Trijicon VCOG Reviews: Worth the Hype?

Trijicon decided to splash into the variable rifle scopes market after establishing itself as a reputed and trusted military contractor for the ACOG scopes. Refining the design further, Trijicon came up with the VCOG series which is a variable version of the ACOG.

The VCOG comes in two variants, the 1-6x and 1-8x. This review will talk about the 1-6x version specifically.

The quality of this scope is impeccable, but the price tag can be scary. So let’s check out the in’s and out’s of the VCOG and if it is worth buying. 

Trijicon VCOG 1-6x24 Specs and Features

Take a quick look at the specifications of the Trijicon 1-6x VCOG scope. It is an FFP optic with advanced illuminated BDC reticle options and runs on a single AA battery. 

• Eye Relief: 4 inches
  
  
• Adjustment Options:
  
  
  • Parallax: Not adjustable
    
    
  • Windage: 90 MOA (¼ MOA clicks)
    
    
  • Elevation: 90 MOA (¼ MOA clicks)
    
    
• Type of Reticle: Illuminated segmented circle/horseshoe
  
  
• Image of Reticle

• Magnification: 1-6x
  
  
• Focal Plane: First Focal Plane
  
  
• Objective Lens: 24 mm
  
  
• Field of View: 15.9 - 95 ft at 100 yds
  
  
• Weight: 23.2 oz. (without mount and battery)
  
  
• Tube Diameter: 34 mm
  
  
• Battery Life: 700 hours at setting four

Pros

The VCOG is an advanced tactical scope that is well-respected in the firearm optics community due to its exceptional quality and performance. Its major points of excellence include:

Tough Construction and Clear Glass

Trijicon is renowned for its tough build quality. The ACOG is a military-grade optic and the VCOG carries this legacy. The scope’s innards have been enclosed inside a 7075 T-6 aluminum alloy tube that is shockproof and tough. 

The 24mm objective lens gathers good light and the lenses are exceptionally clear. The scope also comes with a TA51 mount attached to its body. So you can mount it instantly on any Picatinny rail. 

Quick and Easy Adjustments

This scope features capped turrets that can be finger adjusted and hold zero under extreme situations. The ¼ MOA graduations allow for precise adjustments. Plus, the magnification adjustment knob features a small notch to aid with quick thumb or finger pushed rotations on the go. 

Illuminated BDC Reticle

The VCOG is available in two proprietary and advanced tactical reticle options. The segmented and horseshoe reticles are illuminated with six brightness settings. They also feature bullet drop compensation stadia lines for ranges out to 800 meters. 

Since the reticle has been etched on the glass, it stays usable in daylight even if the battery dies. Plus, the reticle can be used with both eyes open. 

Variable FFP Magnification

This is an FFP scope which means the reticle will expand or diminish with the magnification levels. Making the reticle always true to the turret settings. This is a good feature and allows for quick zoom switching and faster shots with minimal adjustments. 

The 6x zoom also means that the scope can be used from CQB to a range out to 600 or 800 yards for some shots. 

Good Battery Life & Water Resistance

The VCOG 1-6x offers 700 hours of constant battery life when the brightness is set at level four. Plus, brightness settings have an off spot in between to quickly turn off the illumination and turn it back on at the previous setting. 

The scope is water-resistant up to a depth of 66 feet or 20 meters. That explains the price a bit and why this scope is great for tactical uses.

Cons

After traversing through the pros of the VCOG, let’s take a look at some downsides. These may or may not concern specifically to every individual. But you should keep them in consideration. 

Slightly Heavy

The VCOG 1-6x weighs 23.2 ounces unloaded. That’s without the mount and the battery. Adding up these two essential components, the weight pushes close to 28 ounces. That’s close to 800 grams or 1.7 pounds. 

Looking at the normal standards of scope weight. That’s close to what a long, high magnification scope weighs. The weight can be a tradeoff for tactical uses. But hunters may not like it. 

Insanely Expensive for a 1-6x

The VCOG is expensive to the point that people wait for months or even years to get a good discounted sale price. Spending upwards of $2,000 on a 1-6x scope may seem insanity to many people. 

Yes, the features, build quality, and reputation of this scope are worth it. But this scope costs more than most common rifles on the market today. 

Limited Precision at Long Range

The center of the reticle is a tad thick (about 1 MOA) and becomes a bit oversized on full magnification. Covering a comparatively bigger portion on the target than precision scopes. While the reference points for the long range are good. You cannot expect tight groups at long range. Especially when the scope lacks parallax adjustment.

Best Uses of Trijicon VCOG 1-6x24

All these discussion drills down to a very obvious question. How will a user employ the features of this VCOG scope to the best use? 

This Trijicon VCOG features a 1-6x magnification. The 1x power is an inherent characteristic of red dot sights which offer quick target acquisition. Whereas the power levels up to 6x allow the shooter to zoom and extend the shooting range to a few hundred yards more. 

Given the tactical BDC reticle with stadia lines and an illuminated design. The first best use of this scope is combat. The reticle offers fast acquisition of target for close encounters and can extend the reach of the rifle up to 800 yards for longer shots. 

The FFP design eliminates the need for repetitive adjustments and the four inches of eye relief, generous eye box and wide field of view is enough to engage targets in a jiffy with good accuracy. 

But combat is not what civilians buy scopes for. Hence the next best uses will be home defense and competitions (especially 3-gun). Applications where quick response and accuracy are key. 

The scope can also be used for hunting to some extent if you don’t mind the weight. But a hunter will rarely invest this kind of money on a 1-6x scope when he can find other good economical alternatives for a tenth of the price. 

However, the low light performance of the scope is great and the eye relief and FOV are amazing for scouting and hunting. 

The VCOG 1-6x scope is great for range use and is a suitable candidate for preppers with their SHTF rifles. 

Is Trijicon VCOG 1-6x24 Compatible With Any Rifle?

The VCOG 1-6x24 will work best on modern sporting rifles like the AR. The long eye relief of four inches makes it suitable for scouting rifles as well. The scope measures 10.5 inches in length and will work with most rifles. 

Given the range, reticle, and accuracy capabilities, this scope is best suited for low to medium-caliber rifles. Mounting it on bolt action rifles seems appropriate if you are not concerned about pinpoint accuracy. 

It is a great combat optic and has the reticle BDC calibrated for .223, .300 blk, and .308 calibers. The reticle is also illuminated which is a great feature for match and hunting rifles. 

What Do I Need to Know About Mounting Trijicon VCOG 1-6x24?

The VCOG 1-6x24 comes with a TA51 mount. Which is a proprietary mount by Trijicon and can be installed easily on any Picatinny rail. Just tighten the screws with your thumb and use a quarter to tighten them further for extra stability. 

The scope has an integrated mounting adapter which eliminates the need for purchasing rings or mounts separately. So the scope is already attached to the TA51 mount and all you have to do is position it on the rail and tighten it. The mount is solid and holds the scope firmly in place. 

The scope comes with everything needed except the lens caps. Which looks like a necessity for such an expensive scope. So consider getting a good pair. 

The four inches of eye relief offers a wide range of adjustments for the mounting position. While two-three inches is enough for an AR-type rifle, you may have to look out for another mount if you don’t feel comfortable. 

However, that won’t be the case most of the time. The package also includes a Lenspen for cleaning and a single AA lithium battery to power up the scope. Along with a detailed manual and a warranty card. 

The height of the mount is optimal and won’t interfere with the charging handle. 

Conclusion 

The Trijicon VCOG 1-6x is a high-quality, tough, highly waterproof, and tactical optic best suited for combat, defense, and competitive applications. It is also a viable hunting scope. But the extra weight and expensive price tag are deterrents for many low-budget buyers. But if you can spend that kind of money, using the VCOG will be an utterly pleasing experience.