AR15 + ACOG Question

[cmdc]

I am following this very informative thread with great interest because I am contemplating an ACOG for use in hunting. This thread has convinced me to get the TA11 to put on my 6.5 Grendel. Not meaning to hijack here, but which reticle and color would you gentlemen in the know recommend? I see Zak likes the donut, some prefer the chevron.

 

[Justin]

Reticle shape seems to be primarily an issue of preference. As for reticle color, my recommendation would be to go with red. It stands out the most from any sort of natural background you're likely to encounter. I've seen the amber ones blend in with natural dirt color, and have heard the same can happen with the green ones against similarly-colored foliage.

 

[fbernar]

I just got convinced by the gentleman that said the chevron covers a good chunk of target at distance.

Sent from my Android phone.

 

[Motega]

I read your post and no others so please forgive any redundancy... I think 90% of people buy an ACOG because either 1) they play Call of Duty or 2) the scope has a reputation for being cool. I have one; it's on my SHTF rifle because the suckers can survive a bomb blast... but for hunting? I killed a pile of venison with a $100 Bushnell Buckhorn and most of your shots are going to be close enough for open sights nevermind a scope. Do what makes you happy but you are not going to kill a single additional hog because you have a better scope...

and if anyone DOES get an ACOG to hunt why in the world wouldn't you get a crosshair?!!!! Have you guys talked to anyone over at Trijicon because they will tell you with no hesitation that the crosshair is the most accurate reticle... the others are for quick target acquisition which in my mind has very few uses for a seasoned hunter... I usually observe a critter for minutes-hours before I kill it... how many of you are taking shots regularly on running game?

 

[Zak Smith]

If you measure performance with a shot timer and scored paper/steel targets, a TA11 ACOG will be faster to acquire the target the first time, and faster/more accurate while shooting on the move, or at moving targets. I'll leave it to you to decide if that applies to animals or not.

 

[fbernar]

I do like the crosshairs. However, I don't think there is one that has the fiber optic as well is there?

Sent from my Android phone.

 

[Justin]

I just got convinced by the gentleman that said the chevron covers a good chunk of target at distance.

The solid triangle reticle can obscure part of the target. The chevron-shaped reticle does not.

 

[fbernar]

^ Oh ok you're right. I ended up buying a TA31H-G (Green reticle). Get's here Friday!

Also, I should have asked this before, but does the TA31H bring a backup sight on it?

 

[C-grunt]

^ Oh ok you're right. I ended up buying a TA31H-G (Green reticle). Get's here Friday!

Also, I should have asked this before, but does the TA31H bring a backup sight on it?

From a quick google search it looks like it does not.

 

[fbernar]

Side note: How do you guys quote each other? I can't click the quote bubble. I have a Macbook Pro and tried Chrome and Firefox.

C-Grunt - Thanks! I Was searching around on Google, but wasn't finding definitive yes or no and I have never owned an ACOG so... THANKS!

 

[ugaarguy]

Side note: How do you guys quote each other? I can't click the quote bubble.

I copy the text I want to quote, paste into the reply I'm typing, highlight the text to be quoted, and then click the quote bubble.

If that won't work try:
(QUOTE)Side note: How do you guys quote each other? I can't click the quote bubble.(/QUOTE) , but replace both of the ( ) with [ ] . Hope that makes sense.

 

[Strykervet]

Just a little historical clarification. The ACOG was built for the M16A2. I saw my first one during the Infantry Conference in Building 4 at Ft Benning in 1986. The TAO1 is (or was then) calibrated for M855 out of a 20" barrel. The M4 was a prototype with only a few in existence at the time.

I bought my TAO1 in the Spring of 1989. It has a 3 digit serial number and I paid $625 for it (police dept price direct from Trijicon). The originals had a reticule with a dot in the middle of the duplex which was supposed to make it usable at close range. Mine is 22 years old and the red tritium is still glowing.

The TA01 NSN with yellow stadia is made for the M4 carbine with 14.5"bbl. and 62gr. M855 ammo.

They make others, for other rifles and other calibres (most reticles set to a particular bullet weight).

They are fine rifle sights, mostly combat optics though. ACOG stands for Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight afterall... The range finding lines on the stadia on the reticle are the distance between the average human shoulder btw. So you could find a better scope for a hog gun, at a better price, but not a combat rifle.

And again, you could definitely find a better calibre for hunting hogs. Some places have minimum calibre requirements and even require a large calibre handgun for backup. Like I said, you can't go wrong with a .50 Beowulf and a Trijicon reflex sight. That thing will stop a small truck dead. Coast Guard uses them against outboard boat engines from helicopters! In Arkansas, they are popular hog guns. A 400gr. Sierra JFP at 1600fps. knocks them down like a hammer. A 275gr. Hornady FTX... Well, I can only imagine.

 

[Strykervet]

I do like the crosshairs. However, I don't think there is one that has the fiber optic as well is there?

Sent from my Android phone.

Not sure. You don't want the fiber optic anyway. The Marines ordered a bunch and had to keep duct tape on there to keep the brightness down. We had a unit order the wrong scopes and they had the same problem. The fiber optic is good for the reflex though, but now Trijicon makes a Tri-Power red dot --tritium, batteries, and fiber optic. THAT looks to me like the best reflex. But for ACOG scopes, tritium only, until they figure out how to implement a battery too. No fiber optic though on the scope; too detailed for me to explain why not the scope, but why they are okay on the reflex here.

The one we used, and the best one at the time, was the TA01 NSN model. Yellow stadia, M4, 62gr. M855 reticle. It has a cheap backup sight, useless really, but they sell a JPoint mount that takes its place (and others for Doktor sights and such). They make a lot of models and variations now, but some are VERY costly. The NSN one I mention is a real fine scope for the M4, no problem hitting targets to 600m (beyond was hard because of the MOA of the rifle itself).

For 7.62, that TA01B is HARD to beat for the price. Red stadia, 800m. I wanted the 5.5 or 6x model, but for $1600+? I got mine for around $700... And right now, I think it will do better than the FAL it is mounted on.

 

[Motega]

They all have fiber optics. The tritium is exceedingly dim so don't expect a bright reticle when you quick open the package and run into your windowless bathroom. It is designed so that hours after your eyes are adjusted to darkness you have a crosshair. The crosshair will also be black in the event of low daylight conditions.

Good for you on the purchase, I love my ACOG- but rememebr the most important piece of hunting gear is your brains- skill and patience triumphs over gear every time!

 

[fbernar]

They all have fiber optics. The tritium is exceedingly dim so don't expect a bright reticle when you quick open the package and run into your windowless bathroom. It is designed so that hours after your eyes are adjusted to darkness you have a crosshair. The crosshair will also be black in the event of low daylight conditions.

Good for you on the purchase, I love my ACOG- but rememebr the most important piece of hunting gear is your brains- skill and patience triumphs over gear every time!

I don't know about you but I literally went into a bathroom with lights off and the trickle was bright green.

Sent from my Android phone.

 

[Justin]

The Marines ordered a bunch and had to keep duct tape on there to keep the brightness down. We had a unit order the wrong scopes and they had the same problem.

This is a pretty common thing. A friend of mine makes and sells a product that allows you to adjust the level of brightness on your ACOG.

http://www.3gunstuff.com/scopefly.htm

There are other more expedient ways of adjusting the brightness as well, including using the inner tube from a bike tire (Zak showed me that trick) or the aforementioned judicious use of tape.

 

[fbernar]

This is a pretty common thing. A friend of mine makes and sells a product that allows you to adjust the level of brightness on your ACOG.

http://www.3gunstuff.com/scopefly.htm

There are other more expedient ways of adjusting the brightness as well, including using the inner tube from a bike tire (Zak showed me that trick) or the aforementioned judicious use of tape.

Write that's cool! I might get one of these if I experience the problem.

I don't know why people say it's to bright though my green reticle is vet easy on my eyes.

Sent from my Android phone.