Acog ta11mgo-m249
I recently got a new ACOG, and thought I'd do a review on it here.
Model:
Trijicon ACOG TA11MGO-M249
Product description:
https://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/product3.php?pid=TA11MGO-M249
The Trijicon ACOG TA11MGO-M249 is the standard issue optic for the M249 SAW and the M27 IAR in the Marine Corps. The full name would be Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight, TA11 Machine Gun Optic-M249. As the name implies, this particular ACOG is designed to be used with the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, firing M855 ammunition. It is also known by the name SDO (Squad automatic weapon Day Optic). As far as I know, there are three main models of ACOG that have military designators, the original TA01 NSN, the TA31 RCO (Rifle Combat Optic), and the TA11 MGO (Machine Gun Optic).
The TA11MGO is a 3.5x35 fixed power, dual illuminated optic. It uses both tritium and fiberoptics to illuminate the center portion of the reticle. The reticle is a green horseshoe, with a center dot and a Bullet Drop Compensator. The MGO differs from the "civilian" model TA11H-G (green horseshoe), by adding a horizontal Milradian scale, with 5 and 10 Mil. hash marks, and by extending the BDC graduation from 800m to 1,000m.
The green horseshoe is designed for the Bindon Aiming Concept, where both eyes are kept open for close range engagement, and the brain superimposes the reticle over the eye that is not looking through the optic. In practice, I've found that the BAC does not work for cross-eye dominant shooters like myself. I am able to shoot a 1x optic like an Aimpoint or EOTech with both eyes open, however, the magnified TA11 and TA31 BAC reticles do not work for me with both eyes open. They are still pretty fast to pick up, but I don't think most cross-eye dominant shooters will get the full benefit of the BAC.
When choosing and ACOG, there are trade-offs of weight, size, magnification, reticle, field of view, and eye relief. In my experience after owning the TA01NSN, TA31RCO, TA11MGO, and trying out a TA33, it is easiest to choose a model once you've decided which attribute is most important to you. I prioritized it with eye relief as the primary and reticle as the secondary attributes. That made my choice easy, and the TA11MGO is by far my favorite ACOG model I've tried. Someone else may feel that weight and size are their top priority, and a TA33 would be the logical pick.
Why the ACOG... In these days of so many great 1-4, 1-6, and 1-8 power optics, the ACOG is showing it's age. In my opinion it fills a niche role, but in that role it is excellent. The construction is beefy, the glass is clear, and the dual illuminated reticles with no batteries are the big plusses. Personally, for a weapon that I don't want to baby, I like that the ACOG is not a cylindrical optic, and can only be mounted one way, similar to an Aimpoint M4 or EOTech. I like having a magnified optic that I never have to worry about whether I set it up in perfect alignment on the vertical and horizontal axis. I think sometimes simple is better, and the lack of batteries and even the lack of magnification adjustment makes for a pretty low maintenance optic.
On an SPR, I'd prefer to have an optic like a NF 2.5-10x42, or a S&B. But for a DMR style weapon, where you are in the fuzzy middle-ground between CQB and precision, I think the ACOG excels.
So back to the TA11. The eye relief and sight picture is the biggest thing this model has going for it. Many ACOGs are plagued by short eye relief. On a static range that can be fine, but firing from various positions makes a long eye relief very welcome, and the TA11 is king of the hill among ACOGs in that regard. Many people will argue that the TA33 also has a great eye relief, much better than what the stats show on paper. I would agree with this, however, the TA33 gave me a real feeling of looking through a toilet-paper roll, as opposed to the very open feel of a TA11. But this eye relief and sight picture come at a price, it is heavier and larger than the other models. The other price it comes with is actual $$$. The TA11 is more expensive than most other ACOGs.
The TA11MGO-M249 comes with goodies. The USMC seem to get theirs with a LaRue QD mount. Mine came with a GDI QD mount. Both are exceptional quality, especially when compared with the "standard" flat top mount that some ACOG's come with. It also includes a lenspen, padded MOLLE pouch, Tenebrex killflash ARD, and flip covers. It has "bosses" ready to accept the Trijicon RMR sight on a piggyback mount, and the windage and elevation caps have retaining wires.
On to the pictures. And let me start by saying that the optical clarity is incredible. These through the scope pictures were taken with the killflash ARD mounted, and the view was still nice and bright, and clear as could be. Any blurriness of reticle lines or haziness of the background is simply my poor photography, not the optic itself:
The TA11MGO mounted on my SIG516: