Can you magnify an eotech with a regular scope?

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Anton Chigurh

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Eotech brand magnifiers (a measly 3x) cost over $500.

Is there any reason you can think of, why I shouldn't just go out and buy a great 3-9x42 scope (for example) for the same price and just mount that for magnification?
 
Try putting your hand 4 inches in front of a traditional 3-9. It won't focus. I don't know how that would work with the hologram but at the very least you might have cowitness height issues.

And then there's the fact that you'll have a traditional crosshair on top of the eotechs.
 
Mako makes similar magnifiers for for much less.

Example:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/2MAKMD5XMGNF-1.html

Advertised as "affordable magnifier that works with EOTech, Aimpoint, and other red dot or holographic sights"

I've used a couple of random Mako products before and never had an issue with their quality, can't vouch for the magnifiers personally though.
 
If you spend more than $150 on a magnifier you've spent too much, IMO. I suggest that you buy one with an adjustable eyepiece though. I made the mistake of buying a fixed focus model and can't use it.
 
Norrick, I get what you are saying with the difficulty in focusing, but the eotech as so much finer than the eye can see (under 1x magnification) and the blooming effect is, if anything, lessened with magnification as a result. I have tried putting it behind my bushnell elite 3200, and it seems to work fine...but that is a very limited trial for obvious reasons.

Fatcat, and Volt...I am wary of these cheap magnifiers as I actually originally tried to go with a Mako (7x), and it wouldn't focus past 40 yards out. I would have needed to be able to turn the focus dial all the way around at least 2 more times to get it to focus at 100 yards! Frustrated the hell out of me, and a total waste of $150.

Mike, yes the Mako I got had adjustable focus but was (as just described) terrible.

Maybe the mako I got was defective...I have read mixed reviews on it (some very positive ones). Regardless, I think I'd rather spend $200 and get something that I know will work really well. I don't mind having the regular crosshairs there, as they will provide a great set of BUIS for me. Also it will be mounted on a quick release system, should I decide that the eotech alone is more applicable to a certain situation.

I have talked to quite a few different professionals on this, and apparently this is something that noone has tried before. Seems kind of unbelievable to me...spending $550 on a magnifier seems ridiculous. Anyways, I guess I will post my results...pictures, and maybe some video!
 
I fail to understand what you could possible gain by putting a real scope behind an eotech??

It's one major advantage over a rifle scope is the fast wide open field of view.

If you are going to run a real 3-9x scope behind it?
Take it off and get it out of the way.

Or get a 45 degree mount and put it on the side so you can roll the rifle to the side and use the EO for fast close shots, and the scope for long slow shots.

Thats what a lot of the top level 3-gun shooters are doing.

rc
 
It was a semi-valid question to begin with, but now that you are pushing it even after people are showing you that it won't work is just making it a stupid question.

First off, magnifiers don't have reticles.....if you put a scope behind the Eotech, even if it would focus, you will still have the scope reticle in addition to the Eotech reticle.

Here is what I am going to go for next....let's hope for the best!

http://www.ncstar.com/scripts/prodVi...?idproduct=451

Short enough to fit on my rear rail and not get struck by casings as they are ejected. (Using on a CZ 858). Eotech is on my foregrip (scout style mounted).
Click to expand...

You can hope, but do you want us to tell you how it is going to work out? (Here's a hint, we have already tried)
 
RCmodel, the advantage for me is the ability to pop the 3-9x off (via the quick detach) and just use the Eotech for CQB, or when hog hunting in the bush. You are right though, there is a good deal of redundancy / overlap, and I may end up removing the eotech altogether.

Mike, I would love to be able to do the flip to side mount, and that is the reason I tried the mako in the first place. Very versatile setup! I don't think a zero'd scope will be able to be used in that way though...not that you were saying it would, but I am just lamenting on the truth :eek:(
 
Allaroundhunter, would having scope reticles on top of the eotech red dot be that terrible of a thing? I like the idea of using the etched reticle as my BUIS, especially because I can't cowitness with my rig. Are you suggesting that paying $550 for an eotech 3x magnifier is advantageous / worthwhile to paying $200-300 for a great 3-9x mounted on a quick detach instead? Or are you saying that I should just give the Mako brand another try?

Also, it seems that you are insinuating that Norrick showed me it wouldn't work. He kindly stated a potential flaw, but didn't say anything overly convincing to me, especially as I tested his theory, and no issue surfaced. Of course if I put my hand an inch in front any scope / magnifier, it won't focus...but the eotech is a hologram, and clearly works when placed any distance in front of an eotech magnifier, why wouldn't it work the same with with any other scope? Noone else did anything close to "showing me it wouldn't work", so I am not sure why you say "people" (as in more than 1) are showing me why it won't work.

Thanks for your help.

* Edit, the NCstar is 100% returnable if it doesn't work out, just figured it is worth a shot. I suspect you are right on this one though :eek:( Hopefully you see what I am getting at though now...think about how much trouble people go through to ensure they have good BUIS', buying flip ups, co-witnessing using risers or compromising on the scope/sight, etc.
 
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RCmodel, good suggestion, but I need something 8inches or less (otherwise it is going to have to be mounted on my foregrip and will then have to have a very long eye relief).

Awesome point with the 45 degree mount so I can roll to use the Eotech. If things end up conflicting at all, I will pick one of those up for sure, I think they're only $20 or so!

I will post a picture of my rig, so that you guys can understand the issue. This is going on a cz 858, and the casings are ejected upwards out of the receiver.
 
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The casings eject upwards right above where the magazine is. With the rail I have installed behind that, I have room for maximum 9 inch scope. However, 8 inches would be a better fit, and allow me to fit behind it better. The scope I linked above, made by crappy NCStar, only has 2 inches of eye relief, which would actually be a good thing given what I have to work with for space.
 

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Well, while you can't put a scope behind an Eotech, you can put one in front of it. Of course, the crosshairs will be in your field of view, but I've found that when i use a night vision scope, i lock it on the rail ahead of my Trijicon Reflex, and turn down the reticle on the NV, it works perfectly well without the hassle of re-zeroing the NV scope. With a regular scope, you could do this to check your zero when switching between optics...if you have rail space, etc....but, as RCmodel so aptly pointed out in post #8, if you get a 45degree offset rail you've just solved your problem and have two primary sighting systems instead of one (bubba) system.
 
First off, I imagine that your magnifier is defective. I kind of doubt Mako, or any legitimate company, would make a 7x magnifier that couldn't be used past 40 yards.

I have no idea if this system would work with an eotech, but various manufacturers make scope rings that have rails on top. This lets you mount a red dot on top of any scope.

For example:
http://www.amazon.com/SCOPE-MOUNT-P...MKKK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329339384&sr=8-1

Not vouching for this product in any way, that is just the first picture example I could find.
 
Desidog, can you describe to me why you can't put a scope behind an eotech? This is really the question I was hoping to get a strong response to.

As I mentioned earlier, I have trialed it minimally with excellent results. However, if you can explain the real conflict in equipment to me, it will make it a lot more productive for me later on when I fully test it out today after work.
 
Volt, also a nice suggestion. However, I do not like the idea of popping my head up off of my cheek weld to use the eotech. That, in addition to the increased height of my rig, turn me off of that option. Definitely something I will consider though if plan B (45 degree mount) doesn't work out. Thank you.
 
Allaroundhunter, would having scope reticles on top of the eotech red dot be that terrible of a thing? I like the idea of using the etched reticle as my BUIS, especially because I can't cowitness with my rig. Are you suggesting that paying $550 for an eotech 3x magnifier is advantageous / worthwhile to paying $200-300 for a great 3-9x mounted on a quick detach instead? Or are you saying that I should just give the Mako brand another try?
Click to expand...

Yes, I am saying that having the scope crosshairs and the Eotech reticle in the same sight picture could be a bad thing. As rcmodel suggested, an offset rail for the Eotech would be a good solution.

I have tried to cut corners before, and it always ends up costing me more money and taking up more time than if I would have bought what I needed in the first place. Given previous experiences, if I was in your particular situation, I would either give Mako (the 3x or 5x) one more try or go with the more expensive Eotech because this is the exact situation that they were designed for. The other option I would consider would be to go with rcmodel's suggestion, except for quick shots I would prefer to have a QD magnifier than to have to turn the gun on a 45 degree angle.
 
allaroundhunter, I 100% hear you. I have also had some terrible experiences cutting corners. If the NCStar thing doesn't work out, I will return it for full refund and likely follow your (and RCModels) suggestions as my plan B.

The crosshairs overlapping being a potentially bad thing confuses me though...I overlapped with my 3-9x40 hunting scope and it was barely noticable. And if it did turn out problematic, I would just turn off my eotech, and just use the Eotech when I pop off the scope with the quick detach as necessary.

To be honest, I don't like wasting money, but I do enjoy experimenting a little too...learning about my rig, understanding the limitations of my optics, etc. Thank you for helping to guide me through this process.
 
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To be honest, I don't like wasting money, but I do enjoy experimenting a little too...learning about my rig, understanding the limitations of my optics, etc. Thank you for helping to guide me through this process.
Click to expand...

I agree with you on the experimenting thing, new stuff is always fun. Good luck with it all, and keep us updated!
 
I wouldn't waste the time or money on the NC Star. I found out the hard way that cheaply priced optics generally come with cheap quality as well. Even a Bushnell on the shelf at Walmart would be a better deal than the NC Star.
 
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