One reviewer’s experience with the Acro P-2 red dot sight

As a reviewer, my first impression upon opening the box containing the Aimpoint Acro P-2 was that it appeared larger than expected. However, a comparison with other red dot sights revealed that it was actually similar in size. The Acro P-2’s fully enclosed optical channel gives it the illusion of being bigger. Aimpoint, a company with over 40 years of experience in producing quality, rugged, and reliable optics, has once again raised the bar with the launch of their ACRO Series.

One of the standout features of the Acro P-2 is its battery compartment, which is conveniently located on the side of the unit. This design eliminates the need to remove the sight when changing the battery, ensuring that the zero remains undisturbed. The Acro P-2 uses the common CR2032 battery and boasts an impressive 50,000-hour battery life when set to brightness level 6 out of 10.

The Acro P-2 powers on at brightness level 7 and requires manual adjustment rather than relying on ambient light. This is advantageous because auto-adjusting red dots can be problematic when shooting from a dark area into a well-lit one, as the dot may appear dim and difficult to see. The extensive battery life of the Acro P-2 eliminates the need for automatic shut-off when stationary, ensuring that it is always ready for use.

During testing, I found that the Acro P-2 provides a large field of view and a crisp dot with ample brightness adjustment to accommodate various lighting conditions, from the dead of night to the glaring brightness of mid-summer days. The lenses are not colored or magnified, ensuring an undistorted image and clear target visibility. Additionally, the Acro P-2 is relatively parallax-free, allowing shots to land wherever the dot is placed on the target, provided the marksmanship principles are correctly applied.

Unlike some other red dot sights, the Acro P-2 mounts to your pistol using a platform-specific dovetail adaptor plate. It is secured with a side-mounted screw that sits in the dovetail on the adaptor plate, providing a larger surface area that holds the optic steady and minimizes the risk of movement when knocked. This is particularly important when clearing malfunctions by racking the slide off a shield, holster, or door frame, as it ensures that the zero remains unaffected. Adaptor plates are available for a wide range of optics-ready pistols from various manufacturers, including Glock, Beretta, Sig Sauer, Smith and Wesson, Heckler & Koch, FNH, and CZ.

The process of zeroing the Acro P-2 is straightforward. The wide range of brightness adjustments allows for a clear 3.5 minute of angle (MOA) dot without the bleed-out effect sometimes seen in other red dot sights. The 3.5 MOA dot offers a practical size, being small enough for precise aiming and large enough to be easily acquired. After taking the first shot on paper, I was able to make the initial correction, and within five shots, the sight was zeroed.

The Acro P-2 fit seamlessly into the Safariland Sig Sauer P320 RDS holster I was using, and I could close the hood without any issues. The pistol locked securely into the holster and cleared it smoothly on the draw, without snagging or catching.

The fully enclosed optical channel of the Acro P-2 prevents water, mud, snow, or other debris from interfering with the LED emitter and the front lens where the dot is projected. If the LED emitter becomes blocked, the dot cannot be projected on the front lens, forcing the user to shift focus from the target back to the pistol to use the iron sights or the body of the red dot to frame the target. This can be time-consuming and detrimental in critical situations.

The housing of the Acro P-2 provides three-dimensional orientation on presentation, enabling the user to acquire the dot more quickly and deliver accurate rounds on target faster with less cognitive effort compared to conventional red dots or iron sights. The straight edges of the Acro P-2 make framing the target easy. During testing, I simulated a catastrophic failure by powering down the Acro P-2 and found that I could still frame the target and consistently deliver accurate rounds to the desired area using only the body of the red dot.

Transitioning from iron sights to a pistol-mounted optic requires significant training and practice. Recommendations suggest a minimum of 10-20 hours of training before officers can carry a pistol-mounted optic on duty. However, the design of the Acro P-2 makes the transition and learning process much faster.

The Acro P-2 is an ideal size for mounting on a duty pistol or as an offset backup for Low Powered Variable Optics (LPVO). It is rugged, well-made, lightweight, and provides a clear sight picture. Running transition drills and engaging multiple targets was easy, regardless of the distance, whether it was three yards, 50 yards, or anything in between. The clear glass and 3.5 MOA dot made it possible to accurately engage steel targets out to 100 yards.

Aimpoint invests significant time and effort to ensure that their products perform as claimed and exceed the expectations of end-users. The Acro P-2 is definitely an optic I would confidently use as a patrol officer, detective, or SWAT operator.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Aimpoint Acro P-2 red dot sight is a reliable and high-performing optic suitable for a wide range of law enforcement roles, including patrol officers, detectives, and SWAT operators. With its rugged construction, clear sight picture, and user-friendly features, the Acro P-2 exemplifies Aimpoint’s commitment to producing quality optics that meet and exceed the demands of professional users.

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