Trijicon Accupower 1-4 vs Leupold VX-R Patrol 1.25-4

[sparky-kb]

Anyone spent much time behind these two optics? How do they compare?

I'm looking for an optic to go on a Noveske 12.5 Crusader "build" and want to try out a low power variable but don't want to get crazy with it as far as price goes. It will be a general purpose carbine/mini recce. Something handy yet accurate. Up close work is a secondary objective but I'd like it to be relatively capable if used in that manner.

The two optics in question seem to offer a similar set of features for a decent price point with the Trijicon being about $150 more. Warranty seems to be about the same for both. Lifetime except electronic components. Just wondering what that extra $ for the Accupower is buying.

The VX-R has the Firedot SPR reticle. With the Accupower I'm looking at the red Mil-square reticle specifically. The Accupower segmented circle reticle with BDC looked really good too but I'm afraid the BDC would be way off on a 12.5 considering it was set for a 16 inch barrel slinging XM193 at 3116 fps.

"Aimpoint" bright daytime illumination isn't that big of a deal for me. Quality of glass, forgiving eybox, useful reticle for holds, and durability are pretty much what I'm looking for in no particular order.

On paper

Leupold wins: Price, weight, illumination brightness, and battery life.

Trijicon wins: Capped turrets, "truer" 1X, and a more complete Mil reticle with .5 Mil markings (vs 2.5 Mil markings on the Leupold Firedot SPR reticle).

Durability and glass quality are the big unknowns to me at this point. I can't find anyplace local to check either out or compare.

Whatcha guys got on these two optics?

[cop1211]

I've had both. I'd go for the Accupower. Better glass, flat image at all powers, better eyebox, better construction.

[RHINOWSO]

I had the Leupold Mark AR Mod 1 1.5-4 (basically the 1" version of the VX-R Patrol) and while I liked the uber light-weight of it, my Trijicon Accupower 1-4x24 beats it hands down it usability (MOA reticle in Green on mine, although I have seen the BDC in green as well).

The weight difference is negligible and capped turrets, 1x, & usable reticle in the Accupower beat the other negatives. I also prefer the rotary illumination on the Trijicon vs the pushbutton on the Leupold, as well as the superior FOV.

Oh and while the MST illumination is "daylight bright", it isn't "Aimpoint bright". Yes it is brighter than the Accupower, but it's below that of an Aimpoint.

[sparky-kb]

Awesome, thanks!

You guys finding the green reticle to be more visible? I was mainly looking at red because that's what I'm used to on Aimpoint dots and ACOG chevrons. I've never used green and wonder how it does against spring/summer vegetation.

[cop1211]

I had the green while it's fine, I prefer red on the Accupower, ACCUPOINT , and ACOG.

[RHINOWSO]

Either color is fine, I went with green because they had it in stock for <$600 at the time, so I didn't waste time waiting for the deal to end.

The green is very bright and there is no way you'll lose it in the vegetation - think semi-florescent type green.

Pick whichever you prefer, honestly.

[Primus Pilum]

Made in China, assembled in USA by a company with a long history of obscuring the origins of their products yet selling them at a "made in the USA" premium. Recently had to chance their "made in the usa" branding due to lawsuit and deceptive advertising under US law.

VS.

One of the most respected names in optics who makes & assembles the vast majority of their products in the USA. Accupoints being the exception, in that parts come from LOW but are assembled in the US (much like nightforce). True 1x, better glass, better illumination, better reticle choices,ect

Pretty easy choice for me.

[henschman]

You said you want a reticle that is usable for hold-overs... that is what would steer me away from the Leupold. There just aren't enough mil lines on the Firedot SPR reticle to make it all that useful.

Trijicon would be my pick.

[Nightvisionary]

Made in China, assembled in USA by a company with a long history of obscuring the origins of their products yet selling them at a "made in the USA" premium. Recently had to chance their "made in the usa" branding due to lawsuit and deceptive advertising under US law.

VS.

One of the most respected names in optics who makes & assembles the vast majority of their products in the USA. Accupoints being the exception, in that parts come from LOW but are assembled in the US (much like nightforce). True 1x, better glass, better illumination, better reticle choices,ect

Pretty easy choice for me.

Can you back those statements up with sources? I would hope so because if not they are actionable. I worked for them until 2011 and can state from first hand knowledge most of what you stated is incorrect. I can't speak to anything post 2011 but a google search came up with nothing. My only dog in the fight is seeing that bad information isn't being passed on as fact. This forum is generally a poor place to try that.

[sparky-kb]

You said you want a reticle that is usable for hold-overs... that is what would steer me away from the Leupold. There just aren't enough mil lines on the Firedot SPR reticle to make it all that useful.

Trijicon would be my pick.

Yeah. That's what I was thinking.

If only they had a reticle option with the illuminated segmented circle and non illuminated Mil-box crosshair instead of the predetermined ACOG type BDC. That would be just about everything I want in a 1-4 reticle. Bold segmented circle for quick acquisition up close with a usable mil reticle for longer range.

I like that segmented circle reticle so much that I'm trying to figure out how useful the BDC reticle would be for a 12.5 inch barrel. The chrono data I've found on 12.5 Noveske Crusader barrels and M193 put it at about 2940 FPS vs the M193 at 3116 FPS Trijicon used for the BDC.

Doing some rough calculations online it looks like it would be fairly useful with the 12.5 Crusader barrel and 55/62 grain ammo using a 100 yard zero out to 500-600 yards on a torso sized target. That's asking a lot of a 12.5 barrel and 1-4 optic so at more reasonable ranges of 3-400 yards it doesn't look too far off at all.

Bullet A is as close as I could get to what the BDC is calibrated for and is used as a baseline in both charts. Bullet B is a comparison of 55 and 62 grain ammo with the lower velocities of the 12.5 inch barrel against the baseline ammo. Chrono info for the Noveske 12.5 Crusader was found in posts made by MSTN on TOS.

55 Grain comparison
Bullet A: 55 grain at 3116 FPS
Bullet B: 55 grain at 2940 FPS (12.5)




62 Grain comparison
Bullet A: 55 grain at 3116 FPS
Bullet B: 62 grain at 2836 FPS (12.5)