EOTech or Aimpoint?

[Rastoff]

I could say, "Holographic or Red Dot", but those are the two most recognized names.

So, what's your preference? Why?

 

[JaPes]

As I approach 40 years old, my eyes have changed yet again. My eyes now perceive a LED dot to be a bit fuzzy. I don't have that problem with a Holographic (EoTech) sight. I wish my eyes were different because I really like the smaller form factor Aimpoint Micro Dots.

To be honest, my favorite sighting system is a good set of iron sights.

 

[thecatch8]

I voted for EOTech because that is what I run......but you can't go wrong either way.

 

[oberon]

I run an EoTech because I got a deal on it.

 

[Waywatcher]

Eotech has to be turned on, then auto-shuts down after 8 hours.

Aimpoint is on for 5 years; then it needs a battery change.

I chose Aimpoint because it's always on--one less thing to fiddle with--and the simplicity of the reticle--there is one dot and you put it on the target. I went with the 4moa dot because it is four times bigger than a 2moa dot, making it much easier to pick up. I am content with 4moa groups, too.

 

[CatSnipah]

I run EoTech. But you can't go wrong with either. It depends on if you want red dot, holo, tube or open.

Both are winners.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Aimpoint H1

Smallest and lightest.

Simplicity. No multiple buttons for brightness and on/off, or positioned on the optic in a manner that operation would interfere with other mounted equipment. Small and light 2032 battery. No automatic shutoffs to conserve limited battery life. Just turn it on and leave it on for years.

Uncluttered reticle.

Versatility. The small size and weight of Aimpoint H1 and wide selection of different mounts makes it usable on just about any rifle platform or handgun. The H1 can also be used as a secondary optic mounted along with a magnified scope.

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

Aimpoint for long battery life, plus I find it easier to "center" the reticle/dot in the round Aimpoint tube than the rectangular EOTech window.

 

[turbo38gn]

I like em both, my first one was the Eotec with the magnifier, love it... but then I found a deal for an aimpoint and purchased a few of those. Love them too... Lately, been on a Nikon scope kick. I picked up several P-223 3x32 Matte BDC Carbine scopes, love em. They work great for these old eyes.. I set up my Tavor with one and added a red dot on a 45* angle mount

The last pic is a few aimpoints and a M4 Comp

 

[Neumann]

I have one of each - Eotech EXPS2 and AimPoint PRO. On the whole, I prefer the AimPoint for its low profile and always-on capability.

The Eotech has a 65 MOA circle with a 1 MOA dot. This lends itself to fast acquisition. The large window is easy to find with your eye, and the thin shell causes very little obstruction. Battery life is limited, and it shuts off automatically after 8 hours (down arrow) or 4 hours (up arrow). It always comes on mid-brightness, which is too bright except in daylight, IMO. If you have astigmatism, the reticule appears granular and the dot has a tail. There's no practical way to shield the lens from the weather. It's waterproof, but exposed to fog and droplets. You use one of two push buttons to increase or decrease brightness and to turn it on. Press both and hold for 2 seconds to turn off.

The AimPoint is combat ready (or SD ready) - always on, last set brightness. It is turned on with a turret knob, from night vision (invisible) to nearly blinding. It comes with flip caps, and the eyepiece cap has a window. You can actually use it with the objective covered if you keep both eyes open. The dot is superimposed on the target, inside the cap. That's a pretty good way to use it in bright sunlight, because you get good contrast without the glare. The 2 MOA dot mostly covers a 3" bullseye at 100 yards, but I stay in the black anyway (AR-15).

Both use CR123 batteries, which are small, have a long life, good temperature range, and are fairly inexpensive. Other models use different batteries. I get CR123s in bulk for flashlights and such, for about two bucks each.

 

[Rastoff]

Aimpoint for long battery life, plus I find it easier to "center" the reticle/dot in the round Aimpoint tube than the rectangular EOTech window.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your post, but there is no need to center the dot in the tube or window. That's the point of these types of optics.

...it shuts off automatically after 8 hours (down arrow) or 4 hours (up arrow).

A slight correction on this. 4 hours with the down arrow and 8 with the up.

Press both and hold for 2 seconds to turn off.

It should turn off immediately.

 

[hdfinder47]

Have 4MOA dot T-1's on my AR 5.56 and 22 uppers and a 2MOA on a 629 PC 10" (haven't fired this one yet). Did not particularly care for it on my KSG and plan on trying the EOTech on it - or stay with the Troy flip ups. Try both and see what floats your boat for your application.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Neumann
...it shuts off automatically after 8 hours (down arrow) or 4 hours (up arrow).

Rastoff
A slight correction on this. 4 hours with the down arrow and 8 with the up.

-----------------------

Neumann
Press both and hold for 2 seconds to turn off.

Rastoff
It should turn off immediately.

-----------------

Above is the perfect example of simplicity... 4 hrs... no uh 8hrs... press the up for 4 and down for 8 or is it the other way for auto shutoff? Which one did I press at start up? I forget... better start over... press both buttons at the same time and hold for two seconds to turn off... or maybe it will shut off immediately... better look through optic to make sure it shuts off, then start over. Dead battery.

How about turn knob to adjust brightness.... leave it on for a few years.

 

[Rastoff]

You make a good point ChattanoogaPhil. However, it's not really that complicated. Push any button and it's on. Every time you touch a button, it starts the shutdown clock again. So, 4 hours or 8 hours really makes no difference. Just touch a button.

Even so, you cannot deny the simplicity of the Aimpoint knob. I wonder why EOTech did it differently? Why don't they come on at the same intensity as when it was turned off?

The benefit of the HWS is that it can have any reticle you want. I actually find it strange that L3 only offers three for rifle optics. They all have a 65MOA circle. Some have one dot, some have two and some have 4. I've looked through the reticle that has 4 dots and baby you better have good eyes to see the difference in all 4 dots. It looked more like a circle and a line to me.

 

[Maddmax]

As I approach 40 years old, my eyes have changed yet again. My eyes now perceive a LED dot to be a bit fuzzy. I don't have that problem with a Holographic (EoTech) sight. I wish my eyes were different because I really like the smaller form factor Aimpoint Micro Dots.

To be honest, my favorite sighting system is a good set of iron sights.

I have to agree (but give your eyes another 20 ). Good ol' set of iron's are hard to beat. But the rear sight is starting to be a problem for focus. Nice having a good scope for the longer shots.

LED is a bit fuzzy on these older eyes, where the EoTech works just fine (for me) and I do find a bit quicker getting on target. That could also be because that's all I use for Holographic and the 4hr/8hr, on/off up down is just second nature. Add in a 3X flip magnifier and your good to go. I'm running a 516.A65, EXPS3-2 and a 552.XR308 that has range & windage dots and more for a 308 (bought for a SR762 I'm still waiting on).

 

[REM 3200]

I put an EO 517 on my M&P 15 OR and used it for about a year.
It is a fine sight, however I never was real happy with the pixilated look of the outer 65 MOA ring.
The 1 MOA dot was great, clear and sharp, but I just didn't like that outer ring looking all pixilated.

The solution for me was to replace it with an Aimpoint PRO. I have shot it for about 9 months now and love it.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I actually find it strange that L3 only offers three for rifle optics. They all have a 65MOA circle. Some have one dot, some have two and some have 4. I've looked through the reticle that has 4 dots and baby you better have good eyes to see the difference in all 4 dots. It looked more like a circle and a line to me.

There's a guy that does a lot of Internet gun vids who goes by the handle NutnFancy. He gives some guys tactical heartburn , but for every gun or gadget review he has something he calls POU, Philosophy of Use.

For me, cluttered fancy holdover reticles on a 1x red dot doesn't fit the purpose for what I expect from a red dot-- self defense/battle fast target acquisition, center mass point and click 0-250yds. I can stretch it out a bit by putting the dot at the top of the bad guy's chest, but beyond that I've selected the wrong kind of optic to begin with, IMO. Besides... around here it's tough to see much further than 100 feet beyond the tree line even with the leaves off the trees . So unless the bad guy is standing in the middle of the highway 500yds away jumping up and down screaming... I'm here... I'm here... What am I going to use all those dots for? If you are going to take enough time with your shots to actually use four different difficult to distinguish dots, then maybe it's time for a larger heavier low power magnified optic like an ACOG. Maybe some guys like to use the flip magnifiers, but the thought of having all that junk in my face gives me nightmares.



If I'm going to go with more than just a dot and for BDC... I'd head in the direction of a Trijicon ACOG.

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your post, but there is no need to center the dot in the tube or window. That's the point of these types of optics.

Yeah, that's why I put "center" in quotes... I know it's not the right way to describe it, but I can't think of a better way to put it. I guess that I'm so used to having to line up a crosshair or front sight in a circular tube/aperture/peep sight that I just automatically center the dot in the tube, even though it isn't necessary, and the rectangular window kind of throws me.

 

[Rastoff]

As of today, I think the idea of a flip up 3x magnifier is interesting. However, it just seems like a lot of extra kit to me. If anything, I'd rather go a different way like this:

 

[bubbajoe45]

Eotech has to be turned on, then auto-shuts down after 8 hours.

Aimpoint is on for 5 years; then it needs a battery change.

I chose Aimpoint because it's always on--one less thing to fiddle with--and the simplicity of the reticle--there is one dot and you put it on the target. I went with the 4moa dot because it is four times bigger than a 2moa dot, making it much easier to pick up. I am content with 4moa groups, too.

New to the AR world, but like Oberon, I got a deal on an upper that already had an Eotech 512 on it. I find the dot within a circle distracting, esp. since it's co-witnessed with the irons. No way is this setup quicker for me. I have shot a simple, uncluttered dot sight and that is the only way to go if you are using glass (I'm fine with irons). Furthermore, as mentioned, having the bad guy (or critter) you are shooting at 'wait while I turn my rifle on' isn't very tactically sound practice (or effective for that matter) . . .