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Aimpoint or EoTech....

2304 Views 21 Replies 18 Participants Last post by  2edgesword
Well I'm ready to buy some optics for my AR and I'm at the usual crossroad between these two choices. I've been shooting from iron sights for quite a while and I'm ready for a change.

I'm leaning towards eotech because I like the low profile, the reticle, among several other features.

I'd also like to be able to mount a magnifier in the future to go a little more long distance. One question I have is regarding models. The second question I have is regarding where to purchase.

I know there are many of you out there with allot more experience than I so I'd love to hear what you think.

Think outside the box (regarding money). I'd like to keep it cheap but I'd also like to do this only once. If I have to spend more (ie. model, mount) than I will.

Thanks in advance!!!
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but I'd also like to do this only once. If I have to spend more (ie. model, mount) than I will.
Well then in that case I suggest a Trijicon Acog...otherwise I have friends that all love the Eotech
  I have the Eotech and am quite fond of it. The advantage to the Aimpoint is the battery life. It is measured in 1000s of hours as opposed to the Eotech wich is much less. Both have magnifyers and are close in price. One thing I find with the Eotech is that the dot is not as precise as the Aimpoint at long distances. I find that at 200 yds. the dot covers a 10" plate, even when the brightness is turned down. The Aimpoint seems finer. Of course this type of sight is really not designed for long distances without the magnifyers. The Eotech design seems faster in CQB type shooting.
I have an EoTech (512A65/1 the AA battery model no NV) and I am very happy with it. I have it mounted forward of my carry handle and it co-witnesses with my irons perfectly.

An alternative to the EoTech/Aimpoint is the Burris fastfire II I have one on my Hipoint 995 carbine mounted to the top rail on the TS stock. I am quite happy with it as well. It runs about $200 with a standard mounting system, I opted for the mount with the protective "wings" for another $50.
I have an EoTech 512.  Unless you are using Night Vision and are considering spending $3000+ on a PVS-14 I would stick with a standard model.  For CQB the EoTech is tops, if I were to go Aimpoint it would be an M4 or the T-1/H-1.  In fact, I will be using a T-1 on my next build on a stand off mount so I can add a long range optic.  My biggest issues with the EoTech are weight and battery life.  The problem is, you just can't keep it on all the time, and if you are in a situtation where you would need to engage at a second's notice, you are SOL.  It also is not as water proof as they claim.  With the magnifier it is deadly accurate but it takes up alot of room and weighs too much.  On the up side, you aren't looking through a tube, and you have no tendancy to close one eye to get a sight picture.  The best thing you can do is go to a store and try some of them.  I don't regret my EoTech, but there are things they can do better.  For what its worth, it is still on my primary HD rifle.
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When I was out at Calverton this weekend I was checking out a Bushnell trophy ACOG. It has a little T bar for a dot and they run about 100-200 range. 1X maginfication. The owner said he really liked it for the money. I'd really like to get a Eotech with a flip out magnifier, but by the time you get done with all of that (sight, mount and maginifier) you are at about the same price as a good used Trijicon and that never needs batteries.

-Jim
i have a rock river elite and have it equipped with an eotech 557 and 4x flip to side...i love this set up however i must say you cant go wrong with a trijicon...my next ar will have this site.
Check out nutnfancy on YouTube .good reviews of both
bonesetter said:
Check out nutnfancy on YouTube .good reviews of both
+ 1 ...
bonesetter said:
Check out nutnfancy on YouTube .good reviews of both
Everyone should check out Nutnfancy's channel on youtube. Here goes into great detail on firearms, sights, knives and outdoor survival stuff. Also, a great 2nd amendment supporter!
truckie453 said:
I have an EoTech (512A65/1 the AA battery model no NV) and I am very happy with it. I have it mounted forward of my carry handle and it co-witnesses with my irons perfectly.
Do you have a picture you could post that shows it mounted like that? That sounds exactly like what I am trying to do on one of my AR's.
Pate said:
Do you have a picture you could post that shows it mounted like that? That sounds exactly like what I am trying to do on one of my AR's.
Here you go...
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I have run the Eotech 512 on Larue mount, Aimpoint T1, and TA31F ACOG since I began shooting ARs.
The EoTech has a fine 1moa center dot that allows greater precision fire than the 4moa T1. I have successfully engaged humanoid silhouettes to 350yds using the EoTech without magnifier.
Beyond 350yds I recommend the ACOG because the holdover and windage become more difficult using just the 1moa dot. I think the EoTech is great for CQB. The size, weight and roughly 1k hour battery life are the drawbacks.
The Aimpoint T1 is lightweight and extremely rugged. The illumination adjustment dial is large and easy to adjust with gloves. The small buttons on the EoTech leave something to be desired. The battery compartment is more rugged on the Aimpoint, no jarring or hard impacts will break the circuit disabling the light. Weak battery contact springs were problem on early Eotech models and I just believe the design using 2 AA batteries is more prone to failure.
The T1 is my current go to optic. I leave it permanently on and if you know your holdovers its capable of hitting a clay bird at 200yds. I recommend turning both red dots down a much as possible for greater long range precision.
I will mention the ACOG because it was cited earlier in this thread. I think the ACOG is the best compromise if you may need to shoot with greater precision out to 400-500yds. Whereas with the Aimpoint or Eotech you may need several shots to bracket a clay bird at 200yds, really due to the size of the reticle, you can make the shot on the first try. I believe the ACOG red chevron reticle is reasonably quick to acquire a target inside of 25yds, the Aimpoint 4moa dot or Eotech dot and ring are much faster for CQB drills.

Not knowing you desired application, I would choose the Aimpoint T1 on an elevated mount such as the Larue, Daniel Defense or Bobro. I prefer Larue. The elevated mount will put your back up irons in the lower 1/3 of the reticle. Based on the necessary eye relief when using the ACOG I would recommend folding rear backup iron sights.
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Just to let the thread know I got the Aimpoint Comp ML2 a couple of weeks ago and I love it. It's been a small adjustment from iron sights to a red dot but I like it allot.

I'll post a picture of the setup when I get home form work.
glocklife said:
Just to let the thread know I got the Aimpoint Comp ML2 a couple of weeks ago and I love it. It's been a small adjustment from iron sights to a red dot but I like it allot.

I'll post a picture of the setup when I get home form work.
Cool. curious, Why did you decide on it over the eotech?
I've fired rifles with Aimpoints but I own a few EOTechs. I prefer the 1 MOA center dot as opposed to the 4 MOA (never tried the 2 MOA) as I feel the dot covers too much of the target.

But EOtechs eat batteries.
ACOG 'nuff said
nicky said:
I have the Eotech and am quite fond of it. The advantage to the Aimpoint is the battery life. It is measured in 1000s of hours as opposed to the Eotech wich is much less. Both have magnifyers and are close in price. One thing I find with the Eotech is that the dot is not as precise as the Aimpoint at long distances. I find that at 200 yds. the dot covers a 10" plate, even when the brightness is turned down. The Aimpoint seems finer. Of course this type of sight is really not designed for long distances without the magnifyers. The Eotech design seems faster in CQB type shooting.
I have both Aimpoint and Eotech. Eotech's dot is 1 MOA, while Aimpoint's is 2 MOA. So it is actually easier to shoot at long distances. If you are shooting either one at over 100 yards, you would want to consider a 3X magnifier.
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