Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight. That’s what ACOG stands for and has always performed true to its name.
While ACOG is a versatile series of optics from Trijicon, this review will focus on the 4x32 version with a tritium illuminated reticle.
The ACOG’s are known to be a bit pricey. But what makes them so? Let’s find out in this review.
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Trijicon ACOG 4×32
Trijicon ACOG 4×32 Specs
- Eye Relief: 1.5 inches
- Adjustment Options:
- Parallax: None
- Windage: 40 MOA (½ MOA clicks)
- Elevation: 40 MOA (½ MOA clicks)
- Type of Reticle: Illuminated Amber TA01NSN-308 Crosshair
- Image of Reticle
- Magnification: 4x fixed
- Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane
- Objective Lens: 32 mm
- Field of View: 36.8 ft. at 100 yds. or 7°
- Weight: 14.96 ounces
- Tube Diameter: NA
- Battery Life (if applicable): NA for this version. Although a LED illuminated version is available that offers 12,000 hours of illumination on setting 4.
Pros
The Trijicon ACOG is an optic that is loaded with amazing features and pros. It’s hard to find anyone who reprimands this optic on sound technical grounds. Let’s look at what these pros are
Tough, Battle Proven Optic
Since 1987, the year when Trijicon ACOG was developed and also adopted by the U.S Military. This optic has quickly gained popularity among different divisions of defense forces. It is among the most popular and used rifle optics of all time.
It has been through wars and uncountable battles. Proving its mettle every time. The ACOG’s sturdiness can be proven by the fact that soldiers reported it to take a hit from an AK bullet and still function. Also saving lives at the same time.
The USMC trusts it, the Army trusts it, special forces, Navy SEALs, you name it. This optic is almost indestructible. Even far beyond the Army’s standards.
Battery-Free Illumination
Another feature that makes the ACOG’s great is their battery-free illumination. This specific model features a tritium-based reticle. Tritium is a self-illuminating radioactive material that is also used in night sights. Hence the reticle glows automatically in low light conditions.
Eliminating the dependence on batteries means the reticle is always ready, day or night. Additionally, the Trijicon ACOG series offers a ton of different reticles to choose from. Most of which are advanced tactical designs.
Great Clarity & Comfort
The ACOG’s clarity is just impeccable. Rain, dust, or snow, the scope always presents an ultra-clear image of the target. It employs the proprietary Bindon Aiming Concept™ that allows the user to shoot with both eyes open. Hence greatly improving situational awareness.
Reliable and Waterproof Design
The ACOG’s are ultra-reliable and also waterproof up to a depth of 100 meters. That is about five times more than what the military standards require. That’s one of the many reasons why the military trusts the ACOG for every operation.
Cons
The Trijicon ACOG is almost perfect, but not with a few drawbacks. These are not really big cons. But rather points that should be taken into consideration before making the purchase.
Short Eye Relief & Fixed Magnification
The ACOG has an eye relief of 1.5 inches. While that is perfect for what this optic is intended for. Those 1.5 inches aren’t great for every user and rifle. Additionally, this scope offers a fixed 4x magnification. Which also limits its use to certain applications.
The 4x zoom combined with the BDC tactical reticles can help you engage distant targets. But on the cost of precision and absolute visibility.
Expensive & Tad Heavy
Trijicon is known to be a nick higher in price than other optics on the market. The ACOG is no exception in that matter. Spending upwards of $1,000 may seem uncanny, especially if your uses are limited to lower-budget rifles and basic non-precision applications.
As far as weight is concerned, this optic weighs about 15 ounces or close to a pound. So it sits somewhere between a red dot sight and a full-sized scope in terms of weight and size.
Best Uses For the Trijicon ACOG 4×32
Let’s move on to another very important aspect of this optic. It’s ‘best uses’.
The ACOG is a dedicated combat optic and was specially designed to fit that role. And it has fit that role really well in the past decades. The extra durable construction, impeccable clarity, quick acquisition eyepiece, and a myriad of tactical reticle options make it one of the best combat optics out there.
Photo credit: nicepng.com
A use very similar to combat is home defense. The ACOG 4x32 will embellish your AR as an amazing and worthy home defense optic with absolutely no dependence on batteries. So your optic is ready when you need it.
One very smart feature added to this optic is the presence of back up iron sights. It is a simple blade and peep sight setup mounted on top of the housing for quick sighting on very close range shots. Distances where the 4x magnification can seem fiddly.
The ACOG is also a great scope for competitions like the 3-gun. But only in a short or medium range, and matches where pinpoint precision is out of the question. Where you only have to blast targets as quickly as you can.
This specific model doesn’t have an LED or fiber illuminated reticle. So it looks black under daylight. The best performance of this reticle can be seen in low-light situations like dawn or dusk. The night vision compatibility isn’t great and not worth taking a chance.
Moving forward to more common use, hunting. The ACOG finds itself in a rather precarious position. While this scope is just perfect for eradicating running pests and delivering hog medicine. The fixed 4x power limits its range and precision to some extent. If you hunt within 250-300 yards, the 4x32 ACOG will work.
One lesser talked about use for the ACOG 4x32 is as an optic on a preppers rifle. Since the scope doesn’t need batteries, works in low light and is tough as a tank.
Is the Trijicon ACOG 4×32 Compatible With Any Rifle?
The Trijicon has earned many soldiers medals when mounted on a standard M16 rifle. It is a proven battle optic and works best with assault rifles like ARs and even AKs. Recommending this for lighter submachine guns like the MP5 may seem an exaggeration due to its weight and size. But then, what matters is your personal taste.
Photo credit: wyn.swiss
The 4x32 ACOG is definitely not for bigger bolt action and other magnum rifles. The 1.5 inches of eye relief suits combat roles where the user has to keep the weapon close for stable and safe handling.
A bolt action rifle requires the scope to be mounted further and you don’t want the bolt poking your eye every time you charge it.
This ACOG is best for .223 and .308 caliber semi or full-auto assault rifles. Or other rifles with a more compact design. The caliber depends upon the BDC calibration of the scope.
What Do I Need to Know About Mounting the Trijicon ACOG 4×32?
Mounting the ACOG requires the rifle to have a Picatinny rail. The optic comes with a TA51 mount that can be quickly clamped down a rail using the thumbscrews. This mount is the only thing that you’ll ever need for mounting.
Buying a different pair of rings is out of the question. However, you may opt for adapters if you want to adjust the height. The objective of the scope features a slight protrusion that works as a sunshade.
The set of backup iron sights can be removed if not needed. The reticle glows on its own and the illuminated part is made from tritium. This element has a half-life of 12 years. Which means it retains half its brightness after that period. After that, you can contact Trijicon to make a replacement.
The optic ships with a rubber cap and a dust cover, which should be mounted on the lenses for better protection and prevention from mishandling. The scope is tough, but that doesn’t mean you have to toss it around all the time.
The eye relief is constant at 1.5 inches, so make sure you position it correctly on the rail.
Who Should Not Buy a Trijicon ACOG 4×32?
First of all, this is a 4x fixed magnification scope. A 4x scope is good out to 300 yards if you need amazing clarity and absolute decisiveness on a human-size target. But if your range of shooting goes beyond that, you should opt for a variable magnification scope with a higher power.
The ACOG is also not for low-budget bucket shopping. This optic will cost close to your rifle, and maybe even more in some cases. There’s no point in investing that kind of money (if you’re low on budget) if you dust off your rifle once a year to hunt down one or two critters.
The ACOG is a multipurpose optic but is also not suitable for long range precision shooting.
Conclusion
The ACOG 4x32 is a proven combat optic and is widely used by military forces. It is incredibly tough, impeccably clear, astoundingly waterproof, and doesn’t rely upon batteries for reticle illumination. The scope is great for short to medium-range tactical applications, hunting, competitions, and defense. But the 1.5 inches of eye relief and fixed 4x power limits its use in some situations and on some rifles.
People Also Ask
Find answers to some common and uncommon questions about the Trijicon ACOG 4x32 optic.
What Kind of Warranty Does the Trijicon ACOG 4×32 Come With?
The ACOG 4x32 is covered by a lifetime warranty for materials and craftsmanship defects. Additionally, the tritium lamp is covered by a 10 year warranty from the date of manufacture. The warranty only covers normal use.
Photo credit: trijicon.com
Why is the Trijicon ACOG So Expensive?
The ACOG is a justifiably expensive optic because of its battle-proven reputation and incredible features. It’s tough, five times more waterproof than other scopes, offers battery-free illumination and a few other unique features that sometimes make the price look less.
How Far Can You See With a 4x32 Scope?
A 4x scope will make a target look four times closer. So 300-400 yards is a good bet in terms of clarity. The ACOG offers a BDC reticle that helps you aim accurately at targets out to 600 yards.
Which ACOG Do the Marines Use?
The Marines use the TA31RCO 4x32 ACOG with fiber optic and tritium illuminated ballistic reticle that doesn’t require a battery. The Army and Air Forces also use this ACOG on M4 carbines and M16A4 rifles.
