I'm sure the marines still use them, but it seems all the latest pictures of special forces kits run anything but acogs now. Have they been getting replaced the past few years?

It's funny because looking at rifles at the beginning of Iraq/Afghanistan, almost everything on them is considered outdated by today's ar15 standards.

SOCOM is using Elcans the ACOG remains elsewhere.

Most Infantrymen use an ACOG.

Big Army and "big" USMC uses ACOG's.

SOCOM uses mainly Elcan, EOTech EXPS-3, EOTech 553

Sounds like they find the Elcan superior but too expensive for everyone. Are they using the 4x or 6x version of the Elcan? I may consider selling my acog to fund one now...

I've seen them in use on their .308 SCAR's (6x version), don't recall ever seeing one on an AR (only seen the 4x version on an AR).  I'm sure it's been done before though.

Still plenty of ACOGs to go around outside of SOF circles.

It's not so much ELCANs cost too much for general issue its that the Dr came on the scene after the procurment of RCOs was well underway

SOCOM because of the relative small numbers is not effected by the make sure you acquire right, because once you do it is hard to justify replacing it

The replacement for the RCO is envisioned to be a blended spectrum scope that incorporates both a laser that ranges, reads the wind and helps determine far point location and a ballistic computer similar to the ones on tanks

That's a tall ass order.

Probably still a few years out but really the hardest part is going to be battery life because about everything else is already implement in other military systems already

Man, that eye relief on 1x kinda sucks.

ACOG is heavily used in the military today though I think Trijicon understands the need to have a quicker transition from 4x to 1x which they offer in their VCOG but it isn't really picking up as well as it should. The SpecterDR is used by special forces but the SpecterOS4x is generally used by militaries the world over. From what I understand, the British are in fact phasing out their optic and choosing the Elcan SpecterOS4x. The ACOG 4x has a very narrow eye relief and as such can't be used on a lot of firearms out there. The SpecterDR/OS4x are in fact easier to mount on a variety of firearms out there since it has a bit longer of an eye relief.

The reason again is for that quick 1x/4x transition which for a lot of folks out there is a very important task. The ACOG is great but up close it's sort of lacking. They tried to resolve it with their BAC concept but that isn't for everyone.They even tried the piggy back RMR thing but that too ultimately isn't for every application out there.

Heck, didn't Aimpoint come out with something like that at this year's SHOT Show, intended for the Carl Gustav and similar weapons? Could have sworn I saw a mention...

Anyway, if   that's true, then it's just a matter of being able to make it compact enough for use as an individual weapon sight, rather than a heavy/crew-served weapon sight.

The Marine Corps is not planning on transitioning away from the RCO anytime soon

Before I switched to a low powered variable, I ran an "outdated" TAO1 acog, with the original crosshairs by choice, while overseas. I consider it still to be an excellent optic. Never had eye relief issues when running it either. Lots of practice helps with weapon presentation though.

I could be totally content running a 4x acog on a working carbine.

The low power variables offer flexibility that fixed x or rdo optics do not though, and that's why I transitioned.