AIM Sports dovetail mount reflex sight...a quick review...lots ofpics

[airriflenut]

As I may have mentioned one or five times, I am also in the process of building a matching pistol for the Squirrel Whisperer, the Squirrel Whisperer Jr.  When done it will actually have two tube variants, bulk-fill for a hunting/back-up shot pistol built with a 2250 tube and there will be a more economical "plinking" 12 gram tube built with a 2240 tube.  Just swap out the breeched upper and two different pistols.  I am waiting to order the needed breech riser next week to finish the build, look for another pic heavy post.

For the pistol I wanted a quick acquisition sight so a dot-style reflex sight was needed.  There are a lot of choices out there, being a huge Leapers/UTG fan now that was the first place to look.  Nice dot and reflex sights, I have the UTG 4.2" ITA red/green dot on the Crosmods 1377 build and love it, but all have the Weaver/Picattinny mount.  I wanted a compact sight that needed no adapter to mount...a dovetail mount.  I looked at the AIM Sports reflex sights several years ago at a gun show and liked them and the reasonable price tag but there wasn't a dovetail mount sight backthen.

Some searching for a sight for the pistol build I ran across the new AIM Sports Dual Illuminated Four Reticle Dovetail Mount Reflex Sight, model RT4-06D.  Found one on Amazon for $44.95 with free shipping so one was on the way asap.  Side note, I checked Amazon last night, now $35.95 with free shipping!!

Here some specs and on to the pics.  5.9 ounces, 3 1/16" long, 2 1/8" high and 2" wide including the battery housing/illumination color selector.  Those are my measurements with a cheap calipers.  Pics....


Mounted on the borrowed breech riser pistol.






I tried to capture actual images of the four reticles rather than just copy and paste the manufacturers graphics.  Some may not be the best pics but I tried, obviously the sight body is going to be out of focus.


Red Dot.

Red Cross reticle.

Red Cross/Circle/Dot reticle.

Red Circle and Dot reticle.

For my eyes the Circle and Dot and the Cross/Circle/Dot reticles are too much to see any target.  They look cool but not really functional in my opinion.  Both the red and green illuminations have a 5-position intensity setting, both are easy to see at any setting unless you are in sunlight then the #1 setting isn't bright enough to see clearly.  The illumination knob also houses the CR2023 battery.  This may be the case in almost all illuminated reflex-type sights, it is on the UTG 4.2", but there is some "flare" or "star burst" around the projected reticle, however, the AIM sight has less of this effect than the UTG.

I do like how the windage and elevation adjustments are done with a hex key, nothing protruding out to get hung up, bumped or knocked out of adjustment...a nice clean compact profile.  But, both the windage and elevation adjustments do not have the crisp audible and tactile clicks as on the UTG although the adjustments do seem to hold their position well.  The dot reticle is a 4 moa dot with 1 moa clicks, it would be nice to see maybe a 2 moa dot with 1/2 moa clicks for airguns and rimfires since most of the targets for these guns are of the smaller variety.  There is no dust/protective cover or cap with this sight, it does include a lens cloth...I'll have my sewing sister make a camo dust cover with an elastic bottom band.

Besides it being a convenient and secure dovetail mounting system, if you mount it on a long breech there is no need to remove the sight to tear down your gun, even the front breech screw is accessible while the sight is mounted...awesome!!



In summary, this appears to be a quality reflex-style sight given the affordable price.  Would I buy this sight again?  Yes!  Would I recommend this sight to others?  Yes!

[breakfastchef]

I'm a big dot sight fan. Very thorough review of  the AIM sight. I like the design of the outer shell. With every dot sight I have ever owned, I ended up always using the single dot. All those other reticles have no use to me.

[Monkeydad1969]

Nice review, Sterling.

[airriflenut]

I'm a big dot sight fan. Very thorough review of  the AIM sight. I like the design of the outer shell. With every dot sight I have ever owned, I ended up always using the single dot. All those other reticles have no use to me.

I agree on the single dot Larry.  I've used this sight on the temporary pistol and on the interim carbine and tried all of the reticles in both colors, the dot was the best and the cross my second choice.

[airriflenut]

Nice review, Sterling.

Thanks Joe!!

[Tater]

Good review and very cool looking shooter. Totally agree on the dot too, it's all I use. I'd rather have a smaller dot and less sight type options, if I was in the market for one.

[tinker]

I always wondered about this sight.  Thanks for the review.  I have a couple of the older open type reflex sights but these aren't bright enough for a nice sunny day.

Glen

[harvey_s]

Is there much change in the POI when changing between reticles?

[breakfastchef]

Is there much change in the POI when changing between reticles?

You should expect POI to change when flipping from one reticle to another. Not a lot, but there is a shift.

[arkmaker †]

Nice review 


Now, you've gone and done it!.......have me wanting to try out another red dot 

[airriflenut]

You should expect POI to change when flipping from one reticle to another. Not a lot, but there is a shift.

This is true.  There is some shift but I have not done a POI test yet since the pistol isn't fully built right now.  The riser was ordered today so I should be able to post on POI in a week or so.