My 2017 Christmas present? A Trijicon ACOG…but not just any ACOG. I’ve been a big fan of Primary Arms’ ACSS reticle for many years, as it combines extremely fast, intuitive target ranging with clear ballistic drop holdovers, and it was high time to get it in a high-end optic. The ACSS ACOGs are only available through Primary Arms, and right now the TA44 compact models are on sale . . .
The following models are available, and via the links below you’ll also be presented with the option to get a second QD mount for free (a Midwest Industries AR-height mount for a lower 1/3 co-witness or an American Defense Manufacturing low mount):
• TA44 1.5x16S with Green ACSS Reticle and AR-Height Mount (this is the one I got)
• TA44 1.5x16S with Red ACSS Reticle and AR-Height Mount
• TA44 1.5x16S with Green ACSS Reticle and Low Mount
• TA44 1.5x16S with Red ACSS Reticle and Low Mount
I think it’s fair to say I haven’t been rocked back on my heels by the $30 price drop off Primary Arms’ usual, $899 sticker on this guy. But the free QD mount is worth more than twice that, and all-in it’s about $100 in savings that expires tonight at midnight.
Furthermore, if you shop around you’ll see high eight-hundreds is a typical going rate for a TA44 with no mount whatsoever, and over a grand is more common with a single mount included. Primary Arms’ regular price happens to be pretty aggressive already. MSRP, by the way, is $1,200 (no mount).
Ah, now that’s a more “normal” gun to put one of these compact TA44s on, eh? If you aren’t familiar with the ACOG, it’s a dual-illuminated optic that uses both a fiber optic and a Tritium insert. It’s rock solid and battle ready.
In bright conditions, the fiber optic channels ambient light to the reticle and ensures it always pops. Bright and crisp.
In dark conditions, the Tritium insert provides light to the fiber optic. That reticle will glow green or red no matter what.
My cell phone just doesn’t do justice to how crisp and clear the picture is through the TA44. It’s flat-out fantastic. The 1.5x zoom provides a bit of assistance on farther targets but doesn’t screw with my head for both-eyes-open, close-range use with quick target transitions.
In the case of the TA44 ACSS, ranging is done via the black etched scale and holdovers and moving target leads are accomplished via the chevron, aim points, and horseshoe.
It’s pretty darn simple for use in engaging confidently out to 500 yards, but the whole how-to spiel will come in the full review that I’ll have ready in the next couple weeks here. Or, check out the two-page owner’s manual here.
So, sure, $869.99 may be a sale price but it still ain’t exactly inexpensive — two included mounts or not. But then again, it’s an ACOG.
Believe it or not, this is the first high-end, fixed-magnification (i.e. red dot or prism style) optic I’ve owned. Sure, I’ve borrowed and shot with Aimpoints and MROs and lots of others, but my low- or no-magnification purchases have always been Primary Arms, Holosun, Bushnell, Burris, etc. in the sub-$200 range.
While I’ve had great success with most of those, one look through the glass of this ACOG makes it clear — pun intended — that it’s on a whole ‘nother level.