FOG HORN June 2020

Twobirds Flying Publications

CRIMSON TRACE
CTS-1100 ILLUMINATED 3.5X BATTLESIGHT

Copyright 2020, Towbirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.

 CRIMSON TRACE 2020
CTS-1100 ILLUMINATED 3.5X BATTLESIGHT

CRIMSON TRACE CTS-1100 So how well does the CTS-1100 do against the
$1,250 ACOG?
ILLUMINATED 3.5X
To begin, let me touch on robustness. The CTS-
BATTLESIGHT 1100 is built like a tank. Quite unintentionally, I
dropped the mounted optic on concrete from a
By: Sal Palma
height of approximately 3 feet. Crimson Trace
has encapsulated this sight in a suit of armor
contributing to its robustness. The optics as well
as wind and elevation turrets are shielded from
potentially damaging external shocks. Other
than some light finish nicks, the sight went on
to deliver this level of accuracy consistently.

This is a review that should have been done in

February but it deserves a range session and
the COVID-19 lockdown made that impossible,
but here is June and we’re finally coming out of
lockdown.

Crimson Trace formally introduced the CTS-

1100 3.5X Battlesight during Shot Show 2019.
The company, now recognized as a global
leader in laser sighting systems, made a well Like its competitor, the
calculated business decision to enter the CTS-1100 is adjustable
electronic sight and magnified optics space. for windage and
We’ve all heard the hackneyed cliché “go big or elevation in 0.5 MOA
stay home”, and that was precisely what the increments with an
Oregon Company did. Their focus was adjustment range of
enhancing the value proposition by delivering approximately 70 MOA.
an outstanding product at a competitive price
point. This is the case with the CTS-1100 3.5X Optical clarity can only be described a superb.
Battlesight. I believe Crimson Trace saw an As I look through a TA01, I get a very subtle fish
opportunity to compete with the ubiquitous eye lens effect, not the case with the CTS-1100.
Trijicon ACOG TA01 a 4x-32 fixed magnification The coated 30 mm objective has excellent
optic. clarity; color rendition and resolution are also
excellent.

Copyright 2020, Towbirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.

 CRIMSON TRACE 2020
CTS-1100 ILLUMINATED 3.5X BATTLESIGHT

Although Crimson Trace recommends a 100

yard zero, I chose to zero at 25 yards. Using this
range allows me to maintain a dead hold on any
target out to 190 yards with point of impact vs.
point of aim variability not more than three
inches.

The CTS-1100 is a battle sight and is not

intended to replace a variable power long range
optic. The battle sight employs a hybrid BDC
As you can see from the graph, with this
(bullet drop compensator) that is caliber
ammunition it’s at a range of approximately 205
agnostic. Choose the range at which you want
yards where I need to add elevation over my 25
to zero the sight then use the appropriate
yard zero.
holdover points to match your ammunition and
target range. The BDC reticle is illuminated, but interestingly
there’s been some criticism suggesting that it’s
not sufficiently bright for use in direct sunlight.
I’m not sure that I agree with that assessment.

The illuminated reticle comes in handy in

lowlight and when you’re aiming at a dark
target but in bright light I found that
illumination was not necessary. The picture
below and on the left is a through the optic
photograph of the BDC against a bright surface.

My range session was conducted with the

excellent Sig Sauer Elite Performance
Ammunition FMJ supersonic 125gr 300 AAC
Blackout.

Copyright 2020, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved


CTS-1100 ILLUMINATED 3.5X BATTLESIGHT
Activating illumination is done by pressing and
holding the power on/off button for 3 seconds.
There are two additional buttons marked + and
– and they are used to increase or decrease
reticle brightness respectively. The CTS-1100
does not have a night vision illumination
setting. The adjustable diopter produced a very
sharp and crisp reticle image.
Mounting the sight was straight forward using
the Crimson Trace mounting clamp which sits
on the Picatinny Rail nicely.
I mounted the optic to a rifle configured with
the A2 style stock so I found its 3.5” eye relief a
bit too short. The optimal host is a platform
configured with an adjustable stock.
The CTS-1100 is powered by a single CR-2032
battery which should provide you with
thousands of hours of use. The sight is also
equipped with intelligent power management
to extend battery life when the sight is not in
use. After a period of ninety minutes, the sight
will automatically shut off to prolong battery
life. To reactivate the sight, press and hold the
power button to return the previously selected
intensity setting.
Copyright 2020, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved
CRIMSON TRACE 2020
If the Crimson Trace CTS-1100 Battlesight is an
example of the Company’s new line of
magnified optics, its competitors should be
rightfully concerned. This sight is ruthlessly
accurate with superb optical clarity, a 3 Year
Limited Warranty and CTC’s Free Batteries For
Life program.
At an M.S.R.P. of $549.99 it is an unrivaled
value; however, at an average street price of
$450 it’s a bargain. Pick one up; you’ll be as
impressed with the CTS-1100 as I am.
-SP
Manufacturer Specifications
 BDC Reticle
 Magnification: 3.5x
 Objective Lens Diameter: 30mm
 Battery Type: One (1) CR2032
 Shock, dust, impact, fog, water and recoil
resistant
 Material: Aircraft Grade Anodized
Aluminum
 Height: 3"
 Length: 5.4"
 Width: 2.3"
 Weight: 16 oz.
 Illumination Settings: 10x
 Adjustment Range: >70 MOA
 Adjustment Graduation: .5 MOA
 Operating Temperature: -10 to +50C
 Eye Relief: 3.5"
 Field of View: 35' at 100 yards*