5 Best Acog Clones of 2021
ACOG (Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight) scopes were first seen in action in the 1980s, and they were initially designed for combat and tactical applications thanks to their efficient illumination and powerful magnification.
But as more and more gun enthusiasts and hunters developed an interest in these scopes, different companies developed clones, and now finding the best ACOG clone is often a top priority for many hunters.
The ACOG clones are designed to offer almost the same bright to no light performance as the combat ACOGs, powerful magnification, and great heavy recoil performance but at a cheaper price tag.
To help you separate the high-quality ACOG clones from the many poor-quality knockoffs in the market, below we review 5 top-rated models and also explain the important points to consider when choosing the best model.
5 Best Acog Clones – Review
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1. Trijicon TA11J-308 (Best Overall) |
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2. Trijicon TA02 (Best Battery-Operated) |
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3. Trijicon TA31H (Reliable Battery-Free Scope) |
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4. Monstrum Tactical 4x30 (Best Budget) |
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5. Wipboten 4x32 (Best for AR-15) |
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PRODUCT |
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1. Trijicon TA11J-308 (Best Overall) |
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2. Trijicon TA02 (Best Battery-Operated) |
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3. Trijicon TA31H (Reliable Battery-Free Scope) |
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4. Monstrum Tactical 4x30 (Best Budget) |
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5. Wipboten 4x32 (Best for AR-15) |
1. Trijicon TA11J-308 – Best Overall ACOG Clone
Photo: Trijicon
- Magnification: 3.5x
- Material: Aluminum
- Eye Relief: 2.4
Trijicon has been making ACOGs and their clones for many decades now, and they are the most reputable manufacturer of these kinds of scope. This fact alone should be enough to convince you to try out this model, and is also one of the main reasons why this is our best overall model.
But what makes this one of the best Trijicon ACOG clones is that it has a battery-free illumination which makes use of a tritium illuminated reticle similar to what you get on the original ACOGs.
The dual red and green illuminated reticle also allows for bullet drop compensation and ranging which makes it even more useful.
This combat-proven scope also features a rugged aluminum alloy housing that makes it nearly indestructible, Bindon Aiming Concept for both eyes open shooting and consistent 2.4-inch eye relief.
For an ACOG clone, some buyers might find this model to be a little pricier, but given that it is a Trijicon model that offers top-notch performance it is well worth it.
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2. Trijicon TA02 – Best Battery-operated ACOG Clone
Photo: Trijicon
- Magnification: 4x
- Material: Aluminum
- Eye Relief: 1.5 inches
If you do not want to have to worry about tritium depletion years down the line and would also love a scope that offers easy reticle brightness adjustment, Trijicon’s TA02 is your best choice.
This top-rated ACOG clone is battery-operated and runs on one AA battery that is easy to find and cheap when you need replacement. And its reticle will allow you to choose from several ranging and bullet drop compensation options.
Its adjustable brightness dial makes lighting adjustment quick and easy, and users will also love that it has some crystal clear optics.
For those that also use night vision devices, this will be a perfect scope as it is designed to be compatible with most of them.
Because this scope has been forged from aircraft-grade aluminum, you can be confident that it is highly rugged and almost indestructible and all its electrical components and other parts have also been designed to be equally durable.
The 1.5-inch eye relief is relatively shorter and means that this scope might not work very well for some rifle calibers, but it should still be sufficient for most rifles.
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3. Trijicon TA31H – Reliable Battery-Free ACOG Clone
Photo: Trijicon
- Magnification: 4x
- Material: Aluminum
- Eye Relief: 1.5 inches
Another battery-free illuminated ACOG clone by Trijicon meant for hunters shopping for something that retails for under $1,000.
It makes use of tritium and fiber optic for illumination and this ensures that the reticle remains useful in any lighting environment.
And like many other higher end ACOG clones, it uses the Bindon Aiming Concept that will allow for aiming with both eyes open and with a wider field of view of up to 36.8 feet.
Trijicon also forges this scope’s housing from aircraft-grade aluminum which makes it almost indestructible while still keeping its weight down for a relatively more compact scope. The company will also back it with a limited lifetime warranty.
While the reticle might seem a little blurred towards the edges and the 1.5-inch eye relief is smaller, in practice, none of these issues will take anything away from the fact that this is a top-notch ACOG clone.
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4. Monstrum Tactical 4x30 – Best Budget ACOG Clone
Photo: Monstrum
- Magnification: 4x
- Material: Aluminum
- Eye Relief: 2.5 inches
For those that prefer more affordable ACOG cliones the highly affordable S430-R-RG by Monstrum Tactical will be perfect as it is the cheapest option on our list. But, it still has a lot to offer including an ultra-compact and lightweight construction as it weighs only 14 ounces.
This rifle scope also offers a 30 mm objective diameter to allow for maximum light transmission, a powerful 4x magnification for long-range shots and longer 2.5-inch eye relief.
But, its most outstanding and perhaps also most useful feature is the dual red and green illuminated glass rangefinder reticle as it will make long distance targeting and range estimation a breeze.
The ACOG clone will also come with an integrated rail mount that will fasten securely on both Weaver and Picatinny rails and with a see-through design to allow you to use iron sights simultaneously.
The reticle markings on this scope seem a little thicker, but for a budget scope, they are still perfect and the good news is that they will not obstruct the target.
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5. Wipboten 4x32 – B est ACOG Clone for AR-15
Photo: Wipboten
- Magnification: 4x
- Material: Aluminum
- Eye Relief: 2.8 inches
As you shop for the best ACOG clone for AR-15 or any other AR-style rifle you might have, there are many things you have to consider, but if you are looking for something more affordable, this under $100 Wipboten scope will be a great steal.
It will also work for a variety of other guns, and its key highlight is the fiber optics illuminated reticle that will collect ambient light for top-notch daytime performance.
Another thing that makes it out best ACOG clone for the money is the fact that it uses a top-notch quality multicoated front lens to deliver a crisp sight picture.
Also, the scope offers a generous 2.8-inch eye relief and a parallax-free view for more accurate aiming and comfortable shooting.
The ACOG clone will also feature an integrated base for mounting on different rail types, easy windage and elevation adjustment, and aircraft-grade aluminum alloy housing.
Because the fiber optic still needs some overhead light to work, this scope might not be very useful in low light condition, but this a small issue to work around with a little inventiveness.
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How to Buy the Best ACOG Clones
By considering the following factors, you should have an easier time finding the best ACOG clone.
1. Magnification
Although you can still find some ACOG clone models with variable magnification, most seem to have fixed magnification given that they are meant for use in any lighting environment.
Typical budget models will only have 1x magnification, but some models will provide up to 5x magnification. However, it is hard to get one with anything higher than this.
To make sure that the magnification that the scope provides will be sufficient, you need to consider the situations you will be using the firearm in. For short range shooting, 1x is often the best because it also provides a wide field of view. A 4x scope like Trijicon TA31H , on the other hand, will be perfect fro long raneg shots.
2. Material
Most ACOG clones are designed to be durable and highly rugged, but before you settle on any model, you need to check the material to ensure that it can handle the abuse and harsh environment.
A high-quality material will even be more important if you intend to mount the scope on a tactical or hunting rifle as it will probably end up getting knocked around.
Magnesium alloy or aircraft-grade aluminum alloy scopes like Trijicon TA02 are both durable and lightweight.
3. Brightness Setting
Unlike the original ACOGs, clones will not use tritium for illumination as it can be quite expensive. Instead, they will rely on some type of lithium battery as a power source.
Some clones can have brightness issues when using them in dimly lit indoor environments, and so before you buy one you need to make sure that it has different brightness settings to help with this.
The more the brightness settings the better the scope will be as this means you will be able to adjust it to suit almost any lighting condition.
4. Reticle
The reticle is a crucial part of any scope when it comes to aiming, and so it is another important consideration to make when choosing an ACOG clone.
While no reticle type will be superior over the many other types, it will be important to know what different models have to offer and which one suits your situation and makes aiming easier.
Some of the most common reticle types for these scopes are crosshair, horseshoe, doughnut, and chevron. Horseshoe reticles work best for low powered ACOG clones while crosshair will provide more precise shooting and the upside down V chevron reticle pattern is perfect for high-speed shooting.
5. Rail Compatibility
For any ACOG clone to work for you, it first needs to fit your rifle, and this means it should be compatible with the rail style on the gun.
Different guns will use different rail styles, but the most common ones are Picatinny and Weaver. Hence, you have to keep in mind what you have as you shop for the scope.
Some of these scopes will come with an integrated mounting base while others will require you to buy one separately. But, whether you have to buy a base or not, just make sure that you can mount it on your gun's rails.
6. Budget
Because ACOG clones are not the real ACOG scopes from Trijicon, it does not make sense to shell out a fortune to get one.
Ultimately what you buy will depend on your budget and preferences, but as an informed gun enthusiast, you should not spend more than $500 on these scopes.
An under $100 ACOG clone like Monstrum Tactical 4x30 will still do an amazing job and will work for various situations.
If you are ready to pay more for a clone, it would make more economic sense and would be a much better idea to get the real ACOG.
Conclusion
Whether you are shopping for a budget model or something more feature-rich that is as close to the original ACOG in design and performance as possible, there is something for you on our top 5 ACOG clones review.
Because budget is always a constraint for many shooters, the Monstrum Tactical 4x30 is our recommendation for those looking for a more affordable clone.
But, the Trijicon TA11J-308 is our best overall model as it is a highly reliable ACOG clone from a top brand with battery-free dual illumination, a rugged aluminum alloy housing and many other great features.