ACOG Question

[mrvash]

So I know that ACOG scopes with the fiber optic band collects surrounding light to illuminate the reticle and the tritium illuminates the reticle in low/no light.

When I cover the fiber optic strip my reticle becomes black in day light, is this normal or should the reticle always be illuminated at all times?

My TA01 the reticle only became illuminated in the dark.

Thanks!

[mrvash]

Also in darkness how bright should the reticle be?

[SuperSet]

TA01 has no fiber optic so that's why you don't see the tritium glow during daylight. Plus, I've never found the tritium glow that bright during darkness either.

[Press Check]

Plus, I've never found the tritium glow that bright during darkness either.

To expand on that, the tritium is quite dim, and does nothing to enhance or bring clarity to the reticle.

[sunborder]

The tritium is basically meant to help when your darkvision has kicked in (say, about 20 minutes with no significant light sources). Otherwise, you aren't going to really see it much. The reason you feel that it is dim, is probably that you were in a lighted room, then flipped off the light switch. Your eyes haven't really had time to adjust to the level of light that the tritium is putting out.

I personally don't like the way that the tritium-powered ACOGs work in night vision situations, so I switched to red dots, since I don't need a magnified optic for bump-in-the-night distances anyway.

[Press Check]

The tritium is basically meant to help when your darkvision has kicked in (say, about 20 minutes with no significant light sources). Otherwise, you aren't going to really see it much. The reason you feel that it is dim, is probably that you were in a lighted room, then flipped off the light switch. Your eyes haven't really had time to adjust to the level of light that the tritium is putting out.

I personally don't like the way that the tritium-powered ACOGs work in night vision situations, so I switched to red dots, since I don't need a magnified optic for bump-in-the-night distances anyway.

Negative on the assumption, Sir. Years back, I took a low-light, nighttime tactics course with the TA01, and outside of that, have had my eyes fully adjusted to darkness indoors. I did not simply hit a light switch, and immediately have a peek through the optic.

Having owned many ACOG's, the TA02 that I currently own excels in low-light situations, no different than my Aimpoint's.

[sunborder]

Fair enough.

Most of the people I've talked to that had negative opinions of the ACOG tritium setup were testing without night vision properly worked up. I personally don't want to wait 20 min if I hear a bump in the night, and my night vision was recently blown by a visit to the toilet or whatnot.

I had a TA-31F that didn't work out for various reasons. This was one of them. Would you say that the TA02 is as bright as an aimpoint on medium? Now you've got my curiosity up. That's the battery-powered one, right? I didn't think that had a tritium lamp involved.

[MrPlink]

Why in the hell would you reach for a rifle with an acog on it for HD?
Do you live in an indoor sports stadium?

[GM4spd]

Do you live in an indoor sports stadium?

Too funny,I'm choking on my coffee!

Pete

[pterrell]

The tritium will glow a soft green once your eyes adjust to the darkness. I actually out electrical tape over part of the fiber optic during the day to keep it from being too bright. Use three different pieces so that as it gets darker into the evening, you can remove them and your reticle stays illuminated until it is actually night


The tritium works great at night BTW. I actually can use it has about as well as my nvg/peq.


OP, are you sure you have a TA01? Those don't have fiber on top. They have iron sights.

[Sliik]

Why in the hell would you reach for a rifle with an acog on it for HD?
Do you live in an indoor sports stadium?

LOL!

[Sliik]

Too funny,I'm choking on my coffee!

Pete

I spit mine out after that one Pete! Lmao

[Packy14]

The tritium is basically meant to help when your darkvision has kicked in (say, about 20 minutes with no significant light sources). Otherwise, you aren't going to really see it much. The reason you feel that it is dim, is probably that you were in a lighted room, then flipped off the light switch. Your eyes haven't really had time to adjust to the level of light that the tritium is putting out.

I personally don't like the way that the tritium-powered ACOGs work in night vision situations, so I switched to red dots, since I don't need a magnified optic for bump-in-the-night distances anyway.

So you grab your AR for bump in the night situations? And you're not using a weapon light to actually see what's going on? Glad I'm not your neighbor.

[mrvash]

I meant to say "my old TA01" in my OP.. Sorry! Thanks for all the replies, though. Once my eyes adjust a bit to low/no light the reticle is definitely there, but dim.

[sunborder]

So you grab your AR for bump in the night situations? And you're not using a weapon light to actually see what's going on? Glad I'm not your neighbor.

Been discussed before ad-nauseum, but for the TLR crowd:
1. Bump in the night doesn't necessarily mean HD. Camping on BLM land near the Mexican border, for example. All it takes is one car's headlights sweeping by your camp sight to ruin your night vision.
2. Has weapon light, but I don't keep it constant on. Used for target ID, not moving around. Also, at night, even with the light on, the tritium-based ACOG reticle doesn't "pop" the way a red dot or laser does.
3. For HD use, I've done some pretty extensive ammunition testing against drywall and other relevant barriers that would match potential fire lanes near my home. I have a custom load recipe based on those findings to minimize overpenetration.