Eotech Sights????

[Birddog1911]

Serious competitors and instructors (ie Pat Rodgers) have noticed that EOTechs have a tendancy to break down under rough use.

Define "rough use":

A 3-5k round carbine course
Serious practice for / involvement in 3-gun competitions

etc...

Just food for thought. Pat Rodgers in particular has documented numerous cases of EOTechs' internals simply failing under the use he puts them under his classes. If you ever plan some "serious work" with your rifle you may want to consider going with a magpul BUIS and save your pennies for an aimpoint.

YMMV of course. I stuck an EOTech 552 on an AK-74 clone (WASR) and fired probably 3000 rounds without issue.

This information is a bit old. Did it happen; not in my personal experience, but there "seems" to be enough corroboration to lend it truth. However, I'm fairly sure that these issues were addressed with the A.65 version, and I know the XPS addresses them as well.

I have had2 different 512s, and I never had any trouble. Simple to mount, seem damned near bullet proof, and extremely quick target aquisition. I prefer them to the Aimpoints in respect to target aquisition; obviously no one can beat Aimpoint when it comes to battery life. Of course, I don't use mine to the point where a 5 year battery life is truly important to me; target aquisition is.

[Bailey Guns]

***DISCLAIMER: I am NOT an operator***

OK, with that outta the way I can say I've owned both Aimpoints and EoTechs. I've shot EoTechs far more than Aimpoints and prefer them over Aimpoints. I just get a better field of view with an EoTech. I've never had nor heard of a single issue with any EoTech I've owned or sold.

I can say my son has used an EoTech on 5 combat tours between Iraq and Afghanistan. He swears by them and his unit adopted EoTechs after originally being issued Aimpoints.

He's still got the one I gave him 04...he's gone through 4 issued rifles since then, same EoTech.

I don't doubt someone, somewhere along the way got a bad one...or ten. But I think they're a solid piece of gear and they've proved themselves in combat far more often than they've failed.

Course, if you're the guy using one that fails in combat you probably won't have very nice things to say about them.

[Colorado Luckydog]

This is the gun I was thinking about putting it on. This going to be my main coyote gun, occaisional plinker and SHTFG. Are the Eotech type sights good for hunting or am I better off with the Nikon I have on it?

[Pancho Villa]

FFS what kind of cheekweld do you get with that scope? Or is it more like chinweld?

The answer to your question depends on a few things. A high-powered scope makes closer-in shots more difficult, mainly in the target aquisition department. If you think you will be taking some shots at a range at which it becomes difficult to aquire and engage moving targets, probably better to go with something like an EOTech.

Also, thank you Birddog and Baily, for the updates re: EOTech reliability.

[sniper7]

i have had 4 eotechs and still have a couple the other two were either sold or traded for other projects. they have seen several thousand rounds and no problems. i have had the 551 512 552 models and all worked great. aimpoint acog and eotech are all .mil proven and withstand the abuse. personal preference is what it all comes down to.

[sniper7]

as far as your gun goes invest in a larue tactical quick detach mount for both your scope and eotech. they have amazing return to zero so no need to sight them in each time. use the scope for yotes and the eotech for the rest

[Jer]

For your use I highly suggest checking out a Burris XTR 1-4x. I have one and love it as a good all around scope. 1x for CQB and up to 4x for the magnification you're talking about. That and they're local (Greeley) so that's another bonus.

[sniper7]

going along with jer i got a millet dms 1-4 and that thing is badass. just put it in a larue mount and i love the thing.

[lead_magnet]

I realize I'm jumping in a little late here, but here goes.

PERSONALLY, I can't stand EoTechs, I hate the slow design (having to repeatedly tap a button to brighten/dim) ... makes its SLOOOOOW for going from dark to light environments. Also, mine and all the others I've encountered were chock full of paralax. I'll never touch another one.

I know I'm in the minority perspective on the issue, but I figured I'd toss in my $.02

[BadShot]

Lead, I'd love to see a picture of Paralax on an EOTech. After 4 years of using them across 4 different AR rifles and now being on my 6th EOT, I've never seen anything resembling paralax in the window. I can also see where you could consider the adjustment slow, but I don't know that in my opinion that the issue is going from light to dark, but rather from dark to light. Then again, there are few situations that I can actually envision where I wouldn't have time to tap the up button a few times if needed.

All three solutions mentioned here.. EOT, AP and short dot type optics (Burris, Millet, Luepold, NightForce, S&B, ect) are a good choice. One thing though.. you get what you pay for. Remember that part most!

As for the failures seen with the EOT 55x series, well folks no, the .A65 mod didn't solve that. This is what amounts to a design flaw in the battery case and the way it mounts to the optic chassis. It's not a matter of if, but a matter of when it will fail. Now that when could be 50,000 rounds or it could be 50 rounds. But it will happen.

PS - the esteemed gentleman Poncho was trying to refer to is Pat Rogers of EAG tactical, a very well respected and successful weapons and tactics trainer. I respect the hell out of Pat, have had the pleasure to speak with him a few times, but I absolutely disagree with him that AimPoint is the best and only solution for a short range RDS. That's my humble take and I in no way shape or form hold a candle to Pats experience or trigger time. He has earned his opinion of the EOTech primarily based on significant failures during the high round count 3 day course he teaches many times a year.

The XPS version is one way L3 is addressing that issue. Along with only running on CR123 batteries and some other internal shock mitigation, the XPS really does take the right steps forward. The thing that I find the most disappointing is that L3 didn't take the battery life issue to heart. AimPoint still just kicks them in the nads on that front by orders of magnitude.

AimPoint really has jumped ahead in many folks opinions with the H-1 and T-1. Given the wide and rapid adoption, I think it's fair to say that it is a viable option. Both the XPS and H/T-1 can be had for about the same price with the rare deal cropping up here and there.

On that specific rifle, I think the recommendation to look at a 1-4x short dot like optic such as the Burris or Millet is the direction I would go. Get it as close to the bore line as you can and still have a comfortable hold and cheek weld. Don't worry about QD mounts or all that fun if you're not moving the optic from weapon to weapon (requires rezero or marking presets) or having to pull it to store it.