5 Best ACOG Scopes [Reviewed & Updated 2024]

You need the best fiber optics, reticle and magnification for your ACOG needs. The safety of your house and loved ones depends on the decisions we make from day to day. There are may riflescope options like the red dot vs the chevron and eye relief in the realm of night vision.

Low light conditions make aiming a challenge. Have you ever been sure during a night fire range shot that everything was center mass? Me too! Only to learn my night vision head gear had pressed against my lack of eye relief and distorted my field of view.

Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight [ACOG]

ACOGs can come in handy in many different target acquisition scenarios. Just ask your local United States Special Forces member about durability.

 The ACOG from Trijicon was my favorite M4 Carbine extension while I was deployed to several different locations in the 2000's. The brightness settings are what stood out to me at first.

Available light is never a guarantee, available light can also increase and decrease throughout the day. The brightness setting usually stays on the best for the user, but can be adjusted to match ambient light, low light, and night vision.

Close range, combat optics are pretty and can make target acquisition a breeze.

I personally enjoy the dot reticle as I can focus better in close range shots, for longer distance I like to go with the Chevron as the bullet drop compensation is easier for me to assess. Compensating for bullet drop has been tough for me without an ACOG.

One perk of being military is taking cool pictures with your guns and your battle buddies, we were in the crosshair of the enemy, and loving it. That’s me in the middle, white guy with goofy sunglasses.

No ACOG in this picture, but the M4 I was carrying had a rail that I could easily attach one to. In fact, just in the tent behind us our ACOGs rest, to this day the it was my best ACOG scope.

Your Best ACOG Fit

Maybe you are here because you missed a range shot. It is important that you are compensating for a few things. Do you need higher magnification? I have found that lighting conditions, bdc, and field of view can all mess up my shot.

There is also no shame in using the bindon aiming concept with an ACOG to improve shots on moving . As 2nd amendment lovers, we need to take our shots and we need to make them count. Hunting with the right ACOG can help you bring home a kill that will make even your time starved significant other smile.

Defense is a must; intruders do not need an advantage – you do. An ACOG can assist with clearing a house in a combat zone with close quarter rifle shuffling, but it can also give you what you need to make any intruder sorry. CQB isn't always necessary.

So which ACOG is the best fit for you? – Time to zero in (pun intended) on some high quality, special forces trusted, ACOGS from Trijicon.

1. Trijicon ACOG 4 X 32 Scope

Law enforcement, or security professionals look closely at this 4 X 32 ACOG from Trijicon.  Being the 3rd person in a line formation about to clear a house in a combat zone, or a domestic situation can be stressful.

Responding to a domestic call at night can suck super bad as well. I have been in both situations, I had a 4 X 32 ACOG from Trijicon attached to my M4 Carbine on both occasions. For many years, ACOG has been the benchmark for M4 scopes. It's performance, and durability make it worth and make this the best scope for M4.

Time is a relevant point when considering which ACOG is best for you. How much time you will have to lock in your aiming point, and engage your target should direct your thoughts, I know they do mine. What else is there in these situations? Shoot first or hope they miss, and did I bring enough ammo?

The 4 X 32 ACOG from Trijicon specs out impressively. There are many different reticle choices, dots, chevrons and more. The weight is 9.9oz and is 5.8 inches long, with eye relief at 1.5 inches. No battery required, this ACOG optical uses natural light to charge the illuminated reticle.

 I Like to hunt near water, this bad boy is 100 meters water safe. I am not sure of many places deeper than 100 meters that you could lose your ACOG in. But if that happens I would be interested in the story!

I also like to be first, and to use something with history that I can appreciate. This ACOG was the first to be used by countless military teams both foreign and domestic. It is also the official ACOG for several special forces’ commands.

Crazy cool!  How much can you expect to pay?  

2. Trijicon TA31F ACOG 4×32 BAC Riflescope

I can start in the early afternoon to get my day shots in, I even use a buddy and a pickup for some moving target fun (I am moving in the bed and shooting at the targets, not my friend). The very sturdy ACOG can resist me banging around in the back of a truck and dancing around a dirty field with no damage.

Then nighttime comes and I can adjust the brightness depending on what I have going on. You will have your knob adjustments on top and on the right side looking through the ACOG and your magnification is fixed.

 The top will be your elevation and the side will be your windage adjustor. I mention this because I love the audible clicks I can feel and hear when adjusting the sights.

I tried several different shooting positions with the riflescope attached to my M4, for me the prone position is the most comfortable. I found that at greater distances I can engage targets obviously better than with a crosshair.

What does it come with? a Thumbscrew Flattop Adapter (TA51), 4x32 Scope coat (TA64), LENSPEN (TA56), Lanyard Assembly for Adjuster Caps (TA71E), Trijicon Logo Sticker (PR15), ACOG Manual, and Warranty Card.

The red Chevron reticle has some distinct features, it is designed to be zeroed using the tip at 100 meters. Chevron width at the base is 5.53 MOA which is 19 in. at 300 meters. This makes range estimation for singe man targets possible.

Daylight illumination comes from fiber optics, while the nighttime reticle is powered by tritium. It can shoot 5.56(.223 cal) up to 800 meters, flat surface of course. How much can you expect to pay? The Trijicon website is a good start, you can also find them on Amazon and Optics Planet. Using an ACOG alternative can provide a cost-effective alternative to the original ACOG optic while still offering similar features such as magnification, durability, and ease of use in combat or tactical situations.

3. Trijicon ACOG 3.5×35 Scope

Eye relief is not as important, especially if you have ever been wearing a helmet and tried to look through an ACOG. Brain bucket is what we referred to them as, if you wore one you had a love and hate relationship with it.

I was thinking about that while using the Trijicon ACOG 3.5×35 Magnification Scope and wearing a ball cap, the cap is easily moved but a brain bucket is not. The extra eye relief on this model is perfect if you need to wear head gear while using an ACOG.

This model is a bit heavier than the original, but hardly noticeable besides the little extra bulk. The eye relief at 2.4” as opposed to 1.5” is a welcome space, especially if you are used to using a scope with a more eye relief.

What does it come with? Thumbscrew Flattop Adapter, 3.5x35 Scopecoat, Lenspen, Lanyard Assembly for Adjuster Caps, Trijicon Logo Sticker, ACOG BAC Manual and a Warranty Card.

I have fun using multiple calibers at different targets, while your 4x32 ACOG reticle is great for sighting 5.56 and 7.62 rounds. However, if you want to go old school and break out the M16A1 to fire the M193 round then you will need the Trijicon ACOG 3.5×35 Scope for this.

The .300 blackout round for the M4 is another caliber compatible with the 1. Trijicon ACOG 3.5×35 Scope. How much can you expect to pay? The Trijicon website is a good start, you can also find them on Amazon and Optics Planet.

4. Trijicon TA648 6x48mm ACOG

Hunting! Long shots boost my testosterone, especially when different types of ammo are used. The fiber optic technology through the fog proof glass is pretty clear. I am not crazy about the chevron it comes with, but it comes in handy at longer shots with the bdc reticle that helps up to 1200 meters.

Landing a shot from an impressive distance is a feeling unrivaled by anything I have experienced in my brief 38 years. Your best acog model depends on what you want to shoot and how far away that thing is.

My fourteen-year-old son tells me that the best players in his video games are the ones who can use a sniper rifle or make long distance shots. The Trijicon TA648 6x48 magnification ACOG was made just for those who want to take a long shot, accurately.

I usually target practice after zeroing at 25 meters, up to 100 meters with the Trijicon acog scopes. This changes from time to time, I have some nephews who like to shoot longer so we gave this Trijicon TA648 6x48mm ACOG a chance. I noticed right away the weight was different. 36.9oz is much different that 9.9oz.

That is the weight difference in the 4x32 ACOG from Trijicon and the 6x48 ACOG from Trijicon. It felt to me that the extra weight, mentally helped me realize the shot would be longer if needed.

Who doesn’t like to load up for a hunting trip knowing that they have a little extra step on the competition? Hunting at long distances accurately, one shot one kill, the Trijicon TA648 6x48mm ACOG is perfect for this approach.

How much can you expect to pay? The Trijicon website is a good start, you can also find them on Amazon and Optics Planet.

Light weight with a little bit longer eye relief than 4 x 32 ACOG, the Trijicon 3 X 30 Magnification Dual Illuminated Chevron ACOG is little over 7 ounces and is light enough to feel like I might break it. The dual illumination feels like a video game with fiber optic and tritium both kicking in.

Aircraft-grade aluminum is what the aluminum-alloy housing is constructed from. If you want to break these ACOGs you will have to try very hard.

 I was able to keep both eyes open and have a great accuracy rate after my initial zero. I dimmed the lights a bit, thanks to mother nature, and tried out the variable brightness levels for my field of view. Spot on!

I was never sure the situation I would respond to as law enforcement and military patrol has its own set of challenges, but I always put a lot of faith in my equipment and the time I spent with it. Shock proof is a good way to describe the durability of the Trijicon ACOG scope.

Again, being able to keep both eyes open in a combat or hunting situation has given me the edge time and time again. Brightness levels of the reticle matter as well.

 For me, the concentration factor is increased. With both eyes open I tend to tunnel vison. This is great for some circumstances, but in ones that are life and death, giving an eye away for any length of time is not wise.

I would have loved this lightweight addition, the double chevron design with the BAC certainly would have given me an aspect I was unaware existed during night firing. To be honest, it felt more like a video game and was certainly kid pleaser as my nephew rarely missed with it.

How much can you expect to pay?  The Trijicon website is a good start, you can also find them on Amazon and Optics Planet.

Parting Shots

Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights don’t have to be confusing. These 6 choices give you a clear picture of which ACOG is best for you. Some things to consider before making your purchase.

The Trijicon ACOG 4 X 32 Scope, TA31F ACOG 4×32 BAC Riflescope, ACOG 3.5×35 Scope, A648 6x48mm ACOG, and the 3 X 30 Dual Illuminated Chevron ACOG all have amazing glassware, like the clearest available. The glass is perfect, but even better is the unique set of specs each ACOG has.

The ACOG original 4x32 scope is the original, battle tested, special forces approved ACOG. From there it only gets more intense and specific.

The TA31F ACOG 4×32 BAC Riflescope is perfect for night firing at long range distances.

The ACOG 3.5×35 Scope Riflescope is going to give you extra eye relief and be helpful when wearing head gear.

Battery-free, to me means one less issue to worry about. How about 1200-meter accuracy? The A648 6x48mm ACOG has just that.

Low light areas that require the use of a weapon are plenteous. I bump into things in the dark and have been known to smash my rifle into a tree or two. The Trijicon 3 X 30 Dual Illuminated Chevron ACOG is perfect for low light situations and won’t break if you are as clumsy as I can be.

Which of these Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight’s best fit your needs? Do you have a favorite ACOG range or stance that you like to use? Please Let us know in the comments below and be sure to check out our article on "Best Shotgun Sights" if you’re looking for advice specifically about red dots. and holographic sights. 

The Trijicon 3x30 Chevron ACOG scope can be used with a Tavor rifle. In fact, the ACOG is a popular choice as the Tavor optic due to its ruggedness, reliability, and ability to improve accuracy and target acquisition.