The surprising pistol hack that inspired the compact Aimpoint Comp

Published on March 16, 2026
Duration: 0:51

This guide details a practical modification inspired by competitive pistol shooters who adapted the Aimpoint 5000 for compact use. By removing the unnecessary hollow rear section of the Aimpoint 5000, which was originally designed for rifle ring mounts, shooters could create a more streamlined optic. This user-driven innovation directly led to Aimpoint developing the specialized 'Comp' series for competition and compact applications.

Quick Summary

The Aimpoint Comp optic originated from a practical pistol shooter hack. Shooters modified the Aimpoint 5000 by removing its hollow rear mounting section, which was designed for rifles, to create a more compact sight for their pistols. Aimpoint recognized this innovation and developed the Comp series based on this user-driven design.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Early Aimpoint Pistol Use & IPSC
  2. 00:09Aimpoint 5000 Design Explained
  3. 00:25Shooter Modification for Compactness
  4. 00:38Aimpoint Comp Development

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the Aimpoint Comp optic come about?

The Aimpoint Comp optic was inspired by practical pistol shooters who modified the Aimpoint 5000. They removed the hollow rear mounting section of the 5000 to create a more compact sight for their pistols, a modification Aimpoint then adopted into production.

What was the original purpose of the Aimpoint 5000's rear section?

The rear section of the Aimpoint 5000 tube was designed to be hollow and served solely as a mounting point for the optic's two independent ring mounts, intended for rifle applications.

Why did competitive pistol shooters modify the Aimpoint 5000?

Competitive pistol shooters modified the Aimpoint 5000 because they only needed one ring mount for their pistols. Removing the hollow rear section made the optic significantly more compact and better suited for pistol use.

What is the difference between the Aimpoint 5000 and the Aimpoint Comp?

The Aimpoint 5000 is a rifle optic with a larger profile and two mounting rings. The Aimpoint Comp is a more compact version, specifically developed for pistols, based on user modifications of the 5000's design to eliminate unnecessary bulk.

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