All posts in Scopes

You need to know what you want and here’s the best place to find it

Rifle optics are probable one of the hardest things to ship for online because so much of the product is spelled out in words and sometimes you will know if you want something just by picking it up.  I’ve seen several combat optics from outside a glass display case but didn’t get a chance to look through them.  The way that glass technology has improved, so much about optics these days are etched in the glass.  I still  have one of my first optics I got off of my  Uncle that actually  has a wire hanging over the glass for crosshairs, it fogs up but still is accurate.

The differences in application for Eotech, Aimpoint and Trijicon are pretty fast and the optics really are not that all alike.  I remember the first time I saw  Trijicon ACOGs these looked all fancy but the TA01 that I shot through back then is no where near what Trijicon optics are now.   I have Trijicon night sights on several of my handguns but never really made use of them, I guess that’s a good thing, but now that they are making high visibility sights for shotguns that have dramatically changed as far as sighting systems.  The optics we’ve sold the most lately were the green reticle acogs and that was mostly because we had them in stock and people could stop in our showroom and hold them before buying.

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Probable the best all around ACOG?

There isn’t a do it all rifle scope, but some day there will be.  Technology always improves and better weapons and technology is always down the road.    Half a Century ago the military made the decision that the 7.62 round was more than what was need for most combat operations and changed over to the M16.   Not only was the 5.56 round a adequate round you could easily issue 2xs as much ammunition.   Combat optics normally meant an optic that magnified up to 10x and were not suitable for use on semi-auto or full auto weapons.  That is now ancient history and Eotech gun sights, Aimpoint and Trijicon are up to the task.

There are so many different types of optics from Trijicon that are worthy of being put on  your M4 Carbine, but the best one in my opinion is the TA01NSN.   The back up iron sights are already there and really are more of a secondary close range optic.  The 4x magnification on the Trijicon ACOGS can slow you down under 50YDs and you may be better off just moving your eyes to your secondary sights.   No flip up sights or flip to the side.   Eotech gun sights are outstanding for short range shooting and seem to be very popular in the Law Enforcement Community.   Aimpoint and Trijicon seem to be more geared towards Military operations and longer deployments.

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The Importance of contrast for combat optics

Many believe that illuminated reticles means engaging targets in low light, not always but sometimes.   In recent years there have been some pretty exotic optics and many  of them are pricey.   You’ll be lucky if you can find a combat worth optics for less than $500 although there is a good used market.    I have started out with many of the Eotech gun sights and have been very happy with them.   The only down side to them is the fact that they need to be turned on.  I know several people that have used them  in Iraq and were quite happy with them but I personally do not like the idea of a long deployment and the notion that my if I run out of batteries my optic is basically useless.

Aimpoint makes some good stuff although I really don’t have much use for red dots.   Red Dot optics can obscure a target and I have been more and more a fan of the new and smaller Trijicon ACOGS like the TA26SR.   The green reticle ACOGS are out selling the red  optics by about 4/1 and its becoming more and more common to see green lasers and optics.  The TA26 in my opinion pretty much voids the use of a red dot and has a targeting circle that is on par with the Eotech gun sight.   The clarity is superb and there is no haze that some red dots have.

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Still my favorite Trijicon combat optic

Not all of the Trijicon optics work for every situation, if they did there would only be one Trijicon ACOG.  I remember the first time I saw these bad boys and I was blow away at  how cool they were too look through.  Seeing a scope with bullet comp was not that common and really just finding a scope that could hold up to a semi-auto military style rifle was hard and I mostly saw hunting optics like Leupold rifle scopes for guys trying to target shoot.   It was not very common in the 1980s and 1990s to see rifle scopes on AR15s.

If I had all of the money in the world I’d probable own everything that Trijicon has out, but I’m  not so I have to be very selective on what I buy because if the bullet comp or the reticle does not suit my needs then it was a waste of money.  I have been and always will be an LWRC Fan and I have several Trijicon TA01NSN on my primary LWRC M6A2.   I have recently purchased a suppressor and I will be looking into getting an LWRC M6A5 when they become available.  As far as I know the only difference between the LWRC M6A5 and it’s predecessor is the gas selector is a 2 position and not a 4.

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A discussion about ACOGSs and long range shooting

Sometimes people really get carried away with scope magnification and think that it will increase your accuracy.  Well try taking a 5.5-20×50 scope to the range on a 90F day and tell me if you can even see X on a paper target at 300yds.   Anyone with experience will know that a mirage will void you scope magnificatioin and actually make it very difficult to make pin point accuracy.   A mirage is a constant wave of distorted light due to heat rising and you might be better off with lower magnification or Zero magnification.  Most Trijicon ACOGS are really meant for medium range engagements.

Recently I got to the range and tried out some of the newer green reticle ACOGS and the first one I tried out on my Bushmaster XM15E2 was the Trijicon TA11H-G.    This optic is actually a long range optic and might be best suited for a machine  gun,  The Trijicon TA11H-G ACOG has a green horseshoe reticle which for some reason seems to be very popular.  This particular ACOG has a longer tube than something like the TA31F-G

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Should you skip steps when teaching people about defensive shooting ?

Ok, yeah, from a scenario stand point there are always variables which can change things, but there are some steps that you should put all of your efforts into transmitting to a new student before  you can take a step back and have confidence they can stand on their own.   First, safe gun handling skills are important, but there are some things that should be taught immediately after that.   I have in several situations had people call me up and ask me where to get a firearm because they were under serious security risks and they had almost zero firearm handing experience.

There is always a balance that needs to be met with each new shooter.  Some people progress faster than others but you really have to watch you don’t skip steps.  Mounting high optics like the Trijicon rifle scopes, namely the ACOGS on a gun may make a novice shooter more proficient but what about close up engagements? Do they know that those crosshairs are going to be several inches above the point of impact if someone was 10ft in front of them?  What would the ramifications of missing by 2 inches ? I can think of scenarios where they could end badly.

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Might be our number 1 seller for M4 Carbine optics

We have 1 of the Trijicon TA31F-G ACOGS in stock and it’s been awhile since we’ve been able to get one of these.   For us to acquire Trijicon ACOGS, especially the more popular ones, it usually takes 2-3 months to ge them in.   There have been some major trends away from having  red reticles on combat optics and the Trijicon sales that we are seeing is backing that  up.   This week we sold over a dozen of these Ta31F-G to civillian and law enforcement entitities.   The new kind on the block is the TA26SG because it is so small and compact.

Having the clarity that Trijicon combat optics has puts them in a different category, but having fixed power optics with bullet comp is what puts them over the top.   There is really nothing to dial in on the Trijicon TA31F-G in stock that we are selling and many like the Triangle and green reticle.   The contrast between these optics against a black background really shows the difference between the thin lines that so many crosshairs have and what having illuminated reticles during the day does.   These optics are very fast for medium and short range engagments but give you a fighting chance against targets beyond 400yds.

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Clarity vs. Magnification for combat optics

There has been a lot of changes in the way people mount optics on firearms, years ago it was rare to find a zero magnification on a combat optics because to some people it didn’t make sense to have a scope that didn’t magnify.  Now that we know that most combat ranges are well under 75yds, medium range optics like the Trijicon ACOGS actually slow you down.  They are a great optic but the Eotech gun sights really have a better reputation for close range fighting.  I’m still waiting for Eotech to come out with a holographic sight that is solar powers like the Trijicon optics but it’s not been built yet sadly.

The biggest selling optic we have going for us right now are the Trijicon TA26 scopes.  The first thing our customers said when they picked up this small lightweight Trijicon rifle scope, or should we call it optic, was that it was light and very clear.   The green reticles are far outselling the red ones but the definition between these optics and what you get from a blurry red dot optics are drastic.  Many people with good eyesight really don’t like red dots because they can obscure your target and sometimes not give you a fine point.

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Combat and Defensive experiences with the Trijicon optics

A few years ago I witnessed a shoot out in Iraq where a few of our troops took fire from an individual that was shooting wildly after our guys just finished clearing out another building.   At first there was confusion on whether or not we were being shot at or just hearing something going on a few miles away.  When the bullets started hitting us, it took a few seconds to realize that it was just across the street that an idiot with an AK was just spraying gunfire at us.   Most of the guys on our team had ACOGS and could positively identify him and returned fire, but I did hear an individual running a red dot optic call out that he had no shot.

It’s kind of odd to hear something like that with modern weaponry but some of the best close quarters fighting optics are terrible at medium range engagements.   On the flip side some of the Trijicon rifle scopes that are geared to close up fighting like the Trijicon Reflex sights are outstanding for close up engagements.  There are always tradeoffs to combat optics and until they get a zero magnification optic that can zoom in on targets at 600yds reliable, there won’t be a do it all optic.   Pick your guns and gear for the appropriate mission.

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Color variations as important as camo?

Well, yeah, and that’s one reason i’ve always had a problem with some of the Trijicon ACOGS because they are marketed as combat optics but they make you stand out like a sore thumb in certain environments.  The TA01 is probable what many people consider to be the standard ACOG but many like the idea of having illuminated reticles in day light and there is a major trade off.  If I am deployed in a combat zone,  I want the kill flash and TA01NSN because I don’t want some giant neon strand telling a sniper where my head might be.

If you look closely at what many of our troops are using in Iraq and Afghanistan you will notice that they area very much aware of this.  Many use a rag of some sort oer the optics to limit the visibility.  Its funny that even Trijicon AGOGS as advanced as they are still can still be a liability in combat for the same reason any scope can.   Counter sniping teaches that we can locate any sniper that is in a certain line of sight from us just by the reflection off of his optics.  Even night vision can pick up scope optics at long ranges.  There are always trade offs with firearms and gear.

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