I fixed my Ultradot

I had an old (20yr+??) 1" Ultradot that eventually suffered from the common "intermittent dot syndrome".  It had been sitting around for years since Ultradot warranty and service are essentially non-existent, so I decided to attempt a repair myself.  A YouTube video showed the repair (Google is your friend).

Briefly, the hardest part was removing the retainer ring in the battery compartment.  I ground some flat metal stock (box cutter blade) to the appropriate width to make a wrench, and used it to turn loose the small retainer ring in the battery compartment, and removed the circuit board.  It had grooves on the radial contact pads that I cleaned with 1200 grit paper.  Reassembled per the video and it works great so far. Have yet to test in recoil, but I am optimistic.

No, I have no plans to take on UD service, but you might want to try it yourself.  Others might have a source for a wrench to turn the ring.

Good luck!

I take a tiny bit of aluminum foil roll into a small ball and place it on the battery. When I tighten the cap the ball flattens and makes solid contact.

sharkdoctor wrote:...... A YouTube video showed the repair ......

Which link did you go to?

Problem with older UltraDots that will become noticeable the more it's used is sight adjustment. Having used UltraDots for a long time including it's clone the Illusion. (If my memory of the name is correct) I would remove it from Adam's 1911 after a season and replace with new. Would sell old scope to other club members with the explanation why I removed it typically to those not interested in competition.
 What happens over time is the aluminum tube inside gets dented by the ball on the end of the windage and elevation screw. After a while any adjustment to one requires adjustment to the other.. As the dent increases in depth adjustment is required but being a ball shaped dent adjusting one will push the other out of the dent it created. This problem was amplified by Adam being he shot when at home every day! Another issue would also occur is that the flat spring located 270° would weaken probably from being flexed many times by recoil that caused the ball to dent the tube increasing. Eventually the dot would not return to 0 and group size increased. The Illusion was worse in that it had a rubberish material rather than a spring. Over time it would weaken and begin to crumble adding black spots in the scope. I have often thought of making a ring with  flat sides and soldering (maybe epoxy to avoid heat) it to the tube but it was easier just to replace it and sell the old scope.
  This would happen to the 2 scopes mentioned prior to 1991, Adam joined the Army AMU. Not sure if newer scopes have the problem. So many other scopes soon came available so I only have one .22 with the newer Match Dot and don't shoot it much. The original older UltraDot was replaced because it too started having the issues listed above. I don't know anything about the newer models or if UltraDot did anything to the 1" type that are still made.

How long did it take for this issue to show up?  1,000 rounds?  10,000?  100,000?

Maybe the "Gen 2" Ultradots fixed this.  


Thank you - I've noticed that situation on other people's (older) sights, and I used to wonder why it happened.  Finally what may be a reasonable explanation.

I'm thinking it would become noticeable at about 20,000 rounds fired, outdoor season ended and he would shoot indoors. Being he shot so much it's hard to tell exactly. Scope was removed and replaced before outdoor season  started the following year. To be avoid any issue the scope was again replaced just before Camp Perry when Adam began to shoot in the 860s. Been over 20 years ago but I think elevation changed, when adjusting it windage needed adjustment which now altered the just changed elevation. When problem cause was determined the scope was changed mid season so it no longer occurred when he was winning matches while still in HS.

Another "fix" would be to put it in the Classified forum, and buy a new Aimpoint H-2.  They claim that this does NOT happen to their micro sights, and it hasn't happened to me with my own H-2.

I'll update this with more feedback when I reach 20,000 rounds, but by then I'll have a beard down to my toes, and I'll be too feeble to shoot.  

My brand new second generation 1" Ultradot sighted in SO easily this morning, just as nice as using an Aimpoint.  Then it stayed put.  

Also, I bought a used 1" Ultradot from LenV, and it worked perfectly.  Maybe Len knows how many rounds it has been used for.