquisition and works on Bindon Aiming Concept to let you shoot with both eyes open.
Hunting
The sight is compatible with NVD devices and also has brightness settings to suit different lighting conditions. It can be a good choice for taking out hogs or coyotes at short range.
Is the Aimpoint Comp M5 Compatible With Any Rifle?
The Comp M5 works best with assault carbines and rifles like the M4 family of rifles, Sig 716, AK’s, and other semi-auto or full-auto rifles that fall in a similar category. Or in simpler terms, any rifle with a Picatinny rail will do. However, that doesn’t help you with using this sight on a bolt action rifle. Since a red dot won’t be very practical that way. The sight is lightweight and compact and will not affect the overall weight and balance of even the lightest rifle.
What Do I Need to Know About Mounting the Aimpoint Comp M5?
The M5 is compatible with micro dot adapters and any Picatinny rail. That’s a huge improvement in its design when compared with the Comp M4. The sight comes packaged with a mount that is already attached to it through screws. You have the option to use the mount of your choice as detachment is very easy and quick. Make sure you use some Loctite when attaching the sight with the mount to prevent any wiggle.
You can choose to mount the optic to the forward half of the receiver. That way, you’ll save some space behind the red dot sight to mount magnifiers or night vision devices. Since the eye relief is unlimited, mounting position won’t be a real problem.
The Comp M5 can be co-witnessed with your iron sights, so you won’t have to completely detach them.
The sight is lightweight and strong enough to withstand the harshest conditions and prolonged abuse. You may also turn off the red dot when the sight is not in use. While not absolutely necessary, it will help improve battery life to a great extent.
What Makes the Aimpoint Comp M5 Stand Out From the Competition?
The M5 is a newer version of the Comp M4 with almost the exact same features and characteristics. The M4 is a battle-tested optic that imparts the M5 with a foregoing reputation. However, the M5 does have the quality and durability to stand out from the competition.
The fact that it uses commonly used AAA batteries and has a long-lasting battery life are two prime factors. Plus its compatibility with all NVD’s, level of water resistance, and versatile mounting capability are some very prominent distinguishing factors to subjugate its competition. Oh! And the high price/quality too.
Aimpoint Comp M5 vs. T2 - Comparison Overview
The Aimpoint T2 is a more compact red dot sight when compared with the M5. The T2 runs on a CR2032 battery whereas the Comp M5 uses a AAA battery. Both these sights have similar battery life when used on their respectively prescribed brightness settings.
The fact that the M5 uses a AAA battery and has a bigger housing makes it bulkier than the T2. The T2 weighs 3 oz whereas the M4 weighs 5.2 oz. Another significant difference is that CR2032 batteries tend to leak slowly as compared to AAA batteries.
When it comes to brightness settings, the T2 is the clear winner as it offers 12 adjustments compared to only 10 from the M5. T2 is also about $100 cheaper than the M5, given the size differences.
All the other factors are similar to both these red dot sights. Both these sights allow you to use NVD’s, mount on any Picatinny rail.
One small catch though is that traveling on airliners is easier with the Comp M5. Since it uses a AAA battery.
Conclusion
The Aimpoint Comp M5 is an upgraded version of the famous Comp M4 and features the same durability, quality, and level of performance. With a five-year battery life on average, and a 2 MOA crisp red dot with 10 brightness settings. This sight is perfect for close to medium range defense and hunting.
