Trijicon ACOG overpriced?

**Mike Marley** · 06-01-14, 08:32

The point about patent comes up. These were military contract designs, correct? If so that point about holding a patent is a great point. I work in pharmaceutical drug discovery and know all about that. Anyone who takes a prescriptIon does too. That's why we buy the generic. All about the $$$$$$$

**tylerw02** · 06-01-14, 20:25

Comparing a cheap red dot to a magnified military optic? Apples and oranges; not even the same type of optic.

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**docsherm** · 06-04-14, 20:17

Originally Posted by SOW_0331

The ELCANs all took a far more demanding amount of abuse and always stayed unbothered by damage.

You might have had some valid points until you said that........now all I hear are fingernails down a blackboard....OMFG!!! are you serious? I have read many of your posts and they are tongue and cheek... I get that.....but that is just ....WOW. I have seen many ELCANs, as a matter of fact I was on the test crew in USASOC when they were first being fielded, they sucked then too. The ELCAN is the biggest POS optic that the Army has ever used. I hve never seen one last more than a month, with ACTUAL use.

As for the ACOG...Plain and simple, you get what you pay for. If you want cheap you can get cheap, and the optic will show that. I have a friend onthis forum that had his TA01 ACOG SHOT in Iraq in '03. The BUIS on the ACOG was still there and he was still in the fight. Great stuff costs....

**SOW_0331** · 06-04-14, 21:16

Haha, I don't know what to tell ya man. It's the experience I had and worth just that. One of the times I broke an ACOG I had to walk like 30k to get a replacement and it was beyond anything that could be replaced. On the walk back, we got TIC, and halfway through my third mag, the reticle disappeared behind a sheet of glittery fog. It probably had more to do with the Marine Corps methods of storing equipment and keeping it in service far past it's recommended life without professional maintenance.

The ELCANs we had were brand new.

Those contributing factors probably had a lot to do with it. I also use an EOTech due to my preference over Aimpoint, so maybe I'm all dicked up...

**gashooter** · 06-04-14, 21:23

The ACOG is rugged, reliable, And offers BDC type reticles that have been heavily researched and well thought out. I agree that the cost is a bit extreme but If I EVER have the Benjamins, I will own one!

I also Have the Lucid RDS. It holds zero well but It will always be an inexpensive RDS and no where close to an AGOC in features and build quality.

**docsherm** · 06-04-14, 21:49

Originally Posted by SOW_0331

I also use an EOTech due to my preference over Aimpoint, so maybe I'm all dicked up...

I through my M68 against a wall in Iraq back in '03. I hate Aimpoints, Everyone I used sucked....I have used an EoTech ever since for my reflex sight. No issues with them.

**KiloSierra** · 06-14-14, 03:00

I use a personally owned upper and Aimpoint instead of the issued upper and EoTech on my patrol rifle, carry personally owned Surefire handheld and weapons lights, have a ACOG on a personal AR, and had a EoTech in the past. In nine and a half years of law enforcement I've had a total of one issue each with the Aimpoint and Surefire. Got some Off on the tail cap on the Surefire that ate up the rubber on the switch and the Aimpoint is old enough the adjustments stick when you first try to move them. The Surefire's have been dropped on the floor from a attic, dropped on concrete, hit against steel poles, dropped in water and pretty much anything else a beat cop can do to one and never failed. The Aimpoint's been bounced around in the trunk of my patrol car, been dropped directly on concrete while attached to the rifle, banged into almost every type of door imaginable and it's always held zero and never had a battery failure for the six years I've had it and I bought it used and change the battery every year or two. The ACOG pretty much a safe queen but it still gets banged around some and still hasn't failed in any way. The EoTech held zero, but required daily battery checks and monthly battery replacement to keep it running and still suffered erratic battery performance.

Other officer think I'm crazy for spending my money on equipment of my own that in several cases my department provides, but when I can buy top notch equipment that my life may very well depend on and not have to wonder if my departments typically bargain basement gear will work I'll willingly spend it.

**tylerw02** · 06-14-14, 10:02

Kilo, I'll dogpile on just to mess with you. Do you also buy your own brakes in your patrol car?

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**turnburglar** · 06-14-14, 17:41

There are decent "acog" like optics for civilian use. The primary arms compact 4x comes to mind, as I have yet to hear anything negative about one.

I had a similar negative acogs experience where the tritium didn't seem to do shit for illumination at night. Being an issued optic only Allah knew if it was a defect or past its half life. What you have to understand about the military gear: the military is the BEST in the world at breaking shit, while our gear is made by the lowest bidder. That and the fact that the military is pretty bad about maintaining gear.