Writing this for yous guys for SA. I just had a dude on TacSwap offer me a G33 magnifier as a trade for my Team Wendy helmet. I laughed and said no thanks. Got me to thinking why he would offer that POS for a $1300 helmet (not asking that much that but that's what they are new). It occurred to me that he's placing the retail for those hunks o' shit as the trade value against the helmet (which BTW, has real value). A G33 has an MSRP of $519 with a mount. I worked at L3 when we owned that company...that's all I'll say.
The G33 itself is 100% Chinese. Costs maybe $40 to make. Maybe. The only thing that's US made is the skin, mount, and the knobs IIRC. The paint job for the tan and laser etch too. Their others are Chinese; one might be Philippines but I don't remember.
My suggestion is to find a mgnifier from another company that's around $150-$200. Still Chinese or Filipino, but way cheaper. Just as good though. In fact, outside of Aimpoint-ish, almost all magnifiers are Chinese or Filipino. It costs too much to be made outside Asia, especially the states. The quality doesn't vary between them and the G33 IMO. Below say $130ish, and definitely below $100, you start running into complete GARBAGE.
Brand recommendations IMO: Bushnell, Sig, Vortex, PA (their higher end ones), and Holosun. Meprolight, Trijicon, and Aimpoint (not the $1000 magnifier-that's stupid), are good "higher end" magnifiers that are still cheaper and better than the G33. This my opinion only and not medical or ophthalmologic advice.
The G33 itself is 100% Chinese. Costs maybe $40 to make. Maybe. The only thing that's US made is the skin, mount, and the knobs IIRC. The paint job for the tan and laser etch too. Their others are Chinese; one might be Philippines but I don't remember.
My suggestion is to find a mgnifier from another company that's around $150-$200. Still Chinese or Filipino, but way cheaper. Just as good though. In fact, outside of Aimpoint-ish, almost all magnifiers are Chinese or Filipino. It costs too much to be made outside Asia, especially the states. The quality doesn't vary between them and the G33 IMO. Below say $130ish, and definitely below $100, you start running into complete GARBAGE.
Brand recommendations IMO: Bushnell, Sig, Vortex, PA (their higher end ones), and Holosun. Meprolight, Trijicon, and Aimpoint (not the $1000 magnifier-that's stupid), are good "higher end" magnifiers that are still cheaper and better than the G33. This my opinion only and not medical or ophthalmologic advice.
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