Anyone use an EOTech?

[Rastoff]

I just managed to land what I thought was a good deal on a used EOTech 556.A65. Just showed up today and it looks and works great. I'll go sight it in tomorrow.

Still, I'm interested to hear of your experiences with them. If you've had it a while, would you prefer something else? Would you buy it again?

 

[JaPes]

I've only had mine since December 2013. I bought the same model as you, the 556 A65. Contrary to internet wisdom, I prefer the AA battery model because it's easy to find batteries. Because of an astigmatism and crossing the 40 year mark, my eyes changed and a LED dot became fuzzy to me. The holographic sight is more compatible with my eyes.

The size of the EoTech 556 A65 led me to assume it was heavy. It isn't. I really like the big glass area because it makes it easier to pick up the reticule. My only issue is that there isn't a factory option to have flip up caps. I thought about installing aftermarket flip up lens caps, but that involves removing the protective hood and I don't want to void the warranty. I use an inexpensive neoprene ScopeCoat cover.

 

[gunny4053]

I've never had one, but let me jump on this pony for a second. Is the sight picture really that much better than the red dots? Me and my eyes are on the North side of 60, blind in one eye, can't see out of the other. I seem to do fine with my red dot, but if this could potentially improve my shooting, I may have to rob the piggy bank.

Sorry Rastoff, didn't mean to highjack your thread. Congrats on your new sight. I've looked at those and like the idea of using AA batteries. A 24 pack of Duracells will last for ages.

 

[Rastoff]

Jump on in gunny. It's all good.

In my humble opinion, the Hologram Weapon Sight (HWS) is not better than the red dot, it's different.

I'll be 48 in April and my eyes are not what they used to be. I can barely make out the rear aperture of my iron sights. So, I have to use a scope or red dot/HWS. The greatest benefit of the HWS (EOTech) is that they can use just about anything for the reticle. It can be a dot, or a circle or a cross, it could even be 3D. Thus, it can have multiple dots for longer ranging. Here is one of the reticles available with an EOTech:

Yes, it's supposed to look a little fuzzy. It would be clearer in real life, but still not crystal clear due to the nature of how the laser works.

Anyway, as you can see, there are two dots. This allows for using the lower dot for further ranges. This type of picture cannot be done with a simple red dot scope.

 

[loc n load]

EO Tech

I have been using a EO Tech 552 for going on 6 plus years....I instruct professionally and have run a couple of M-4's hard the past several years with the 552....I like the fact it uses AA's....and no, I have never had any issues with the batteries coming loose as some hypothesize will happen...the 552 has a heavy duty latching system that secures the batt compartment....I have run my 552 on 223's, 6.8's, 50 Beowulfs, a PS 90, MP-5's and have even mounted it on my Barrett M82A1 50 BMG for grins....I really prefer the EO for CQB app's, such as room clrng etc.....I also run a aimpoint Micro T-1 on the same guns when I want to work out to 100 - 150 yds.....both are excellent optics....both are battle proven and extremely rugged and dependable. I have seen hundred's of them on the firing lines being run hard, and they are pretty much the "gold standard" in the tactical arena.
Beyond 150 yds I go with the Acog or a suitable tactical variable pwr scope. You can't go wrong with either the EO or the T-1 in my book. ( for the record - I am also in the 60 yr age brackett)

 

[JaPes]

I've never had one, but let me jump on this pony for a second. Is the sight picture really that much better than the red dots? Me and my eyes are on the North side of 60, blind in one eye, can't see out of the other. I seem to do fine with my red dot, but if this could potentially improve my shooting, I may have to rob the piggy bank.

The issue isn't whether or not the sight picture is better, the issue is which one your eyes perceive better. Mine have a slightly easier time with an EoTech because I perceive the sight clearer than a LED dot. Every individual is different. I wish I could perceive a LED dot without there being fuzziness because then I could get an Aimpoint microdot.

My best advice is to check out the demo model at the store and look through it to gauge how your eyes perceive the dot.

 

[thecatch8]

I have the 512 and it is awesome.....I had it dialed in, after 10 minutes at the range. Love the fact it takes two double A batteries and the site acquisition with the MOA circle compared to the single dot in the aimpoint is easier IMO. Great product, and I couldn't see myself shooting without it!

 

[Maddmax]

I've never had one, but let me jump on this pony for a second. Is the sight picture really that much better than the red dots? Me and my eyes are on the North side of 60, blind in one eye, can't see out of the other. I seem to do fine with my red dot, but if this could potentially improve my shooting, I may have to rob the piggy bank.

Sorry Rastoff, didn't mean to highjack your thread. Congrats on your new sight. I've looked at those and like the idea of using AA batteries. A 24 pack of Duracells will last for ages.

I'm on the North side too Gunny. Myself,I think it (EOtech) is much better than a red dot. A flip to the side 3x magnifier helps a WHOLE bunch too (for either one). Just have to make sure you get a good center to center match between the two for height. You don't want a shadow in the magnifier.

 

[Maddmax]

Every individual is different. I wish I could perceive a LED dot without there being fuzziness because then I could get an Aimpoint microdot.

You might try checking out a Vortex VMX-3T Magnifier with Flip Mount for your Aimpoint idea. It "seemed" to clear up the dot some. Took the iron sights off my 15-22,mounted the Aimpoint and Vortex w/1/2" riser and it works great.

I had a Vortex with a slide to side mount and couldn't get it to match to any of my EOTech's no matter what I did with risers (needed 3/8" and there ain't no 3/8th" risers). Had an old Aimpoint with a "weird" mount (didn't like how it "witnessed" off a front sight) and I'll be darned if it didn't match up perfect with the Vortex and a 1/2" riser. BUT. MAKE SURE to match them together when/before you buy them (mines a very old Aimpoint).

And,the magnifiers do help some getting better eye sight (clearer) on the EO's too. One of my EO's has the range dots to 1200 yards and windage (made for the 308-7.62X51 big banger) and it made a world of difference with the magnifier.

 

[JR78]

I've had my XPS-1(single dot) on my duty rifle for a couple years. I was a die hard Aimpoint guy at first, but the EoTech sits lower on the weapon and doesn't get tangled up in the sling. Can't say anything bad about them.

 

[stavman11]

I have the Eotech 512 and LOVE it... i also have a Sightmark Reflex on my 15-22 which works great as well...

I am a reflex/Halo style sight guy... Red dots just dont work as well for me.. Same as some that my eye's are not what they where... need reading glasses so front and rear iron's are hard to see for me... so the red dots are not always easy to see

The fast target Acquisition of a Halo sight is Much better for me than a red Dot....
Most red dots are similar to a scope, meaning, time is needed to acquire the dot and target... with the Halo.... that time is much less since any angle and head position still acquires the Target and sight

 

[usamade]

I have the 516 eotech on my mp15, along with the eotech 3x magnifier and have been really happy with both.

 

[M29since14]

I like the one I have, which I believe is a 516 or 517. It has the slight riser built into the base to elevate the aiming index slightly above the rifle's front sight.

The units seem a bit big and heavy for use on a carbine. I don't think of 5.56s as other than carbines or pure target rifles and of course the sight would not be legal on a target rifle. For a carbine, lighter and more compact would be nice.

The only other criticism I have of them is that I wish they would switch on with motion of the weapon. If they had an automatic-on lock out of some sort, it could save battery power if the gun is being carried for an extended time when need to fire suddenly would not be likely. I would rather push a button to turn the unit off than have to push a button to turn it on every time I pick up the weapon.

I have used the one I have on my M4-type carbine out to about 150-yards (no opportunity to go further so far) and have been well pleased with it and felt no need for a secondary magnifier.

 

[Rastoff]

...of course the sight would not be legal on a target rifle.

What do you mean "not legal" on a target rifle?

The only other criticism I have of them is that I wish they would switch on with motion of the weapon.

This sounds like a good idea, but how would you accomplish it? I mean, if activated by motion, wouldn't it come on randomly as the gun was carried?

 

[M29since14]

I believe competition rules (service rifle) prevent any sort of non-regulation sight, but I am not a referee!

Leupold does that motion-activated thing with their Delta-point sight. If one could design in an "automatic-on" lock out feature the sight then could be turned on normally (with a pushbutton), as in the case of a rifle carried over one's shoulder while walking, or turned on by motion, as in the case of a rifle picked-up from at rest position standing in a corner - depending on whether the automatic-on feature was locked out or not. If Leupold can do it in the little tiny Delta-point, it would seem EOTech could do likewise. Unfortunately, Leupold does not have a lock-out.

 

[Rastoff]

I guess this leads to another question; has battery life really been a problem?

I don't use my AR for anything real like work or the military. The claimed batter life is 1,000 hours at setting 12 for my 556. That's 42 days of continuous use. For a normal person who used their gun at work, 8 hours a day, that would be 125 days. For those of us who only use their gun for no more than 4 hours at a time and only on the weekends, that's a few years of use even if I never turned it off and let it time out after 8 hours.

So, yes, batteries can die, but I don't really see it as a major issue. Do you?

 

[Maddmax]

The units seem a bit big and heavy for use on a carbine. For a carbine, lighter and more compact would be nice.

The only other criticism I have of them is that I wish they would switch on with motion of the weapon. If they had an automatic-on lock out of some sort, it could save battery power if the gun is being carried for an extended time when need to fire suddenly would not be likely. I would rather push a button to turn the unit off than have to push a button to turn it on every time I pick up the weapon.

I think the "unit" is just fine for size and weight. The cover shield just makes it look big. It's one tuff unit and will take a good beating,soaking and keep on working like a champ. You DO get what you pay for. Dependability and reliability.

A motion switch would have to be set to "heavy" to be reliable enough. I also like the way they are now. Push the up button on and it's auto shut off in 8 hours. Push the down button and it's auto off in 4 hours. Push both and it's off. I have 1000 hour battery time on two of mine (CR123's) and a good 600+ hours on the others (AA's). That's more than enough for what I need or would want. 1000 hours at 8 hrs =125 days. 1000 hrs at 4 hrs =250 days. 600 hrs at 8hrs =75 days. At 4hrs it = 150 days. With the auto shut off,I don't see a problem.

 

[M29since14]

"Everyone says" (as they say) that the advertised battery life of EOTech sights is optimistic. Most seem to claim half to two-thirds of EOTech's figure. I don't know how people keep track of this stuff. I can barely remember which button turns the thing on much less know how many hours I have used it, but anyway, that seems to be the general consensus. Yes, without a battery, you are dead in the water and back to iron sights.

My 517, or whatever it is, works just fine. I was just wishing/nitpicking. I don't use it every day. If I did, I'm sure I could get used to using just as it is.

 

[M29since14]

...With the auto shut off,I don't see a problem.

You are probably right in a military environment. Everyone knows when they are leaving on patrol. In the case of a homeowner who may want to grab his rifle in the middle of the night and not fumble with buttons, I would prefer a reliable motion-activated unit. That was my thinking behind the wishing/nitpicking comment.

 

[Maddmax]

I guess this leads to another question; has battery life really been a problem?

I don't use my AR for anything real like work or the military. The claimed batter life is 1,000 hours at setting 12 for my 556. That's 42 days of continuous use. For a normal person who used their gun at work, 8 hours a day, that would be 125 days. For those of us who only use their gun for no more than 4 hours at a time and only on the weekends, that's a few years of use even if I never turned it off and let it time out after 8 hours.

So, yes, batteries can die, but I don't really see it as a major issue. Do you?

I've had a CR123 battery in my Streamlite for over 4 years and it's just as bright as day one. Hardly gets used,but does get used. The AA's are OK and work quite well,but the CR123's have a 20 years shelf life.