AR-15 Optic? Aimpoint or Eotech

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newglockguy

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I have a Magpul MBUS as my rear sight right now but I want to put a red dot optic on my AR as well. However, I'm stuck in a rut deciding between Aimpoint or Eotech. I've heard good things about both but I've also heard people are ditching Eotech for Aimpoint. Thoughts?
 
Your best bet is to do a search of red dot (reflex) vs. holographic sight systems. They both have positive and negative elements... battery life, reticle types etc etc.
If your search-foo sucks... this is one of the better and more detailed comparisons on the web.

C
 
I have an Eotech with 3x magnifier. Major negatives are weight and battery life. Major advantage is being able to see the reticle with both eyes because a larger field of view. It also allows me to see the flip up sights - especially with the 3x magnifier since it flips to the side.

My latest Carbine has an Aimpoint T-1. Battery life and weight are excellent. Disadvantage is the smaller field of view. It allows me using the flip up sights by viewing the flip up sights through the reticle. My carbine is just under 7 lbs and the Aimpoint adds to that advanatge.
 
The downsides of the EoTech are short battery life and reliability.

With the Aimpoints you turn it on and leave it on, for years. Too many guys I shoot with have had problems with Eotechs dying while shooting for me to trust them.

BSW
 
I love my eotech, but many here say they aren't reliable. The sight picture is just what I was after. I'm not chasing bad guys, so even if it were to croak it would be inconvinient, not fatal.
 
I have 2 or 3 each of the EO, T-1, and M4S. If I was getting another for a AR, it would be a M4S. I have a T-1 on my 10/22, and it is great, but I like the M4S better for an AR, and either better than the EO for anything.

The EO is OK, I had one bad one out of the box that was too dim. I didn't realize it until I tried to use it in bright for the first time after it was already out of warranty. EO charged me ~ $80 to fix it.

The EO is OK, but I prefer the Aimpoints' simple dots, battery life, ergonomics, and styling.
 
I prefer aimpoints to eotechs. For an AR my preference is the micro (either a T1 or H1). Although for the money the PRO is a real good option.
 
I have used the EOTech 512, XPS-2, Aimpoint CompM2, and CompM4/M4S. I owned the 512, and sold it to upgrade to the XPS line. I preferred the transverse axis battery orientation, and the 1x CR123 vs 2x AA battery configuration. I like the EOTech reticle, it's why I chose that line of optics for my personal rifles. You will hear more reports of EOTechs dying than you will Aimpoints, but my personal rifle really doesn't get knocked around much. If the the EOTech dies, as someone else has said, it's probably going to be an inconvenience for me. I am assuming the extremely miniscule risk that my optic may fail at the very moment I need to shoot a bad guy in the face, in order to get an optic with a reticle, battery, and price that I like.

I have used the Aimpoints listed above on my work rifles. I would not trade my EOTech for a CompM2 or PRO (even though they are comparable in price) because I prefer the A.65 reticle to the Aimpoint's single dot, and I don't like the funky battery that the CompM2 & PRO require. Yes, the battery life is crazy long, but every few years I would still have to go find one of those batteries and I just don't want to. On features alone, I would consider using a CompM4S in lieu of my personal EOTech, as the M4S uses a AA battery and is proven to be more reliable, but the price a dealbreaker there.

Aimpoints win on reliability, it's my opinion that EOTechs win on features. Unless you seriously, really, professionally stand a chance of living of dying by your rifle every day, the differences between the two are negligible. You're going to get a good optic either way, so pick what makes you happy.
 
Both are great optics, but personally I would go with Eotechs for the better viewing and true 2-eyes target acquisition. The issue of battery life is over-blown; its not that hard to carry spare batteries or just change them every couple of months. Aimpoints are great with battery life of course, but would you really leave them on for years? I wouldn't.

Weight is not an issue for me when you already have so many other accesories hanging on your rifle. if I wanted lightweight i'd stick with a bare M4 with irons only.

So take your pick and see which works for you. both are good optics; it will all depend on your preference.
 
Aimpoints tend to be more durable, and yes there battery life is ridiculous "Look! I dont have to turn it off and it last years!" which is great but how hard is it to push a button or change a set of batteries? No experience with the EOTeh though, just think they get a bad rep for no reason. With that said, id still pick a Aimpoint COMP ML3 (or M3 if you need night vision) and stick it in an American Defense AD-68 mount :)
 
Guys who are touting the EOTechs as "two eyes open optics" as if Aimpoints aren't, you seem to be missing the point. Both optics are intended to be used the same way, that is: both eyes open, focused on your target, one eye happens to perceive the reticle by way of looking through the optic.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2
 
Aimpoints are great with battery life of course, but would you really leave them on for years?

Would, and do. Depending on who you are, and why you need a rifle, there may or may not be time to turn an optic on and adjust the reticle brightness. You could "what if" it all day, but if you have the ability to leave an optic on indefinitely, why wouldn't you?

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2
 
I am a batteryphobe. I don't want anything on my rifle that takes a battery I need to change all the time. I have an Aimpoint H1 that's been on for close to a year and there is no dimming of the dot and it does not have an "OFF" position. Pick the rifle up and the red dot is always there, just like iron sights.

I like that
 
I have not used an Aimpoint, so I will not compare the two. I do like my Eotech. I will try an Aimpoint at some point.

But, one of my requirements was that it used batteries that were readily available. AA batteries are in abundance, some of the others may be not so easy to find at times.

Of course, the down side is the AA battery powered sites are bigger.
 
When batteries are hard to get, AA's will be as hard to get as 123's.
As in, you won't be able to get either one.
Its not like the Taliban is going to bomb the 123 factory, while the AA factory keeps on shipping.

Actually might be harder to get AA's, as the shelf-life of an AA is considerably less than a 123.

Older EOTECHS (like the ubiquitous 512) with the in-line battery array, have undeniable battery-terminal/compartment issues. The newer EOTECH models with the sideways-battery may eliminate that issue.
 
The Aimpoint has longer battery life; the Eotech has a larger field of view that may make it slightly faster to pick up, the dot is as small as you can get (sub-MOA, making it great for use with a magnifier), and the bottom of the circle provides a nice aiming point for very close range.

For use in very bad weather or severe mud, they are both waterproof but the Aimpoint is easier to fit with flip-open lens covers (though they do make them for the Eotech).

I have an Eotech 516 myself and really like it. I change the batteries about once a year.
 
I battled with this same dilemma. Ultimately, I ended up ordering a 1-4x scope. I'll let you know what I think after I mount it.
 
Definitely aimpoint. I do prefer the eotech reticle but it's not much use if the battery is dead or the thing breaks. Aimpoints are nearly indestructible with insane battery life. For home defense its a great advantage to not need to worry about turning on the optic or worrying about battery life. Both eotechs i've owned drain batteries even when off.
 
I have an EOTech 512 on one of my AR's and it is all I need for a red dot.. works just great and doesn't cost as much as some others and does the job just as good..
 
I've seen plenty of Eotechs and Aimpoints break (in addition to Acogs). They were abused in ways none of us will do to our personal weapons. I don't really see one being significantly more durable than the other.

Battery life is great with the Aimpoint, but I prefer the reticle of the Eotech as well as its nearly unrestriced field of view.
 
I prefer the Eotech myself.

The EOTech is a true Holographic weapon sight. The advantage over the Aimpoint is that what you are seeing through the EOTech is a laser generated hologram, which puts the reticule out at the same focal plane as the target. When your eyes are focused on the intended threat, the illuminated reticule will also be in crisp focus.

Another advantage is that the EOTech is completely parallax free...it makes no difference to accuracy if your cheek weld is correct or not.

The proper way to use the EOTech is NOT to look through it the way you would typically peer through a rifle scope. Keep both eyes open and only look at (and focus on) the threat/target and allow the lighted reticule to superimpose itself into your total sight picture.

I dont worry about battery life as much as some others do simply because the Eotech has an 8-hour automatic shutoff. If the batteries do die, I have spares with the rifle in my CAA stock's storage compartment.

Also, I have found that the Aimpoint can washout in bright light, making the aim dot very difficult to pick up when compared the brighter settings on the Eotech.
 
Also, I have found that the Aimpoint can washout in bright light, making the aim dot very difficult to pick up when compared the brighter settings on the Eotech.

I've had the exact opposite experience. Some eotech models may be brighter than others but on a bright Texas day i've found it a challenge to see the eotech reticle. I've never had that promblem with my aimpoint.
 
Aimpoints tend to be more durable, and yes there battery life is ridiculous "Look! I dont have to turn it off and it last years!" which is great but how hard is it to push a button or change a set of batteries?

Harder than having the rifle ready to go at all times.

I love my Aimpoint PRO. I can treat it just like iron sights. Always ready to go with nothing to fumble with.
 
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