Review on Trijicon TA33 R8 and Aimpoint T1 in off set mount

[Alaskapopo]

Hi I had to sell a scope and 1 AR, 1 SKS and 1 Beretta Shotgun to afford this new set up.

I saw some pics on M4 carbine with an Aimpoint T1 in an Offset mount next to an Acog. I thought I would try the TA33 model that my friend at my shooting club was raving about. Its a compact model and only weighs 7 ounces. The Aimpoint only weighs 4.5 ounces. Not sure how much the Larue mounts add but this rifle still feels very light.




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One thing I liked about the ACOG was it had long eye relief and it was actually easy to use the Bindon Point Aiming Concept with it. With most ACOGs I have tried in the past they seemed slower but this one was easy to track with both eyes open.

Down sides to the optic was the very very tiny reticle. I could barely see the 4 in the bullet drop reticle and then only if I held it up against a white wall. One other down side that has to do with all ACOGS in general is as the sun went down the reticle got hard to see. I was sighting the rifle in during the rain and I was also losing sun light fast. I had to finish by holding my surefire light up next to the fiber optic tube so the reticle would be more easy to see. I could see it under normal illumination but it was very dim. I was shooting from inside a shoot house at our range which was darker than the all ready twilight outside. The groups were surprisingly good despite my difficulty seeing. Everything was going wrong. My breath was fogging up my glasses and I had rain on my glasses did not help (from when I went out to change the target).

But I got it sighted in at 100 yards. I will take it out again later in better weather and put it through some paces. I like the optic but I feel I should have gotten a more powerful model for this set up. Perhaps a TA 31F. I think this optic would be great on its own and the Aimpoint almost seemed un necessary. But I need to shoot it more to find out.

The Aimpoint T1 was very easy to pick up by just canting the rifle to the side every so slightly. I sighted it in at 50 yards with no problems. Even in the failing light it was easy to see as its battery powered. That is one reason I can see to keep the Aimpoint on this rifle. Not just for close range but also for failing light situations. The gun weighs next to nothing even with both optics. I am very pleased with the T1 and will be buying more in the future as I need red dot sights. I just wish it had flip up blizzard caps.

I will update with more info in the future when I get time to fire the rifle more. But my initial impression of the canted red dot to a magnified optic system is very positive.
Pat

[Failure2Stop]

Just a couple of things-

I think this optic would be great on its own and the Aimpoint almost seemed un necessary.

One other down side that has to do with all ACOGS in general is as the sun went down the reticle got hard to see. I was sighting the rifle in during the rain and I was also losing sun light fast. I had to finish by holding my surefire light up next to the fiber optic tube so the reticle would be more easy to see. I could see it under normal illumination but it was very dim. I was shooting from inside a shoot house at our range which was darker than the all ready twilight outside.

The Aimpoint T1 was very easy to pick up by just canting the rifle to the side every so slightly. I sighted it in at 50 yards with no problems. Even in the failing light it was easy to see as its battery powered. That is one reason I can see to keep the Aimpoint on this rifle. Not just for close range but also for failing light situations.

I quoted you out of sequence to illustrate what I think bears serious consideration for anyone using an ACOG. While I am not a fan of the TA31 or TA01 series alone, in conjunction with a prominent dot optic they greatly increase in applicability as long as the training supports the employment.

[Alaskapopo]

Just a couple of things-







I quoted you out of sequence to illustrate what I think bears serious consideration for anyone using an ACOG. While I am not a fan of the TA31 or TA01 series alone, in conjunction with a prominent dot optic they greatly increase in applicability as long as the training supports the employment.

I can't afford another ACOG at the moment. Blew my wad on these two. But which one would you recommend in conjunction with the Aimpoint. I also thought about going with a larger scope like a Nightforce 2.5-10 x32. I like the TA 33 so far but I just don't think I chose well for this set up. Too soon to tell however. My biggest complaint is the tiny tiny reticle.
Pat

[Failure2Stop]

Pat- I didn't me to come accross as critical of your setup, just using your recent experience to point out what many of us have been saying about ACOGs for some time and how adding a MRD is more than just about CQB speed.

I think that the TA33 is a great GP optic.
However, you have also discovered the problem with chevron reticles. There are those that seem to really like 'em, but they must have vastly different experiences in their use than I have.

Anyway, this isn't an ACOG bashing thread, and that is not my intent, so I will keep it moving along.

Removing the need for close-range or speed work from the ACOG means that I can utilize it to the fullest instead of trying to balance two opposing applications. That means that I don't have to be so picky about eye-relief, reticle type, and/or reticle visibility.

The combination of MRD and magnified optic has me going down the "open" route, with more magnification in the magnified optic (about 10X) since I don't need it for anything other than precision. Inclusion of the MRDs onto ACOGs is simply filling the close range/weird lighting caipability gap in an otherwise superb combat optic.

[rob_s]

Interesting post(s).

I have used the TA33 as a standalone optic extensively in matches and classes pretty much since it first came out. Our matches are from 18:00-22:00 on an outdoor range under sodium-vapor-type stadium lights approximately 75 yards from where we shoot. In that environment I never had any issue acquiring the reticule or with brightness of same.

Additionally, I have never had any problem finding the hash marks on the rang-finding portion of the reticule when viewing them through the tube on a distant target. For example, I can stand in my living room and look at the wall through the optic and not even see the stadia lines, but if I look out the sliding glass door at the house across the pond they show up clear as day.

Where I found the TA33 lacking was indoors and in very bright sunlight. When doing dryfire indoors and running some home-defense scenarios the reticule turns black and is almost entirely invisible. When zeroing outdoors on a cloudless day I actually had to tape over the fiber optic tube to get the reticule dim enough to precisely aim with the tip of the chevron.

IMHO, the TA33 alone is a great gaming optic. A little slower up close for sure, and moreso without sustainment training, but lightweight and compact which I like.

If I were going to run a T-1 in conjunction with something else I think it would be with a variable-power magnified optic that started at 3x and went up to something else.

View through the TA33 of the house across the pond.

[Singlestack Wonder]

Although I like the concept of the ACOG, the low light illumination issues are a concern. Trijicon should just do away with the fiber optic and tritium and utilize a low power LED that provides long battery life like an Aimpoint. With the # of reticles available, it would be a winner.

[rob_s]

SSW, I have often wondered if it would be possible for Trijicon to add battery-powered illumination to their reticule. They tried it with the Tripower but had some stumbling blocks and ultimately never really caught on.

One problem was that when illuminated the light-gathering mechanism would glow, and that was considered to be a target indicator.

[Alaskapopo]

Pat- I didn't me to come accross as critical of your setup, just using your recent experience to point out what many of us have been saying about ACOGs for some time and how adding a MRD is more than just about CQB speed.

I think that the TA33 is a great GP optic.
However, you have also discovered the problem with chevron reticles. There are those that seem to really like 'em, but they must have vastly different experiences in their use than I have.

Anyway, this isn't an ACOG bashing thread, and that is not my intent, so I will keep it moving along.

I did not take your post like that. Just wanted your opinion. Thanks
Pat

[Singlestack Wonder]

SSW, I have often wondered if it would be possible for Trijicon to add battery-powered illumination to their reticule. They tried it with the Tripower but had some stumbling blocks and ultimately never really caught on.

One problem was that when illuminated the light-gathering mechanism would glow, and that was considered to be a target indicator.

Agreed. Trijicon, are you listening?

[gjj]

What I think would be ideal is a way to mount the T1 as the primary optic and the ACOG/magnified optic as the one you roll the rifle to.

My logic is that the T1 would handle the close up, dynamic in your face problems. Things farther away could be handled at a slower pace with the magnified optic.

I know it would be hard to do.