User Panel
Posted: 11/27/2007 4:20:24 PM EDT
I've seen a lot of posts lately about 3x magnifiers, so I did a little snooping today and found a little chinese outfit that makes Aimpoint 3x mag clones. They sell them for less than $100 a pop on sites like ebay.
Here's a link to one of their auctions.. I emailed the guy and he tried to "esplain" some thing about it. I just thought this would be an interesting discussion for some, because I have seen a lot of posts lately about the 3x magnifiers. My personal opinion is that it probably will "work", but it may not be as functional, or as reliable as the Aimpoint or Eotech 3x magnifier. The "real" magnifiers will be coated better to resist fog, probably be more rugged to resist breaking due to droppage, and have a clearer picture. With that said however, it's hard to convince some people that $500 is a reasonable price for a 3x "monocular". I would imagine that these knockoffs would probably have trouble keeping up with a .308 or anything larger than a .223 round as well as they probably do not have any sort of protection against recoil damage. I wonder how these knockoffs compare to the po-boys though? |
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lol I just noticed this on their item. They list it as being "Crystal Clear Lens with frog and water resistant"
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You can find them readily available...made by UFC or G&P out of China...for Air soft guns.
That would worry me. |
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Durability and recoil issues are not really the problem with those clones. There is no reticle and no moving parts, so not much of a chance of anything breaking under normal use. However, light transmission, clarity and resolution are definitely going to be inferior to the true aimpoint and eotech magnifiers. Will that be an issue for plinking at the range. Probably not. If the user intends to use them in lower light conditions, or shooting at longer ranges though, performance is going to suffer.
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Very well said. I was expecting a lot of "It sucks" kind of anwsers. I agree with that assumption. I don't plan to purchase one myself, but I wouldn't discourage another person who wants one for plinking. |
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I would consider one of these for plinking as there is no way I can sink $500 into a real one.
Like other posters have said, this should in no way be considered anything to rely on in any serious capacity. Methinks it would work fine on my new .22. - BG |
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how much eye relief does it permit?
i'm looking for a long eye relief monocle that i can use while wearing a paintball mask... |
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When I tried it out (with misaligned centers) the eye relief was not a lot. unlike a red dot where you have almost inifinite eye relief, you need to "get up"on the monocle and have your nose right up near the CH.
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I bought one as well.
I got mine with the Red dot clone for $145 shipped. I havent had it to the range yet but i am more then happy with it. Eye relief seems a little lacking but for less then $100 the clarity and briteness seem very good. |
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Holey, Moley! Not only does the item look as authentic as the real McCoy, but these Chinese manufacturers went as far as duplicating the name and other REGISTERED trademarks to the Tee!
You don't think these Chinese folks were intending on being a supply source for dishonest merchants who wouldn't mind ripping-off unwitting buyers....do you? This is forgery that is no different then the companies copying and selling expensive name brand purses. Though this Ebay seller is honest enough to tell shoppers up front that it is a forgery, he risks having the Feds bust down his door with a search-warrant in hand. Maybe that's why he only advertises one at a time. Because, if I were Eotech or Aimpoint, I'd want his friggin head on a platter! Never mind your perceived $$savings of buying this junk. I'd be more concerned about having my name on a paper trail leading to my address, and getting a visit from customs agents and/or the ATF. What could be more gratifying for an overzealous agent then to walk out of someone's house with all kinds of your guns?.....over something as stupid as this! Happy Holidays. |
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As a general personal rule and based on my past experiences I dont trust any copy of a product for serious use for example I have 2 acogs ,aimpoints, eotech,leupy,nightforce etc. when the acog bug bit me, I bought them without a doubt,because i know that they are a unique product wich require a lot of design ,research and all that s**it that I dont understand.but honestly the Eo or Aimpoint magnfiers are currently the only item that I would buy a copy of it FOR RANGE AND PLINKING USE ONLY but lets face it people it's only a DAMN magnifier (not a sealed waterproof shock resistant red dot ,not a laser hologram sight etc)just a magnifier.Will it stand rough use and abuse ?hardly think so,will it fill the bill for casual use and maybe two or three classes ?maybe . for a more than $300.00 difference,I am willing to find out.
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That is such a good fake I can never trust to buy a used Aimpoint magnifier now. Heck, I can't even trust to buy a new one now.
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I agree 100%. I can understand why an aimpoint and eotech are around $400, but if they think I will spend an equal amount on a magnifier for the already high-priced red dot, they are smoking crack. |
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Just buy from a reputable dealer, and you should be OK. Beyond that, I'll bet you that the folks at Eotech and Aimpoint could tell you how to distinguish the differences between their real products and the fakes. But yea, this thread was actually a blessing in disguise. Now we know to be careful of who/how we buy these things. |
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The crack must not be altering their senses too bad. From what LaRue tells me, these Aimpoint magnifiers are selling pretty darn good. |
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The end user who is ripped off buying a fake is never held accountable or has his stuff taken because he was the victim of the con! I don't understand your logic. Secondly, I doubt if the ATF really cares about knockoff Airsoft parts. Last time I checked scopes and magnifiers real or Airsoft are not regulated by the ATF! |
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I would greatly appreciate it if you would take that camera with you to the range once you have the right mount for the red dot sight, and take some photos through this magnifier / reddot combo and let us see what this baby looks like! |
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THIS IS BS I cant belive nothing can be done |
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something "could" be done but it is up to aimpoint or the holder of the patents to sue in civil court for enforcement. i doubt aimpoint is actually losing any sales to these guys. people that buy the 100.00 version WOULD NOT buy the 500.00 version. that said if i was Aimpoint i be concerned about the use of my company logo's and such. i picked up an aimpoint clone for the wifes rifle a couple of years ago. it's a plinker and ver sees anything other than a bench at the range twice a year. it's copied right down to the serial number |
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Will do. I was playing around with it at lunch to see what mount I need on my Comp to line it up. It seem like the regular ARMS QD mount with the thin spacer will do the job perfectly. |
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Will do. I was playing around with it at lunch to see what mount I need on my Comp to line it up. It seem like the regular ARMS QD mount with the thin spacer will do the job perfectly. |
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Thanks |
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Please do not give lectures on what you think might be patent and copyright laws in the AR sections-Thanks Aimless
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Please guys dont turn this into a pissing contest.
All of us are adults and should know the consequences of our actions. Please remember that opinions are like ass holes ...everybody have one but some stinks more than others. |
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+1 Thats why I never buy off Ebay/EE etc! only the good dealers here |
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i know... maybe AimPoint is using there rejected glass to make these and sell them on the "black market" as clones w/o warranties and still making money off of there unused parts. this way they are able to dominate the entire market, those who will pay $500 and those that will only pay $100 w/ no warranties.
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And they ship them to Hongkong, so they can be shipped back in the states to look more "black market". Why do they call it the "Black Market" anyway? Most of the stuff comes from Asia... |
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Meth sells pretty good as well, even if the materials and mfg is cheap and easy to do. |
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I have both aimpoint and clone .I just bought another clone .I can't really see much differance in the both of them besides the money differance.I've shot about 2500 rounds thru my my m4 with clone and no problems at all
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Are you talking about a clone Magnifier or a clone aimpoint reddot? Just to be clear. |
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Exactly who are you referring to? (edited) Nevermind. I understand. I'm a little slow today. |
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okay well I can tell you right now that box is not a copy. also the real one does not come with a lens cap. you should be able to spot a fake.
It does dissapoint me that they copy the name and things. I can guaranty you people will start trying to pass them off as real at somepoint. |
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Why would you buy this in the first place? The Hensoldt 3x magnifier is cheaper and undeniably superior, and you wouldn't be supporting the "ethically challenged".
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I don't think anybody here is advocating supporting con artists pushing their warez. This is more of a technical discussion regarding the technical abilities of these clones. And I agree that the hensoldt 2.5x magnifier is a far better option. |
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http://www.dragonredairsoft.com/airsoft/viewProduct.action?productID=22648
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...now this is an honest no BS approach |
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I definitly want to try out one of these"yellow" market 3x clones.
my only experience with a clone was when I bought a ultradot strike dot for my carbon 15 9mm carbine and the power knob fly out of the sight but a monocular is simpler so I hope that it works anyway I will use my wiley x SG-1 just in case |
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Ethics??? Is that like preaching Stag is better than DPMS???
I'd buy a clone magnifier, guess i'm supporting terrorists, Hillary, and telemarketers who take advantage of the elderly....Then again I'm not a tactical couch commando from the 101 Chair born. I shoot paper targets not people, neither one would care whats on my rifle. I still don't understand why aimpoint and eotech decided to put such a hefty tag on their product. Just seems a bit backwards to me given the fact that it is such a simple device. To me it just makes it sound like they're pumping the price because of their name. Cry R&D if you want, probably took them in reality a week or two of design time because the design isn't anything cutting edge |
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Amen brother. |
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eh guess I should have added into there that the first part was sarcasm as was the second...now I'm waiting for someone take a swig of their kool-aid and get belligerent and really make this a party
Oh and I'm a half commie-chinko bastard....whatcha gonna do about it. The other half's polish, not even a drunk genetic scientist could breed together someone like me...I'm the cheapest of the cheap. You ever try to haggle with a chinaman in chinatown? My polish grandparents weren't rich either and pinched every penny until the day they died.....guess what that combo means for me |
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There are probably fewer hensoldt mag's out there than there is the capacity for China to crank out monoculars that aimpoint/EO claim fame to. |
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I find it rediculous that Aimpoint wants the same price for a 3x magnifier, as you could buy a very nice leupold variable power scope. Does that mean that people who create clones of their products are justified in doing so? No. But I think their ridiculous prices for this item have fueled the market. As long as people buy aimpoint magnifiers at their current prices though, they will continue to sell them for that price. The united states military and law enforcement agencies provide large contracts to aimpoint and Eotech for their products, and the government doesn't really give a crap about how much they spend on items. This is the same government that spent $1,000,000 to develop a pen that would work in space. The russians used a $.05 pencil... |
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