Trijicon has become one of the most recognized and trusted names in the aiming systems industry. As a law enforcement officer, you likely have the Trijicon name somewhere in your inventory. If you have tritium-illuminated iron sights on your pistol, then it’s likely a set of Trijicon Bright & Tough Night Sights. If you served in the military any time after 1995, you likely have experience with the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG).
Trijicon has been an industry leader in the development of aiming systems since the company’s founding in 1981. The company’s products are trusted and used throughout the world by law enforcement and our military allies. Trijicon supplies the official Rifle Combat Optic (RCO) and official Squad Common Optic (SCO) of the U.S. Marine Corps (ACOG and VCOG), as well as the official USSOCOM Miniature Aiming System Day Optic (RMR). For decades, Trijicon has supplied law enforcement agencies and duty weapon manufacturers with their night sights. Additionally, they have created innovative aiming systems for shooting and hunting enthusiasts around the world. These systems include industry-leading riflescopes, red dot sights, electro-optics and iron sights.
Trijicon Miniature Rifle Optic HD (MRO HD)
In 2015, Trijicon launched the Miniature Rifle Optic (MRO), a red dot sight tough enough for the military, law enforcement, competition shooting and hunting. With terrific battery life, it’s reliable and durable enough to withstand the harshest environments. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, and the Trijicon MRO was awarded the Guns & Ammo “Optic of the Year.” I was sold on the MRO and still have the same optic riding proudly on one of my rifles today.
However, Trijicon isn’t known for resting on its laurels, and in 2020 the company unveiled the MRO HD. The MRO HD takes performance to the next level. It’s a reflex-style sealed sight intended for use on rifles, carbines and shotguns to provide fast target acquisition. Designed to be used with both eyes open, it provides the operator with maximum situational awareness.
Compared to the original MRO, the MRO HD has been re-engineered with a larger objective lens producing a crisper 2.0 MOA center dot surrounded by a 68 MOA segmented circle reticle. The MRO HD features an ambidextrous dial-style control to adjust the reticle and brightness settings. This allows the shooter to choose between a full reticle, center dot only, and brightness levels while maintaining their master grip on the weapon system. The MRO HD features 16 brightness settings, including 4 night vision-compatible settings.
When it comes to battery life, the MRO HD is said to have 2.5 years of continuous use at dot-only day setting “3" (setting 5 of 8) at 70F (21C). If you opt for the full circle/dot reticle, it’s rated at 75 days of continuous use at day setting “3" (setting 5 of 8) at 70F (21C). The Trijicon MRO HD features sub-flush windage and elevation adjusters to guard against inadvertent zero adjustments, advanced lens coatings, and a fully sealed, waterproof, hard anodized forged 7075-T6 housing for strength and weight savings. When it comes to weight, it’s surprising to find this many features in such a small unit weighing only 6.4 oz including the mount.
MRO HD 3x magnifier
The Trijicon Miniature Rifle Optic (MRO) HD Magnifier is a 3-power reflex optic magnifier specifically designed to magnify the target through the MRO HD red dot optic. By magnifying the target, the shooter can use the crisp dot in the MRO HD to quickly and accurately engage targets at extended distances. I’ve been a huge proponent of magnified optics for patrol use. Magnified optics make good shooters better, but it gives everyone the ability to make better decisions based on better visual input. The MRO HD 3x magnifier is short and compact, saving weight and rail space. The design features easy-to-set, toolless adjusters that make centering the reticle in the field of view easy. The adjustable diopter allows the user to tune the optical performance to their eyes.
The MRO HD 3x magnifier also includes a multi-position, military-grade, flip-to-side quick-release mount that makes mounting and unmounting the optic from the host platform quick and easy. This mount is designed to flip into place over the top of backup iron sights commonly used on patrol rifles. Each magnifier includes a riser plate and additional fasteners to allow the optic to align with either 1/3rd or Full Co-Witness MRO HD mounts. Another bonus is all this only adds 5.6 oz to your rifle. When combined with the MRO HD optic, the combined weight comes in right at 12 oz.
On the range
I got the Trijicon MRO HD and 3x magnifier mounted on a new Sig Sauer MCX-Spear-LT 11.5” SBR and was able to quickly adjust the magnifier to ensure the reticle was as crisp and clear as fresh spring water. I inserted a new battery and found something unexpected. Trijicon has taken care of even the smallest details including the tethered battery cap that remains attached to the optic during battery changes. This feature may seem small until you have to figure out how to order a new battery cap after losing one on the range. Nice touch.
Once on the range, I quickly got the optic and rifle zeroed thanks to the clarity of the dot and the MRO HD 3x magnifier. Zeroing a magnified optic is always much easier and confidence-inspiring compared to a non-magnified optic. No matter how talented someone is behind the trigger, magnification allows the shooter to see more of what they need to see. When it comes to zeroing a rifle, magnification gives you the ability to know where your hits are instead of using the “close enough for government work” method.
Once zeroed, we began testing by doing a series of rapid shooting drills to test the mount and see how well the dot tracked during recoil. The Trijicon MRO HD didn’t disappoint. Throughout testing, the optic maintained its zero and the clarity of the reticle was superior. I generally prefer dot-only reticles because they allow me a better field of vision to make decisions. However, the complex reticle with a 2.0 MOA center dot surrounded by a 68 MOA segmented circle reticle made mechanical off-set drills boringly simple. Basically, inside 15 yards, the shooter only needs to put the bottom of the 68 MOA circle on target where they want the bullet to impact and then send it. Time after time, the round will hit exactly where you want it. There is no need to use Kentucky Windage to guesstimate your holdover and point of impact.
When we were running the Trijicon MRO HD and 3x magnifier up close, we had the magnifier flipped out of the way. Even while moving into and out of a variety of positions, the magnifier stayed securely out of the way until needed. Once I got back to 50 yards and further, a quick flip of the magnifier back into position made hits on 8” steel targets quick and simple.
The Trijicon MRO HD and 3x magnifier proved to me that they make a formidable team. The ability to quickly flow between no magnification for fast target acquisition and 3x magnification for better target visibility makes for terrific versatility and would be a welcome compliment to any patrol rifle. The improvements Trijicon has made to the Trijicon MRO HD may have made it the ultimate mini reflex sight. For more information, click here.
