[C-grunt]

Ive got an ACOG scope on top of my M16 SDM rifle and have been carrying for about eight months now and have to say that its the best combat scope ive ever seen.

In the last few months my rifle has been through hell. im currently covering down on my buddies job (hes on RnR) as a bradley gunner. driving about my rifle occasionaly gets thrown around, kicked, dropped, and piles of stuff put on it. not to mention all the times ive tripped down\up stairs, fallen in holes, ran into trees, jumped over fences, or any other way ive found to bust my @ss!

All this and my aim has NEVER been off target, even out to 500 meters. thats one hell of a scope.

dont ask me which model though.....its got the fiber optic reticle and crosshares out to 800 meters.

[NMshooter]

Some of the best money I ever spent. :D

Never got to ride in a Bradley, it sure does look cramped in those things.

Keep it cool, and stay safe!

:)

[Double Naught Spy]

I have two, one with crosshair reticle and one with a donut reticle. They are simply outstanding.

I have found that both are a little too powerful for really close-in shooting, even though they are 3.5 and 4.0x. I have seen the simple optics (no magnification) offered by Trijicon, but for reticle brightness in all conditions, I am thinking of getting a low powered ACOG (1.5 or 2.0x) for CQB shooting. Even at 3.5x, the field of view is pretty small inside 50 yards and I find that I can lose time as I try to find my target with the scope with the restricted field of view, a problem not present with no-mag red dot-type optics.

ACOGs are really durable and as noted, once zero'd, they stay that way.

I hate to admit it, but I have managed to knock over my AR15 and it fell on the concrete. It was leaning against my car and I knocked it over as I was getting out other gear. True to form, it landed on the scope. There are a couple of scratches in the finish of the scope on the leading hood/sunshade edge, but no other damage and it kept its zero as well. I realize this isn't much of a durability test and certainly does not compare to field conditions in Iraq, but I have seen other scopes break in some manner from such a fall.

ACOGs are not cheap, but for the money, you get a really durable and reliable scope.

[Father Knows Best]

I've been thinking of getting one for my SA58 Para Congo. I have an AK that is set up for CQB with a Kobra red dot (Russian version of the Eotech HWS), and an HK91 that is set up for 300+ meters with a 4-16x scope. The SA58 needs optics, and it seems to me that a 4x ACOG would be a good choice and make the SA58 into a great midrange (100-400 meters) weapon. If I could just afford one right now....

[artherd]

Not sure if it's true, but I have heard of reports of captured Iraquis who thought ALL US army forces were snipers, due to their accuracy of their M-16s equiped with ACOGs out to 400-500meters, and the sheer number of headshots they make.

Dosen't surprise me much, the ACOG is the best weapon upgrade in 30 years.

[chopinbloc]

i have a trijicon acog reflex II mounted on my m16a2 and while i'm just a pog and they pretty much never let me outside the wire, it still gets knocked around alot and retains its zero well. it's a very fast sight and allows me to see my aiming point regardless of light conditions. i love it. i ordered a ta01 4x for my ar at home but i won't be able to use it 'till i go home on leave. fwiw, i am completely dedicated to the trijicon line of products. i have never heard anything bad and all my personal experience with their stuff has shown me flawless function. besides, i don't trust batteries.

[NMshooter]

While the Reflex II has its limitations it sure beats nothing but iron sights.

Being able to see your point of aim in the dark makes an incredible difference.

[Mute]

For any shooting beyond 300m I think they're the cat's meow. Only thing more accurate would be a scope at the sacrifice of speed. For 200 meter and under I find that they're a bit slower than a dot site like Eotech or an Aimpoint with no siginificant advantage in accuracy. The closer in you get the slower the ACOGs are compared to the two optics I listed above.

[444]

I have a TA31F and it is a fine sight.
I honestly can't say that I like it better than an Aimpoint, but I have spent a lot more time shooting with an Aimpoint so maybe it is just familiarity.

Either way, it is incredible to me that there are some people that still honestly believe that iron sights are the way to go on a rifle/carbine such as we are talking about. There is even at least one major shooting school here in the US with this viewpoint.
Oh, well.
At least the guys that are at the tip of the spear know the good stuff and have access to it. The REMFs can debate the topic while the guys doing it know the truth.

[Cesiumsponge]

Hmm while the ACOG and Aimpoint are thrown out in the open...anyone have any experience running an EOTech/Aimpoint with the magnifier unit?

You'd have the ability for CQB which the EOTech and Aimpoint are known for at the 1x magnification, but also the quick attach/detech of the 3x magnifier gives the ability for a bit further reach...not quite 4x ACOG territory, but it certainly seems like it would extend their roles.

Seeing one can grab an Aimpoint/EOTech for ~$300 for an average model, and the magnifier for $450+$150 quick-detach mount, it'll put one under the $1000 mark, which is comparable with some ACOG models.

[Chris Rhines]

I've tried out a friend's Aimpoint/Magnifier unit. It's not bad, but I'd much rather have a TA11 ACOG.

One problem with the Aimpoint magnifier is that it magnifies the dot, as well. Last thing you want at longer range is a large, indistinct reticle.

- Chris

[boofus]

The newer fiber optic equipped ACOGs and aiming with both eyes open (Bindon Aiming Concept) should help up close.

My only gripe with the ACOG is the weird shape and short eye relief. Works great on ARs, but not on my FNC where the scope rail is far forward and very high. :(

I got a Trijicon Accupoint on order that also supports BAC, we'll see how that works. :p

[Cesiumsponge]

One problem with the Aimpoint magnifier is that it magnifies the dot, as well. Last thing you want at longer range is a large, indistinct reticle.

I don't see how this is a problem...at least with EOTechs. Aimpoints have that bigger 2 or 4MOA dot which can prove troublesome when magnified, or even unmagnified and shooting out to 300m. A 4MOA dot will cover a 12" circle at those distances. However, EOTechs have a precise 1MOA dot and the ring and hash mark sizing is known and can be used to range-find.

Using the 3XMAG unit, it retains the proper reticle scale. At 100 yards with the 3xMAG, the dot will still cover a 1" circle. If the 3xMAG did not magnify the reticle, then the rangefinding potential is gone as the dot would be 1/3MOA and the 65MOA ring would be 22MOA.

At 500m/yds, the EOTech reticle's center dot would only cover a 5" circle, which is still reasonably precise, albiet one needs to start holding over. I guess thats why they're making a reticle revision with the EOTech 553. The EOTech on a 5.56mm isn't a 1000m/yrd precision rifle. The 3x magnification was designed to give CQB optics a bit of mid-distance boast that can be removed if need be, not turn it into a sniper platform. At least, thats what I believe it to be. Maybe it's just wishful thinking.

[Chris Rhines]

It's actually worse with the EOTech, because the EOTech has a very poorly defined dot (at least mine did.) With the magnifier in place, you get a big, grainy blob as an aiming point. Now where exactly on that blob is the rifle zeroed - good question.

With fairly large targets (like a torso), at moderate ranges, not too bad. If the target is a little smaller, I prefer something with a crisply defined reticle.

- Chris

[Cesiumsponge]

I'll have to look around for a 3x loupe or something similar and see if I can mickeymouse what my reticle looks like magnified at 3x and make a decision after that I guess. I can't justify an ACOG purchase. Well, I'm sure I can convince myself to but my wallet won't be able to support me on that decision.

Speaking of...is there an ACOG FAQ? Theres like 3 zillion serial numbers and variations! Just in case my wallet swells in the future :D

[Double Naught Spy]

boofus, the Bindon Aiming Concept (BAC) is nifty, but it has a lot of limitations for many normal folks. I have seen it done with ACOGs and other scopes, so it isn't just an ACOG thing, but Trijicon promotes it strongly.

BAC does not work well for those who are greatly one eye dominant. Everyone has some dominance of one eye over another. Due to various issues, the dominance can be considerable. It may be due to injury, off eye eyesight issues (not 20/20 whereas dom. eye is 20/20), or alignment issues. Folks don't always have perfectly aligned eyes, believe it or not. If your eyes don't align quite right, then you tend to depend on one eye and it is dominant. In the process, things like BAC will not work because the non-dom. eye that is supposed to be doing the general sighting alignment for the scope isn't quite looking where the scope and dominant eye will be looking. The problem will be exacerbated with distance. Also, the use of corrective eyeglasses can also cause problems with BAC.

Sadly, I am a person with two aiming points and BAC does not work well for me at all and trying to line up a non-magnified field of view with a magnified field of view is nearly impossible at best. I can do it, but it isn't fast which BAC is supposed to be. I to a better job with indexing along the scope with my dom. eye, but for CQB, that isn't practical.

[Magnum88C]

Well, the ACOG DOES satisfy the #1 requirement of a soldier's weapon system: RELIABILITY.

To a soldier, something that can't handle a fall is worthless.

[Chris Rhines]

CS: Look for ACOGs on EBay. I got my TA11D for $700. Keep your eyes peeled, and you can find a bargain.

Best place to learn about all the ACOG variants (and there are a lot of them) is the ACOG page at the Trijicon website: http://www.trijicon.com/user/parts/parts_new.cfm?categoryID=3

- Chris