Help me choose my first ACOG!

[nrakid88]

Okay,

So I have a remington R-25 (a DPMS .308 AR). It has BUIS, but I need to pick an acog. I have three choices,

A) TA01B- 4x Tritium illuminated, ranging reticle for 100-800 yards on human target.

http://www.trijicon.com/user/parts/products1.cfm?PartID=140&back_row=4&categoryID=3

B)TA11H-.308red or green) 3.5x tritium and fiber optic illuminated horseshoe reticle, ranging for 400-1200 meters on human target. Also has holdovers for kentucky windage.

http://www.trijicon.com/user/parts/products1.cfm?PartID=768&back_row=3&categoryID=3

C)TA11J308 (red, amber, or green) 3.5x tritium and fiber optic illuminated reticle, ranging for 300-1200 meters on a human target.

http://www.trijicon.com/user/parts/products1.cfm?PartID=709&back_row=3&categoryID=3

I have a few concerns. First is option A wont let me shoot past 800 yards, which is the effective range, but still that is a limiting factor. Both option B and C are 3.5x, but I think that the difference in magnification is too small to be noticeable, is that right? Option B won't let me range from 100-300 yards, but I am guessing trajectory is flat enough that I wont (or shouldn't) miss? Finally, both option B and C range to 1200 yards, but I have heard this is calculated for 168 Open Tip ammo, and my concern is that said ammo becomes (or i have heard) unstable after 600 yards. I plan on using a 165 grain Hornady Ballistic Tip (maybe nosler), yet the ballistics will be different and I wonder if the difference will be enough to throw off the shots.

I am going to post again with my results for the differences in ballistics. This is just my first ACOG, and its a lot of money, so I don't want to make a mistake. If anyone has anything to add please say it (even if it seems off topic), I want to think this over from every angle and will appreciate any addition to my thought process.

[nrakid88]

As it stands I am leaning towards option B, as I believe the drop from 100-300 yards can be easily compensated for without measuring, I like the horseshoe (I think it will be faster for close targets) and I like the fact I can do area fire to 1200 yards.

Any thoughts as to why I should go with another choice would be greatly appreciated.

[JBird33]

I say option A. A little more magnification and plenty of range as is. Even in a SHTF scenario, why would you need to engage targets further than 800? It would be about survival, stealth and defense. Not sniping targets at a half mile away.

[nrakid88]

And now I just read about the BAC (Bindon Aiming Concept) where you shoot both eyes open, and its easier to do this with an illuminated retice, where the mind superimposes the red dot from the scope on the image in your mind from your eye not looking through the scope when the scope image is blurry, and once the scope isnt blurry you automatically switch to the magnified eye. Thats insane. Is there any other mind blowing stuff I should know about ACOGs? Any features I could have (or that these scope in question do have) that I might not know about? I am a basic noob to ACOGs

Oh, just read that the BAC is gtg for option B

[nrakid88]

I say option A. A little more magnification and plenty of range as is. Even in a SHTF scenario, why would you need to engage targets further than 800? It would be about survival, stealth and defense. Not sniping targets at a half mile away.

Haha, not to get too mall ninja-y, but say the russians are coming and I have no hope of escape and a **** load of ammo, I could engage them 400 yards sooner. Hahahahaha, maybe I watch red dawn too much. But seriously it would be fun to hit steel at 1K if I ever get to a long range.

[nrakid88]

I just read also that the stepdown in power from 4 to 3.5 combined with the larger objective of the lower power scopes results in a larger exit pupil diamter, with brightness through the scope thats brighter than what the naked eye picks up. Very cool.

[IsaacGlass]

I always liked model TA11J308

[nrakid88]

I always liked model TA11J308

Do you mind sharing your experiences with it?

[nrakid88]

SMK 165 BC .468 MV 2731, drop at 1000 -384.1, this is what the .308 acogs are calibrated for

my load, Hornady 168 SST .475 BC MV 2773, drop at 1000 is -366.1, so it'll be 18 inches high at 1000 yards..., which is just 1.8 moa high at 1k, not bad.

I think I found my scope.

[nrakid88]

So I thinki i am going with option B, What color should I get, Red or Green? I think Red is a lower intensity light, and red light doesnt affect dilation of your pupil ( why observatories use red lights inside ) so I should go with read so that using the scope at night wont hurt my night vision.
However I wonder which color would be advantageous in the daytime- I just checked a color wheel while looking at my local area, and red seems to be a better contrast for the most common colors, green, blue, yellowish brown dirt.

[B Strong]

I love ACOG's but if you're looking to engage to the limit of the cartridge you need more than 3.5 x

There is a 5.5 x ACOG with a 7.62 reticle:

http://www.opticsplanet.net/trijicon-ta55a-acog-55x50-red-chevron-bac-308-riflescope.html

That is worth a look.

[Cokebottle]

Haha, not to get too mall ninja-y, but say the russians are coming and I have no hope of escape and a **** load of ammo, I could engage them 400 yards sooner. Hahahahaha, maybe I watch red dawn too much.

And as soon as the 2nd guy drops, they're going to nail you with a Howitzer or an air strike.

[DTS]

i asked trijicon when i bought mine,

green - more night shooting, green is more visible during low light but not as good during a bright sunny day
red - more day shooting

[NiteQwill]

Whatever you choose... DO NOT get a green reticle. Trust me, you'll regret it.

[cal3gunner]

If it was me I would buy this one http://www.trijicon.com/user/parts/p...3&categoryID=3

I've looked through your options B and C on guns and I like the chevron a lot better. Yes the 3.5 and 4 are very close when it comes to magnifacation but the 3.5 has many advantages over the 4 when it comes to exit pupil and eye relief.

How far do you plan on shooting realistically?