EPS vs SCS optic?

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Gman686

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This is for my EDC. I have the M&P 2.0. I believe for the EPS id need a plate and would get 1/3 witness. For the SCS It mounts right to the slide and would get co-witness. SCS charges the battery with solar (battery lasts about 20K hours). The EPS has solar back up if battery dies (battery lasts 50K hours). Issue is I don't do a ton of outdoor shooting as 1. I live in New England 2. My state doesn't allow open carry (not that Im a fan, but thats another conversation). I like that the EPS offers more dot options (2MOA, 6, 2 with 32 circle(MRS) etc)Where SCS has the MRS or 2MOA dot only. Also EPS has shake to wake, where SCS is always on with option to turn off. Really the only thing I prefer about the SCS over the EPS is it mounts to the slide and do not need a plate and it co-witnesses.

Im new to the optic world so Id love your opinions

Thanks
 
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I have an SCS on my metal 2.0, yes not plate so it sits low I realy like it.. I have no issue with the solar ,it can be charged with artificial lighting. In reading your post you seem sold on the EPS so get that one.
 
I like the co-witness option as well as the no plate needed. Some people say when switching over to optics. It's actually better to not co-witness because that front site will be a little bit more distracting. Not sure how true that is.
 
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Setting a pistol optic to have a true co-witness (aligning the irons puts them in the middle of the optic window) defeats much of the purpose of a pistol optic.

The dot should be a separate sighting reference which allows a full target focus. If one is aligning irons with the dot they are obscuring their view, focusing incorrectly, and absolutely slowing themselves down.

Learning proper presentation so that the dot is reliably brought into the user’s line of sight takes some time, but learning it right from the start is much better than learning it wrong then trying to fix the habit later.

On my pistols with optics I want my irons as low as possible while still being useable.
 
My favorite EDC carry optic is the Holosun 407c green (Holosun HE407C-GR-X2 1x 2 MOA Dot Green Dot Sights | 4.8 Star Rating w/ Free Shipping and Handling). It is compact, robust, has reticle options (green), mounts directly to an RMR pattern, has solar, shake awake and is well-priced. I prefer the lower 1/3 co-witness to keep the sights out of the way unless needed. I do have elevated irons, but they co-witness @ 1/3.

I tried the EPS and did not like it for EDC. It is bigger and more square up top, so it is harder to conceal (Appendix IWB). Also, it requires a plate which elevates it. It is more expensive. A concealed firearm basically has the optic covered/protected. I don’t see the advantage to the EPS for EDC. I mounted it on my defensive shotgun and seems fine there.

I have not tried the SCS. The specs seem to say it sits very low. That might be good if you have standard height sights; not so good for taller suppressor height sights, IMO. No point in blocking the view through the optic any more than necessary.
 
Don't you need a plate for the 407 as well? I thought the SCS was the only direct mount?
 
Yes, if you've got a factory optics cut M&P (and it's not some special RMR cut LE run), you need a plate for the 407C507C/508T, so I'm not really sure why that was brought up as a negative for the EPS after talking about the 407C.

I agree with the curved profile of the 407C/507C aiding in concealment, however. Even the full sized EPS is slightly shorter in height in the middle than the 407C/507C, but the boxier shape can print a bit more in AIWB carry. I personally like the 507C ACSS variants for double stack width concealed carry guns.

Enclosed emitter optics like the EPS and 509T do have benefits, but they're less pronounced for concealed carry than in open/duty carry where the gun is more exposed to the elements. If you live somewhere with a lot of rain, or a lot of dust storms, then that may increase the relative benefits of an enclosed emitter.

Most people with the factory tall sights find them to be taller than ideal with the direct mount SCS, so budget that in to your purchase. Night Fision does offer standard height sights for the M&P OR models.
 
Gman686 said:
Don't you need a plate for the 407 as well? I thought the SCS was the only direct mount?
Click to expand...

My Gen 1 M&P has a custom slide cut. The footprint is RMR. So for me, the 407 does not need an adapter plate.
 
Gotcha. I have the 2.0 so Id need a plate. I have been told a good quality plate (dogtag) by Calculated Kinetics is suppose to be great
 
I have spent a good bit of time with the SCS, and a little bit of time with the EPS Carry... I really like the SCS and the solar charging is not an issue. I changed my sights back to standard height, from the Suppressor height to take advantage of the direct mount. Did I mention I like the SCS a lot..?
 
Red Loctite

Gman686 said:
This is for my EDC. I have the M&P 2.0. I believe for the EPS id need a plate and would get 1/3 witness. For the SCS It mounts right to the slide and would get co-witness. SCS charges the battery with solar (battery lasts about 20K hours). The EPS has solar back up if battery dies (battery lasts 50K hours). Issue is I don't do a ton of outdoor shooting as 1. I live in New England 2. My state doesn't allow open carry (not that Im a fan, but thats another conversation). I like that the EPS offers more dot options (2MOA, 6, 2 with 32 circle(MRS) etc)Where SCS has the MRS or 2MOA dot only. Also EPS has shake to wake, where SCS is always on with option to turn off. Really the only thing I prefer about the SCS over the EPS is it mounts to the slide and do not need a plate and it co-witnesses.

Im new to the optic world so Id love your opinions

Thanks
Click to expand...

If you're concerned about plate movement, place a few small drops of red Loctite between the plate and slide (level it off) before mounting the optic as you normally would. This would vastly lessen potential movement thereby reducing or eliminate failure concerns. The plate would also still be removable as it's strength would be linear.
 
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