Eotech or Aimpoint

[hackercat13]

Hello all,
Looking for a bit of advice on an optic purchase. I have a M4-style carbine on the way with a flat top and a low profile gas block. It'll take pretty much any optic. I was leaning towards the Eotech 512, but a friend suggested the aimpoint PRO. I don't have much experience with tactical optics, so this will be new to me. Any advice or experiences are welcome.
Thanks!
Chris

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[Hardwood floor guy]

the biggest thing to concider is how is your eyesight?
i ask because if you have an astigmatism then they will all look fuzzy to you without sight correction.
i have an eotech and its just a blurry ball of red without my glasses or a magnifier,with the magnifier it is perfect and i love the eotech 557 but if i knew i would need a magnifier for another $500 then i would have just bought a trijicon acog for the same price and much smaller package
same with the aimpoint,it's like a line rather than a dot with bad eyes.

 

[hackercat13]

My eyesight is ok. I do have a mild astigmatism, but have shot a buddy's Eotechwith no issues before. I can shoot iron sights wth and without glasses. I looked at the ACOG as well as the Burris AR-332, and for what I want, as much of a pain as it is, I think an unmagnified primary optic will be my choice. I plan on adding a magnifier with one of those nifty swing-out mounts so you can get it out of the way when shooting up close. I still have a bit of research to do on mounts and maginfiers.....but opinions and advice always welcome!
Chris

 

[dmancornell]

Aimpoint for better battery life and tougher construction.

 

[Spadkarma]

I went with the new Aimpoint Pro a few months ago. I like a simple dot. 5 year battery life is nice, too. I do want to get one of the Biohazzard/Zombie Eotechs. I saw them at the SHOT Show a few weeks ago.

 

[Steve06]

The Aimpoint takes hard to find batteries once a year and sighting through it is very much like looking through the tube on a scope. The Eotech has a much larger display and can be had utilizing several different size batteries all of which are easier to find than the N batteries of the Aimpoint which is good since they last about 1/4th the life of the N battery. That said, if you put AA lithium batteries in the Eotech and carry a couple of spares you should be set for a year or so. Incidentally, the Aimpoint is considered more rugged.

 

[halmbarte]

EoTechs have a history of problems with battery drain, turning off abruptly while shooting, and batteries leaking. The Aimpoints have a battery life measured in years (roughly 5 years) with their 1/3N battery.

If you have a 30mm tube type Aimpoint, you can get a spare battery holder that fits right on the sight, like mine in the pic below. If you get a Laure mount like this: (<broken link removed> ) it has a spare battery compartment built into the mount.

H

 

[timac]

Sorry to hijack the thread, what mount is that on your AK?

EoTechs have a history of problems with battery drain, turning off abruptly while shooting, and batteries leaking. The Aimpoints have a battery life measured in years (roughly 5 years) with their 1/3N battery.

If you have a 30mm tube type Aimpoint, you can get a spare battery holder that fits right on the sight, like mine in the pic below. If you get a Laure mount like this: (<broken link removed> ) it has a spare battery compartment built into the mount.

H

 

[halmbarte]

It's one of these: <broken link removed>

I can leave the Aimpoint mounted while stripping the rifle for cleaning. It also co-witnesses with the irons.

H

 

[fd15k]

The Aimpoint takes hard to find batteries once a year and sighting through it is very much like looking through the tube on a scope. The Eotech has a much larger display and can be had utilizing several different size batteries all of which are easier to find than the N batteries of the Aimpoint which is good since they last about 1/4th the life of the N battery. That said, if you put AA lithium batteries in the Eotech and carry a couple of spares you should be set for a year or so. Incidentally, the Aimpoint is considered more rugged.

New Aimpoints take AA. I would never be worried about battery life on a red dot sight (unless it's something ridiculously low), unless I am in a combat zone and have to have that thing turned on 24x7. But even then EOTech on average setting will last 3 months or something. Whether Aimpoint is more durable than EOTech, I also doubt that. EOTech will operate with partially obstructed or cracked window, just like the Aimpoint. So it boils down to aiming preferences - large circle in EOTech for rapid target acquisition at shorter distances, with small dot in the center for shot placement at longer ones. Or larger center dot in Aimpoint...

Personally, I would put Aimpoint T1 on a rear sight block. Something like this :


Products - Attero Arms & Accessories

 

[Eric911]

The best Aimpoint deal going right now is the PRO. Aimpoint has removed the mil/LE sales restriction, making them available to everyone. Shop around and you should be able to pick one up for $400 shipped.


The EOTech line, the XPS has a lot going for it. The XPS2-0, 65 MOA Circle with 1 MOA Dot is my choice, since I don't have a need for night vision.


It really comes down to personal preference. The Aimpoint has the 30,000 hour battery life, so you can leave it running for 3 years without worry. The XPS, like the other EOTech models, has an auto shut off feature where the optic turns off after 4 or 8 hours (user determined). The PRO has a single 2 MOA dot, while XPS has a 65 MOA outter ring and a 1 MOA center dot.

 

[Bob D]

The EOTech line, the XPS has a lot going for it. The XPS2-0, 65 MOA Circle with 1 MOA Dot is my choice, since I don't have a need for night vision.

Again, Hijacking it... How's the XPS Cowitness with the Magpul MBUS? (I have front and rear, I assume you've got a standard front post)

 

[hackercat13]

Hijack away! More questions = more information!

 

[TapRackNGo]

T1 owner here. I think the Aimpoint is quicker to turn on, if it has been turned off. The Eotech has a push button. If you have to adjust brightness Eotech you need to push a few times until your desired setting, Aimpoint twist. If you run NV, Eotech you have to push a button and if the buttons aren't on the side it can be hard to get in between the Eotech and PVS14 to push the NV button. The T1 is a quick twist of the large knob to get to the NV setting. It's also lighter, longer battery life and doesn't have an auto shutoff setting. Which one is quicker in a CQB situation probably comes down to training and not the actual dot pattern or size. In my opinion the T1 only has a tube "feel" if you try to look through it like a scope. With both eyes open I personally don't really see the housing.

 

[n8nate]

I've used Aimpoints quite a bit, and only put about 30rds down with an EOTech so consider this my bias warning.

That being said, I like the simplicity of an Aimpoint. Red dot on the target, squeeze the trigger. With the circle/dot combo of an EOTech, there's more to get in the way of your sight picture. I know you said you've already ruled this out but my ultimate vote would go for an ACOG. I know it may seem contradictory to what I just said about simplicity, but once you get used to them, they're awesome. I don't think the 4x on the ACOG will be a problem for close shooting unless you're REALLY close and at that point any sight will be a nuisance.

Honestly though you can't go wrong either way. Best of luck.

 

[n8nate]

In the interest of gun pron this is "my" pre-ACOG setup

 

[Eric911]

Again, Hijacking it... How's the XPS Cowitness with the Magpul MBUS? (I have front and rear, I assume you've got a standard front post)

The XPS2 series establishes an absolute co-witness and yes, using a standard fixed FSP. The EXPS2 series uses a 7mm riser for those folks that want the irons to be viewed in the lower third of the optic.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

The Aimpoint takes hard to find batteries once a year and sighting through it is very much like looking through the tube on a scope. The Eotech has a much larger display and can be had utilizing several different size batteries all of which are easier to find than the N batteries of the Aimpoint which is good since they last about 1/4th the life of the N battery. That said, if you put AA lithium batteries in the Eotech and carry a couple of spares you should be set for a year or so. Incidentally, the Aimpoint is considered more rugged.

This is why I went with Eotech, also the superior reticule.. I do not like tiny red dots. The Eotech tip off magnifiers seal the deal for me

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Again, Hijacking it... How's the XPS Cowitness with the Magpul MBUS? (I have front and rear, I assume you've got a standard front post)

Have the EXP3 with quick detach base on my gal's new carbine and the co witness is good

 

[FarmerTed1971]

Aimpoint FTMFW!