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Posted: 7/19/2014 11:51:13 AM EDT
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I recently bought my first AR15 and would like to put a good holographic sight on it. I bought the Primary Arms Multi Reticle, but was very unimpressed with it because the center of the reticle significantly moves to a different location when you switch between them. That said, Primary Arms has been very helpful and offered a full return in exchange for another optic. I'm leaning toward bumping up my budget and getting an Eotech, but I can't decide which model would be best for me. Here are my questions/concerns:
1) I've read a lot about the 512 having battery back issues, but it sounds like most of those problems are with older 512 models. Has Eotech fixed this issue with the newer 512 models? I haven't been able to find a clear answer. 2) What's the benefit of shooting with both eyes open while using a holographic sight? I have a condition where my brain basically ignores my left eye while the object I'm looking at can be seen with my right eye, so is a holographic sight just a waste of money for me? 3) Is the Eotech XPS2 a better sight than the 512? Why? Thanks for the help! |
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1) While improved, I still hear occasional issues w/512 battery contacts (which Eotech seems willing to fix ASAP although many 512 users report no problems at all).
2) The advantage of using any RDS (Aimpoint, Eotech, Trijicon, etc) is the ability to rapidly engage targets w/both eyes open. While looking at the target normally, bring the rifle up to your normal shooting position. You should still be looking at the target w/both eyes, but now you'll see the RDS' reticle as well as the target. Place reticle on target, squeeze trigger. The inability to use your left eye while shooting will decrease your SA (situational awareness, ie: everything else that's going on around you) but won't prevent the RDS from being faster on-target than using standard iron sights. 3) That depends upon which features are more important to you. The XPS series is smaller and uses a single transverse CR123 battery (which supposedly fixes the 512's recoil-induced battery contact problems) whereas the 512 is longer and uses more common AA batteries. Are small/CR123's more important to you than longer/AA's? HTH... Tomac |
| Thanks Tomac. That helps a lot. The weight and size of the XPS is appealing, but so is the longer battery life and price of the 512 (assuming the battery issues have been fixed). At the same time, I don't want to be stingy about a $70 difference when buying a sight I intend to use for years to come. |
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Quoted: I have extensive experience with the 512. It appears the battery issues have been worked out. While Eotech's are as awesome as they have always been for CQB, they are not a good choice for shooting past 300 yards even with a magnifier. |
| The older eotechs that use the detatchable battery boxes have always had problems, whether they were N, AA, or 123 units. The newer ones that use the single 123 battery with the screwcap on the side are much better, but apparently pricier. I don't know model numbers, because I never cared. I just used what I got issued for the most part. I have a condition in my left eye (I'm right handed and right eye dominant) where my vision is a bit distorted due to some shrapnel being imbedded into it from a RPG blast. I don't close my left eye when I shoot a holo, but I do "squint" it a little during the actual shot and this seems to help. Back to optics, the reliability issues with those "older" eotechs (the ones with the detatchable battery boxes) made a lot of us choose to use the older aimpoint M68 sights just for reliability. that being said, most of us found the eotech to be better for actual use, but overall reliability would often trump this- better to have a "average" optic that worked all the time than a "nice" one that may decide to stop working mid-gunfight. |
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Quoted:
I think I'm going to go with the newer Eotech. It definitely sounds like the better choice because of the size and potential reliability issues with the old ones. Thanks for all of the help! New to forum but I have two exps3-2's and two g33 magnifiers. I absolutely love them. The most versatile setup you can get. Eotechs are the best for quick target acquisition because of the large screen. The magnifier is more than enough for the full effective range of 5.56 500 yds. Battery life is not an issue. Ok aimpoints lasts years but so does shelf life of lithium batteries. Stock up on some and you are good. Magnifier needs no battery. They are as durable as you will ever need. The only downside imo is the weight. You will feel it. |
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I must correct some misinformation. An Eotech is NOT a red dot sight. There are hundreds of red dot sights out there to choose from but an Eotech is not one of them.
It is a Holographic Weapon Sight that uses a laser to project the reticle on a heads up display so that it appears on the same plane as the target. It's sophistication puts it in a completely different class than the red dots. Visit the Eotech site for a complete explanation of the differences and advantages of a HWS. I used to ignore Eotech's and own 4 red dots. Now I own 2 Eotech's and am selling the red dots as fast as I can. I wouldn't consider an older model over an XPS style unless I wanted to take a step backwards. |
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