Eotech Sights????

[Jer]

I will actually have a Burris XTR 1-4x for sale if you're interested. It's VERY lightly used and never banged or bumped and I love the thing but need money for another project I'm working on for the spring. PM me if you're interested.

[275RLTW]

I own and have used both EOTech and Aimpoints. If you are deciding which to use, try them and figure it out. The EOTech's are fast and provide a wide open view. The durability issue has been adressed in the XPS models (I haven't tested one yet) and it is a great option for close range shooting (< 100 yds). The EOTech also are more forgiving in that you can shoot from unorthodox positions easier. I prefer the Aimpoint because the single dot (I know, EOTech has one) is faster FOR ME as it obstructs less of my vision when moving through a shoothouse. If you are keeping both eyes open then field of view is not an issue. Nose to charging handle position is more critical with the Aimpoint but that doesn't matter if your form and fundamentals are correct. The 4 MOA dot on Aimpoints still allows hits on targets to 300m as 4 MOA is only 12" , I know this from combat experience. Either one is a great chioce. I will say this, when the US Army adopted EOTech for soldiers, all of us in SOCOM kept our M68's (Aimpoint Comp M2).

Or just splurge and get a Leupould CQT ($800) or a Schmidt & Bender Short Dot ($2000+)

[Cameron]

Here is an interesting take on the EOTech versus Aimpoint issue:

The return of EOTech

I started out using red dot sights in 1995, the models were the Aimpoint 3000 and 5000 if memory serves. Back then you couldn't get one until you had a little time in and had proven yourself with iron sights. Once you did get one, wow, what a difference in speed! My only complaint was the 4 MOA dots AP used and continues to use weren't that accurate. I was actually more accurate with irons!

In 1999, during a carbine refresher class, Jerry Barnhart introduced us to EOTech. Jerry was a Michigan boy and EOTech was headquartered there, so it was a natural fit for him to be using their sight. Jerry showed us the ins and outs of the sight, and we purchased about 100 or so. Again, if memory serves, it was called a Holosight at the time and Bushnell was the majority owner instead of L3 Communications.

I used an EOTech primarily because it was more accurate for our 200m quals with its 1MOA center dot, and the 6 o'clock portion of the 65 MOA ring was primo for CQB type shooting, as it provided a true POA/POI at 7-10m. Around 2000 we got the EOTech 552s that ran on double A's. At the time we were trying like mad to get all systems (sights, lights, goggles, lasers, GPS) to run off of one battery type and with the 552 we could achieve that. But because of the battery issues with the 552 I switched back to AP for my last 2 years in the military.

The problems with the battery compartments on the 512 and 552 models have been addressed before. I recently did a tutorial here on how to make the battery compartment bomb proof. This was the one weak spot in an otherwise excellent product. It is the reason I used an AP for so long until now.


And now..... EOTech has not only dramatically improved their product, they also upped the ante in the red dot world with the new XPS series. The biggest thing they did was listen to the end-users about what was needed, not needed, and they executed the final product in the XPS.

EOTech and I talked a few months ago about me giving the XPS a good thrashing. I made it known I preferred and reccommended to others the AP Micro. Rod Coons at EOTech sounded supremely confident in the XPS and said he even knew of my reputation for abusing gear. So began the beating.

I've got about 5000 rds through the XPS and I've had no problems whatsoever. I use the "standard" EOTech reticle. That is a 65 MOA ring with a 1 MOA dot in the center. That way I can be very accurate for distance and fast for up close work. There is no reticle that I know of that is "faster" than this one. That reticle is also useful in range estimation. Average man will fit in the ring at 100 yds, half the ring at 200, etc.

Notice that EOTech listened to our complaints about the battery compartment as well. They switched it to go perpendicular to the barrel and recoil. This alleviates the battery compartment problems of old. It also runs on 1 CR 123 battery, vice 2 AAs or 2 of anything else. This is key aspect in space (on the rail, think lasers) and weight saving.

The battery lasts a long time. EOTech claims 600 hours, which right now I believe it will do. I went over 400 hours in the cold before I inadvertently changed the battery out.

EOTech also claims waterproofness to 33 feet (1 atm) for the XPS 3. I'm confident of that rating. So of course I threw it in the water. I didn't make 33 feet, but I got it to 12-15 ft for over 4 hours until I got bored. Re-mounted (as with most sights, it retains a pretty close zero) and it was good-to-go.

-Mounting Digression-

I use the Larue LT-110 mount for EOTechs, puts irons in bottom of sight window (where they should be) and provides you quick detach capability (also a must)

The Larue mount has a raised spot on the back for the magnifier. The magnifier will only work with flip down rear sights, which I don't use.

There is nothing wrong with using the mount backwards IF- you have solid irons that don't move (i.e.-you can't use the magnifier anyway) or you simply choose to not use a magnifier. This puts the sight closer to your eye (some prefer it that way). Keep in mind to use this mount backwards you have to have a front rail that is monolithic or lines up with the rail on the receiver. This is because of the location of the rail stud on the Larue mount.

-End mounting digression-

I'm switching to an EOTech XPS because I believe in it, its price is fair, and for the benefits of accuracy, speed, and now its durability and battery life. I don't convince easily when it comes to optics and sights in general. That's why I still run solid mounted irons. I'm paranoid! I ran a Micro for a while but I now think this is the best available optic for a fighting weapon. EOTech fixed the problems they had, actually improved the product and that says a lot.

There is one more reason that is important to me right now, the most important reason- EOTechs are made in Ann Arbor, MI, USA. EOTech is employing hundreds of Americans in a state that has seen the worst of our recession. At a time like this, manufacturing quality usually doesn't improve in any industry. The good folks at EOTech are making an exception, and I, TigerSwan, and my bros that are still in sincerely appreciate it.

Much respect,
Kyle Defoor

This pretty much mirrors my experiences with the EOTech being a faster reticle at all ranges than an Aimpoint and having more accuracy potential at longer ranges. Remember too that:

Unlike a laser or red dot sights, the holographic image projects no forward light onto the target and thus no position revealing light. The projected reticle is only visible by the operator. The operator remains completely hidden downrange even against night vision systems.

In addition there is no muzzle side reflective glare from coated lenses like on red dot sights, scopes or binoculars. The HWS does not need any costly add-on filters that also significantly reduce the effective light transmission and makes the target less visible.

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.

lead_magnet it sounds like you may have been using a Chinese knock off an L3 EOTech as the EOTech is essentially parallax free. Unlike traditional red dot sights, holographic weapon sights utilize holography to achieve an effectively infinite parallax free distance. Most standard red dot sights use a simpler semi-reflective surface which reflects a projected dot of light while allowing the user to see through the sight. When the eye is not aligned with the center of the standard reflex sight, a certain amount of parallax error can be introduced at longer ranges. The method of holographic projection used by EOTech allows the parallax error to be constant at any range, and never more than the radius of the sight window.

Cameron

[lead_magnet]

Sorry for the late responces.

Perhaps my understanding of "parallax" is different that yours, and if so it would be due to my ignorance of the subject.

The problem I experienced with my EO-Tech (which I assure you was not a chinese rip-off) was a POA shift depending on where my eye was in relation to the sight. For example, if I laid the EOT down on a flat and solid surface (like a table or countertop) and turned it on then took note of its POA. If i moved my eye around, the dot would appear to move with my eye, shifting left and right along with my movements. This was very noticable and I had at least two other people try it and they confirmed what I was seeing. I had them check because I originally thought it was due to my glasses that this was happening.

I'm not sure if what I'm describing here is parallax or not. If not please let me know so I can start using the correct verbage.

The problem with this is, that if my cheekweld moved at all, so did my POA and therefore my POI. So everytime I zeroed the sight, it would work perfectly until I had to shoot from an unusual position where I couldn't get the perfect cheekweld. Maybe I'm just a crappy shot but I couldn't get a group smaller than 8" at 50 to 60 yards using it, even seated with a rest. With irons I was good on a man-sized target out to 200 - 300 yards (the farthest I shot the AR that my EOT was mounted on) so it wasn't the rifle and I would hope not the shooter.

I was probably making some newb mistake, but I tried several times to make the sight work (mouting it further forward or rearward) and could never get it to work well enough for me even at 50 yards.

[Jer]

That's not parallax. The EOtech is a holographic sight and is designed so that the dot is ALWAYS on target. This is what you're seeing when you see it 'move around' is because when it's on target you don't have to be right behind it to see it on target. So if you move your head from the right to the left or up/down it doesn't matter. If the dot is on your target your round will be on target.

[lead_magnet]

That was the problem with mine, the dot wouldn't stay on the same object, it would move around with the device stationary. I understand that it is supposed to move around in the window, though the POA should remain the same despite where the reticle is in the window. When the reticle would move in the window, it would move off target.

[nogaroheli]

What you're describing is parallax...

That was the problem with mine, the dot wouldn't stay on the same object, it would move around with the device stationary. I understand that it is supposed to move around in the window, though the POA should remain the same despite where the reticle is in the window. When the reticle would move in the window, it would move off target.