Although designed for pistols, when equipped with a Picatinny rail adapter plate—which is offered as an option—it can be used with the same effectiveness on rifles, shotguns, or in conjunction with magnifiers. The Aimpoint ACRO C-1 is an ultra-compact closed red dot design with no magnification that will compete directly at the counter with the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro or the Sig Sauer Romeo series like the 4H. Compared to an open-emitter red dot sight, such as a Kahles Helia RD, it has a similar footprint and is only slightly heavier. Remember, it weighs only 60 grams.
What are the features and advantages of the ACRO C-1? And what does it bring new to the market?
A major difference between the ACRO and other mini red dots is that most are open-emitter sights. The ACRO is a closed-emitter system, meaning the LED that projects the red dot reflected on the lens is not exposed to the environment. The ACRO system is encapsulated within a rugged housing in the same way other Aimpoint red dot systems have been, such as the Micro or Hunter series we have talked about on other occasions.
Interest in the use of mini red dots on pistols is becoming evident as they improve the shooter's precision and reaction speed. This circumstance or need can also arise for shooters of a certain age. We all lose reflexes over time.
The first circumstance we face if we want to install a red dot sight on a pistol is that they require a mounting method. This has not always been easy, and Aimpoint solves it. A great advantage Aimpoint offers is the optimal variety of adapters to install the ACRO on our pistol; Glock, Beretta, Sig Sauer, Walther, FN, and CZ have specific adapter mounts for the ACRO.
And best of all, it adapts perfectly to the Glock MOS system (Modular Optic System) designed to easily install these sights. The MOS consists of a removable plate about five centimeters long, installed over a milled cavity on the slide's spine, immediately after the dovetail corresponding to the traditional rear sight. With this cover in place, the slide shows no differences from the standard one, except for the almost imperceptible cut lines. This plate is fixed by screws and is extremely easy to remove. This is, therefore, a great strength of this Aimpoint: developing a red dot that would compete on the same footprint/base as the most popular open electronic sights on the MOS system.
Although many shooters were equipping their pistols with an Aimpoint Micro H-1 or T-1, pistol manufacturers were not making pistols to adapt those sights. Another noteworthy aspect compared to its competitors is the resistance and durability of its products. Let's see more...
A strong and durable sight
Open sights use an LED that projects a dot against a glass or plastic window through an exposed environment. This allows the total weight of the sight to be reduced, it is true, but it also leaves the lens unprotected against inclement weather and the accumulation of particles and dust. If we are not very careful, an unprotected lens can reduce visual quality and compromise the resulting image when needed.
Additionally, there is always the possibility that an object could interrupt the LED's path.
Closed-emitter sights like the Aimpoint Micro H-1 and T-1 have been an alternative many have turned to. However, new technology has allowed Aimpoint to reduce the size, resulting in the new ACRO. The Aimpoint ACRO comes to meet the consumer's need for a small, closed red dot sight mounted on a pistol. With a smaller footprint/base than the Micros, the ACRO C-1 protects the emitter between a closed aluminum box and sealed, flat glass panels at both ends. This translates into greater durability compared to open-emitter sights. This was certified when the ACRO was tested for over 20,000 cycles (shots) on a .40 caliber pistol; the recoil energy of such a caliber is brutal, and sights suffer greatly, yet no problems were found! 20,000 shots!!
This stress test included environmental conditions ranging from -45ºC to 70ºC. During this process, Aimpoint also noted that the ACRO C-1 is submersible to 25 meters and can operate continuously at intensity setting six for more than 1 year with its CR1225 lithium battery.
It is noteworthy that the battery on the ACRO is accessed on the right side of the housing. Aimpoint provides a combo tool, as in the other product series of the Swedish brand (image 8), to remove the battery via the side cap and make elevation and windage adjustments to quickly zero with the Torx T-10 bit on the tip. The red dot can be adjusted to 10 intensity levels by pressing the up/plus or down/minus arrows on the left side of the housing. Not only is it fast and intuitive, but it is arguably the best integration of an adjustment pad we have seen on any mini red dot.
The ACRO is based on the Aimpoint philosophy of aiming with both eyes open, which allows for better situational awareness, increased alertness, and faster target acquisition. Parallax-free means the red dot follows the movement of the shooter's eye while remaining fixed on the target, thus eliminating the need to center it. The Aimpoint ACRO hits the market with a 3.5 MOA dot size. We remind you what different sizes cover, to have a clear reference: 2 MOA
- 5m: 0.3cm
- 15m: 0.9cm
- 25m: 1.5cm
- 50m: 3cm
- 100m: 6cm
4 MOA
- 5m: 0.6cm
- 15m: 1.8cm
- 25m: 3cm
- 50m: 6cm
- 100m: 12cm
6 MOA
- 5m: 0.9cm
- 15m: 2.7cm
- 25m: 4.5cm
- 50m: 9cm
- 100m: 18cm
With the 3.5 MOA size, we will have the following adjustments:
- 1 Click = 17 mm at 100 m
- 1 Click = 0.6 inches at 100 yds
Conclusions on the Aimpoint ACRO C-1
The ACRO offers a great sense of confidence to the shooter as well as a rugged appearance. The electronic components are completely isolated, which should give everyone peace of mind about its durability. As we have explained: Aimpoint parallax-free technology—just worry about acquiring the target.
Aimpoint ACRO C-1 is the smallest red dot sight
Super compact size, so we anticipate that a pistol mounted with an ACRO C-1 fits into most holsters designed to accommodate the same pistol mounted with an open-emitter red dot. It offers many possibilities for other uses, ensuring that lightweight is a positive factor when configuring a rifle-scope setup or combo for use in tight spaces or short distances, such as driven hunts or firebreaks, when mounting it on a rifle. Besides being the smallest red dot sight, it is completely closed. Everything is an advantage with this sight.
The ACRO C-1 sight is a sure hit
Great product and a totally recommended purchase; Aimpoint has done it again with this sight. To finish, we leave you with the general specifications:
- Magnification: 1X
- Parallax: Free
- Weight: 60 grams
- Length: 47 mm
- Height: 30 mm
- Width: 30 mm
- Material: Aluminum
- Finish: Matte anodized
