I'm thinking of getting a EOTech 556 to go with my sig 516. any suggestions on other options good or bad???

thanks

ummm... yeah, only one of the best optics in the market... can't go wrong with anything eotech

I am very fond of mine. It is on a Bushmaster M-4 with a mini-Y comp and if your can see it, you can hit it (within the limits of the cartridge, of course). I like the 1 MOA dot as you can shoot accurately instead of tactically accurate, or battleground accurate. My friend has one on his Ruger .22 pistol and is deadly with it. The circle being 65 inches allows for range-finding if you choose to do it. The newer models have the lithium batteries sideways to stop breaking the internal contacts from prolonged recoil as well as a secondary dot for no-guesswork longer range shooting. I like the quick-detach lever mount on it also. Buy it, you'll love it. Another friend of mine put the new style on her S.C.A.R. Way cool on both counts...................JMO

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Go big or stay home

I have the xps 2-0. 50/225 zero, can pretty much hit anything up to 300yds with little or no adjusment. cr123's seem to last forever in it and the xps series takes up a lot less rail space. 1000 rds or so and has held zero through out.

I also run an XPS2-0 but on my FNH 12 gauge auto-loader. It works great. I don't see how you can go wrong using an EOTech optic.

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Stu

EOtechs are great sights. I have one on my Rock River and I really like it. I believe they get a lot of use in the military.

Unless you need the night vision capability, I wouldn't spend the extra money for the N-V capable model.

I guess I am a little different than most on EOTechs and M4s. I like both, but I don't really see the need for the EOTech for most of my shooting. Even at my less than youthful age, I can still shoot iron sights just as well as I can an EOTech-equipped gun - but maybe not as quickly.

I think of M4s as essentially short-range carbines, and I want mine as lightweight and simple as possible. I have one EOTech-equipped AR, and I like it, but I do not plan to buy any more.

I believe I could do more precise shooting with a telescope, but am quite happy with iron sights. For shooting farther than 200-yards, I am more interested in a bigger gun.

Not sure what your typical use is for your rifle, but after shooting a while, I found the donut reticle got on my nerves. Opted for a bushell trophy ACOG style red dot. The red/green t-reticle and dot was better for my purposes. You might look at some of the more in depth reviews and get a steal on a later model one. Academy had them for 129.00. Mine had no issues and holds zero. With the money you save you could get a nice value scope and rings. Bushnell elite/Leupold mark AR or VX-3... (I also considered adding a 3X VortexVMX3 with flip to side mount, but decided on the VX-3 since it was more for hunting hogs.)

As far as accuracy goes it's dependent on ones eyes. 8-10" groups at 300yds is my max range with the eotech. Here's a couple pics from the past weekend. 5 and 30rd groups prone at 50 yds. 30 round group is double and tripple taps every two sec on a timer. I was using 55gr. Lake City 5.56

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	Photo04261019.jpg (52.0 KB, 158 views)
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And +1 what M29 said. The way I look at it is, where am I gonna use the nv? The resale value of the nv model is just shy of what I paid new for the 2-0. And others interested in buying one if you ever decide to sell it will be thinking the same thing.

Ran an eotech on my M4 in 2006-2007 in iraq. Amazing optic. Even then I rarely used the NV option since I had an AN/PQ 2 for night firing. So I suggest not to spend the extra money on the nv option for civilian use. Other than that, rock on!

I have one on my S&W M&P, what I like about it that it is fast! For close in work just use the big circle and its reasonably accurate at range, no problems ringing the ten inch gong at 300 yards.

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Stay safe people!

So, I'm new to my EOTech. I've used scopes or irons all my life (50+ years of shooting now) and this is my first electronic sight. I put it on an M&P 15. My impression after my first range trip is, it's way different than a scope , it's not as precise, and it's much faster than a scope. I think it would do its job very well (as the military has found) - shooting at people-sized targets quickly and accurately.

As a target shooter, I find it lacking. Desipite having a 1MOA dot, different people see the dot differently. It's not a precise circular dot, depending on how your eye perceives it. No matter the specified 1MOA size, the dot does blot out a portion of the target. It is not like looking at the fine reticles in a Leupold scope.

It's cool though. It will stay on my 16" AR because that's what the rifle is designed for and that's its (my) purpose. Fun shooting. I recommend getting one. If I want to settle in and shoot for group size though, it will be with a scope. I even find that I shoot more accurately with iron sights than the EOTech. I still don't have a ton of experience with it though, so maybe my opinion will change.

My Father's Day present, a EOTech XPS2-0, is on a UPS truck bouncing its way to me. This is my first red dot sight and will be mounted on my new M&P15 PS. My question is what is the best procedure for aiming this sight?

I have the 553 and it is pretty handy. The green NV selection is pretty well useless without the NV goggles or scope tho.

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Dyin ain't much of a livin

I love my EOTech 556A65. The reticle is amazingly quick to pick up. IMO it is perfect for what it is designed for. My next one will be without the NV though, and probably be an XPS because of size/weight.

It it unfair to compare it to a scope (that's not what it is). If you prefer lit etched glass (a neat idea) you might take a look at the Leupold Prismatic.

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NRA Certified Instructor

It's a holographic sight, not a red dot. Ask the folks at EOTech, there is a difference.

That being said....what do you mean by "best procedure for aiming"? Can you clarify your question a bit?

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Stu

OK...stand corrected...a holograhic sight...but you must admit saying red dot is a bit easier!

It's going on my S&W AR. I sighted my Nikon 3X9 scope at 25 yards to begin with, then moved out to 100 & 150 yards. I assume the EOTech might be sighted the same way...unless there is a better way, which is why I asked. There will probably be instructions in the box, but sometimes advice from an experienced shooter is way better.

I looked at a lot of different EOtechs. I would have gotten the 512, it it a great price from Sportsman's guide. It was $368 for members. They were out at the time. I believe they are back in stock. They had the XPS2-0 on sale for $430. That's what I bought. I looked at the 556 and a few others, but they made absolutely no sense to me. I have no intention of using a magnifier. I have iron sights, and I wasn't going to take them off to put a magnifier on. So buttons on the SIDE of the eotech was useless. (No, I don't want a flip to the side mount for a magnifier). Also; who in their right mind "FOR CIVILIAN USE" is going to be using night vision. So basically, I'd pay $150 more for the 556 than for my XPS. About $250 more than the 512. Just made absolutely no sense at all.

Now; if for some reason you really have a need for night vision; and you think you're going to be sniping at 300+ yards and need a magnifier, then the 556 is an excellent sight. Just realize that with ANY EoTech, that if you wear glasses; especially bifocals, or you have an astigmatism, then it takes some getting use to to see the 65moa ring. You have to realize that it's a halogram, not a traditional red-dot. Learn to shoot with both eyes open, and looking at your target "NOT THE SIGHT RING", and the sight ring will overlay fine and be clear. A couple trips to the range and you're use to it. The Aimpoint crowd that says they thing it's blurry, don't understand. And yes; if your eyes are bad enough, you will find it to be blurry at times. But once you understand it, it's awesome. I love my XPS2-0. Then again, I'm not a snob about sights and weapons. I have an A1optic red-dot with a 2x mag built on, and it costs about $75. It's one of my favorite all time sights.

All of the past posts are valid points- the most salient is that this high- end EOtech has all the bells and whistles one could ask for. I think it is the best platform I have had to date for an entry gun..Question- what is you're purpose and style of shooting. I have had dozens of optics on entry and patrol carbines and have used them in the real world. The 556 is bullet proof- at least "Cop Proof" It's best performance is in conditions that no sane individual ever wants to place themselves in. It works real well in low light, smoke or water conditions(fire sprinklers) With the proper skill and training, it can pick up targets fast in CQB and reach out to distance- If you want something for when Hell rains down on the world- get the 556, if not, the lower end 512's and such are plenty- the 1moa dot w/ the 65moa ring are standard on most EOtechs.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, I took a 4 day carbine course. We zeroed our ARs at 50 yds. At 100 yards, POI was about about 1.5" high and at 200 yds, it was back on target. Of course, at distances closer than 50 yards, you will need to hold over a bit if you are making a head shot. For center of mass, it won't make any difference. If I were shooting a non-magnified optic, I would do it the same way.

During the course, I was shooting an M&P15 with an ACOG on it. While I was not at all crazy about a 50 yd zero, I realized it worked very well for anything from close contact out to 400 yds. At 400, I held at the top of the target and the shots hit where they needed to be.

There are numerous zeroing methods but I've found that for my AR and its intended purpose, this one works well for me.

Good luck on what you decide. I run an EOTech XPS2 on my FNH shotgun. Love it I do!

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Stu

I use the xps 2-0 and zero at 50. Basically a 50-225 zero so anything within 275, 300 can get accurate hits. I too wasn't thrilled about a 50yd zero, even w/ no mag., but after some practice I love it. Took a one day AR for home defense course and demolished it.

Took the advice and zero'd @ 50. Getting amazing hits @ 150 yards, which is the limit of my current range. Truly satisfied with EOTech.

I have a XPS2-0 on my M&P15. It's the only EOTech I've owned, and I really like it. For it's intended purpose (CQB) it is considered one of (if not the) best. I also like that they have solid click type adjustments. I have amazing results moving the XPS between my 5.56 upper and my CMMG .22 upper. 8 click down and 2 right to move 5.56 to .22, reverse it to go back. Each time I move it, it is at most 1 click from zero.

The real advantage of these in battle, is fast target acquisition with both eyes open. We use it to bounce cans down the range:-) I hate to admit, but being 50 my eye sight has gone down hill quickly in the last two years, and I now find the EOTech much easier to shoot than iron sights in most situations.

With a cheap Primary Arms 3x magnifier, it also makes an OK paper puncher for me to 100 yards. More than that and I need a scope. When I had Magpul MBUS on the rear, the 3X magnifier would not quite mount over it. I have a Troy Rear sight now, and can just put the Pri Arms 3x over it without issue. I am very pleased with this setup. I do need a nice scope for long range, ...

Here's my M&P15 with XPS, 3x, and Troy rear sight (I now tend to run the XPS slightly further forward). In this picure it happens to have my CMMG .22 LR upper on it (which now seems to have grown into a complete rifle):

I bought the AA version and didn't bother with the NV either. It's a little bulky but I still love it.