Trijicon ACOG Comparison Write-up: TA33 vs TA11 vs TA31 (**Pic Heavy**) RMR Included!

[negolien]

Nice write up bud appreciate you taking the time.

[basqueechmo82]

I'm in Rocklin, 30 minutes north of Downtown Sacramento.

Me too. If you weren't aware and were interested in getting into 3-gun type matches, the Lincoln Rifle Club does a multi-gun competition the first Saturday of every month just North on 65. The equipment rules are much more lenient than say IDPA down at Sac Valley, so the firearms you see out there vary. I've seen guys out there with revolvers, lever action rifles, and hunting shotguns to the latest and greatest with all the bells and whistles. The competing is ok, but really just getting out there to shoot scenarios and get away from standing on a line shooting at a static piece of cardboard is why I do it.

[goodlookin1]

Me too. If you weren't aware and were interested in getting into 3-gun type matches, the Lincoln Rifle Club does a multi-gun competition the first Saturday of every month just North on 65. The equipment rules are much more lenient than say IDPA down at Sac Valley, so the firearms you see out there vary. I've seen guys out there with revolvers, lever action rifles, and hunting shotguns to the latest and greatest with all the bells and whistles. The competing is ok, but really just getting out there to shoot scenarios and get away from standing on a line shooting at a static piece of cardboard is why I do it.

That's a really good point! Thanks for the info.....I may just do something like this. Not necessarily for the competition, but at least for the practice. Lincoln is my home range, pretty much. It's close, it's cheap. I really should become a member, but I've been lazy.

On average, how many rounds do you go through on one of those days?

[basqueechmo82]

It's been a few months since I've made my way out there, but from what I remember, if you bring around 200-300 rounds ea. of rifle and handgun ammo, a couple dozen slugs, and around 50-100 rounds of buckshot/magnum target you will likely have more than enough. Round count varies depending on the stages. Some of them are pretty low, maybe a dozen handgun rounds in a scenario. Others are well beyond the possibility of realism with more reloads than some people own magazines for. The scenarios are usually pretty fun though at the very least- moving targets, shooting on the move, a couple times they've had you shoot from a moving gator. All in all, I would highly recommend at least checking it out.

[goodlookin1]

Sounds cool, thanks for the info.

Also sounds like a high round count! Not something I could afford on a regular basis with all the craziness going on right now, but sounds well worth it on occasion.

[goodlookin1]

Sounds cool, thanks for the info.

Also sounds like a high round count! Not something I could afford on a regular basis with all the craziness going on right now, but sounds well worth it on occasion.

[URBAN COMMANDO]

I really like the 31 but that's just my .02 cents

[FLIGHT762]

I didn't read all of the Pros and cons. I do own an older TA01.

You should consider this, the Trijicon scopes listed have no diopter adjustment.
Unless you have 20/20 vision, I'd actually look through them before purchasing them. I spoke to Trijicon about this some time ago, their answer was "the scopes are made for young eyes".

[goodlookin1]

I didn't read all of the Pros and cons. I do own an older TA01.

You should consider this, the Trijicon scopes listed have no diopter adjustment.
Unless you have 20/20 vision, I'd actually look through them before purchasing them. I spoke to Trijicon about this some time ago, their answer was "the scopes are made for young eyes".

I didnt have a TA01 to put up against the other three, but it's basically the same exact scope as the TA31 but with the lack of a dual illumination/fiber optic line for a daylight visible glowing reticle. Other than the reticle, it will exhibit the same characteristics as the TA31, so my conclusions would likely be very similar.

But the astigmatism issue is interesting and something I didnt consider.

Being that I dont have astigmatism, I cannot personally comment on how the ACOG's perform under such circumstances. But from what i've read online, people with astigmatism have problems with sights/scopes that have bright glowing reticles; ACOG's being one of them. It seems anything that is bright will bloom and blur. I think in this case, the culprit is likely not the lack of a diopter, but too bright of a reticle. The fact that you have a TA01 (one without a bright reticle) and that you kept it and (sounds like?) it is working for you suggest that the lack of diopter isnt the issue. I read up on lots of people who said they have astigmatism and they all said they have the same issue with red dots and holo's, but then looked through an ACOG and was amazed at the overall clarity (reticle included).

I suppose it might come down to the person's specific severity level, or eye shape.....i'm sure not all astigmatism is the same. But hey, if an ACOG doesnt work for you, then there's no reason to force yourself to like it There are plenty of other options out there.

In any case, I fully agree with you that people whould look through it before they buy.....not only for the reason that you suggested, but also because of the different feel between them. Always let your eyes make the decision.

Thanks for your input!

[AndrewWeber]

Thanks for this, I debated optics for a while and just ordered a TA11F, partly because of your work here.

[goodlookin1]

Thanks for this, I debated optics for a while and just ordered a TA11F, partly because of your work here.

No problem....you WONT be disappointed

[Spaceghost]

Great review! Very interesting and informative.

Quick question about the TA-33. On Trijicon's site, they say that you can use the TA-33 with both eyes open, bindon technology (or something similiar). Having both eyes open would help reduce the con of a low field of view. Your thoughts on this? I read this and found it to be a major selling point on the optic.

Of course, I have never had the chance to play with one.

[pdugan6]

great write up!!!!!

[goodlookin1]

Great review! Very interesting and informative.

Quick question about the TA-33. On Trijicon's site, they say that you can use the TA-33 with both eyes open, bindon technology (or something similiar). Having both eyes open would help reduce the con of a low field of view. Your thoughts on this? I read this and found it to be a major selling point on the optic.

Of course, I have never had the chance to play with one.

Yes, the Bindon Aiming Concept is applicable to all of the ACOG series scopes that have the dual illumination feature. I will say this, however: You need to train and train A LOT to get used to the BAC because it is really weird at first to use both eyes open with one eye at 3x and the other at 1x. Secondly, because your using the eye that is not behind the reticle to aim, your POI will be slightly off of where it is pointing. It's not a big difference up close, but I really wouldnt use it for anything past CQB/30ft or so.

I find it very difficult, even after practice, to ignore the sight picture in the scope while using the reticle for the POI with the other eye. Maybe it's just me, but I find it hard to get used to. You have to be able to switch your focus on the object with either eye in a snap.....sometimes I literally have to close my dominant eye to occlude the image and get the proper picture with my non-scope eye and then open my dominant eye to re-obtain the reticle. Hard to explain, but it's just......hard Actually, if you have a front lens cover, you can occlude the sight picture while using the reticle and it works much better.

I just purchased a dual illuminated trij reflex sight (DOC Optic) that will go on top of the ACOG. I find it MUCH faster when both eyes are 1x.

As for reducing the con of the low field of view on the TA33, I'd say the only positive things for a low FOV in regards to the BAC is the fact that it's easier to ignore the sight picture because there's less image to distract you, and it's always like that. However, it's just as easy to do with the TA31 as well because the eye relief is so short; you simply adjust your stock back a ways and get your eye far away from the proper eye relief range. Doing this reduces the amount of the image you see through the scope, which is largely the same effect as having a small field of view. So they can both do it, but the TA33 doesnt require a stock adjustment.

[Bouy]

Thank you for this review. I'm planning on getting an ACOG in a few months and I'm leaning between the M150 or the TA31CH. More on the TA31CH because I rather have the crosshairs than a chevron even though I'm used to the latter.

The Army guys I work with switched to the Elcan SpecterDR's and they love them. I would get one however they cost almost double at $2K a scope. Still, being able to switch between 4X ACOG and 1X Red Dot CCO within the same optic is very beneficial.