Video Transcript
Main Differences from Other Aimpoint Optics (00:00)
The Aimpoint Duty RDS is Aimpoint's answer to a more inexpensive micro red dot option. They've had a budget, you know, larger-tubed optic, the Aimpoint PRO, for a long time, that sort of compliments their larger comp series. And then they've had the T-1 and the T-2 that are obviously a little expensive, a little pricey. And now they have a more budget option in that micro line of optics. The main difference with the Duty RDS compared to the T-1 and the T-2 is the brightness dial has been modified slightly with an up and down arrow. In my opinion, I actually prefer the rotating dial of the T-1 and the T-2. It's a little bit easier to use with gloves on than the small up and down arrow. But the buttons on the Duty RDS are very effective. It's got six daylight brightness settings, it's got four night vision settings.
Mounting Height (00:47)
And the other main difference to this optic outside of the buttons is the mount itself. Now it does take the standard Aimpoint four-screw Aimpoint whole pattern. But the optic itself sits 0.4 inches taller than an Aimpoint T-1 or T-2. So if you go and place this optic on your favorite Scalarworks lower-third mount, your absolute co-witness lower third, or maybe your Unity FAST riser it is going to not meet that height that those companies have quoted the T-1 and T-2 sitting at. It is going to be 0.4 inches taller than that. So for example, if I take this Duty RDS, I rip it off the default mount that it comes with, which is tightened with a standard Torx screw right here in the center. And I go ahead and mount that to my Unity 2.26 or 2.23 it's actually gonna be sitting at 2.63 or 2.66. Or if you have like the Knight Skyscraper mount.
And so this is a nice little example right here. This MCX has a Duty RDS on a Scalarworks lower third. So it's one of our favorite, you know, mounts out there. And this is actually sitting at the same height as this T-2 on a 1.93 mount. So as long as you understand that, you can go order standard Aimpoint mounts and achieve the height that you're looking for. But I also am assuming that a lot of these optic companies out there making Aimpoint mounts are going to start making mounts—they'll start quoting the height that it'll be if you're running a Duty RDS, or they will simply make Duty RDS specific mounts for certain heights, like 1.93. And as far as the default mount goes, it sits right in between a absolute co-witness and a lower third. It's kind of that happy medium right in the middle. So your iron sights are if you're running, you know, fixed iron sights or backup iron sights, they are gonna sit in the lower part of the window but not dead-center as if it were an absolute co-witness.
Using the default mount, mounting the optic to a rail is relatively simple. You're going to be loosening the Torx screw on the mount itself, place it in its optimal position all the way forward, you know, is what we like to do. And then you're simply gonna have to tighten this down. I'm gonna be doing this hand tight plus a little bit extra. This is what we've been doing on the RDS's for the past few months and it has been just fine.
Using with a Magnifier (03:10)
As far as running a magnifier with the stock Duty RDS mount, the EOTECH magnifier itself, all it needs is the riser plate not installed. So normally you attach the riser plate to use it with 1.93's and lower third, but because this sits at that height in between lower third and absolute co-witness, removing the riser plate or not running the riser plate at all actually works really well. So most magnifiers on the market will work just fine with the standard Duty RDS mount. As soon as you start jacking it up, that's when you need to start looking into riser plates or things like the Unity FAST flip to center mount in order for that to work.
If you have any other questions, go ahead, email us at [email protected].