Aimpoint T-1 vs ACOG TA33R

[matai]

I'm having the hardest time deciding what optic to put on my AR. I'm trying to keep it nice and lightweight. I shoot mostly at targets from 25 to 125 yards but want to have it ready for SHTF, hunting or just whatever.

I can't decide between the Aimpoint Micro T-1 and the Trijicon ACOG TA33R. I like that the ACOG would be better for target shooting especially at further distances, but dig the lightweight and faster target acquisition of the Aimpoint.

Do any of you have experience or tips for either of these? Would target acquisition be that much slower with the ACOG? Would the Aimpoint be that bad for target shooting?

Any help would be great.

Thanks

Aimpoint Micro T-1 w/ Larue mount 3.7oz

Trijicon ACOG TA-33R-8 w/ Larue mount 6.94oz

I also plan on putting a 4x ACOG on a LR-308 in the future, would it be good to have similar optics? Or would a Aimpoint Micro T-1 on a AR15 and a 4x ACOG on a AR10 be a cool combo?

 

[KW]

Either should work well from 25-125 yards. If you like to shoot at real small stuff, then the magnification will be real useful. Otherwise, the T-1 is going to be lighter (and I think the ACOG with mount will probably end up a little heavier then the number you have listed there) and maybe a bit cheaper as well.

 

[MechAg94]

One of the things I read a while back talked about non-magnified red dots being good for the shorter ranges and quick shooting. It mentioned stuff like the 4X ACOG's were better for medium distances 100 to 300 yards.

I guess it depends on what you want. If you want it for home defense, don't get the ACOG. If you want to play with target shooting, get the ACOG. For me, I would love to get an ACOG for range shooting and such. It has no batteries also.

 

[Coronach]

You need to decide if this is primarily a short-range weapon or primarily an intermediate range weapon. There is significant overlap in the capabilities of the two optics (both will work at either task, and acceptably so, too, as long as you practice), but one is optimized for close in and the other for further away. No free lunch, that's how it is.

Until YOU answer the question of intended use, all we can do is speculate. And, once you answer the question of intended use, the rest should be pretty simple.

Mike

 

[Gordon]

I have the T1 on my little 'neck tie' CAR which is a CQB weapon. I have a T-11 Acog on the FNFAL. The La Rue lever throws pretty quick if I somehow had to switch!

 

[Dienekes]

I have a 1.5X24 compact ACOG on an AR carbine, and a 3x30 compact ACOG on an MIA. I consider the carbine a 125 yard weapon, and the 1.5 with battle zero allows hits out to 300. At the distances you are speaking of 1.5 power will work. The 3X is better at distance, but neither scope is what you would call a "target" optic. My reticles are triangles, and they are intended for combat--no crosshairs here. You could split the difference and go for the 2X Compact.

And by the way, the 1.5 is plenty fast if the cheek weld is right.

 

[Zak Smith]

Man-sized targets (ie, approx 30x18"), a 1x dot like the M2/3/4 or T1 is good to 350 yards (50 yard zero, 16" shooting M193): hold dead on to 275; 6" high at 300; 12" high at 350.

 

[matai]

Does anybody know if there are different lens caps for the Aimpoint Micro T-1? It seems like those bikini covers may get annoying

 

[Jenrick]

You can always put a magnifier behind the Micro to be able to extend the range out. You can not take the magnification off the ACOG. If you shoot and train often the ACOG doesn't have a huge speed disadvantage compared to a non-magnified optic up close. If you don't have the time, it is significantly slower up close. When I first went to an ACOG, I was faster with irons up close then I was with the ACOG, and a whole lot slower compared to my EoTech at close ranges. Now after a lot of practice I'm only a tad slower with my ACOG then my EOTech.

If you're not going to be able to work with the rifle often, I'd go for the mirco and a magnifier in a QD or flip mount.

-Jenrick

 

[matai]

So if money was no option would you dudes rather get a compact ACOG with the Aimpoint Micro on an offset mount, or the Aimpoint with magnifier??

 

[Gun Wielding Maniac]

Aimpoint Micro with magnifier, because you still have the issue with parallax on the ACOG. Also, the red dot is more forgiving of unconventional shooting positions in which your head may not be ideally located on the stock. At least you've got options.

 

[DBR]

Unless you are REALLY going to use night vision equipment it is the Aimpoint H1 you want and I can also recommend the Daniel Defense mount. The problem with magnified optics is they are at a real disadvantage at ranges under about 25yds.

I can easily get MOA or better groups a 100yds with an Aimpoint ML2 and the right target (one I can see the dot against). I just added an Aimpoint H1 with the DD mount to my home defense AR. I live in the woods where my nearest neighbor is at least 1/4 mile away and 200 feet higher than me. We have no local police here. I can reasonably expect a legal self defense shot from contact to 50yds depending on the situation.

I have tried "what ifs" at both extremes in the day and at night - the RD sight always comes out ahead of irons or low powered scopes.

I also have an AR with a 1.5-4X high quality scope on it that I use if I am going into the woods and might want to take a shot at a coyote at 250-300yds but it is not what I would want for self defense esp at night.

 

[Wes Janson]

Does anybody know if there are different lens caps for the Aimpoint Micro T-1? It seems like those bikini covers may get annoying

Who needs scope covers? I stopped using 'em on the Micro a long time ago...

 

[GunNut]

Aimpoint and Magnifier...keep it simple.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

unless the gun is a dedicated defense gun the acog is a more versitile sight. The magnification helps for ranges out past a 100 yards and the optics gather light in low light situations where the aimpoint doesnt. The difference in speed is very minimal with the aimpoint having the advantage but unless you in a battle situation with a little practice it isnt going to be a consern. Ive got two acogs on ars and 3 aimpoints (comp 2s) and if price wasnt a factor id have acogs on all of them. Personaly i dont care for a magnifier. Its the same reason i dont like eotecs. I dont like the idea of having to think when i need to shoot. I dont want to turn things on and off and dont want to flip things into place. An acog or an aimpoint without a magnifier is allways the same everytime i grab the gun and there allways on. If your going to argue that you can leave your magnifier flipped into possition then why the extra weight over a compact acog and why give up the superior optics of an acog. Bottom line though is you wont go wrong with either. There both hands down better then anything else out there.

 

[taliv]

that would be a hard choice for me.

after shooting the micro T1 for years and loving it, i still have a magnifier, but i don't use it anymore. i shoot better w/o.

the acog is also awesome. i don't know what parallax issue maniac is referring to. i have an older 4x model.

i would not use both on the same gun.

the last few optics i've purchased have been 1-4x in the S&B Short Dot style (though not short dots). they're quite a bit more expensive than either an aimpoint or acog, but worth it so far. i haven't timed myself yet for comparison, but the swaro z6i EE feels just as fast as an aimpoint on 1x.

the only downsides are weight, and lack of daylight-bright reticles, and battery life. and arguably, they may not be as durable. that's speculation. i'm sure they're durable but the T1 weighs what? 3.5 oz? and the z6i is a pound. when you hit something with it, the greater mass seems like it'd be more likely to crush or break something. aimpoint reps don't seem to hesitate to skip them across the parking lot before shooting to show how they hold zero. i don't imagine i'll ever see a swaro rep attempt same.

for most people, i'd say weight, daylight-bright reticles, durability, battery life and being half the price would make the T1 the heavy favorite

 

[Gun Wielding Maniac]

The issue I was referring to is that if you dont have your head on the same place on the stock while shooting the ACOG, you'll miss the target. With the aimpoint, that isnt the case. Actually, the short version of my argument.

 

[Zak Smith]

[he issue I was referring to is that if you dont have your head on the same place on the stock while shooting the ACOG,

I haven't shot the TA33, but I have found this to not be the case, in a wide variety of practical/tactical shooting problems, with the TA11. The Aimpoint will be more tolerant of weird positions just because it's 1x, but the ACOGs are not super sensitive.

 

[taliv]

maniac, i know what parallax is. i just haven't noticed it being a problem on the acog and am curious where you got your info

 

[matai]

So are the ACOGs less sensitive of eye position than normal scopes?

 

[Zak Smith]

Sensitivity can be thought of at least two ways: ability to get a sight picture at all (ie, avoiding the "black ring"), and parallax error itself.

The first is mostly a function of: 1. having the right eye relief setup and 2. size of the exit pupil. Large exit pupils are often poo-pooed as being worthless because they eye only opens to 7mm in minimum light anyway (or some such argument), but if the scope exit pupil cannot provide a cone of light that fully overlaps your own pupil, you'll see the dreaded "black ring" and some or all of the scope view will be obscured. The TA11 and TA33 habe 10mm exit pupils.

As for parallax error, I never find this to cause actual problems in practical shooting with the optics that I regularly use. My cheek weld is pretty consistent. In very awkward positions with a 60-90-degree canted rifle, there seem to be other sources of error that subsume parallax as such.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

the paralex problem with an acog is not really a factor to me. If my target is out at 100 yards or more i have plenty of time to aim properly and if its up close the paralex isnt going to make the diffence in a hit or miss. its really no differnt using an aimpoint. Alot of what your experiencing is due to the fact that ars mount there optics high above the barrel and at any range canting the rifle will effect where the bullet hits.

 

[H2O MAN]

I love the T-1 and hope they also offer one with a smaller MOA dot some day.

I have never been able to warm up to the ACOG though, my mid range
optic is a Leupold Mark 4 1.5-5x20mm MR/T M2 with an illuminated SPR.