Last Fall, I was invited by Trijicon to their writer event at their training facility just south of the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. The morning session was mostly product presentation with a focus on the Trijicon ACOG family, the new battery powered reflex sights such as the RMR mini red-dot and the full size Trijicon SRS. We headed toward the range after a quick lunch.

 

The first thing we did at the range was taping up all the ACOG rifle optics. The setup was for doing drills using the Bindon Aiming Concept. Which is a technique that use both eyes for aiming magnified optic at close range.

 

Daniel Defense AR-15s with 16-inch M4 profile barrel. Besides the Magpul CTR lightweight collapsible stock and the Daniel Defense quad-rail free-float handguard, those are basically stock.

 

I took the opportunity to try out the new battery powered TA02 ACOG 4×32 LED model. This LED illuminated model is noticeably lacks the fiber optic run along the top like the rest of the ACOG models. The sealed battery compartment added a bit of weight and together with the illumination control dial on the other side, the LED model is quit bit wider than the dual-illuminated 4×32 ACOG models.

 

My first try at 20 yards from using the Bindon Aiming Concept with both my eyes open. It works but not as fast as using a simple red-dot sight.

 

Next, we switched to pistols with mounted Trijicon RMR mini reflex sight.

 

Once pass 25 yards, the pistol mount RMR mini reflex sight start to make targeting faster.

 

At 50 yards, the pistol iron sights block much of the target.

 

The small dot from the RMR mini reflex sight was clearly an advantage comparing to the iron sight at 50 yards.

 

At 75 yards, the iron sights completely covered the target and it was difficult to score a hit.

 

The mini reflex sight make it easier to scoring hit at 75 yards, as long as the shooter’s skill is up to the task.

 

Switched back to the rifle and moved to the 400 yard line. A number of targets were setup along the range starting at 5 yards and the farthest at 400 yards. The two smallest targets are about the size of a bowling ball and setup at 150 yards and 330 yards

 

One of the main drawback of fiber optic is that sometime it collects too much light.  When I tried to use the ACOG with small horseshoe reticle, there was so much light bleed through that the horseshoe appeared as a big green dot.

 

On command, the shooter would double tap the two closest paper targets by using the Bindon Aiming Concept.

 

Next, the shooter would try to hit as many of the steel targets in standing.

 

The shooter is allow to go to kneeing or prone to finish the rest of the targets. My best score was achieved by using the red chevron reticle on the USMC TA31 ACOG RCO model.

After the range event, the day was concluded at the private Irish pub on the training facility with a corned beef and cabbage dinner, and an open bar. The next morning, I stopped by The National Museum of the Marine Corps just few freeway exits away on my way back to the DC Airport.