OFFICER Labs: Aimpoint Duty RDS Review

Aimpoint is a name long known in the optics industry and as technology has evolved, so have their products. We were recently asked to test and evaluate the Aimpoint Duty RDS and we happily took the challenge. We reached out to Cpl. Ian Webster, a member of our Editorial Advisory Board and secured time on his private range. He also assisted with the testing process.

The rifle we had available for testing was the Battle Rifle Company BR4 SPECTRE with a 16” barrel, adjustable stock and standard Picatinny rail on the top of the receiver and hand guard. The rifle was equipped with “pop up” front and rear sights, each mounted as far forward or back as could be managed on the Pic-rail. The Aimpoint Duty RDS was to be mounted immediately in front of the rear sight with enough clearance to pop that sight up to test co-witnessing capability.

From opening the box of the Aimpoint Duty RDS to having it zeroed and ready took about 10 minutes. Inside the box were the sight, a new battery, the tool necessary for both mounting the sight and adjusting it for windage and elevation, and the user manual.

First we installed the battery, and then we mounted the optic. Second (and only when we had a question we couldn’t figure out the answer to like most officers), we opened the manual to see how to turn it on, turn it off, adjust brightness, and change the reticle. There are three reticle options available: just the 2MOA dot, dot in a circle, and just the circle (for faster CQB engagements). The brightness of the sight has 10 settings: four infrared-compatible settings and six daylight brightness settings. While we were not able to test the IR settings, we did run through all the brightness levels and ensured all three reticles worked. To adjust the brightness, there are easy-to-feel touch buttons on the left side (as you look at it from the rear). Pushing and holding the down arrow button performs two functions depending on how long you hold it. Hold it for three seconds and you change the reticle. Push it for five and you turn off the optic. According to the published materials, on its lowest brightness level with the single dot reticle, the battery will last for up to 30,000 hours if left on. That’s about 3.5 years, so we’re not going to be able to confirm it in this test/report, but we have no reason to doubt it.

One interesting note: With the dot-in-circle reticle and the hard sights popped up, the circle of the RDS perfectly overlaid the rear peep sight perimeter, and the dot sat near the top of the front post sight.

With the Duty RDS mounted and the hard sights laid down, we set about zeroing the optic. The required Allen wrench to make the adjustments came with the sight, and the windage and elevation adjustments are flush mounted so they can’t be bumped and pushed off zero. It took us a few groups of three shots to be satisfied that we had the sight zeroed and then we simply engaged targets for fun. In between magazine changes we banged the optic up a bit, sometimes even making sure the rounds were seated in the magazine by hitting it on the optic. Why? To see if the Duty RDS would hold zero under the abuse it might see operationally — or in the trunk/ back storage area of a patrol car. It held zero with no issues and we kept on shooting.

The Duty RDS comes with flip-up covers for both front and rear. The rear is clear so we really didn’t see a need to ever open it. The front is solid but, interesting tactic, if you forget to open it and are shooting with both eyes open, you can still put the reticle on your target as your brain mixes the different images from your eyes.