Bill Taggart, Director of Federal and Military Sales for Trijicon, showed me two brand new optical sights that really blew me away. Let’s get to the “TriPower” first. This is a brand new tactical "red dot" optical sight that is just extremely cool. Called the "Tripower", it's the first triple-iluminated sight. Having handled one of these at Trijicon's booth at Shot Show, I have to say the this sight was one of the hottest new tactical accessories I saw. It's designed to go head-to-head against the Aimpoint Comp M, and from what I saw, might just end up kicking the crap out of it.
First, the Tripower uses an integrated fiber optic system that automatically adjusts the brightness level of the reticle to the ambient light conditions. Secondly, the reticle is also tritium illuminated. And finally, the sight features a battery backup for tactical entry and special operations in low light conditions where a bright reticle is needed. The reticle itself is chevron-shaped, instead of a dot. Special features include fifteen day and five night vision brightness settings, tactile psh-button brightness adjustment, low battery indicator, and, oh yeah, did I mention that the unit is completely sealed and waterproof to 100 ft?
As if all this isn’t enough, the customer has some other options at his/her disposal, such as Q-plate coated 100% scratch resistant lens, cyalume for a fourth source of illumination, ARMS mount, and remote pressure switch. Let's just say I want one of these for my AK, so I can run it through the ringer.
The TA55 ACOG(Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight) is a 5.5x50 scope that might just have created a completely new niche in riflescopes. The TA55 combines the idea of a traditional riflescope with a combat/cqb optical gunsight. Designed specifically for medium to long-range engagements out to 1200 meters, the new ACOG can also be used for close-in liquidation work in a pinch, due to its use of the Bindon Aiming Concept(BAC). According to Trijicon company literature, the BAC “is a both-eyes-open method of target acquisition that allows the shooter a virtually unlimited field of view while identifying his target at a distance, and quick, precise aiming when his focus switches from the broad overview to the brightly illuminated aiming point inside the sight.” Wow, try saying that fifty times in a row!
What allows the TA55 to be used for either long range or close-in enemy engagement, besides its us of BAC, is the fact that it combines the chevron of the TriPower with range-finding stadia lines. The stadia lines are optically designed for use on AR15 style rifles and calibrated to accommod bullet drop, which obviates the need for mechanical elevation adjustments. Familiar to current ACOG users is the TA55's use of dual illumination technology, just like that availabe on the new Tripower sight.
To take a look at the Tripower, click on this link.
Click here to see the TA55.
