Introduction of Aimpoint ACRO P-1
Aimpoint is one of the most renowned manufacturers of red dot sights out there, with more than 40 years of tradition, which is why I am always looking forward to looking at their new designs. I visited their booth at Shot Show 2019 in Las Vegas and was pleased to find out that Aimpoint came up with a completely new red dot sight, different from what we have seen before in the red dot sights market.
Interested in Aimpoint Acro P-1?
New features on Aimpoint red dot sight
They named their new model ACRO P-1. ACRO stands for Advanced Compact Reflex Optic, while the letter ‘P’ indicates that its purpose is to be used on pistols. What I noticed immediately is its small size. It looks like a combination of an open reflex sight and a small tube sight.
It is classified as an enclosed reflex red dot sight primarily designed for pistols. The design is something we have not seen before, but we see that Aimpoint follows the contemporary trend – designing reflex red dot sights so that they are impervious to rain.
Steiner introduced an enclosed red dot reflex sight last year (MRS), and Leica includes a special cover with their Tempus which allows it to be used in rain without problems. It is also protected against other elements such as dust, sand, mud, and other particles.
Acro P-1 is primarily a pistol sight because of its compact size but can be mounted on other weapon platforms as well. It measures 4.8cm in length (1.9”), 3cm in width (1.2”), and 3cm in height (1.2”). It weighs 60 grams (2.1 oz).
It features a 3.5 MOA dot, which is a happy medium when it comes to red dot sizes. It is not too big to cover up too much of the target and not too small to prevent quick target acquisition. The enclosed design adds to its waterproofness – ACRO P-1 can be submerged to 25 m (82 ft) of depth. Aimpoint made the construction robust. They shock-tested it by firing 20.000 rounds of .40 S&W, and the device withstood it without taking damage. It can withstand extreme temperatures such as -45 °C and +71 °C.
Interested in Aimpoint Acro P-1?
For more information view our Aimpoint ACRO P-1 review
The battery that the Aimpoint red dot is powered by is a bit untypical – under the cover on the right side, there is a compartment for a CR1225 3V lithium battery. This battery is not of the standard type, meaning that it might be difficult to find it in smaller shops. However, that does not seem that big of a problem, keeping in mind that ACRO P-1 red dot promises 1 year of battery life on a mid-intensity setting. Furthermore, I find it great that the battery compartment is located on the side and not on the bottom. This way, you do not have to dismount the red dot – sight from the mounting surface in order to change the battery.
Mounting standard on Acro P-1
The mounting surface is something we haven’t seen before – it is not the same as on Aimpoint Micro devices. A mounting plate for a specific type of handgun must be purchased extra (in the image below, a mounting plate for Glock MOS can be seen on the right).
Several adapters will be available for purchase depending on which pistol you have. The device features a unique Aimpoint ACRO mounting platform, which means that it will take renowned mount manufacturers a while to start making their own mount plates for this design.
Want to know more about Aimpoint ACRO mounting standard?
The optical part is well-made, but this is nothing new when it comes to Aimpoint. The image seen through the lens is extremely clear, and I was pleased with the definition of the dot. Some blue tint can be observed when looking through, mostly on the upper part of the lens. There are 10 illumination intensity settings altogether, the first four being NVD compatible. The intensity is regulated with the help of two buttons on the left side which are nice to the touch and have a quality feel to them. The front lens is tilted to ensure that the sight remains parallax free, regardless of the shooter’s eye position.
Conclusion
ACRO P-1 red dot is a great choice for pistol users. There are many reasons for that – its low-profile design, a 3.5 MOA red dot, small size, small weight, and enough illumination intensity levels for all lighting conditions. For now, this is the smallest enclosed red dot sight on the market and the only one of this type that can be mounted on a pistol. Once again, Aimpoint set the standard in the world of red dots. The expected retail price is 620 EUR for the European market.
Interested in Aimpoint Acro P-1?
Watch our video about Aimpoint Acro P-1 and C-1 red dot sights
