NRA E-Media Exclusive

While the national debate rages about alternative sources of energy, at least one company well-known to shooters is doing something about. No, it doesn’t mean you’ll find taxpayer-funded Solyndra panels on top of M4s in Afghanistan anytime soon. But hey, why not, we paid for them, right?

Today, at the Association of the U.S. Army show, Trijicon, maker of the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight, has unveiled a solar-powered combat optic. The Sealed Reflex Sight (SRS) harnesses the power of the sun to put its 1.75 minute-of-angle dot on target. This improved 1X reflex sight employs an innovative glass design that results in no tube effect, has user-adjustable brightness settings, is parallax free and can be used with night-vision devices. The sealed unit has a short rail footprint and runs off a single AA battery, but not in the way you might think. The SRS is solar assisted, and batteries will last for at least two years, but maybe up to six, due to the photovoltaic—there’s a word you don’t come across every day—cell on its top. The cell transforms collected solar energy into electric current that is used to project the reticle. When exposed to light, the unit is powered by the photovoltaic cell, but draws off the battery when no light source is available—such as in the dark or inside—while keeping the brightness at the same level.

I had a pre-release look at the SRS, and an opportunity to try it out at the range. It’s fast to acquire, bright, tough and easy to use. After putting some rounds on target it was clear to me why the U.S. military is very interested in this American-made optic. We shot a prototype, but I’ve already asked for a production unit to put on my own rifle. Pricing has not be determined by the company, but my best guess would be around $850 mark. Check out our exclusive video of the SRS here.