When it comes to red dot sights, your wallet is going to determine the end results. The Aimpoint Micro T1 isn’t the cheapest optic on the planet, but if you’ve been in the game long enough, then you know that you get what you pay for.
There are plenty of amazing budget optics out there, but if you’re ready to pull the stops and get the last micro red dot you’ll ever need, then you’re on the right review.
Let’s dig into the Aimpoint Micro T1 and see what’s up.
Who needs an Aimpoint Micro T1, and why?
If you’re asking yourself if you need an Aimpoint Micro T1, the answer might be no. For many shooters, this optic is a gucci piece of equipment that comes with a high-dollar cost associated with it. If you’re brand new to shooting, and just got your first carbine rifle, this optic might not be what you need. There are plenty of great budget optics you can put on your rifle that will allow you to spend money on training. We recommend doing that instead if you are brand new to this space.
If you’re not a brand new shooter however, and you’re looking for something that will give you a lot of bang for a long time, then you this might be for you.
The Aimpoint Micro T1 was designed with combat in mind. As a direct result, this optic is fully compatible with all current generations of night-vision. It’s also submersible of to 80 feet, and fully capable of taking whatever beating a dynamic shooter can give it.
This is the perfect optic for any experienced shooter looking to outfit their carbine, shotgun, or sub-machine gun. In some circumstances, it will also go well on competition pistols. For the purpose of this review, we had the Aimpoint Micro T1 mounted on a Century Arms Zastava AK Pistol chambered in 5.56mm.
The Aimpoint Micro T1 Breakdown.
Here we are. The Aimpoint Micro T1 is pretty much the gold standard when it comes to micro red dot optics. Not only is this optic known for it’s vast list of features, it’s also known for it’s extreme durability. With a price tag sitting somewhere around $700+, you would expect this optic to be top of the line.
It is.
There have been a number of content creators who have put the Micro T1 through a variety of stress tests, and in the end nothing short of a direct explosion will break this thing, and even then the results are sometimes still in favor of the T1. These are just test situations however. Field reports from the T1 report the exact same results as these content creators. So, if you decide to go with the Micro T1, be aware that you’ve purchased an optic that is known for its incredible durability.
On top of legendary durability, the Aimpoint Micro T1 is slam packed with amazing features. The optic is a 2-MOA dual lens parallax free reflex sight. This means that the shooter is able to quickly acquire the red dot, and put accurate rounds on target regardless of the shooter’s position. Also, the T1 comes ready with 4 night vision compatible settings and 8 daylight settings. Each night vision setting is fully compatible with all current generations of night vision devices as well.
Oh, did we mention that you could forget to leave this thing on for 5 years and the battery would probably still be fine? It boasts a battery life span of 50,000 hours at the 8th intensity setting for the red dot. So, if you swear by not using batteries because you were spoiled by tritium like I was, this is probably the perfect red dot for you.
Specifications of the Optic.
Here’s the bottom line information you want before you make a purchase. You can find an even more detailed list of specifications on Aimpoint’s webpage.
| OPTICAL SPECIFICATIONS |
|---|
| Operating principle: Reflex Collimator sight with LED |
| Optical magnification: 1x |
| Aiming dot size: 2 or 4 MOA |
| Dot intensity: Visible against a background luminance of 0,1 to 55 000 lx |
| Optical signature: No optical signature is visible at 10 meter distance, front side, on appropriate settings with NVD |
| Dot color: Peak Wavelength: 655 ± 15 nm |
| NVD compatible: Yes |
| Optical coating: Anti-reflex, all surfaces and multi-layer. NVD-Compatible 1, 2, 3 |
| Clear aperture: 18 mm (.71 in) |
| Eye relief: Unlimited |
| POWER SOURCE |
|---|
| Battery type: 3V lithium battery, type CR2032. |
| Battery life – Day time use: 5 years (50 000h) of continuous use at pos. 8 and over 10 months at pos. 10. Responds to >500 000 hours at NVD setting (pos. 2) |
| Power intensity: 4 NVD and 8 Daylight, of which 1 extra bright |
Where to buy.
There are a number of great vendors out there that all carry the Aimpoint Micro T1. Depending on the individual location, you can find these sights ranging from $650 to $800. Here’s a couple of our favorite places to check. If you keep an eye out, we’ll do our best to update this post with the best prices we can find.
How the sight performed on the range.
For our test day, we took the Aimpoint Micro T1 out to TNT Guns and Range in Murray, Utah. It’s worth noting that this was an indoor test setting, but we have ran this exact setup outdoors as well with similar results. Our optic was set up on the forend of our Century Arms Zastava AK Pistol chambered in 5.56mm, and we ran it out to 100 meters.
At the start, we conducted an initial zero of the weapon system, and were able to get the red dot dialed in after about 20 rounds. Following this, we put another 800 rounds of ball ammunition through the Zastava, and had absolutely no issues keeping the weapon on target. The red dot reticle was quick and easy to acquire, and even easier to get on target. Initially there were some problems with the intensity being too high, but that was easily fixed simply by down-tuning the reticle’s brightness with the knob on the side of the T1.
After 800 rounds through the Zastava out on the range, we had absolutely zero complaints about this optic. After a while, it almost became an extension of the firearm, and was actually easier for one of the novice shooters to use than the traditional iron sights.
If you don’t believe us however, here’s another review from TwangNBang. He compares the Micro T1 against the H1.
Final thoughts on the Aimpoint Micro T1.
At the end of the day, we had no major issues with the Aimpoint Micro T1. It ran perfectly on our Zastava AK Pistol, and gave us everything we needed and more. The optic has been a main stay on the platform for a very long time, and we have never encountered any serious issues with it.
If you’re an experienced shooter looking for a permanent red dot sight for your weapon, this is a great choice. While it’s certainly far from the cheapest optic you can find, you’ll get a lot of hours out of it, making it well worth the asking price from Aimpoint.
That’s just our opinion though. Let us know down in the comments if you’ve ever encountered any serious issues or malfunctions with your Aimpoint Micro T1. We’re curious to see what our audience thinks of it!