I’m looking in to a TA31H ACOG. I’m trying to figure out if I want to put a red dot on it or not. I’m looking for an optic that can fill multiple roles. Some say the ACOG isn’t the greatest for CQB, but the majority of the carbines I see with ACOGs don’t have red dots… I shot my Friend’s TA33 last weekend and it seemed to do well up close. This will be going on a MR556/HK416 and will eventually be a patrol rifle. Just looking to hear everyone here’s thoughts.
The problem with ACOGs is not speed, but rather lighting conditions. With practice and familiarity one can shoot a 3-4x optic at pretty much the same speed as the non-magnified options.
Mounting a mini RDS on top of any ACOG is sub-optimal. It is workable, but there are much better solutions. Right now, I think that a mini RDS, such as a T-1 or RMR, offset to the strong side of the magnified optic is the best choice. It does have a learning curve though. Another option is a 1-4x variable, but changing magnification will be slower and battery life will be worse.
I figured low light would be the biggest issue. I don’t know how I feel about the RDS offset or canted to the strong side… I’m sure it’s something I can learn with enough training.
The biggest issue I see with the red dot on top of an ACOG (and granted I haven’t run it) is offset above the bore. The AR already has significant offset above the bore for sights/optics which needs to be accounted for in the upclose ranges that I would think the red dot on top of the ACOG would be most used. Add additional offest due to putting the dot even higher on top of the primary optic, and it would just seem to me to complicate things more.
As with many issues I’m sure these issues could be greatly reduced with proper training, but as has already been mentioned this may not be the best solution.
If your not wild about the side offset red dot mounts from DD and Larue, maybe a magnifier behind an Aimpoint or EOTech may work better for you? Although I think you would find the side offset mounts faster as you merley have to cant the rifle as opposed to manipulating the magnifier.
Just thinking out loud here…
-RD62
RD62 I would defiantly agree with all the points you made. I would probably opt for the offset RDS over an Aimpoint/magnifier set up. Just too much going on with that set up. I want a set up that’s nice and K.I.S.S. And I have heard the Aimpoint/magnifier set ups add a significant amount of extra weigh too.
I like the red dot off to the 1 o clock position. So far it has worked well for me.
It is sub-optimal, but really the biggest problem is during presentation and cheek-weld, or more precisely, the lack of cheek weld.
You pretty much have to trap the stock down with your chin to see through the piggybacked RDS and have any kind of recoil mitigation. This means that you are rapidly moving your buttstock into your chin. See the problem with that?
Just put a lens cap on the ACOG, use it as an OEG.
That does work but not as well as a 1x red dot. At least in my experience.
Pat
It’s not an super optimal solution, that’s for sure. Works well enough for me though.