Holographic vs Red Dot

Rastoff

Rastoff

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There isn't an "Optics" section here so, I figured this would be the best place to ask this.

I'm looking for a sighting device for an AR. I have iron sights, but think I want something easier to use. I'm considering a holographic sight, but I'm not sure I understand the difference between a holographic and a red dot.

I saw that the Holographic sight does something called "repositioning" and they do it like a million times a minute or something like that. Do you guys know what that means? How is it beneficial?

I know the Holographic sight has more in the reticle than just a dot, but is that really better?

If you have used both, which do you prefer? I'm willing to save up to get the right one.
 
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Holographic weapon sight - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Review: Bushnell Holographic Sight (Made by Eotech) - YouTube

I had a friend who had a Bushnell HoloSight. He still gets Christmas cards from the Energizer Bunny.

A red dot displays a dot which is just the reflection of a LED. Most are round, Trijicons are triangles IIRC.

Holographic sights can display a cross, circle, dot in a circle etc by doing a little laser light show in the reflecting lens. Laser diodes use more power than plain LEDs. If you want to see your target through a hollow red circle, or want a crosshair you want a holographic sight.

I like the dot just fine on my revolver.
 
I have Aimpoint T-1's on my ARs but am thinking about a Eotech for a KSG. Love the T-1's so far. Small, light and looooong battery life.
 
ChatanoogaPhil covered the bases.

EoTech = Holographic = laser illuminated

Aimpoint = Reflex = LED illuminated

Lasers use more power than LED's. Battery life of an LED optic is measured in years. The best advice I can give is to look through a variety of optics. My 39 year old eyes have an easier time with an EoTech over a LED. You have to find out for yourself which type is easier for you to use.
 
JaPes said:
ChatanoogaPhil covered the bases.

EoTech = Holographic = laser illuminated

Aimpoint = Reflex = LED illuminated

Lasers use more power than LED's. Battery life of an LED optic is measured in years. The best advice I can give is to look through a variety of optics. My 39 year old eyes have an easier time with an EoTech over a LED. You have to find out for yourself which type is easier for you to use.
Click to expand...

My 61 year old eyes like the Eotechs also. I think for rapid target acqusition, that circle would be helpful with the small center dot (smaller than Aimpoint). Have Eotechs on my M&P 15 and 10. Battery life is like 1,000 continuous hours. I just shut mine off when it goes in the safe. Not dis'n the Aimpoints - just a personal preference. Good luck!
 
When training with the Air Force a little while ago, I had an M4 with an Aimpoint Comp M3 or M4 I don't remember the exact designation. I really liked it, but it was just a dot.

Do any of you like the ring and dot better?
 
Aimpoint

I liked the size, battery life, optics and the quality build of the Aimpoint. I have it mounted on my Ruger AR15, SR556FB.

If you do get the Aimpoint, here is a nice cover for it, iO Cover for Aimpoint T-1 iO-001 I cut the original cover off and it fit my Sureifre Ultra 400 perfect.

"History:

The inventor of the red dot sighting technology
In 1974, a small group of Swedish entrepreneurs started exploring ways to improve shooting accuracy.

Their goal was simple but ambitious - to create a sighting technology that would allow shooters to acquire their target quickly, and to hit moving targets in all weather and lighting conditions consistently and accurately.

Little did they know at the time that their invention, the Aimpoint red dot sight, would revolutionize the shooting and hunting industry.

The company’s first commercial sight product, the Aimpoint Electronic, was introduced to the market in 1975. This revolutionary new product was quickly recognized as the fastest way to aim a firearm, and has achieved a high level of success and acceptance worldwide.

The Aimpoint red dot sight has continued to evolve over the past 35 years by working closely with experienced hunters, marksmen and military weapon experts, and is now recognized as the fastest, most rugged, and most efficient electronic small arms sighting system in the world.

There are more than 1 million Aimpoint red dot sights in use worldwide today"
 
I have an Aimpoint Pro in a LaRue QD mount and an Eotech EXPS 2-0.

I prefer the Eotech in all respects except for battery life and bullet'proofness (is that a word?).

For now the Eotech sits on my M&P 15TS but if there's ever a zombie apocolypse or shtf situation I'll put my Aimpoint back on it. :)
 
After extensive consideration, I went with the EOTech because I prefer the "ring and dot" reticule. Having more than just a single dot helps me to estimate bullet flight path over a wide variety of ranges more easily, and the large ring helps with rapid acquisition at close range. Your mileage may vary, of course, and it's hard to go wrong with a good quality red dot either.
 
Are you the sort who walks around the car each time you go out, to make sure all the lights are operational? That's what's required of an Eotech. If you jump in the pickup with for a run to the mini-mart, seat belt optional, then choose an Aimpoint.

I have one of each. The Eotech is the best for quick target acquisition. It has a huge window and thin shell. The battery life is relatively poor, and there's no good way to protect the glass in adverse conditions.

An Aimpoint will burn continuously for over two years, and uses the same type of flip caps found on most scopes. On mine, you don't even have to flip them open. The eyepiece cap has a transparent window, and the objective cap can be left closed if you shoot with both eyes open. In fact, that's a good way to get good contrast in bright sunlight without turning the LED up.

For practical reasons, I use the AimPoint on an AR, toward the front of the receiver with enough room for a 3x magnifier on a tilt mount. The Eotech is on an M1a well forward of the receiver, on a scout rail. It's large enough that acquisition is still quick despite the 10" plus eye distance.

Another thought. I have some astigmatism, which if not corrected makes the red dot look more like a comma with a 10 moa tail. The effect is much more pronounced on the Eotech than the Aimpoint. It gets worse with brightness, and seems to go away with a magnifier in front. The right glasses help a lot. What's zero for me doesn't always work for someone else.
 
Neumann said:
Another thought. I have some astigmatism, which if not corrected makes the red dot look more like a comma with a 10 moa tail. The effect is much more pronounced on the Eotech than the Aimpoint.
Click to expand...

^^^ This is why the OP needs to look through different optics to discover any issues in sight perception. LED's come in different MOA dot sizes, different adjustable intensity levels, colors, and reticule patterns. EoTechs have different reticules.

I'm the opposite of Neumann. I have a slight astigmatism. With a LED dot I perceive the dot to be fuzzy. I don't have this issue with an EoTech.

webfarmer said:
Battery life is like 1,000 continuous hours. I just shut mine off when it goes in the safe.!
Click to expand...

I do the same. I have a plane-jane EoTech 512 A65 that uses common AA batteries. I keep spare batteries in my Magpul MIAD grip. If the S ever hit the F, AA batteries are easy to find because they're everywhere. I also turn on the EoTech using the method described in the manual that has an automatic 2-hour(?) shut-off.

Rastoff said:
Do any of you like the ring and dot better?
Click to expand...

I'll be honest, it's OK. It does what it's supposed to do. I prefer the "T-Dot" reticule on a Bushnell Trophy red/green LED optic.

http://bushnell.com/tactical/rifle-scopes/ar-optics/1x-mp

I have one in my spare parts tote. I like the dot. I like the reticule. I don't like it's gigantic honking size.
 
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I run the EOTech XPS2-0 on my FNH SLP auto-loader. My range buddy runs the Aimpoint T1 on his Winchester SX2 (essentially the same shotguns made by different companies). As such, switch back and forth between the two shotguns is about as easy as it can get since there is no difference in operation.

That being said, I prefer the EOTech over the Aimpoint. Call me spoiled, but having the nice big 65 MOA ring with a 1 MOA dot in the middle is the best of both worlds....for close-up target acquisition and 200 yd slug shooting. When I bring the SX2 up for a quick shot, I spend too much time trying to locate the little Aimpoint dot. The 65 MOA ring in the EOTech works much better for me.

The manual claims 500~600 hours for the CR123 battery that powers my XPS2. I laughed when I read the comment about "walking around the car". I use/treat the XPS2 no differently than I do my ACOG or Viper PST FFP optics (one uses a battery, the other does not). Yeah, my XPS2 battery doesn't last for 2 years....I got over that long ago. ;)

As was mentioned, try both sights if you can and pick the one that runs best for you. I did.
 
arizona98tj said:
I use/treat the XPS2 no differently than I do my ACOG or Viper PST FFP optics...
Click to expand...
This is an interesting range of optics. I also have a Viper PST FFP and have found it impressive considering the low price.

Have you used one of Vortex's red dots?

Do you find the ACOG bright enough?
 
I have the Eotech EXPS2, which uses two CR123 batteries, crosswise. It turns itself off automatically, after 8 hours after the left button is pushed (lower intensity), or 4 hours after the right. Either button turns it on again, but always to the same, bright setting.

The AimPoint has a turret to set the brightness, or to turn it off. Since you don't have to turn it off, it stays the way you left it last.
 
I personaly am not a red dot fan...

i have a Sightmark reflex on my 15-22... works well, but isnt tuff enough for an AR, Ive already replaced it once

I have a small reflex on my Buchmark .22 pistol... LOVE IT...

And on my Bushy C15 i have my Eotech 512.... I really like the FAST target acustion of the Eotech... I have a BSA, and Bushnell Red Dots and Just dont like em.... havent tried some of the Aimpoint and more expensive red Dots... maybe if they did have the T rectcal or similar i'd like em...
I also carry xtra battieres for all my Sights... just cant be to safe... Plus the 512 can use normal AA batteries... so thats convinient in a pinch
But im like others... Finding that little DOT is kinda hard at times....

Eotech for me
 
Seems like EOTech is always coming out with a new and improved version. Have they got it right yet?
 
ChattanoogaPhil said:
Seems like EOTech is always coming out with a new and improved version. Have they got it right yet?
Click to expand...

I think they got it right from the start. I think they're just creating variations on their one trick pony in order to give the consumer the perception of choice and create the perception increasing value within the product line up.

This one uses CR2032 batteries, this one uses this stubby battery, on this one the batteries are transversely mounted... all these different variations HAVE to cost more than the good old AA battery powered 512.
 
Thanks for all the comments and help. It's nice to have a place to get some real help.

In the end battery life won out. I was in a gun store today and bought this one:
product_counterstrike_hero.png


I got that pic off the Redfield site because I'm too lazy to take a pic right now. I'll take one later if you really want to see it.

I was considering the Vortex, but this one was the same price and has a laser on the bottom. I'm not a fan of lasers, but for training they can be a great tool. I may try to get this mounted and sighted in tomorrow.
 
Looks like that should work well for an optics only rifle. 4MOA dot and 1/2 MOA click adjustments should be great for close & mid-range use. I think the integrated laser in the base is pretty cool. You can sight the dot at 50 yards. Then you can set the laser zero to the farthest distance within the confines of your home for home defense.
 
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