With the incredible outpouring of 1-6x24mm rifle scopes at SHOT Show this year, I thought it would be a good time to take a look back at the Trijicon VCOG 1-6x24mm rifle scope. Trijicon beat the rush, and introduced their VCOG at the 2014 SHOT Show, a full year before this year’s offerings.
Trijicon has almost become synonymous with high quality AR-15 rifle optics with their prolific ACOG used for years by the U.S. Military in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. According to Trijicon, they wanted to combine the toughness and function of the combat-proven ACOG, into a new style of variable optic. The Trijicon VCOG (Variable Combat Optical Gunsight) is the result of that effort, offering the now very popular option of 1-6x24mm in a variable power rifle optic.
The Trijicon VCOG was designed and built-in the USA, something that many competitors cannot claim. Machined from 7075-T6 aluminum forgings, the same material used in the construction of many AR-15 rifles, the VCOG is finished off with a Mil-Spec hard-hat anodized coating. Trijicon advertises that the VCOG will meet all the rigorous demands of duty, hunting, or competition shooting, and with their proven ACOG it is highly likely that claim will ring true.
The VCOG has an integral mount to securely attach the optic to any M1913 Picatinny rail, with a height designed for flat top AR-platfrom rifles. Two slotted screws secure the optic to the rail. Unlike longer magnification scopes, the VCOG (just 10.05″ long) leaves officers or civilian shooters plenty of space in front of the objective for night vision or thermal optics.
Reflex or Long Range Shooting
The Trijicon VCOG provides shooters the flexibility to engage close-in CQB targets, like simple reflex red dot sights, but also out to the maximum range of most service rifles (around 500 yards for a 14.5″ barrel, or 600 yards for a 20″ barrel). For our purposes, the “maximum effective range” is centered around the range that an AR-15 .223/5.56mm bullet maintains enough velocity and accuracy to be lethal in striking a human target (Trijicon strongly markets to military end users, and also covers law enforcement users).
The 6x magnification is really beneficial to make “point” shots on specific targets out to the maximum effective range, and is noticeably better than even a 4x magnification. The VCOG has an enlarged, knurled adjustment handle running lengthwise along the entire optic bezel making magnification adjustments incredibly easy even while the shooter stays on target, or with gloved hands.
In addition to the reflex and magnification sighting options, the VCOG is also equipped with bullet-drop compensation reticle markings for the specific caliber selected. This provides the shooter with incredibly fast aim points for 100-yard interval distances, without the need to make MOA turret adjustments. This method is by far the fastest and most effective way to engage multiple targets and various distances.
A rheostat illumination control turret is located on the main tube, opposite the windage turret, and has an off position between each of the six brightness settings.
Trijicon VCOG Specifications
- Length – 10.05″
- Width – 2.51″
- Height – 2.73″
- Weight – 23.2 oz. (without mount or battery)
- Objective Lens – 24mm
- Magnification – 1-6x
- First Focal Plane Reticle – Reticle and target increase size with higher magnifications
- Eye Relief – 4.0″ Constant
- Field of View (FOV) – 1x = 95.0′ and 6x = 15.9′ @ 100 yards
- Zero Adjustments – 0.5 MOA per click, 90 MOA total elevation and windage range
- Power Source – (1) Lithium or Alkaline AA battery
- Brightness Settings – (6), off through high
- Battery Life – 700 hours continuous at brightness setting 4 of 6 (@ 70-degrees)
- Mounting – Thumb-screw mount, or Quick release mount (No rings needed)
- Waterproof – 66.0′ (20m)
- Limited Lifetime Warranty; Electronics for 5-years from date of manufacture
- MSRP – $2,270.00
Superior Lenses & Reticle Options
As to be expected the Trijicon VCOG uses lenses that are fully multi-coated with a broadband anti-reflective coating to maximize light transmission. At the same time the lens coatings provide military-grade abrasion resistance.
The Trijicon VCOG will initially be offered with seven (7) different reticle choices. There will be (4) .223/5.56mm options, (2) .308 options, and (1) .300 BLK option. Trijicon’s strong marketing to the military is evident with the initial higher weighted 5.56mm and .308 caliber bullet options.
- 55 & 75-grain 5.56mm
- 175-grain .308 caliber
- 55 & 75-grain 5.56mm
- 175-grain .308 caliber
- 115-grain .300BLK.
