It seems like 4x 32 ACOG have disappeared in recent years. What could be the reason?

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Raven_Drakeaurd@reddit

In the civilian and LEO context where it's you and not the government buying your gear, ACOGs (specifically the TA31) have fallen off due to the proliferation of magnifiers. Why buy a $1,700 optic that only really works well at one specific range, when you could pay $1,300 and get something that is a better, all-rounder optics stack?

A lot of armed forces still use the ACOG however because, well, they have it and it still works. At medium range, the ACOG is fantastic, but up close, not so much. You can make it work, (blah blah blah, Fallujah, blah blah blah, 20 inch barrels) but it's definitely sub-par.

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Agent-Steel@reddit

People like the new hotness, because it’s the new hotness.

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J3RICHO_@reddit

What are you talking about?

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InfidelSlayer9000@reddit

Where are you seeing them disappear? They’re still incredibly common.

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doublediggler@reddit

I think OP means they have disappeared from the spec ops/cool guy operator photos. Go to any line unit, active or guard and you’re going to see them everywhere.

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Eldorath1371@reddit

I think only a handful of my unit's M4s have an ACOG, the vast majority are CCOs, which are a bitch and half to use with my astigmatism. Fuckers wouldn't let me switch over to the ACOG, even when I demonstrated that I'm far better with that than a red dot.

I also believe 90% of my squadron switched over to CCOs because "The majority of modern Army engagements occur within 200 meters, so there's no need for 4x magnification out to 300 meters."

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MC_McStutter@reddit

It’s all based on the MTOE, not the whims of the squadron.

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SAM5TER5@reddit

I think OP is talking specifically about the 4x ones. I got a 3.5x myself because I’ve heard time and time again that they have a far better eyebox. I’m not saying that’s right or wrong, just that myself and many others like me jumped on the 3.5x bandwagon because of what we’ve heard about the 4x models.

On top of this, ACOG’s are expensive, and LPVO’s are wayyyyy the hell trendier at the moment. They each have their pro’s and con’s. I have no issue with LPVO’s conceptually, but I personally believe most shooters would be better served by a fixed magnification (and enormously simple and high quality) ACOG. Variable magnification is cool, and I have plenty, but 3.5x with excellent glass is perfect for practically any situation that 99% of rifle shooters find themselves in. And anyone (myself included) who has looked through my ACOG fell in love with it. You really have to try it before writing them off, they’re truly in another class.

And if you’re hunting? Just buy a cheap normal riflescope.

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InfidelSlayer9000@reddit

I kind of assumed OP was talking about military use of the ACOG hence the picture. The 4x is still predominately the most common variant in military service around the world. As much as I love the ACOG, it definitely shows its age, especially in eye relief and cost lol.

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Either-Act-8271@reddit

I have the ta31 RCO on my issued m4, but the TA11g I have on my rifle is just much better overall for target acquisition and a better eye box. The TA11’s are worth the price, but the TA31’s just aren’t.

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GoredonTheDestroyer@reddit

OP hasn't seen one in a while, ergo they're all gone.

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El_Cactus_Loco@reddit

OP is a baby, he hasn’t developed object permanence yet.

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GoldfishDude@reddit

I paid basically the same amount as an ACOG for a 1-6 Vortex Razor. I'm a civilian, why would I want an ACOG for anything other than GWOT larping?

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JonathanUpp@reddit

Probably because they're starting to get quite old

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tykaboom@reddit

Horrible eye relief, cost, miniscule eyebox, overly bright reticle, the glass started cracking with slight bumps that earlier models would have laughed off.

Theres more but I wouldn't buy one for $500.

Not when they sell better versions, and the competetion sells models that you can at least adjust parallax for the user.

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democracy__enjoyer@reddit

Where’d you get the “horrible eye relief” and “miniscule eyebox” complains? Literally one of the easiest optics to look through if you put it correctly on your rifle and look through it NOT like a dumbass.

The reticle brightness literally can be lowered with a simple piece of electrical tape and peeled off when you need more brightness.

Refusing to get an ACOG for 500 bucks is… an interesting choice lol

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FlyingYankee118@reddit

They are still very common in military use. Civilian use for it has declined since modern LPVOs are really really good especially for the price. A 1-6 LPVO won’t ever be as durable as an ACOG of course but it doesn’t need to be while being a lot more practical for civilian uses.

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PuzzleheadedEssay198@reddit

Fixed power optics are still widely used (because they’re rugged as shit) but there are significant drawbacks that we’re much better able to mitigate now than we were 20 years ago.

As the Marines have shifted back to a maritime focus, CQB has taken center stage. If you’re inside an oil tanker and your optic is fixed to 100y out, you have a problem.

Meanwhile the Army is worried about distances far beyond that, with distances beyond the naked eye. Computers targeting systems are still rolling out, but LPVOs and other variable setups are significantly better suited to the kinds of different distances we’re seeing in places like Ukraine.

Now, that’s just the US, I can’t speak for our coalition partners and allies but I’m sure they’re having the same conversations as us.

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FarOpportunity-1776@reddit

A fixed power optic can do both of those fine. Its a matter of training. Both eyes open and your brain will use the more clear picture and the reticle will still be visible. Just be ready for headaches until hou get used to it

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PuzzleheadedEssay198@reddit

Oh absolutely, but my point is that’s a part of training that isn’t entirely necessary in the modern day.

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PdoffAmericanPatriot@reddit

Still have mine, and love it

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IcyRobinson@reddit

They have in fact, not disappeared at all. Isn't the M150 ACOG still a standard issue optic for US troops still rocking AR-15s?

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Dak_Nalar@reddit

For the civilian market? Because they are expensive as fuck and there are tons of other optics out there that are cheaper and have better magnification. Civilians don't really need the bomb proof nature of ACOG's, so they go for either cheaper options, or better glass if they want to spend the money.

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Wolfmanreid@reddit

Can confirm the ACOG is literally bomb proof. I’ve seen iron sights snapped off in vehicle rollovers and shot off in a TIC, but never seen an ACOG rendered non functional.

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yourmomsbaux@reddit

I broke 2 TA-01s in DM school on a flat range.

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RacerXrated@reddit

They're still very popular and I have one on my go-to.

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HystericalGasmask@reddit

If I had to guess, it's that soldiers are getting access to different magnified opics, like night force ATACR and Vortex scopes.

This is a good video on current US army optic use, idk if links are allowed here, if not sorry mods

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GenericUsername817@reddit

Don't forget the marines and their vcogs.

Or the navy and their SGOCVs

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biguuey@reddit

This joke flew over a lot of people’s heads…. But not mine 😂😂😂😂

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HystericalGasmask@reddit

Never heard of the SGOCVs, and I love the VCOGs, I did forget them! Thank you for heads up :)

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GenericUsername817@reddit

Heres a picture of a navy captain shooting his sgocv

https://www.stripes.com/incoming/9d0858-120424navy-fumblephoto01.jpg/alternates/LANDSCAPE_910/120424NAVY-FUMBLEphoto01.jpg

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Alphabet-soup63@reddit

Isn’t it mounted backwards?

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ButtstufferMan@reddit

(It's just VCOGs spelled backwards dont worry this can stay between us)

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The_Best_Yak_Ever@reddit

Haha, I love how the Captain is just mag dumping anyway. He’s got her set to “money into noise” mode.

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The_Best_Yak_Ever@reddit

I work as a range safety officer at an outdoor range. Last summer we had three marines out. Really cool guys.

One had a new AR out. He was trying to zero it. It was a busy day and I’m going up and down the line, until I hear him getting frustrated. I stop and ask him what’s up.

“I can’t get this thing to zero! It’s like the magnification is all messed up. I can barely even see the target. Thankfully I got a Vortex, and they are supposed to have a really good warranty!”

So I look at his rifle and say, “yeah, I go with Vortex too for my rifle optics. But… before we bother the nice people at Vortex, why don’t we go ahead and take that puppy off your rifle, turn it around so it’s facing the right way, and give it one more shot at a zero.”

His friends burst out laughing, though I’m not sure why, as I’m 90 percent sure they weren’t aware either. And when I asked them about every marine being a rifleman, the guy with the rifle laughed and said,

“We’re artillery men!”

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GenericUsername817@reddit

Yup.

VCOGs for marines sGOCV of the Navy

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Alphabet-soup63@reddit

Just making sure, I’m one of those old guys that thought the ACOG was a fine combat optic. If you do your part it was hard to miss. OEF 2007-2008

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Dragon464@reddit

One potential factor: 4x ACOG is very eye-relief critical. With a BUIS behind, it's a bit far forward for my 62 year old eyes. Switched it to my Tavor and problem solved. LPVOs are more versatile.

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ovr9000storks@reddit

A good LPVO is one hell of a drug

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Correus@reddit

I cloned my service rifle and put an acog on it. If I were to be building a rifle having not used and acog id go with an LPVO or an aim point, they’re so damn expensive.

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TheRumrunner55@reddit

Because LVPOs are cheaper and have better magnified options

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ImportantBad4948@reddit

Yeah the value proposition of ACOGs these days is terrible.

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Chumlee1917@reddit

Both my LVPOS cost less than 400 bucks.....an ACOG is a thousand bucks, and it's got a worse eye box

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CigaretteTrees@reddit

I’m not a military or optics expert by any means, but this is just what I’ve observed.

There are many other products now that can perform at least as good, if not better than the ACOG.

Back when the ACOG first came out what else was there? From the early 90s to like the mid 2010s the ACOG was the only real option. There were a few LPVOs but they were quite fragile. Red dot magnifier combinations weren’t really much of a thing back then either, and the magnifiers which did exist hadn’t been refined yet.

The ACOG was the best option by a long shot.

That’s just not true anymore. LPVOs are very mature by now. There are many options for robust LPVOs which would be suitable for regular military use, and they are better at being a magnified optic than the ACOG is.

Also from a civilian perspective why would I buy an ACOG for a $1000 when I could buy any number of red dot magnifier combos, other prismatic sights or LPVOs for less which will work perfectly fine. A $200 Sig LPVO will accomplish 95% of the things a civilian would ever need.

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Kegalodon@reddit

Higher Popularity of LPVO and magnified reflex/holo sights.

The ACOG was a really good optic in its day, Rugged, and Idiot Proof. Still no reason not to run one of that’s what you got.

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