Eotech 512 review.

[floorit76]

Recently purchased an Eotech 512A65. I looked around here first, even started a thread asking about holographic sights, and didn't hear much so I thought maybe I should start a new thread about it.

First question I had was the size. From the factory diminsions the thing sounds huge. But once mounted it doesn't seem too bad.





Second thing was how it shoots.



That was rested, rapid fire from about 50yds. And the bottom half of the mag that I sighted it in with.

It seems very well built, points fast, comes back on target even faster, and with the 1 moa dot accuracy is plenty good enough to suit me.

I will try to answer any questions, and come back to add anything else that comes up.

 

[Trent]

Eotech is good stuff!

I've got two 512's, one mounted on my FS2000, one on my AR-15.

They're worth every penny.

 

[Trent]

Here's the FS2000

 

[floorit76]

I'd like to hear from someone that has a magnifier for their Eotech. I like the idea, but that's a lot to pop for to be the guinea pig.

 

[tarakian]

I and my friends all have magnifiers for our 512s, but we use non-Eotech. Price of the Eotech magnifier is way too high. Ours were about $100 for 5x with a flip to the side mount. They work just fine for our purposes, which is multi-gun competitions.

 

[floorit76]

Which one do you have? The Utg?

 

[Trent]

Magnifiers? Who needs magnifiers. I can hit 6-8" groups at 300 yards with that FS2000, non magnified, from a supported position.

(But, to do that, I need to turn the reticle "down" until it's barely visible, in order to not wash out the target.)

 

[floorit76]

Doubt I "need" it. But it looks handy to have around. Out here in the sticks, often the only way to see what you think of something, is to buy it. Never been to an official "range" in my life. Just check out the new stuff, ask a few questions where I can, and buy what I think will work. It can always be sold later on.

 

[Trent]

I was being sarcastic, it doesn't come across well on text.

The EOTech is good for what it is. I don't know if I'd want to clutter it up with a magnification. Putting it in front of the eotech, you'd "lose" your ability to have your eye positioned anywhere. That's one of the great things about the eotech - it's dead on no matter where your line of sight is (you don't have to be "dead center", like with a scope). Put a magnification on it, and that changes.

So if you want magnification just get a scope. If you want it illuminated get one that takes batteries and has an adjustable light output.

But I wouldn't (personally) mix a magnification element with the eotech because it'd ruin the one thing that makes it work as well as it does, being on target, even if your eye isn't centered.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

I have a 512, pushing 10 years old now. Also an EXPS2-2.

I run a magnifier behind the 512, a Vortex VMX3. When i was shopping, I pulled one of each magnifier we carried (there are benefits to having a warehouse a few yards away) and for the money, I don't think the Vortex can be beat.



http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-vmx3-magnifier.html

I would have liked to have had a Samson FTS mount, but it was out of my price range. I settled on the mount that American Defense Manufacturing makes for Vortex, the swing mount. ADM makes two heights, but Vortex only bundles the low mount, i use it with the 512 and have an absolute cowitness.



http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-optics-swing-mount-for-vmx3-magnifier.html

Together, they look like this:



I'm anxious to try the Burris AR Pivot Ring, if Burris would ever ship them to us.



http://www.opticsplanet.com/burris-xtreme-tactical-picatinny-weapon-ring-tops-ar-pivot-ring-30mm-for-ar-tripler-4.html

I had to change my GG&G BUIS to a Magpul, so the magnifier would clear when is is moved to the side. The ADM/Vortex swing mount reverses position as it swings, instead of rotating directly to the side.

Mark H.

 

[floorit76]

Thanks. Interesting, helpful information. That is much cheaper than the Eotech.

 

[taliv]

my advice on magnifiers is get a cheap one, because if you use the gun a lot, it won't be long before the magnifier winds up in a drawer gathering dust and you want too much $ tied up in it

 

[Trent]

How bad does the magnifier affect the reticle? Does it distort it or prevent it from functioning with your eye "anywhere" (e.g. not dead center) as the EOTech normally allows?

 

[modarmory]

The reason you do not buy cheap magnifiers is they are not as effective. Your clarity and resolution suffer with cheaper magnifiers. The Eotech has a nice flip to the side mount and it is extremely easy to go from CQB to longer distances. If you do find that you donot use your eotech magnifier it would be easy to sell or trade off.

 

[X-Rap]

I would do plenty of shooting without magnification just using the outer ring as reference. I don't know how far and at what you are shooting but the 1MOA dot is pretty good on coyotes and such well past 100 yds precision wise and shots out to 300 are not out of the question.
Not many sighting systems do that well for point blank to 300.

If you want prarie dogs at 300 you probably want a better stock, longer barrel, and a better sight.

 

[floorit76]

No prarie dogs here. And I have a 700 sps anyway. Keep the good info coming.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

There is a difference between "cheaper" and "lower priced".

Mark H.

 

[Snag]

Thanks for the review of the EoTech. Just happen to be watching some videos by tnoutdoors9 on that very model. Pretty impressive unit.

http://www.youtube.com/user/tnoutdoors9/videos?query=eotech

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

hey Optics planet....how would that Eotech match with an AR10....I got a new Bushmaster 308OCR I been thinking about putting one on....would it work with a .308 rifle with the same results as far as MOA?

 

[floorit76]

I was re-reading my eotech manual last night, particularly the part about lens cleaning. It says moist lens cloth or cotton only. Anyone have any info/oppinion about useing a Leupold lenspen? It has a "dry" cleaner.

 

[X-Rap]

I kind of quit using the lens pens on any real good glass simply because you don't know when the little round patch has been contaminated with grit until it scratches your lens.
I try to avoid cleaning in the field if at all possible and then use a brush, fresh cloth, lens tissue, q tips when I get home. If I must in the field it is more of a dobbing that a cleaning.

 

[biokillr]

I have a 512 and the Eotech 2nd gen magnifier. The biggest problem i have with the magnifier 512 combo is the buttons are on the back of the eotech and the mount for the magnifier makes it difficult to push the button.(especially when turning it off) So for me it is currently sitting beside the gun until i take it to a range due to me needing quick access in case of defensive purposes. The magnifier does not require you to have the reticle in the center. The sighting system still works the same. The magnifier has adjustments to get the reticle in the center for normal shooting positions. The mount is phenominal its as easy as flipping a switch with the reaction hand and the magnifier is out of the way.

Overall i love my Eotech magnifier. Wish i had a different model optic so the buttons were on the side.

 

[Trent]

FYI those EOTechs are rugged buggers.

My kid wanted to go "paintballing" at a local paintball park. So I bought a little semi-auto paintball gun that had a rail on top. Sanded that bugger down to mil-spec and mounted my EOtech on it.

The EOtech can withstand direct hits from paintball-packing-teenagers better than I can.

Made for a great sight, BTW! I was picking those little buggers off left and right. They're faster than me though so I kept getting pinned down and flanked. Paintballs hurt when you get shot in the back of the head from 15 feet away, for the record.

Anyway only way I could get a feel for it in a fast paced, close quarters environment.. thing works like a charm. SO fast to get on target!