Handgun Optic Pairing: Aimpoint ACRO P-2 and Glock 49

Since Glock has produced the G49, it has remained one of my favorite handguns. A crossover between the G19 and G17, the new G49 has the shorter grip of the G19 and the longer barrel of the G17. This may not be the best combination for everyone, but for me, it’s perfect. Because Glock MOS handguns come with multiple adapter plates, I tried several different optics on my G49. One of the only optics I had not really considered for a handgun is the Aimpoint ACRO P-2 because of its size.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Aimpoint, and they make some of the most durable optics on the planet. But the ACRO P-2 just looks a little tall to be perched on top of a handgun. All that changed, however, once I got my hands on one and was able to start playing around with it. Now, it has quickly become one of my favorite optics to mount on a handgun. And the only sensible thing to do with a favorite optic is pair it with my favorite handgun, right?

I’m still getting used to the blocky look of the P-2, but it does grow on you the more you use it. I think the only downside I can see with it is the price, which is in the $699 range. But if this proves to be as durable and optic as Aimpoint’s other models, it is well worth the money. When paired with the Glock 49, it’s an impressive combination.

Aimpoint ACRO P-2 Red Dot

While the P-2 has that large, blocky look to it, there is a reason behind the design. Like rifle optics, it’s an enclosed emitter, which is more reliable than traditional micro-red dots. Because it’s enclosed, it has a higher waterproof rating of 115-foot submersion. It doesn’t stop at an unbelievable water rating, though. In extreme temperatures, it can withstand -60 to +160 degrees. As far as I’m aware, those ratings beat just about any other handgun optic on the market.

During my initial review of the P-2, I placed it in the oven until it was well past 160 degrees, which didn’t affect it one bit. Most of us don’t live in a place where temperatures get that high, but in a car, the temperature can soar. During a shock test, Aimpoint mounted it on a handgun and fired more than 20,000 rounds of .40 caliber ammo through it. I once stripped three layers of paint from a Comp M2 using paint thinner and a scrub brush. The optic looked almost new after I finished.

So, when they say the P-2 is chemically resistant to weapons cleaners, lubricants, fuels, and insect repellent, I believe them. The P-2 runs on a CR2032 battery in a side loading compartment. Battery life is listed at an impressive 5-year or 50,000-plus hour runtime. Aimpoint used a clamp-style mount for the P-2, so an adaptor plate from Aimpoint is required for the handgun you intend to use it on. Once the plate is mounted to the handgun, the optic snaps over the plate like a Picatinny rail. You can secure it by tightening the screw on the side of the optic.

Glock 49 MOS 9mm Handgun

Everyone has a preference when it comes to style, caliber, and the overall size of their handgun. As I mentioned above, I like the compact size grip with a full-length barrel. This is why I was so excited when Glock released the G49 in a limited-run series. It uses standard G19 magazines but, of course, will also work with G17 mags as well. Except for the slide being modified to fit a G19 recoil spring, all parts are either G19 or G17 parts.

I’ve had several different brands of lights mounted to my G49, and the Streamlight TLR-1 is my favorite. This is partially because I have used them at work for more than a decade. Like the older Aimpoint optics, I’ve seen them go through a lot and continue to run. When you mount a weapon light and an optic on a full-size gun, the gun becomes a supersized firearm. Robocop may be okay with that, but not me. However, I can still mount a weapon light and optic without overloading the gun or forfeiting concealability.

I’ve said before that Glock pistols are ugly, but I can get over that with the G49. Safariland makes some great holsters that work with the TLR-1 light and P-2 optic. I use the QLS (quick locking system) with all my holsters, which makes it easy to put on and remove any paddle/belt/thigh setups I want. You can buy one custom holster for this gun/light/optic setup and use it for multiple platforms.

Range Time With the Glock 49 and ACRO P-2

After I started using the P-2 on the range, I noticed how easy it was to find the dot when I brought the gun up to my eyes. This is where the optic starts to grow on you. The combination of the shorter grip and light mounted in front of the trigger guard means the gun has good balance, even with the square-shaped P-2 mounted on top of the slide.

Another thing I like is how easy the P-2 makes it to rack the slide. I’ve become used to using my Trijicon RMR to push my slide back with the palm of my hand. Because of the flat-fronted P-2, this method is even easier. Instead of gripping the slide to rack it, I put the palm of my support hand on the front of the optic and pushed it to the rear.

The P-2 has 10 brightness settings and an on-and-off function. There is no shake-awake system, as the optic is always on. In the past, I would say an auto on/off feature would be better. But because the battery is so easy to change, I don’t really mind it.

Is this combination worth the price?

It’s not very often I set a gun up and think to myself, I don’t want to change anything about it. With my perfect-fitting holster, this is possibly the best setup I’ve seen so far. Glock handguns are among the most reliable in the world, and Aimpoint has the same reputation for optics. Before this, I used my Trijicon on the G49, which is another extremely reliable red dot. However, there are advantages to having an enclosed emitter optic on a handgun.

As I mentioned above, one of the only downsides to the P-2 is the cost. It can cost upwards of $1,500 for this setup, which is getting up there. The amount of money that you want to spend on one handgun setup is totally up to you. There are many other options that are cheaper but of good quality. However, if you like Glock handguns, this may just be one of the best setups you can find.