Field Test: Trijicon AccuPoint Offers Bright Reticle, No Batteries Required

The first riflescopes centuries ago used crosshairs—literal hairs or strands of a spider web—amid scallops of glass inside a tube. Over time those crosshairs, glass and housing tubes improved with knowledge and technology. We now have crystal-clear riflescopes (and other optics) with great magnification, and crosshairs etched on the glass or imposed digitally with lines, images or information about the conditions. Some riflescopes give you hold points for distance and wind, and sync with ballistics data on a phone to provide even more information.

Do you need all that to kill a whitetail in Alabama, or a mule deer in Colorado, or a moose or elk or bison? Of course not. The first few deer I killed many years ago were with a Winchester Model 70 in .243 Win. and a simple 3-9X scope. I still have both. You can get by with plain old crosshairs, practice, knowing your surroundings and trusting your gut.

Hunters typically know almost immediately whether a target is worthy of a shot. At close to moderate ranges, sometimes it happens quickly enough that you throw up the rifle, adjust as you put the crosshairs on a spot and shoot. Other times, though, you may need more in that sleek tube of aluminum and glass.

Crosshairs can become lost or hazy against the background or in low light; an illuminated reticle, even in daytime, is a benefit. Optics companies tout light transmission, clarity and other highlights. While a low-priced riflescope might be all you want or need while hunting open food plots in relatively bright light conditions, you get what you pay for. Putting that same scope to the test in dim light at 198 yards, or out West, or in the dark woods of Saskatchewan or Maine, may lead to disappointment.

In 2021 I hunted whitetails in Saskatchewan with Safari River Outfitters, which has two camps about three hours north of Saskatoon. Lance and Emily Robinson run an honest, top-notch camp with knowledgeable guides and great setups. Hunting with Safari River involves day-long sits in brushed-up ground blinds in the woods. Bait is used, typically no more than 75 yards away. Hunters may have a longer shot but it's doubtful, as the woods are thick. There is rarely any need for a riflescope with a reticle that looks like a Christmas tree. An illuminated reticle is another matter, though, because it makes a big difference during dawn, dusk and days with heavy cloud cover.

The Trijicon AccuPoint 4-16x50 mm scope atop my Strasser RS Solo Evolution was one of 11 options the company offers in the 4-16X line. Trijicon has nine AccuPoint models, with more than 60 options in all, from the 1-4x24 mm to the 5-20x50 mm. I chose the standard duplex crosshair with green dot, which has thicker outer lines that get thinner in the center. Having hunted in Saskatchewan before, I knew that would be all I needed. I was happy to have the AccuPoint's battery-free illumination—thanks to the bit of tritium and the fiber-optic technology, Trijicon's hallmarks—along with the magnification lever, an easily focused eyepiece for reticle definition, and ample windage and elevation adjustments with large knobs.

Trijicon is known for building rugged scopes utilized by law enforcement and the military, and the AccuPoint suits this reputation. The scope is tested to ensure it's waterproof and fogproof, will hold up to extremely cold (-20 degrees) and hot (140 degrees) temperatures, and will retain zero under vibration and after a drop.

It was reassuring to not have to worry about batteries, as the AccuPoint's illumination power source is the tritium. As the tritium breaks down it emits a weak beta particle, an electron, from its nucleus. It is energetic enough to emit a glow that is transferred through the fiber-optic element to the crosshairs, post, point or dot in the scope. The AccuPoint allows you to increase or decrease the intensity of the illumination by rotating a cover that controls the amount of ambient light hitting the fiber-optic element. This is a helpful feature for both low-light and full-sun situations. The highest settings don't bother your vision, and the soft glow isn't visible from a distance.

Adjustments for windage and elevation have a broad range of 70 MOA. The parallax-adjustment knob is a great addition, too, allowing hunters to eliminate any point-of-impact shifts due to this phenomenon. Again, no issue in the Saskatchewan woods but in open areas this is a bonus feature. With a 50 mm objective lens, the scope permits plenty of light transmission through the multi-coated lenses. It offered crisp, clear views out to 500 yards, which was the farthest distance at which I could evaluate the image. In bright daylight conditions or cruddy weather, a sunshield and flip-up lens caps offer protection from glare and moisture.

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My regular deer hunting experiences involve targets usually within 150 yards, but I'm smart enough to prepare for shots longer than that. Thanks to the type of reticles, illumination and clarity offered by the Trijicon AccuPoint, hunters can be confident at longer ranges. This scope is not magic, though. We still have to learn, practice at the range and practice some more. It can pay off, because when that elk or mule deer is across a windswept ravine, or the whitetail of a lifetime steps out in a cut bean field at 294 yards, if you're comfortable with your scope then you can make the shot.

Trijicon AccuPoint Specifications

• Type: Variable-power riflescope
• Magnification: 4-16X (tested)
• Objective Lens: 50 mm
• Maintube: 30 mm
• Reticle: duplex with green illuminated center dot
• Adjustment Range: 70 MOA in 1/4 MOA increments
• Power Source: tritium and fiber-optic element
• Field of View @ 100 Yds: 7.1' to 28.5'
• Eye Relief: 3.1" to 3.8"
• Overall Length: 14.4"
• Weight: 26.8 oz.
• MSRP: $1,441
• Info: trijicon.com