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Posted: 1/26/2006 9:34:43 PM EDT
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You see lots and lots of uber cool uppers going across seas and across gun safes around here with the coolest of cool BUIS on them. Front, rear, side, top etc. So my question is, has there really been that many ACOGs and Aimpoints and EOs going tits up? Either at home or in the field? I'm not saying they're not needed, just wondering how often they really do get used. |
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I've seen a few aimpoints with terribly scratched lenses with completely obscured FOV and a few that began to have mysterious battery life problems and some that wouldn't work with a new battery -- this was corroded contacts which should not have happened given the battery compartments were closed and had just airborne humidity of when the battery was put in to effect them. The problem is solved by scouring the compartment till it shines and re-installing he spring and battery. That is a no-go the way I look at it the compartment should be gold plated. No EO's No ACOGs. All field use. Never damaged any personally at home or in the field but have seend the aimpoints damaged and not working in my platoon. The backup sights get used. I used mine for several lengths of time over in Iraq. My throwlevers sheared and I was using backups, my doctor optic broke and I used backups. The point is a fall back system is essential in most cases. You have to be contingencey prepared. Even with a USO scope which is like bullet proof who's to say it doesn't catch schrapnel or break a lense in an unfortunate fall off a roof or something? It will probably never happen but it might. USO is the closest thing to an optic I would not feel the need for a BUIS system with, and due to past experience I would still say have the BUIS. I knew SF guys that had the BUIS's mounted even though they had three fall back optical sights [like ACOG, Trijicon Reflex, EO tech, and Aimpoint issued to ONE SOLDIER] |
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GreenO, just because they are carrying extra optics does not mean they shouldn't also have BUIS. If in the middle of a fire fight a your main optic goes TU, flip it off or flip up the BUIS and carry on the fight. You are not going to go through your pack, find the next optic, properly place it on the correct rail location, then return to the fight. BUIS are there because Murphey IS on the battle field. |
My first thought was that the pic was faked because the hole looks too black. I changed the contrast settings in PaintShop and got this picture. I'm not saying it couldn't be faked, but if it was altered, they didn't just throw a black blob up there to 'make' a hole. I also insist on BUIS. I've just run into too many situations (mud, heavy rain, dust/sand) where an optics just wasn't working, and then Murphy kicks in too. BSW |
That pic is real. I saw it posted a year or so ago as well. |
+1 real www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20041128127 |
7.62 round thru the ACOG while the soldier was looking thru it. IT STOPPED THE BULLET and the soldier commented the ACOG still functioned. I believe I heard, Trijicon actualy replaced the guys ACOG. It was a gift from his father for him in Iraq... ACOG's indeed rule... |
from usmc.mil |
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My point is that getting you optics broken is far more likely to happen doing something mundane than in the heat of a firefight. It's easier to "Oh shit" someone nocked it over or I dropped it or hit a bump and it landed wrong on the steel floor than to actually ruin it when you have both hands on the rifle. I was talking to an SF guy about rifles dropping and breaking optics and another team member walked over with a carabiner wolf tail sling and joined the conversation and rested his hand on the grip of his rifle when his cheap carabiner's locking gate failed and his rifle took a dive on the concrete. No broken parts and his ACOG was fine but the point is that is how most of the crap gets broken in my experience. He was pretty embarassed but it happens to us all- just not likely at that inopportune of a moment. I still have backup sights but don't expect to need them in a heartbeat as much as for a few weeks if something breaks and needs to get repaired. To clarify I reccomend back up iron sights. I don't have any crazy ideas about needing them in a seconds notice but I do use them and I think having them availible promotes more confidence in the weapon-- if you ever started shooting and realized your optics aren't zeroed you could remove them and use the irons-- condingent systems are a good idea. like the other posts say: incliment weather Broken optics in/out of battle non- zeroed optics battery failure at the wrong time dirty lenses without something to clean them with you name it if something stupid happens sometimes it's nice to have something to fall back on. |
This EOTech took a round in Iraq and luckily for the soldier it absorbed much of the energy of the impact. (Notice that he doesn't have a BUIS.) Trijicons and EOTechs are pretty tough but even a bullet or shrapnel can take them out. It may not happen often, but it can happen -Murphy's Law.
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And that right there is proof why you need a BUIS, like a spare tire or Home owners insurance, you may carry it you entire life and never need it....but the one time you need it....it sure is nice to have it their. Don't know about the rest of you, but I suck at predicting the future... so I run a BUIS with my Aimpoint Proper planning prevents piss poor performance...... words to live by. Now if your a paper plate shootin off a bench hobby shooter kinda guy who will never use your AR for anything more then that........then this princible does not apply to you. Blast away with no worries..... 
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