I know it’s probably just cosmetic, but I have a brand new TA31F that when I first took it out of the box a week and a half ago (surplus unissued — cardboard box) I only noticed a single crack. I remember the guys who had these issued in OIF3 when I was overseas, and I recall some cracking evident by the end of the tour, but that was also after a year in the desert and ALOT of exposure to direct sun and heat.
I took mine out of the air conditioning to the 95 degree Texas heat a couple of times this week, and the whole thing is literally cracked from one end to another. No parts or pieces have fallen off of the clear shell, but I haven’t really handled it either.
This is my first ACOG. I was never issued one in the service, and never really thought much about getting one until recently. Is this a common problem and will it continue until it disentigrates? Is there a kit to replace the clear sheath or should I just disregard it and drive on?
It seems that for such an expensive piece of kit, something like this shouldn’t be ordinary, but maybe I’m wrong.
ACOG “cracks” are perfectly normal. If you notice anything leaking, that is not normal. It also will not effect anything on the operation of the optic.
I’ve had four, they were all cracked to one extent or another. The brightest one I had, a TA31F, had the most cracks.
Let me reiterate, it’s completely normal. They are cosmetic only. If this is something that effects your OCD, do not buy one. If this is something that makes you lose sleep at night, sell the ones you have.
If the optic develops abnormal cracks that leak fluid, Trijicon will usually replace or repair them.
No big deal, no matter if it’s $5 or $5000. See above.
If this is something that has been repeatedly addressed, I apologize for bringing it up again. I did do a search on the site first, but didn’t find any previous threads so I posted it.
I know how irritating necro-topicing can be, and that was not my intent if I did it.
So I recently bought one also, haven’t even been outside with it yet. I hear what you’re saying SHIVAN, and I understand, however, whether it affects function or no, it should not happen on a $1200 product. Maybe acceptable on $100 knock-off, but I’d hope Trijicon is working on a fix for it or exploring different materials. Have they ever explained why they feel this is acceptable for cracks to be ‘normal’ and expected? Are you saying this happens even if the rifle is not dropped on the fiber tube? What causes it, sunlight? recoil? Has anyone figured out a way to lessen or prevent it? I’ve seen many that were cracked, but I always assumed it was from rough duty and hard knocks.
Whether it should happen or not is completely irrelevant. It does happen, and it effects absolutely nothing. Well documented issue.
As I said, if this somehow makes a safe queen less desirable, then return it and get an S&B Short Dot.
I make that statement because I know that on an HD/training gun, police gun, or military gun this is going to be a non-issue once your rolling around with it, slinging up, banging it up through doors, and barriers, etc.
I’ve spoken to Trijicon about the cracking issues and they told me I could send it back and they’ll replace the F.O. The new ones they are making are made from different material so they are less prone to cracking, if any at all. I haven’t got around to sending mine but it’s still functional.
I did state that if it didn’t affect operation, I would be fine with it, was simply empathizing with the OP that I would be pretty disappointed too.
Funny how if this was a “cheap” optic, I would see the comment, “you get what you pay for.” But if its a high end item, you get, “it’s normal, doesn’t affect operation.”
It is pretty rude to jump on people and call them OCD when you don’t like their opinion. I’d expect more from someone considered STAFF.
No, I’m describing an issue that is widely documented, observed and studied. I was relating that it is unfortunate, but a fact of life. If you can’t reconcile the difference, I’m sorry.
I am also sending a clear message that if this fact of life bothers you so greatly, then you should probably steer clear of ACOG’s - as a general announcement.
It is pretty rude to jump on people and call them OCD when you don’t like their opinion. I’d expect more from someone considered STAFF.
Out.
Sorry I hurt your feelings, with a generalized and non-specifically addressed categorization.
I had a TA 31 and it had a crack in the fiber optic tube cover and it still worked fine. Getting upset about that is like getting mad when you put your first scratch in the bed of your pick up. Its a truck its going to get scratched if you use it for work.
Pat
concern over things like this seem to have an inverse relationship to actual use.
As a general point, if you think you have a cosmetic problem with an item, go out and, you know, use it, and see if the cosmetic issue affects function. If it does not, then move on.
there is nothing wrong with this thread and it’s perfectly understandable to ask the question, but some of the replies are pretty whiny.
Our newer ones at work seem to be doing quite well - though mine lives under black electrical tape because it’s too bright.
My personal one is one of the worst looking I’ve seen - functions as designed, and I expect that the useful lifetime of that scope will be H3 half-life limited.
Correct, IF it was a cheap optic in which cracks and bubbles appearing in the fiber-optic housing affected operation and usage. Since that’s not the case, it becomes less funny and more a case of wonderment as to what the color of the grass is in the world some folks live in, where they can’t separate the cosmetic from the functional. You generally see a pretty decent bit of dogpiling here on the “fit and finish” dorks (since that’s not an operational category) and not the other way around, so it’s a matter of a misidentified trend on your part, not a deviation from policy or habit on the part of the staff. I don’t expect more from the rank-and-file American citizen, so you’re living up to expectations.
Saleen, here’s the WHY/HOW; what you’re seeing are imperfections in the material used to suspend the fiber-optic in the plastic tube it’s kept in. The tube pulls double-duty of protecting the FO and still allowing light to get to it (being clear, and all). The FO itself is suspended within the tube, originally via the injection of silicone-caulk-like material. These days, an epoxy resin.
Small air bubbles remain from the process, and those expand and contract with temp changes, impact and what have you, affecting the material around them. Think like a windshield that takes a hit from a chunk of gravel tossed up off the road, causing a star to appear. If it’s gotten in the colder months, you’re almost certain to see a crack appear out of it once the temps rise, or if you hit a pothole so deep it has stairs in it.
However, since you don’t need to look through the stuff around the FO for targeting, and since those bubbles/cracks actually ensure that light is getting fed to the FO from more than one angle by refracting light, it’s of no operational impact to the shooter. The only folks who worry over it either simply don’t know, or do know and are the sort of person who would re-arrange deck chairs on the Titanic, thinking that perfect feng shui is superior to an intact hull.
So now that you know, kick the feng shui guys in the crotch. Hard, so they can’t breed.
Thanks for the technical insight. I wasn’t overly concerned, but wanted to make sure for a couple of reasons that I’ll elaborate on briefly.
Hopefully this thread was helpful to more than me, but looking at how it started turning, I almost feel sorry for bringing it up in the first place.
I purchased this from an individual, and it’s my first ACOG. When the cracks appeared so rapidly I began to remember some of the rather good knock-offs of Leupold Mark 4 scopes in recent years, and I wanted to make sure that wasn’t the case here.
So far, I’ve enjoyed the scope. Now I just need to get the rifle lined out and figure out what it likes to eat the most.
