Trijicon ACOG vs Elcan Specter

Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to compare the ACOG an Elcan Specter prism optics today. These two optics are well-known for the track records they have developed in the use of armed professionals. Our goal with this blog post is to provide an overview of these two optics while delving into things such as their pros and cons, traits, features, and more. For the purposes of this blog, we are mainly comparing the 4x TA31 ACOG offering and the 1x-4x SpecterDR optic specifically. Without further ado, let’s compare and contrast the ACOG and Elcan Specter.

What is an ACOG?

The ACOG, or Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight, is a prism optic produced by Trijicon. These types of optics have been around for decades and have been employed by militaries and law enforcement agencies worldwide. These optics will commonly utilize fiber optic strips and tritium to illuminate their reticles. Battery powered LED options are also available but are not as common as the tritium models. These types of optics will feature fixed power magnification typically in the form of 1.5x, 3.5x, 4x, and 6x magnification levels. Additionally, these optics are often accompanied by reticles designed for use with specific barrel lengths and loadings. For example, the TA31-RCO-A4 model ACOG features a reticle optimized for use with 62 grain 5.56x45mm NATO ammo when paired with a 20” barrel. Beyond the 5.56 NATO, Trijicon also makes reticles for use with .223 Remington, .300 Blackout, 7.62x51mm NATO ammo.

What is an Elcan Specter?

The Elcan Specter line of optics are unique prism sights manufactured by Armament Technology Incorporated. These types of optics are commonly referred to as the Specter or Elcan Specter, with the official model designation being SpecterDR. The “DR” stands for “Dual Role” and denotes the optic’s ability to swap between various levels of magnification. Most Specter models will swap between two levels of magnification with some outliers which can swap between three levels. The optic is unique in its construction and how it zeroes. When adjustments are made to elevation and windage, the optic physically moves in its housing in relation to these changes whereas traditional reticles move within the optic. The Elcan Specter is utilized by militaries and law enforcement agencies across the globe. The optic is more commonly used by military personnel than law enforcement personnel. Reticles for use with 5.56 NATO carbine/LMG and 7.62 NATO rifle/LMG use are supported by Elcan Specter offerings.

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ACOG Pros and Cons

Pros:

Tritium powered ACOGs do not require batteries. This means that they do not need to be tended to frequently like battery powered optics do. Typically, the tritium in ACOG sights will last for 10-15 years, providing users with at least a decade of unhindered use.
ACOGs have a distinct mounting footprint which allows them to be used with a variety of different mounts. This mounting footprint has been adopted by other optic manufacturers and is well supported by aftermarket mounts.
Simple and traditional zeroing process which is familiar to what most shooters are used to. One turret on the ACOG adjusts the windage while the other adjusts the elevation of the optic. Simply adjust the windage and elevation via the turrets like other types of optics.
More options available for shooters in terms of reticle, reticle color, power source, and magnification level. Simply put, consumers will have many options to consider if they are in the market for an optic of this type.

Cons:

ACOGs, regardless of model and style, feature fixed levels of magnification. There is not an ACOG on the market or that has been produced which allows for variable levels of magnification.
Typically, factory mounts for ACOGs will feature large knobs which protrude to the left or right side of the mount. These mounts are simplistic and can be tightened with a flathead screwdriver. Many ACOG owners end up swapping these mounts out for options with different heights or quick release capabilities.
When the tritium in an ACOG eventually “burns out” and decays to the point where visibility is compromised, an end user can send it in to Trijicon to be serviced. For a fee, the company will replace the dead tritium with fresh tritium, effectively “recharging” the optic. Tritium in ACOGs can generally last 10-15 years, meaning that this process will not need to be done often.
Tritium models do not easily allow for one to adjust their brightness. A common fix for this was the addition of a strip of electrical tape placed over the fiber optic strip. This would allow a shooter to cover or expose more of the fiber optic to effectively adjust the perceived brightness of the reticle.

Elcan Specter Pros and Cons:

Pros:

The Elcan Specter is capable of adjusting its magnification rapidly by simply moving a lever. By moving this lever, a lens within the optic rotates and facilitates the change in magnification. The ability to swap between various levels of magnification allows the Elcan Specter optic to be versatile and well-suited to a variety of roles and types of shooting.
Quick release levers are already included from the factory, providing users with a means to expediently don and doff the optic if necessary. The addition of levers of this type is often an upgrade that shooters will make for similar style optics, scopes, and red dot sights.
While the Elcan Specter may utilize batteries which cannot compete with the overall lifespan of tritium, they do not require specialized servicing to regain their ability to provide illumination.
Due to its utilization of traditional battery power, one will be able to manually adjust the brightness of the reticle on an Elcan Specter. This is done by turning the dial on the left side of the optic. One can either have an illuminated center dot or illuminate the entire reticle of the optic.

Cons:

The Elcan Specter, like many illuminated optics, relies on batteries to provide power to the unit. If this battery dies, one will not have any means to illuminate the reticle of their optic. As a prism optic, the Elcan Specter features an etched reticle, meaning that the reticle will be visible even without illumination.
The Elcan Specter features an integral mount which consists of quick release levers. Due to the inclusion of an integral mount, one has to work with the factory mounting option and hardware. Of course, one will be able to use things such as risers to lift the optic up higher if that is their preference.
Zeroing an Elcan Specter optic is a bit more involved than zeroing a more traditional optic. The zeroing procedure is outlined on the left side of the optic for user reference. Frist, the lever must be placed into the 4x (or highest magnification option). After this, there is a locking tab present at the rear dial between the optic and its mount which must be moved down to unlock the dial. After the zero lock has been unlocked, the elevation of the optic can be adjusted. After adjustment, the locking tab should be reengaged. Windage is adjusted with the front screw fount on the left side of the optic.
Fewer variants and models of the Elcan Specter are available for purchase than there are for the ACOG. This means that prospective buyers will have fewer options to consider if they are looking into Elcan Specters.

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How Available are ACOGs?

At this point in time, one will find that ACOGs tend to be pretty common and accessible for prospective customers. Trijicon currently has a catalogue with a variety of ACOG options which range in terms of magnification level, reticle type, power source, and reticle color. Most of the offerings will be of the tritium and fiber optic powered variety with some LED powered offerings also being available. Reticles can generally be found in red, amber, and green colors to suit the preferences of shooters. Additionally, different reticle types such as chevron and horseshoe style reticles can also be found in ACOGs.

How Available are Elcan Specters?

Currently, Elcan Specter optics are not as widely available and common as Trijicon ACOG offerings are. While Trijicon ACOG offerings can be found at gun shops and big box stores commonly, this is not the case with Elcan Specter optics. Typically, prospective buyers will need to get lucky with a local offering or set their sights on internet optic sellers to best acquire an optic of this type. The current offerings from Armament Tech in the Elcan Specter product line encompass a variety of magnification levels. These offerings include the common 1x-4x models in addition to models which can reach into the 6x and 9x ranges. All of the offerings in the Specter product line will utilize batteries to power the LED reticles in their optics.

Conclusion

All in all, both types of optics are well-known for their performance in harsh conditions and in the line of duty. Armed professionals and civilians alike enjoy these optics and employ them for a variety of uses. Whether you run an ACOG or an Elcan Specter, you will need ammunition to zero the optic and get to the range. We here at True Shot Ammo offer a wide variety of ammo for sale, with many offerings being well-suited for the capabilities of a prism optic. As always, happy shooting. Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options. View more posts about optics:

Trijicon ACOG vs Elcan Specter