21Oct04

More on USMC rifle upgrades, from a friend in the system:

"USMC has contracted for 50,000 ACOGs. The goal is to make every Marine infantry rifle ACOG equipped within two years. This optical sight, mounted on M-16s and M-4s was popular with Marines in Fallujah last fall and generated large numbers of enemy casualties. Marine riflemen are sold on it!

I bought one when I was in Somalia. For what we do with rifles, they're hard to beat.

As expected, the match-shooting community, within the Corps, never wanted it, is distressed with this development, and have made their collective unhappiness known."

/John

21Oct04

More details on the ACOG and the Mk262:

"The M262 round shoots and functions well in the AR-15 system, but, in current lots, bullets are not adequately crimped onto the case mouth. As a result they sometimes push back into the case during feeding, causing feeding failures. This defect is easily fixed and may have already been in subsequent lots.

In my experience, it still often takes several good body hits with the Mk262 to get people down and out. Terminal effect is thus only marginally superior to that of the M855. However, penetration of both homogeneous and layered barriers is substantially improved over the old round."

"The model ACOG being purchased by the USMC is the TA-31. With 3.5X magnification, it is robust and easy to use. There is an internal tritium lamp to illuminate the reticule, as well as a light-gathering fiberoptic atop. Resolution is superb, and we consistently see instant improvement in scores as soon as rifles are equipped with them. The unit is exceedingly popular with troops currently deployed. Everyone seems to benefit."

/John

21Oct04

From an LEO friend who works in an area where thick fog is common, year around:

"We tested tritium 'night sights' installed on department pistols. One foggy evening we found that the glowing inserts made a green halo of light around the weapon and the user's face. This halo was so evident that one only had to scan the area in order to locate anyone with the tritium sights. This glow was evident from all angels.

The phenomenon prevents concealment in fog. There is no way to hide. For this reason alone, our department elected not to adopt night sights."

Comment: If equipment is tested long enough and under enough varied conditions, weaknesses will become evident. The forgoing is a phenomenon that I have not seen, simply because I obviously don't train enough in thick fog!

A solution is to have the glowing dot on the front sight and not the rear. I have several guns set up that way.

Another way to address the problem is with Jim Garthwaite's "gold dot" front sight. I have several of my pistols set up that way, and I can clearly see that gold dot in nearly any light. It doesn't "glow," but it is visible in any lighting, except, of course, for total darkness.

/John