Vortex SPARC AR vs Aimpoint ACO: Head to Head Comparison Review

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By Dennis Howard •  11 min read

We are headed back to the range for more testing with another Vortex red dot scope and a competitor.  This time we are looking at the Vortex SPARC AR vs Aimpoint ACO. SPARC stands for Speed Point Aiming for Rapid Combat and ACO for Aimpoint Carbine Optic.  These are both excellent red dot scopes. 

Vortex SPARC AR vs Aimpoint ACO

This test is our first encounter with an Aimpoint scope, mainly because of the price point on the Aimpoint products.  Aimpoint is a Swedish company and, while they advertise the Aimpoint ACO as an affordable model of red dot scope, the Aimpoint ACO typically comes in at almost twice the price of most other comparable red dot sights.

The adage, “you get what you pay for” may not exactly hold true in this case.  The reputation and our experience with Vortex optics certainly have left us thinking that quality and performance don’t have to cost twice as much.

Before we begin and if you are in a hurry, check out summaries of the two products:

RED DOT SCOPE DETAILS
Aimpoint ACO
  • Unlimited field of view
  • Parallax-free operation
  • Unlimited eye relief
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Amazon.com
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OpticsPlanet.com
Vortex SPARC AR
  • Fully multi-coated lenses to increase light transmission
  • Unlimited eye-relief for comfortable shooting
  • Parallax free optics
Check Price on
Amazon.com
Check Price on
OpticsPlanet.com

Vortex SPARC AR vs Aimpoint ACO Review

Aimpoint ACO Review

Aimpoint ACO Red Dot Sight

There is no doubt that Aimpoint builds some of the finest red dot optics equipment in the world.  Aimpoint doesn’t design or build traditional optical scopes.  Their entire product line, including their line of hunting scopes, are strictly red dot style sights. 

Aimpoint is proud of its parallax-free aiming system and the quality of the construction of both their business and professional scopes.  Features that are standard across the entire line of Aimpoint red dot scopes are:

Those are tall claims, but the market and the professionals and civilians who use Aimpoint sights bear out the claims by Aimpoint. 

Getting to the Basics – Features and Specifications

When dealing with optics, especially optics closely matched in features and specifications, it is vital to compare carefully.  Like many things, the details can make a difference.

Technical Details – For the Geeks

What Users are Saying – The Pros and Cons

Across the board, no matter where you look or who you ask, Aimpoint products get high marks.  As with anything, there are a few comments and opinions to the contrary. Overall, Aimpoint products and the Aimpoint ACO receive above-average ratings.

Pros:

Cons:

What is Included in the Box?

Aimpoint ACO
  • Unlimited field of view
  • Parallax-free operation
  • Unlimited eye relief
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Amazon.com
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OpticsPlanet.com


Vortex SPARC AR Review

Vortex Optics SPARC AR Red Dot Sight

Vortex is an American Company.  Vortex manufactures their optics overseas but this not unusual and is the case with most other optics companies. Vortex builds a wide range of optics from high-end long-distance shooting telescopic sights to compact red dot sights for pistols. If you need an optic, there is a product in the Vortex line that will fill your needs.

The Vortex Optics SPARC red dot sight is one of the more popular red dot sights in the Vortex product line. The SPARC is an AR ready red dot sight intended for those shooters who compete in combat style matches or LEO’s and others who need an affordable but dependable sight for professional use.

The Vortex SPARC red dot sight is sleek and unassuming in its appearance. The compact sight is designed from the mount to the lens caps to be ergonomic and durable. Looking at the features of any Vortex optic reveals a well thought out set of options.

Vortex SPARC – Features and Specifications

Perhaps the most noticeable feature for most people who are familiar with Vortex Optics is the lifetime warranty that comes with each Vortex product. The other features are just as impressive.

The Technical Details – Vortex SPARC Red Dot Sight

Listening to the Users – The Pros and Cons of the Vortex SPARC

Overall, the Vortex Optics SPARC rates as high as any red dot sight on the market.  Vortex users are overwhelmingly favorable in their comments about the Vortex Optics Sparc red dot sight.

The Pros:

The Cons:

What’s included in the Box

Vortex SPARC AR
  • Fully multi-coated lenses to increase light transmission
  • Unlimited eye-relief for comfortable shooting
  • Parallax free optics
Check Price on
Amazon.com
Check Price on
OpticsPlanet.com


Side by Side – Aimpoint ARC vs Vortex SPARC AR

For ease of comparison, let’s put some of the features and technical details side by side.

Vortex SPARCAimpoint ACO
Magnification1X1X
Length3.1 inches3.0 inches
Weight5.9 ounces6.7 ounces
Adjustment Graduations1 MOA per click½ MOA per click
Max elevation Adjustment90 MOA66 MOA
Max Windage Adjustment90 MOA66 MOA
Objective Lens22mm23mm
Battery Type1 AAA1 DL1/3N
Battery Life300 – 500 hours10,000 hours
WarrantyUnlimited LifetimeLimited ten years for personal use

The Warranty Issue

The warranty offered on a red dot scope can be a significant point in the decision process, especially if you are expecting to put a rifle scope into extreme conditions.  The importance of this decision is no different with a red dot scope. 

Vortex Optics Warranty

Vortex offers an Unlimited Lifetime Warranty on the Vortex Optics SPARC red dot scope.  The warranty is fully transferrable, and you don’t need to keep track of a receipt to make a claim.  The warranty specifies that:

Aimpoint Warranty

Aimpoint’s warranty is less generous and more restricted.  Aimpoint differentiates the warranty based on the use of the optic.  The two categories are personal use or professional use.  If you use the optic in competition, it is considered professional use.  The specifics of the Aimpoint warranty are:

Our take on the Warranty Issue

Vortex comes away in this category as the hands-down winner.  Users of the Vortex sights report that when a warranty issue arises, Vortex is quick to respond and helpful in meeting the expectations of the customer.  The unlimited nature of the warranty makes the Vortex SPARC a much better choice if warranty issues are your concern.


Construction – The Proof is in the Product

Both Aimpoint and Vortex use air-craft grade aluminum in the construction of the sight body.  It’s a dead-even tie in this category.

The next concern is the fit and finish of the sights.  Examining both sights gives no clear advantage to either.  The machining is precise, and the finishes are flawless—another tie.

Both sights use O-rings to seal the scopes and both companies nitrogen purge the scope during assembly—no clear advantage to either sight.

Batteries and Battery Life

The Vortex SPARC uses a single AAA battery for its power source.  Many people prefer the readily available AAA battery over smaller button style batteries.  The use of the AAA battery does reduce the expected battery life, but the availability of replacement batteries makes this a small tradeoff.

Aimpoint chose to use a DL1/3N battery.   The DL1/3N can be a problematic battery to find in the US.  There are substitute options on the market, but it is unclear how this will affect both the operation and the warranty if you substitute batteries.  The upside is the extended battery life of 10,000 hours of continuous use. 

Who Gets the Nod on Batteries?

For me, the choice is the Vortex SPARC.   I like the convenience of using a AAA battery.  The shorter battery life is not a concern for me.  I typically remove the battery from any powered scope before it goes back in the gun safe and a fresh battery goes in with the next use.

On the other hand, if I were carrying a patrol rifle in a locked mount or in a remote and hostile location where batteries may be a premium, the long battery life in the Aimpoint ACO is a definite plus. 

In this category, it is a toss-up depending on how you use your optic and where you may be at the time.


Accuracy – Putting Rounds on Target

Both red dot scopes will allow you to put rounds on target at reasonable distances.  Both feature a 2 MOA dot, excellent visual characteristics, and a good field of view down the tube.  However, the Aimpoint does gather a slight edge when it comes to adjusting your point of aim.

The Aimpoint AOC features ½ MOA clicks on the adjustments versus the Vortex SPARC 1 MOA clicks.  For this reason, we give the Aimpoint ACO a checkmark in the accuracy department.


Our Overall Takeaway

From a performance standpoint, either of these red dot scopes will perform admirably in the field.  We can find no appreciable difference in the capabilities of these two red dot scopes.  At this point, we have a neck and neck race

The significant differences that we consider are price and warranty.  From the price standpoint, the Vortex SPARC takes a considerable lead.  At about half the price of the Aimpoint, the Vortex SPARC delivers comparable performance and a much better warranty than the Aimpoint ACO red dot sight.

Based on our research and the comparisons, the Vortex SPARC sight is a definitive better choice.  We won’t disparage the Aimpoint ACO, but I can’t recommend that anyone spend two times the money to get the same features.

With That Said

It is still a personal choice that must make when choosing what red dot sight to mount on your AR platform. I hope that this review and comparison helps you make the best decision possible. If you have any comments, suggestions, or personal experience with these optics, please leave your comments below.  Our knowledge and experience are vital to broadening the understanding of others.

Dennis Howard

A life long hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman, after surviving a devastating tornado in his home town, he saw the effects on people's lives as they struggled to cope. He built his first bugout bag a few weeks later and has been a dedicated prepper/survivalist since that time. After a career as a fireman, Dennis opened a retail store (FFL approved) catering to the military, law enforcement, and like-minded individuals. The store built their own AR platforms. Furthermore, Dennis was also an NRA instructor in both long gun and handgun as well as a certified range safety officer. Read his full interview here.