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Posted: 12/19/2015 3:03:44 AM EDT
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I need some help to decrease my learning curve. I've been torn between the purchase of a VCOG or ACOG (and now the ACOG with the PA with the ACSS reticle). I know a lot of this depends on intended use, personal preference etc. Here is my set up:
Noveske Project Ares Gen 3 Version 2:Barrel Length - 14.5" Stainless Lightweight-5.56mm, Silencerco Trifecta pinned, 16" OAL Geissele SSA Trigger Extension - Hand guard Knights Armament 13.5" URX- Knights Armament Micro Front and Rear Folding Sights. Simply put, it is a very nice set up and deserves quality optics. The utility of this rifle is for close to medium work. What I lack is experience. I live in a very isolated part of the country such that I can't simply walk into any store and put my hands on these products as they don't exist here. So, I have to rely on the internet, word of mouth and hopefully the guidance of a non biased third party. So, can I get some honest advise to help me make my decision. |
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If you want a good "do it all" optic I would save the money a VCOG would cost and get a Burris XTR II 1-5x. Check out this review below.
Not knowing all your criteria this scope gets good reviews and can be had these days for ~ $600. 
Superset did the above video and is a member here and has shot many of these low-power-variable scopes (including the VCOG). Maybe outline more of your criteria and he can recommend something? - Use: Target shooting, hunting, defensive, etc. What ranges will you be shooting at? Min and max - Reticle: Do you want to shoot it on 1x like a red dot? If so it needs to be bright. Do you want a BDC? etc - Weight: Do you care how heavy it is? Keep in mind some of these scopes with a mount can get close to 2 pounds - Budget: If you are thinking about a VCOG you probably have deep pockets 
- Tough: Do you want a scope that can take a drop or will you keep it from getting knocked around. Heavy duty scopes add cost and weight, that said - I've seen posts of guys who bent their scope tube out of alignment when it was leaning against a wall and fell over (A trijicon TR24 in this case ... it's a lightweight scope). That said, I've come to the conclusion (keep in mind I don't hunt or operate  ) while magnification is great for target shooting / hunting ... defensive rifles should get a 1X red dot (aimpoint).
good luck! |
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I'll play. You said close to medium range...so basically what a 1-4x is best at. For me I have trouble with Acog up close. I can see the reticle 1x just fine, but I do have phoria (Google Acog phoria). So my poa and poi is almost 5 inches at 7 yards which is unacceptable to me.
Acog with rmr is another option, tried it didn't like it. Rmr sits super high over bore...ends up with weird hold overs. Red dot and mag is another option I tried...decent, but I prefer everything in one package. Tried a cheap PA 1-6x to see if I liked the low power variable and I did. So I got an elcan specter dr. I absolutely love it! Super bright red dot on 1x and an awesome bdc on 4x. Great glass, I've heard better than trijicons. I love trijicon glass as well! |
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You might want to check out a Vortex HD Razor Gen2 1-6x24
http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/razor-hd-gen-2-1-6x24-riflescope-with-vmr-2-moa-reticle |
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Obviously people have different criteria for what makes an scope a winner or a turd. I like my first VCOG so much I bought another (after owning a Leupold MK6 1-6 and a Vortex Razor 1-6).
VCOG = best battery life of any 1-x variable... like 25 times better. Not daytime bright but reticle can be used quite well on 1x without illumination. Many of the other popular 1-x variables have reticles that are nearly invisible on 1x without illumination) Quoted:
1x variables are good, but the vcog is a turd. |
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Quoted:
Obviously people have different criteria for what makes an scope a winner or a turd. I like my first VCOG so much I bought another (after owning a Leupold MK6 1-6 and a Vortex Razor 1-6). VCOG = best battery life of any 1-x variable... like 25 times better. Not daytime bright but reticle can be used quite well on 1x without illumination. Many of the other popular 1-x variables have reticles that are nearly invisible on 1x without illumination) Quoted:
Obviously people have different criteria for what makes an scope a winner or a turd. I like my first VCOG so much I bought another (after owning a Leupold MK6 1-6 and a Vortex Razor 1-6). VCOG = best battery life of any 1-x variable... like 25 times better. Not daytime bright but reticle can be used quite well on 1x without illumination. Many of the other popular 1-x variables have reticles that are nearly invisible on 1x without illumination) Quoted:
1x variables are good, but the vcog is a turd. -The only military use I have seen documented involves a 10% failure rate so far (sample of 40, over 6 months). -How long does the battery last on high? Who knows. It's not published. -I did like the reticle. Much prefer the nightforce 1-4 that I ultimately replaced my vcog with. More durable, lighter, and optically it preforms much better for me. Ymmv, but objectively, the vcog seems to be a flop, imo |
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Quoted:
You might want to check out a Vortex HD Razor Gen2 1-6x24 http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/razor-hd-gen-2-1-6x24-riflescope-with-vmr-2-moa-reticle This. The vortex is in my opinion superior to the vcog. |
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Quoted:
This. The vortex is in my opinion superior to the vcog. Quoted:
Quoted:
You might want to check out a Vortex HD Razor Gen2 1-6x24 http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/razor-hd-gen-2-1-6x24-riflescope-with-vmr-2-moa-reticle This. The vortex is in my opinion superior to the vcog. |
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Quoted:
Do you have a cite for this? So that one point makes the sight a turd? I'm looking at getting one and would like to hear the pros and cons. Quoted:
-The only military use I have seen documented involves a 10% failure rate so far (sample of 40, over 6 months). Do you have a cite for this? So that one point makes the sight a turd? I'm looking at getting one and would like to hear the pros and cons. No, it's just one datapoint. Optically, I found it far behind other scopes in its price range. It's also heavy. So... Heavy, fragile, optically inferior...but I did like they keyed mount. That is nice...until you realize that the eye relief is absurd and the depth of the eyebox is very shallow and then you start flipping acog mounts around backwards trying to make the damn thing work for you. Then it's not such a cool mounting solution anymore . vcog failures |
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Quoted:
You might want to check out a Vortex HD Razor Gen2 1-6x24 http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/razor-hd-gen-2-1-6x24-riflescope-with-vmr-2-moa-reticle Came here to post this. IMHO the only criteria where an ACOG are better are weight and maybe durability. The Razor is built damn solid but ACOGs are pretty damn indestructable. I sold my TA33 ACOG and bought a Razor 1-6x and I won't switch back. I was thinking of picking up another TA33 for a different build but the more I use the Razor the more my plan has shifted to buying a second one. |
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Quoted:
Came here to post this. IMHO the only criteria where an ACOG are better are weight and maybe durability. The Razor is built damn solid but ACOGs are pretty damn indestructable. I sold my TA33 ACOG and bought a Razor 1-6x and I won't switch back. I was thinking of picking up another TA33 for a different build but the more I use the Razor the more my plan has shifted to buying a second one. Quoted:
Quoted:
You might want to check out a Vortex HD Razor Gen2 1-6x24 http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/razor-hd-gen-2-1-6x24-riflescope-with-vmr-2-moa-reticle Came here to post this. IMHO the only criteria where an ACOG are better are weight and maybe durability. The Razor is built damn solid but ACOGs are pretty damn indestructable. I sold my TA33 ACOG and bought a Razor 1-6x and I won't switch back. I was thinking of picking up another TA33 for a different build but the more I use the Razor the more my plan has shifted to buying a second one. I know people who have stacked dead ACOG's. The housing is awesome, the guts kindof suck. Everyone gets all horny over a forged housing, but forgets that it's the glass and moving parts inside that really matter. |
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