While being impressed with the
Trijicon TA31GH and using it as one of my primary
Go-To optics, I also was intrigued by the designer of
the ACOG and his new company called Browe Optics. He
has improved on the design, or it may be more proper
to say that he has taken the design in a direction
that makes sense on evolving technology and his vision
for the optic.
The BTO is naturally very similar to an ACOG but uses
the battery powered Single Intuitive Control (SIC) for
the illumination instead of tritium. The light sensor
for automatic brightness is inside the scope body
meaning it senses the actual light reaching the
shooters eye...no more fiber optics and no more burnt
out retinas (or tape over the fiber optic as so many
have to do). The automatic light sensing capability
works quite well but you also have the option to have
a continuous steady illumination of the reticule.
Watch out though, on maximum brightness the BCO is
also ridiculously bright. I do believe you could see
the reticule while pointed directly at the sun.
BTO Optical quality is very good and the body is heavy
duty aluminum similar to the original ACOG, while the
BCO (Browe Combat Optic) uses titanium which is
heavier but supposedly more sturdy than the ACOG. BTO
sits even lower than the ACOG when using the RS
Regulate AKOG mount. This is quite simply the coolest
Western optic I have ever mounted to an AK. I will
continue to use the ACOG but am quite happy to have
the BTO alongside it.
Browe BTO (top)
Trijicon ACOG
TA31GH (bottom)
RSRegulate
Side Rail
Closeup showing the body and SIC button. No more
taping off the fiber optic or worrying about the
tritium fading away. Personally I don't worry about
that on any of my optics, Russian or American, but
battery power is a simple way to guarantee
illumination without needing a re-service.
With the Wolverine PBS-1 on the AK105
On the AK105
I'll post more photos as I get range time with the
optic and will be doing a review as time permits