Which to keep - EOTech 553.A65 or Aimpoint Pro

[wojownik]

Cleaning out my closets - and trying to weigh which optic to keep. I'm split on the EoTech vs. the Aimpoint. The EoTech has the superior dot (IMHO), while the Aimpoint feels a lot more natural. I shoot equivalently well with either (though the Aimpoint seems to allow faster target acquisition, while the EoTech lends itself to a bit more accuracy with a smaller MOA dot.

If you had to keep one, which would you keep - but with the following specific parameters in mind (so as not to become another tired EoTech vs. Aimpoint thread):

• user wears bifocal lenses
• The battery "issue" is a red herring to me - it is simply not an issue
• used at the range. Too old to be playing rambo
• users sheets equally well (or poorly LOL) with each model

Stays mounted on a Colt 16" if that matters.

 

[Jackal]

I personally prefer Aimpoint. No stupid little buttons to navigate, and no auto shut off. Oh, that auto shut off..... If I wanted my darn sight to be off, I'd turn it off myself. No thanks. Aimpoint manual of arms: Turn it on to setting 6-9 as desired, leave on for 1 year, replace batteries early as a safety measure, not because they are dead. No muss, no fuss, no BS, it just works.

 

[Sol]

First off, you're never too old to play Rambo.

It sounds like you're leaning more towards the aimpoint for keeps.

Decisions is yours.

 

[benEzra]

the Aimpoint seems to allow faster target acquisition, while the EoTech lends itself to a bit more accuracy with a smaller MOA dot.

For most people, one of the advantages of the Eotech is speed of acquisition, due to the bigger window and more open design. If you find yourself faster with the Aimpoint, then the Aimpoint probably makes more sense unless you are doing longer-range shooting with a flip-to-side magnifier (a role where the Eotech's diffraction-limited dot offers much greater precision under magnification).

 

[RainDodger]

I had both at the same time, on separate rifles. I eventually traded the EOTech to a friend for his Aimpoint PRO. Now I've got 2 nearly identical rifles, both with Aimpoint PROs on them.

I like the precision of the dot in the Aimpoint better than the fuzzy (to me) dot of the EOTech, although I do like the idea of the 56 MOA circle in the EOTech. For me it was an easy choice. Maybe I'm more used to using scopes, but the Aimpoint is more "scope-like" with its tubular construction. The EOTech seems more "open" and you can acquire targets quickly though - perhaps quicker than the Aimpoint, I don't know. I just prefer the Aimpoint because of the single, very fine dot. Hard to explain. The quote above in benEzra's post seems the opposite to me.

 

[briansmithwins]

Aimpoint because it's more flexible. Since it's a simple tube your mounting options are much better. It's also narrower if you need that for a rifle with a forward mounted charging handle like the SCAR or Tavor. Not as likely to bust knuckles.

BSW

 

[Noah]

Aimpoint. Much more flexible in many ways.

 

[ZGunner]

After owning both Aimpoint and Eotech I am firmly an Aimpoint fan. They feel much more robust and more importantly my eye seems to focus better through a tube. After seeing some to torture tests on Aimpont I am sold.

On the other hand I can completely understand the Eotech fans too. Both sights put lead where you need it.

 

[Fishbed77]

I'd keep the PRO.

The battery issue is anything but a "red herring." The Aimpoint's battery life means it can always be on, and can be brought into action just as quickly and easily as iron sights.

I just replaced the battery in my PRO. I turned it on the day I bought it and had not turned it off in 3 1/2 years. The battery wasn't even dead yet, but I did notice some dimming of the dot.

 

[9mmepiphany]

If you truly shoot the Aimpoint faster than the EOTech, the answer should be obvious.

The EOTech's major advantage over the Aimpoint has always been it's wider field of view and faster target acquisition due to it's larger 65 MOA ring in a large window. It's smaller center dot makes it just as accurate when a longer shot is needed and it's lower pip is perfect for CQ compensation on a discreet target. This was demonstrated in a 3 day CQ carbine class I just completed where the EOTech was always faster to perceive on target compared to the Aimpoint; both the PRO and the H-1...the H-1 is faster than the PRO

 

[cfullgraf]

...the fuzzy (to me) dot of the EOTech,

Yes, it is fuzzy to me as well.

The Eotech just does not do it for me and even with the sight turned off, the battery life is unacceptable for a firearm used for home defense.

I have never tried the Aimpoint so I cannot comment.

 

[henschman]

I'd keep the PRO.

 

[chicharrones]

Cleaning out my closets - and trying to weigh which optic to keep. I'm split on the EoTech vs. the Aimpoint. The EoTech has the superior dot (IMHO), while the Aimpoint feels a lot more natural.

Stays mounted on a Colt 16" if that matters.

Are you using co-witnessed or lower co-witnessed sights through either one?

It seems like you don't have a real problem with either one, and since you say the Aimpoint feels more natural to you, go with that. Maybe you can get more money back from the EOTech than you would the Aimpoint, so more money in your pocket is always good, too.

Personally, I have fairly crappy eyes at my age and any red dot that lets more light to my eye is the one I like better. Looking through the tinted tube of an Aimpoint isn't as easy for me as looking through the clear window of the EOTech, especially in low light.

 

[wojownik]

Thanks for mentioning that chicharrones - I do prefer the absolute cowitnessing of the Aim point Pro. The Aimpoint is currently cowitnessed (absolute). The EoTech was lower third co-witnessed.

So, the Aimpoint Pro is winning on almost all counts, except for the reticle. Eotech wins that hands down (for me).

 

[benEzra]

Yes, it is fuzzy to me as well.

The aiming dot of the Aimpoint is a 2-MOA circle, IIRC (the reflected image of a round LED). The center aiming dot of the Eotech is a bright pinprick of light (smaller than 1/4 MOA, probably much smaller, generated by a laser-created diffraction hologram), that fuzzes to whatever size your eye will resolve. For most people it is perceived as about 1 MOA, but if you have any astigmatism at all or your glasses prescription isn't perfect, the dot will smear larger. In those cases, you would probably get a crisper dot with an Aimpoint. Someone with really good eyes will see it as less than 1 MOA.

Because of the Eotech's diffraction-limited dot, though, it doesn't spread when magnified. If you put a 4x magnifier in front of it, it is still just a pinprick of light, even though the view of the target is magnified 4 times. That's why if you are planning to run a magnifier (and don't have astigmatism) the Eotech may be a better choice for precision shooting.

 

[RainDodger]

Excellent point benEzra. I in fact, do have some astigmatism but rarely use Rx glasses when shooting. That is a giant reason I prefer the Aimpoint.

 

[texgunner]

I've had both and much prefer the Aimpoint.

 

[newglockguy]

Get the PRO I had an eotech but I tried a friends rifle with PRO and fell in love, just get the PRO

 

[C-grunt]

I like both but choose Aimpoint. They worked very well for us when I was in the Army. I have seen a lot of the older EOTechs fail in training and in Iraq. This was supposedly solved with the new EXP models which I've never seen fail.

The biggest reason I choose Aimpoint is I have an astigmatism in my right eye. If I have my contacts or glasses the EOTech is great. But without them the dot and circle blur so much they touch each other.

 

[jakk280rem]

Can you make use of the extra accuracy provided by the smaller dot on the eotech? If not then I'd keep the aimpoint since you said it feels more natural.

 

[wojownik]

Yes, the accuracy of the EoTech (by virtue of the 1MOA dot) is the biggest plus to me about the EoTech. The Aimpoint, however, feels better, has easier controlks, looks cooler (IMHO), but all at the "cost" of a 2 MOA site.

I took both to the range over the weekend - the EoTech is indeed giving me more accuracy, but I'm having more fun with the Aimpoint.

So, I'm thinking at this point that I might as well keep both optics - keep the Aimpoint on my Colt, and but the EoTech on my Bushmaster Patrolman.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I wish I had more hands-on experience with those optics. I've never used an EOTech, just looked through one in the store. To my eyes the Eotech looked 'grainy' like a very low res monitor. The outer ring seemed way larger and brighter than it should be and seemed to obscure whatever I was looking at. However I understand that in use they're very fast. I personally won't buy one because of the battery life; I realize the OP has said it doesn't matter to him but I want something I can leave on all the time. I guess a good compromise would be the electronic sights that "go to sleep" but "wake up" if they're moved. So long as they reliably wake that seems like a good option.

I've been running a Primary Arms Classic Micro on my Storm carbine. It's the first RDS I've ever used. It works very well but it won't stay on permanently, so it's not ideal for me. But I wanted to start out with something inexpensive in case it didn't work for me. It works very well though, well enough in fact that I'm tentatively planning to replace it with an Aimpoint PRO. Just trying to decide between that and the Meprolight M21.

 

[briansmithwins]

I'm tentatively planning to replace it with an Aimpoint PRO. Just trying to decide between that and the Meprolight M21.

I've had both and I still have the Aimpoint.

The M21 is a great sight, but...

It does suffer from washout when shooting from dark into light. The other problem is that the reticle 'blooms' in bright sunlight. I used the M21 during a rifle match and some of the targets were in shadow, while I was in the sun. Even with the top light gathering window covered with tape the reticle was so bright I couldn't see the targets.

BSW

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Thanks, briansmithwins. I can't find a lot of people that own this sight or that have experience with it. The one thing that I've consistently heard is that it's a great sight for someone with astigmatism, which I have. With glasses I don't get any blooming/smearing with any dot sight but with my current contacts I do get that on cheaper dots. However, I'm overdue for a new RX anyways.

 

[briansmithwins]

Not being as bad with astigmatism was a advantage of the M21. I get very good results with the TA44 ACOG too.

With my contacts the Aimpoint dots look like a Nike swoosh but the advantages outweigh the downside for me.

EoTechs are right out as they are too fat in the butt for modern weapons with correctly placed CHs, like the AUG, SCAR, and FS2000.

BSW