Aimpoint vs. ACOG for AR-15

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numaone

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Hey yall,
I am trying to decide between the Aimpoint (either M3 or M4) and an Trijicon ACOG (perhaps the TA31 Doc) for an 16" Ar-15. I can't decide between the two and need your advice. The purpose would be shooting short to medium range. (0-200 yards)

Here are my Pro/Cons:
I like the Aimpoint because of the no-parallax reflex sight. Easy to use and unlimited eye relief. Probably the best CQB option. The downside is limited range. What is the longest effective range for an Aimpoint reddot? An Trijicon rep said only 75 yards, I'm not sure if he was lying or not to sell his ACOG. Along with this, I can add a 3x sight to Co-witness on a quick release mount, to get the best of both worlds. But now my optics train is getting cluttered fast!

OTOH, I can get the ACOG with 4X magnification. PROS: It's an Trijicon ACOG, need I say more? There new BAC (Bindon Aiming Concept) system allows the user to use both eyes (with some training). I was leaning towards the TA31DOC with the Red dot Doctor Sight on top. Close quarters use. What I don't like is the reticule. Specifically, I think the BDC looks too cluttered, and of course it's only calibrated for one set of conditions, (may or may not work for my set-up and ammunition). What I would love is the chevron with the doctor sight, but they don't make that.

The two setups come to about the same price (roughly).

So many options :banghead:, so what's your opinions? What do you think?

Thanks

One final Question: I was holding some 50$ knockoff aimpoints. I could tell they were cheap. They weren't even parallax free. I've never used an Aimpoint, is the difference between the real thing and the 10 times cheaper clone worth the 10x difference?
 
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Well, I think that a ACOG looks better, and a EoTech looks better, as you can probaly tell, I don't have ANY experience with either. :)
 
Well, I think that a ACOG looks better, and a EoTech looks better, as you can probaly tell, I don't have ANY experience with either.
Click to expand...

Heh, Looks are at the bottom of the list!
I want something where I can knock shotgun shells off the top of a target stand at 25 yards, then tack-drive at 100-200.
 
I have an Aimpoint I love it! The question you need to ask do you want magnification? If you do go with the Acog otherwise go with an Aimpoint. I don't care much for those airsoft quality eotechs.
 
Well, in that case I'd prefer the Leupold MR/T because of the more precise reticle for the shotgun shells, but on the other hand it's not one of your options.
 
TheRealMags
I have an Aimpoint I love it! The question you need to ask do you want magnification? If you do go with the Acog otherwise go with an Aimpoint. I don't care much for those airsoft quality eotechs
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How far out do you shoot with your aimpoints?
 
I can shoot a torso sized steel target out to about 500 yards. I can make pretty consistent headshots out to about 2-300 yards using BUIS in conjunction with the Aimpoint.
 
I have one rifle set up with the TA31F Trijicon, one set up with the ML2 Aimpoint. I use the TA31F for 3 gun matches out to 300 yards. The ML2 is set up as a "patrol" carbine, figure it is good to 200 yards with my crappy eyes. I think I like the Trijicon the best though.
 
I have the Aimpoint M2, M3, ACOG TA31F, and EOTech 511. Without a doubt, get the M3 (or ML3) with the 2moa dot.

There is no real need for magnification at 0-200m ranges (unless you are compensating for poor eyesight, in which case you should look into correcting your problem, not compensating).

I can hit an 8" plate at 200m repeatedly with the M3. The M2 with the 4moa was a little hard to hit the 8" at 200m but the 2moa is a lot easier.

The Aimpoint is far superior as far as battery life to the EOTech. The controls are easier to deal with, as well.
 
An Trijicon rep said only 75 yards, I'm not sure if he was lying or not to sell his ACOG.
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that is disappointing. but sales guys are sales guys, even in the gun industry. yeah, he was lying. hitting a 10" steel plate at 200 yrds with an aimpoint is not difficult. granted, it's not as easy as hitting it with an acog, but it's still not difficult.

go with the aimpoint
 
Another vote for the Aimpoint... the TA31DOC isn't going to be as good at closer ranges. The 4x is slower at closer ranges and the different cheek weld to use the Docter is less than ideal. The main advantage of the magnification is better target acquisition and identification IMO.
 
I'm squarely in the Aimpoint camp, for all the reasons that TechBrute stated. I also prefer the smaller dots; they do NOT get washed out even in sunlight, but they are much easier to use at 100+ yards.

One point that bears amplification is the fact that I can turn the Aimpoint on/off strictly by feel in the dark.
 
I've got a 2MOA Aimpoint on my rifle, wife has a TA01 4X AGOG on hers.

With the Aimpoint you can get hits on a man sized target out as far as you can see a man sized target. The ACOG lets you see and identify targets out further than you could with the naked eye. ACOG is slower at close range than the Aimpoint.

Ideally you could get both and have a rifle bearer hand you the right tool for the job at hand. BSW
 
Looks like another vote for Aimpoint
Click to expand...

Ok, Aimpoints are looking good. What about adding a 3x magnifier to it. Is it worth the extra money? Does it add to the setup? Is this, in effect, the best of both worlds? How stable is the optics train?

Thanks
 
It all depends on whether or not your use requires magnification or not. If the answer is yes, go ACOG. If not, go Aimpoint.

I'm sorry if this is overly simplistic, but you have to decide what you want to do with the gun. If you need precise shots at 100yds+, the ACOG is better. If you need speed at 100yds and under, the Aimpoint is better. No free lunch, though both will work acceptably in either situation. They just have defferent biases.

Mike
 
I've owned both an Eotech 552 and now an ACOG TA31F. If you want to shoot real small stuff like shotgun shells, go with the ACOG. The magnification really helps for small stuff like this. Just a couple weeks ago I was out shooting some shotgun shells with my AR, and with the shade from trees and dancing shadows it was very difficult to even make them out against the dirt berm at 25 yards. Looking through the ACOG I could easily see them and hit them.

Is the EOtech/Aimpoint better for clearing a room? Sure, but is that really what you are going to be doing with your rifle? For many of us, no. You can't shoot what you can't see (which works both ways in this argument). If you need to be heads up and picking things out of your peripheral vision at close range, then you want the red dot. If you need to be able to see, identify and engage small targets then the ACOG is the way to go.
 
Been there done that with the acog. in cqb they keep you jammed up pretty bad but the dot 300 hasn't ever been a problem with a rest.
 
ive got 3 comp 2s and and the marine acog. I love the acog but wish it had more eye relief and could be mounted a tad bit further back on the gun. I also just bought a trigicon tr24 and it may be the best of both worlds.
 
I have an Aimpoint 2 and a 4X ACOG.


The ACOG can actually double as a red dot at close range if you keep both eyes open. My only real gripe if the ACOG reticule disappears in low light, which is exactly where the Aimpoint excels.
 
I had a Aimpoint 3X magnifier (on the Larue flipper) behind my Aimpoint. After doing a class with the magnifier and shooting it at local matches I ditched it. Too much weight and bulk for what was supposed to be a KISS rifle. BSW
 
Ha, This is good. I go to sleep thinking Aimpoint Red Dot.
Then, during the night, the ACOG group comes out!

Ok, does anyone have experience with the TA31TRD with the Doctor Red Dot on top? Is this the best of both worlds, an ACOG with a Red Dot on top?
 
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