08-28-2011, 03:06 PM
Variable Wrote:I won't say the ACOG is the end all be all for certain, but to play devil's advocate... It's not a bad compromise either.
Waterproofness: OK, it might leak with the turret caps off. So- don't sight it in underwater or while it's raining....LOL
Adjustments: Yes sometimes they can be a little sticky. When I sight one in I usually tap it with a dead blow mallet after each adjustment. Problem solved. I haven't heard of (nor have I ever experienced) any zero loss after adjustment.
Eye relief: You got me on that one, but I've always managed to work with it. As have many others. I think this because of the short overall length? I'm no expert though, so I'd defer on the reason for that one.
Benchrest applications: You got me there.LOL. But some reticles are better than others. It wasn't meant for this application. FWIW, I can still get great hits at 600 with my old "NSN".
In my book the ACOGs are kind of an all around compromise scope. Using Bindon (SP?) aiming with a reticle won't be as fast as a dot sight, but will give you 4X without hanging another sight on the gun. They are rugged, compact, have pretty good clarity and brightness, and don't need batteries either. I mainly gripe about their price, but then compared to some of the good variables like the short dot...
If one wants a compromise between speed, accuracy, size, construction, complexity, etc., etc., etc... There are plenty of worse choices to be made.LOL
VB:
I look at it in different terms. The ones I was dealing with were issued ACOGs intended for combat and the ones that didn't fail in some way or the other in CONUS did go to war.
Optics intended for combat must not leak at all under any reasonable condition to include immersion to about one or two atmospheres. The ACOGs would leak if you removed the elevation or windage dials when it was raining. Not all mind you but enough to make me wonder who agreed to that part of the requirement. When zeroing that thing, particularly in places where it rains for four straight months of the year and is also cold, you will get water on the dials. There is no way around it. And when they go back into a warm room, they fog up and the fog does not disappear.
Also, if you need to smack the elevation and windage dials after zeroing because they stick, there is something wrong with the optic. It should not require getting hammered by leatherman tools to ensure a change in zero takes.
If the optic cost fifty or a hundred dollars then maybe I would accept it. These cost $800.00 - $1K and there is no excuse for them to be anything but excellent.
Like you though, no problems using them for CQB. Not an issue. Big problems with guys trying to find the right stadia line and basically the ranging system is useless in such a low power optic that uses very thick stadia. On a stationary target that has great contrast with the background -- they are fine. Other than that, guys estimated range by eye and then had to go to the reticule and find the right line or find a spot between the lines or determine to use one line and a hold.
At the time, there were no other options. Today there are.
LR55