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Posted: 8/25/2012 7:25:40 AM EDT
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I never served in the military (thanks to those who have) so I have no experience outside of shooting at a range. I built my 1st AR :) and was wondering if anyone Can give me their experience with red dot or acog, not sure which to put on. Just looking for some pros/cons for each from ppl with some real life experience....thanks
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or go to the OPTICS SECTION There are at least a thousand topics on this with excellent information. |
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Somewhere I saw an article on red dots vs. 1-4 variables vs. Singlepower and higher power scopes.
Separated them into three categories and described plus and minus for all. May have been in past issue of SWAT but I've seen it on the net as well. Meanwhile you may start here and there is more at other sites. http://www.militarymorons.com/weapons/ar.optics.html |
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Trijicon ACOGs are excellent quality optics. They have fixed magnification and a variety of fixed magnifications. They illuminate 24/7 without batteries (fiber optic + tritium). Even if they don't illuminate they still have a visible etched reticle. ACOGS are great for reasonably close distances and at farther distances as well. Not the best or fastest for close ranges.
Most red dot sights require batteries. Aimpoint has the longest battery life of all red dots to my knowledge. Red dots have absolutely no magnification (unless you buy a magnifier), but are extremely fast at target acquisition at close distances. Trijicon recently came out with a battery powered + solar powered red dot so it will run even without batteries. Trijicon also has the TriPower red dot (battery + fiber optic), but it doesn't get anywhere near as much love as Aimpoint. |
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I had an ACOG and got rid of it to purchase another red dot. The red dot in my experience is the right optic to have for a general purpose do all carbine.
Magnification does not make you shoot better....it lets you see better... For .Mil use where target engagement distances are long, then Magnification is good, but I don't work for Uncle Sugar anymore. I want something small, light,that is simple and fast. That works day or night. the red dot gives me that. I can own a 300 meter circle around me... and I can get down and dirty fast up close. If your just looking to punch paper and impress the guy on the bench next to you, then you might want a fixed or variable power optic. If you really want to impress him, consistently hit the 300 meter 12" steel gong while standing... while he keeps missing it off the bench with his scoped rifle.. 
Now If I lived on a ranch in Wyoming, where my front yd is a 1000 meter + killing field, then yeah, I would run an optic. You have to know what your going to want and need and then choose accordingly., but for most civilian needs. The red dot covers more of that territory then a Magnified optic.Fun 3-gun...informal target shooting,Home defense under the bed gun, SHTF War of the world gun,etc Just my two cents. |
Take a look at something like this
These 1x4 scopes are popular with the competition crowd because they give you a 1-1 magnification up close and with a quick rotation of the ring you get a 4x magnification for longer ranged shots. I've used a scope like this and while I wouldn't recommend something like this for Home Defense use because of it's size and weight they are great for anything outside of a CQB environment. Not quite the "best of both worlds" but I find them less clunky than a red dot magnifier combo on an AR. Other than that I agree with the above poster. A simple Red Dot is usually a good all around option for an AR. |
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If you are considering an ACOG try before you buy if at all possible. Eye relief can be unforgiving and the reticle selection is diverse. Ive owned three. currently have two. Only really happy with one of them.
My ideal ACOG would be small, light, 3X with a simple + for a crosshair and a long eye relief. |
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Take a look at something like this http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/primary/725/725900.jpg These 1x4 scopes are popular with the competition crowd because they give you a 1-1 magnification up close and with a quick rotation of the ring you get a 4x magnification for longer ranged shots. I've used a scope like this and while I wouldn't recommend something like this for Home Defense use because of it's size and weight they are great for anything outside of a CQB environment. Not quite the "best of both worlds" but I find them less clunky than a red dot magnifier combo on an AR. Other than that I agree with the above poster. A simple Red Dot is usually a good all around option for an AR. One thing to consider is weight. Most 1-4's weigh 2-5 times what a red dot or ACOG do. I love variables, but am going back to red dots for general use carbines. A pound and a half to two pound optics with the mount just adds too much to me. |
| ACOGS can be used as a red dot at close range. The difficult part for most people are keeping both eyes open. My real life experience is in 3gun and after a year of shooting once a month I can now run the ACOG about as fast as a red dot at close range. You get the illuminated portion to float in your non-magnified vision. Now that I can do this somewhat well, I like it about as much as my Aimpoint for close range. It just takes practice which many people do not have the patience for. If I knew everything was going to be within 100yds I would probably go with the Aimpoint. If I had no idea and needed a do all - ACOG hands down. The ballistics reticle is handy. |
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I never served in the military (thanks to those who have) so I have no experience outside of shooting at a range. I built my 1st AR :) and was wondering if anyone Can give me their experience with red dot or acog, not sure which to put on. Just looking for some pros/cons for each from ppl with some real life experience....thanks There is no "do it all" optic out there...you give up some thing/gain same thing different with each one. With that said the ACOG is close to a "do it all" optic with PRACTICE. The military/contractors switch their stuff out depending on the application. An ACOG at 0-50yd is slow and takes some time to pick up targets. A red dot on the other hand is fast 0-100yds. I own both a ACOG T11g-h and an Aimpoint m4s & am saving for a nightforce 2.5-10x24 with a RMR. With all that I would go red dot first and go from there |
| i have owned all 3 except a 1-4 scope. i first started with a aimpoint, then sold it for a eotech exps2, then traded the exps2 for a acog ta01. i will tell you if you have a astigmatism with your eye like me. the dominant eye for me. then the red dots wont look very good at all. if you dont then your very lucky. i would prefer the eotech out of the 2 red dots because i like the 1 moa dot in a circle better then the plain old single dot. and battary life doesnt bother me i turn mine off when its in the safe. now for the acogs thats a whole other ballgame because the ta01 looks great too my eyes where its a crosshair. i can shoot up too 800 yards if i can see that far. caculating your windage and all. the reticles like the chevron and donut are still hard too make out. so i think i will stick with the ta01 model and shoot 50 yrds and out. this is my perspective on what i have owned. i think the acogs glass are clear as water and no other company really compares. yeah a red dot will be good up too 150 yards but you gonna have too be a hell of a shot hitting 200 yards and farther. i will say the acog is the do it all optic and should be for the price they cost. |
| I've owned three ACOGs and I still own two of them they are great optics. I bought my ACOGs before I bought my first Aimpoint. Since then I have bought three more Aimpoints and no ACOGs. I really like red dots but it all depends on your personal preference and what type of shooting you will be doing. |
| I have taken ACOGs overseas three times and love them. They can be used as a reflex sight but you just have to get used to using both eyes open method. The way I practiced was even holding both eyes open out to 300 yds. That way it just became second nature and doesn't negatively effect you at all. Your dominant eye will naturally pick up the magnified view. I do have an Aimpoint on a beater gun that I have and all I can say about it is it works, it's dependable, and it can take a beating. It just depends on what kind of shooting you are looking to do. Our ranges went out to 500 yds so shooting that with a RDS would have pissed me off to no end. But there is no do-it-all optic out there. Just try a couple out and see what works best with what type of shooting you are looking to do. |
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SEARCH or go to the OPTICS SECTION There are at least a thousand topics on this with excellent information. I'm new to the AR community, and I have also been "searching" for info. Currently, the Search function only allows me to go back 30 days. So unless something has been posted within that time period it comes back as "no topics found". The other option is looking at each page of a folder until I find something that might provide answers to my questions. Why is the Search function restricted to 30 days? |
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SEARCH or go to the OPTICS SECTION There are at least a thousand topics on this with excellent information. I'm new to the AR community, and I have also been "searching" for info. Currently, the Search function only allows me to go back 30 days. So unless something has been posted within that time period it comes back as "no topics found". The other option is looking at each page of a folder until I find something that might provide answers to my questions. Why is the Search function restricted to 30 days? it does that if your a non paying member. you have pay i think 24.95 be a member get more options |
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Quoted:
i have owned all 3 except a 1-4 scope. i first started with a aimpoint, then sold it for a eotech exps2, then traded the exps2 for a acog ta01. i will tell you if you have a astigmatism with your eye like me. the dominant eye for me. then the red dots wont look very good at all. if you dont then your very lucky. i would prefer the eotech out of the 2 red dots because i like the 1 moa dot in a circle better then the plain old single dot. and battary life doesnt bother me i turn mine off when its in the safe. now for the acogs thats a whole other ballgame because the ta01 looks great too my eyes where its a crosshair. i can shoot up too 800 yards if i can see that far. caculating your windage and all. the reticles like the chevron and donut are still hard too make out. so i think i will stick with the ta01 model and shoot 50 yrds and out. this is my perspective on what i have owned. i think the acogs glass are clear as water and no other company really compares. yeah a red dot will be good up too 150 yards but you gonna have too be a hell of a shot hitting 200 yards and farther. i will say the acog is the do it all optic and should be for the price they cost. This is my opinion on the Acog also. I too have an astigmatism, and just can't do red dot's anymore. Even the 1 and two moa dots are a bummer now  I had recently purchased two aimpoint with 2moa dot's, and they were good, but I still had to get my eyes lined up just right to see a decently round dot.
I got tired of fighting the inevitable, and put them up in the EE to fund for an Acog. I shoot twice a week, and feel I could get just as quick at close up with the acog with practice. |
| I use eotech's and aimpoints on the sbr's for the speed and effectiveness of there range. My poor eyesight limits their use at farther distances. On my SR15 I use the TA33 G-H ACOG its kinda of a hybrid optic, good for engaging close up quiclkly with just the right magnification and eye relief to stretch out a bit. I found the TA33 to be my favorite optic all around. On my M4 I have TA01 and with its limited eye relief and higher magnification its better for the medium to longer range but still useable up close just not ideal. There are many great options in redots and ACOGs, you just have to see which optic offers more benefits to you and your shooting style and needs. |
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I have an ACOG and wish I would have used the money for two Aimpoint micro's,I love my Cog but could have spent the money better elsewhere,I am not in the Army any more and am straight up civilian shooter so the Aimpoint H-1 suites my needs so far,If I have to reach out farther the Acog will do great....
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) and pick up an EOTech or Aimpoint and still have some change left over for something else.
| Über expensive but you can have the best of both worlds. Trijicon has the Acog/RMR combo. Some of their red dots use fiber optics and tritium. No batteries needed. I am saving for one but a friend has the setup on his suppressed sbr. It is an easy transition from the red dot mounted on top to the 4x scope mounted below. |
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