EoTech for AR-15 opinions?

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has anyone seen the Eotech 557 AR223? I see it is supposed to be setup to shoot out to 600 yards with the bottom dot. Not sure I have a need to shoot out to 600 yards, and the dots are surely set up for a certain type of round.

I have a Bushmaster Varmiter that I normally keep a US Nightvision D-441 on which is a gen3 scope. However I just sent the scope back to the factory to have it serviced and haven't got it back yet. I have been reading everyones opinion here. I want to get another scope as a backup for the AR. not sure if I want the Eotech or the Aimpoint myself.
 
I have a couple. I like them but with a 556 I find I shoot almost exclusively at 100 yards and beyond. As you can imagine I quickly realized no magnification was not the hot ticket for that application.

I will be putting one on my 9mm AR. For the close range shooting for which the 9 is suitable, I think it will be a good match.
 
I have an 553 on my M4gery - has been reliable for the past two years. Still on the original CR123 batteries.
 
I have the 512 and I shoot 100 and 200 yards consistently with it. I can hit 200 yard headshots on my targets without any problems. The time on target is just insanely fast with these things.

As far as these being too fragile what the heck do you guys want it to do? I guess I just don't understand what people want. You could probably drop this thing off a 5 story building and still use it. I guess it has to be able to survive a direct gunshot or RPG hit to meet some peoples specifications. Maybe last through a nuke.

Battery life isn't fantastic, but I made probably 30 trips to the range and I never remembered to shut the dang thing off when I am done. This also doesn't include the 20 other times I left it on after showing someone.
 
Since you're a high schooler, it sure would suck if you spent all of that money and it went out on you. I've killed five or six Eotechs. They were all N cell and AA models, but I killed them none the less. I'll never own another Eotech, now that my son has gotten off of that kick. I killed two or three of those Eotechs by mounting them on a Beowulf .50 upper. I know that many will say that it's isn't meant for that kind of abuse, but the funny part of it is that since I put an Aimpoint on top of it, I didn't have any more problems.

I'm not talking from a reticle perspective. I actually like the Eotech reticle better and that's one of the reasons that I now run an ACOG TA44S. I like the circle dot.

I don't know if anything has changed with the newer Eotechs, but I did open up one of the ones that I killed and immediately saw what I thought the problem was. I couldn't believe how many contact points there were within the sight that were made with nothing more than a spring or spring metal and those didn't seem very robust either.

If you just have to have an Eotech, check out places like Smartgunner and Primary Arms. What I think you should do, given your financial status, is go over to Primary Arms and get one of their Aimpoint knockoffs. They are good people and if it craps out on you, they will take care of it for you and fast. I don't know why the Eotechs failed (maybe the crappy contacts). All I know is that they failed and I'm not even in the "sandbox." I've gotta say too, that messing with those darned little rubber buttons is a pain in the butt.
 
There's no way I'd pay $370 for a 512. I sold a very lightly used 552 on a LaRue riser, with box/paperwork/new batteries/etc. not too long ago for about $410 shipped.

The 512 is a good sight, but you can definitely do MUCH better than that price if you look around a bit.
 
Been using a 512 for over two years, no complaints. Change out the lithium batteries once a year.
 
I am confused by this statement. What does field of view have to do with a RDS? When using an RDS, no matter why type, you should be shooting with both eyes open. The only interference with your FoV is the actual casing which is about the same on most RDS.
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The Eotech lets your eye be further off-center and still see the reticle. Think about an Aimpoint Micro, for example---your eye has to be very closely aligned with the optical axis, meaning that if you don't have a halfway decent cheek weld, it may take you a second to find the dot. The Aimpoint Comp series gives you more room for error in eye placement, and the Eotech gives you most of all (it is very forgiving of sloppy or contorted head positioning, making it a bit faster for very quick shooting).

I agree that they should be used with both eyes open, and from that standpoint field of view is unlimited.

There's no way I'd pay $370 for a 512. I sold a very lightly used 552 on a LaRue riser, with box/paperwork/new batteries/etc. not too long ago for about $410 shipped.

The 512 is a good sight, but you can definitely do MUCH better than that price if you look around a bit.
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I just went back and looked at that Ebay auction, and I agree---there's I wouldn't pay that much for a sight-unseen used 512 on Ebay either. You can get a brand-new-in-the-box 516 for that price from a reputable dealer if you shop around, and that way you know it (1) has the newer, more reliable circuitry, and (2) hasn't been mistreated.
 
I love my EOtech. No problems with it since i bought it a year ago and I have shot that rifle a lot. The only issue is lack of magnification - so it's not a long range sight - but for anything within 100m, it's awesome !
 
In terms of FOV, the Aimpoint and most other RDS have a thick tube and extra parts hanging off here and there that interfere with vision around the tube. The EOTech has a much thinner shell, the only big view-blocker is the base where the rifle would block your view anyway. I find the EOTech superior in this regard. There are a few conventional RDS that have a similar design but they aren't common and with the exception of the Trijicon are not really in the mil-spec or high quality range.
 
If parts hanging off of the scope blocking your view is a concern, take a look at the T1 or H1. Both are smaller and much less obtrusive that the Eotechs. If you complain about the field of view, you aren't using it right.
 
If parts hanging off of the scope blocking your view is a concern, take a look at the T1 or H1. Both are smaller and much less obtrusive that the Eotechs. If you complain about the field of view, you aren't using it right.
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Again, "field of view" is probably the wrong term. A Micro requires much more precise eye positioning than an Eotech or even a CompM/CompC does; if your eye is out of position, you still have an unobstructed view of the target with your other eye, but you can't see the dot.

With any unmagnified optic, the bigger the lens, the more forgiving it is of hasty head positioning. That's a known tradeoff between the CompM/CompC and the T-1/H-1, so it's not an Eotech vs. Aimpoint thing, although the Eotech's bigger lens does make it very forgiving.

The Aimpoint Micro is *awesome* with regard to package size/weight, battery life, and durability, but you trade off a little speed and flexibility in less-than-ideal shooting positions to get that.
 
benEzra said:
The Eotech lets your eye be further off-center and still see the reticle. Think about an Aimpoint Micro, for example---your eye has to be very closely aligned with the optical axis, meaning that if you don't have a halfway decent cheek weld, it may take you a second to find the dot. The Aimpoint Comp series gives you more room for error in eye placement, and the Eotech gives you most of all (it is very forgiving of sloppy or contorted head positioning, making it a bit faster for very quick shooting).

I agree that they should be used with both eyes open, and from that standpoint field of view is unlimited.


I just went back and looked at that Ebay auction, and I agree---there's I wouldn't pay that much for a sight-unseen used 512 on Ebay either. You can get a brand-new-in-the-box 516 for that price from a reputable dealer if you shop around, and that way you know it (1) has the newer, more reliable circuitry, and (2) hasn't been mistreated.
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Its a new Eotech
 
I love the 512 on my Colt. And I have no idea why everyone has trouble with batteries. Mine had the same set in for over a year. I used the gun only 3 or 4 times that year but when I finally took them out, they were still good. Crap, they're AAs. What's wrong with that service?

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Jest for kicks, cruise on over to Botach Tactical and toss the EOTech of your choice in the cart, then use code EOTech for a 20%? discount. Also cruise by EOTech's home page and download the $50 rebate, which I assume you can use on the discounted Botach EOTech?
Got one in my cart over there now-20% off with and extra $50 from EOTech is giving me an itchy finger!

I have the 557 with a 4x mulitiplier on one AR (got an ACOG on the other) and have been thinking 'bout pulling the trigger on one of the XPS models (got an AR still in the box-thinkin' bout putting together a lightweight).
I kinda like the smaller, single sideways battery mount-I had to change the handguards to get my 557 to clear 'em.

I tend to like the CR123's over AA's-I know they're not quite as easy to find, but most of my lights use 'em, and so far I've been able to scrounge up name brand units at around $1.40 each. They're actually cheaper than Energizer Lithium AA's (around $2 each). With a 10-year shelf life, you can affort to load up a bit when you do find some at a reasonable price (much cheaper than WalMart's photo section)-they can often be found at police supply houses if you have any in your area.
 
The EO tech is really fast; I liked mine for the most part. I found that it drained batteries even when it was off, and when going from a light to a dark environment or vice versa I felt I needed to adjust the brightness. Other than that it was great. The only reason that I traded it in was I got a Nightforce 1-4. For that price go for it.
 
I bought an Eotech from Botach over two years ago and I got a good deal with zero problems from Botach and nary a problem with the Eotech.
 
I have both an Eotech and a Trijicon reflex. I'd say the reflex is the better sight. No batteries, no turning it on and off, it's smaller, price is roughly the same.
 
Whatever you do DON'T order from Botach. They have a well deserved terrible reputation.
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Knock on wood? So far, I have 'bout 20 orders from 'em over a 5 or 6 year period with no problems.
Well, they did send me 6 Rayovac CR123's when I ordered Energizers...
 
I have one on my combat M4 in Iraq. It's a great site and gives a big advantage in combat. Especially great if you have flip up iron sights for backup. However, I don't know that I would spend $500 on one for target use. For that you could almost by another AR.

I'd say first get really good with your irons. Then maybe consider the Eotech.
 
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