Ok guys, I know there are a lot of threads on scopes but I wanted to post a thread specifically for the ACOG TA31F. I just bought one because I could not pass up the deal. It is going on my Bravo Company free float VTac 16" upper. I wanted to know how far you guys are or were able to engage targets out to CONSISTENTLY. If you have any pics of targets that would be appreciated, just so I know what to expect.
Okay, all the ones Search generates that I saw refer to titles regarding CLOSE range use.
References to off-recipe use at distance are usually buried in the body of other threads, but they’re there. Needles in a stack of needles.
If it stays specific to the title, we’ll see how this one goes.
I was able to hit targets (steel gongs 12 inches around) out to 500 yards. The problem with this optic is the very short eye relief. I prefer the TA11 or TA33. Not saying its junk just my least preferred ACOG.
Pat
I used a personally owned TA31F on deployment and have shot with them quite a bit out to various ranges.
At 500 yards it would not be my personal choice in optic. The BDC is calibrated to military M855 with either 14.5" or 20" barrel. Depending on barrel length and ammo it will either be close or off. It doesn’t help if your setup is off to have a BDC because you’re basically going to be using Kentucky windage.
Eye relief is an issue. Its very poor on the TA31 series and you have to get your eye right up to the rear lens to get a sight picture.
I personally think its a great optic for mass distribution in places like Afghanistan where the ammo is going to remain consistent and all the barrel lengths are the same for the most part. For us civie shooters the BDC doesnt work right and theres other optics we can choose from. When I bought mine in 2005 the prices were quite a bit cheaper than they are now. I used my TA31F for deployment and sold it for barely less I paid a couple years later.
They are certainly very tough optics and hard to beat for “plug in play” military style stuff but I would personally like a good 1-4X a lot more. You just cant buy a cheap optic and expect it to do the job of an ACOG (magnification) and an Aimpoint (RDS speed).
I have also shot with the TA31F in shoot houses and I got proper hits but its a big compromise between an Aimpoint. I would prefer to dial to 1.1X with a daylight dot and then have external turret adjustments for further shots.
I have also used a TA31F on deployments, but I’ve never taken it beyond 300M. However, I can consistently make hits out to 300M on a sillouette target, whereas I’m 50:50 with an Aimpoint CompM4 (or irons for that matter) at this distance.
I was able to make consistent hits on a 6" steel popper at 300 yards. This was also when I realized that I zeroed my rifle with the whole gun canted slightly to the right because my hits were consistantly to the left.
It’s going to come down to your ability to estimate range, read wind, and release the shot with the reticle at the correct place in space. The ACOG just magnifies the world around you by 4 times and provides a few useful (well, kind of sort of useful) queus about range to target and the corresponding holdover.
The range at which a person can reasonably expect a hit (on a torso sized target, I’m assuming, since you didn’t specify), is going to vary wildly. Not sure what you expect out of this.
The furthest I’ve shot a 4x ACOG to is the 750 Meter range at Campbell, shooting steel with standard M4’s from the prone. Only took it out that far on one ocassion. First 5 shots were 3/5. Miss in the beginning, three hits, miss at the end when wind changed. Subsequent ratios remained about the same. I’ve avoided the 4X ACOG’s like the plague, so I’m not the best with it. An ex USMC Scout Sniper in my section who had the ACOG forced on him during his time in the Corps was absolutely disgusting with it at 750M and was making me look stupid. Other team members were getting 2/5 generally. All shooters in this group were qualified and competent Snipers, to give you a frame of reference. To give you further frame of reference, none of us really like the ACOG and only the USMC Scout Sniper had extensive time behind it. Myself and the others are used to 1-4 variables on the M4’s, so that may be making the ACOG look bad. I’m sure with trigger time performance would be improved.
The “line” platoon that was there was not having much luck at all. I don’t think a few of them ever got on target, while some were managing 1/5 at best. So take that for what it’s worth. Winds were 5-10 MPH 3/4 value (yes…3/4 value…that exists, not a typo.)
Just keep in mind that the ACOG is not a precision optic. The BDC exists to increase hit probability, and nothing else.