Esrice has mentioned a couple of times that, since I own both types, I should 'do a review' of them both. Well, I've finally taken the time. Keep in mind, I am not a pro, nor have I attended class after class of carbine courses to see these optics break, fail, have major issues or have I been to battle with them where I had to beat someone with my rifle, thus experiencing 'the optic still works' thought.
This thread, post, is really just to be informative and a conversation starter; and, perhaps if it is observed to be useful enough, a sticky.
Let's not start a flame war, this or that war. Let's talk about these, their usefulness; and, if the poster has actually used the optic personally and owned one PERSONALLY, NOT HEARSAY, he/she can share experiences for or against.
I want this forum to be useful, to me and to others who are seeking unbiased information that is either hard to find, or scattered in bits and pieces across the web and in various instructors and class monger's heads.
Here goes. I like the Eotech better, it works with my eyes. I can find and hit faster and land more hits, on-target with it better than the Aimpoint. I like the field of view I have over the top of the rifle, more, with the Eotech.
It has it's cons that I have experienced. Shutting it off, is just completely annoying. Two hard pushed fingers on both buttons at the same time. The thing occasionally needs to be re-zeroed. (my Eotech is an old model, keep that in mind) Battery life, DON'T forget to shut if off. The new ones are boasting 600 hours on CR123 batteries now, though.
I have my Eotech, until I get a new model, on my Daniel Defense DDM4 rifle. (It's green b/c it used to be on the XCR
I had it OD Duracoated then)
I've taken a few pics of the Eo mounted on the rifle, and have a couple pics looking through the irons and without the rear flipped up.
I think the Eo works very well with a rifle that has a fixed front sight. (my experience and like)
Pros of Eotech: it will never fall off, solid mounting, more open view up and around its frame, mounts directly on rail, allows easier co-witnessing when the front sight is fixed, circle in dot just draws the eye in, easy battery access,
Cons of Eotech: battery life, too many buttons, fine adjustment is possible but requires some ‘guesswork’ due to MOA click differences from regular scopes, it does occasionally need to be re-tuned, really glares on high settings, both front and back lens need constant cleaning, expensive aftermarket mounts for QD, also I have occasionally have issues with the batteries losing contact. I've had to open the compartment, and close it again, doing this always seemed to 'make contact' for the batteries.
PICTURES ARE NOT THE BEST.
This first pic up close of the Eo on, and through the sight is about middle of the road as far as brightness.
This 2nd pic is looking through the rear (Matech BUIS) sight flipped up. I think, even with the rear sight up, there is plenty of viewing area above the co-witness scene; as well as, through the actual sight. (not a very good pic, sorry)
This last pic is of the actual fixed front sight/optic on view the user engages.
Panned back, you can see how much area around the sight is available. I think this is just 'more' for if, when, you may ever have to see a whole lot. For instance Close quarters like you own home. You can't make out the fixed front sight in either the above, or this pic; but, here it is...
I like the Aimpoint just as well, if I were in Afghanistan, kicking in doors, but also walking the mountain I would choose this optic. I would mount the x3 right behind it as, with the Aimpoint's fine dot, you can really 'pick n stick' the place where you want to put your round. Even on the brightest setting, it is still clear, fuzzy like most optics on the highest setting, but nice. I don't like the 'tube' feel of the Aimpoints though. I am extremely near-sighted, like walk into the wall, near sighted; so, the small dot is harder for me to pick up very very fast.
Pros for Aimpoint: dot is very fine, 2 MOA looks like the 1 MOA Eotech dot, needs fine work if removed in QD mount but not very much, battery life, solid steel tube, just one turning knob—simple operation and quick, could be used for longer ranges
Cons for Aimpoint: needs a mount separate from its housing, raises height of rifle, bulky—field of view is obscured more, caps are just annoying—but you need them as its a little hard to clean, feel like I am looking down a long pipe; longer to acquire dot, does not work well with a fixed front sight like Eotech does (field of view is worse)
I have the Aimpoint mounted on my XCR. I have it locked into a Larue (LT-152) mount. It is a lower mount, and is QD; so I could just remove it if ever the need arose and just flip up the BUIS. To me, with the narrow tube of the Aimpoint body, it is harder to pick up co-witness in lower third portion of the optic as is so popular to do. I just leave them down and remove when needed. I recommend Larue, the Quick Detach lever is easy to use and locks in place and the mount literally locks on so well that I don't ever re-zero but 'a blue moon'.
Aimpoint model ML3: 2 MOA
Here is the dot by itself.
Here is the dot superimposed on the back of the BUIS. Due to the height of the mount, the dot is impeded by the sight when it (the sight) is raised up. The Aimpoint is a very clear picture, but just harder to view through.
I hope you enjoy the pics, and the small write up. Perhaps it will be useful to most who are in the market for some similar items but don't know where, or who to ask.
This thread, post, is really just to be informative and a conversation starter; and, perhaps if it is observed to be useful enough, a sticky.
Let's not start a flame war, this or that war. Let's talk about these, their usefulness; and, if the poster has actually used the optic personally and owned one PERSONALLY, NOT HEARSAY, he/she can share experiences for or against.
I want this forum to be useful, to me and to others who are seeking unbiased information that is either hard to find, or scattered in bits and pieces across the web and in various instructors and class monger's heads.
Here goes. I like the Eotech better, it works with my eyes. I can find and hit faster and land more hits, on-target with it better than the Aimpoint. I like the field of view I have over the top of the rifle, more, with the Eotech.
It has it's cons that I have experienced. Shutting it off, is just completely annoying. Two hard pushed fingers on both buttons at the same time. The thing occasionally needs to be re-zeroed. (my Eotech is an old model, keep that in mind) Battery life, DON'T forget to shut if off. The new ones are boasting 600 hours on CR123 batteries now, though.
I have my Eotech, until I get a new model, on my Daniel Defense DDM4 rifle. (It's green b/c it used to be on the XCR
I had it OD Duracoated then)I've taken a few pics of the Eo mounted on the rifle, and have a couple pics looking through the irons and without the rear flipped up.
I think the Eo works very well with a rifle that has a fixed front sight. (my experience and like)
Pros of Eotech: it will never fall off, solid mounting, more open view up and around its frame, mounts directly on rail, allows easier co-witnessing when the front sight is fixed, circle in dot just draws the eye in, easy battery access,
Cons of Eotech: battery life, too many buttons, fine adjustment is possible but requires some ‘guesswork’ due to MOA click differences from regular scopes, it does occasionally need to be re-tuned, really glares on high settings, both front and back lens need constant cleaning, expensive aftermarket mounts for QD, also I have occasionally have issues with the batteries losing contact. I've had to open the compartment, and close it again, doing this always seemed to 'make contact' for the batteries.
PICTURES ARE NOT THE BEST.
This first pic up close of the Eo on, and through the sight is about middle of the road as far as brightness.
This 2nd pic is looking through the rear (Matech BUIS) sight flipped up. I think, even with the rear sight up, there is plenty of viewing area above the co-witness scene; as well as, through the actual sight. (not a very good pic, sorry)
This last pic is of the actual fixed front sight/optic on view the user engages.
Panned back, you can see how much area around the sight is available. I think this is just 'more' for if, when, you may ever have to see a whole lot. For instance Close quarters like you own home. You can't make out the fixed front sight in either the above, or this pic; but, here it is...
I like the Aimpoint just as well, if I were in Afghanistan, kicking in doors, but also walking the mountain I would choose this optic. I would mount the x3 right behind it as, with the Aimpoint's fine dot, you can really 'pick n stick' the place where you want to put your round. Even on the brightest setting, it is still clear, fuzzy like most optics on the highest setting, but nice. I don't like the 'tube' feel of the Aimpoints though. I am extremely near-sighted, like walk into the wall, near sighted; so, the small dot is harder for me to pick up very very fast.
Pros for Aimpoint: dot is very fine, 2 MOA looks like the 1 MOA Eotech dot, needs fine work if removed in QD mount but not very much, battery life, solid steel tube, just one turning knob—simple operation and quick, could be used for longer ranges
Cons for Aimpoint: needs a mount separate from its housing, raises height of rifle, bulky—field of view is obscured more, caps are just annoying—but you need them as its a little hard to clean, feel like I am looking down a long pipe; longer to acquire dot, does not work well with a fixed front sight like Eotech does (field of view is worse)
I have the Aimpoint mounted on my XCR. I have it locked into a Larue (LT-152) mount. It is a lower mount, and is QD; so I could just remove it if ever the need arose and just flip up the BUIS. To me, with the narrow tube of the Aimpoint body, it is harder to pick up co-witness in lower third portion of the optic as is so popular to do. I just leave them down and remove when needed. I recommend Larue, the Quick Detach lever is easy to use and locks in place and the mount literally locks on so well that I don't ever re-zero but 'a blue moon'.
Aimpoint model ML3: 2 MOA
Here is the dot by itself.
Here is the dot superimposed on the back of the BUIS. Due to the height of the mount, the dot is impeded by the sight when it (the sight) is raised up. The Aimpoint is a very clear picture, but just harder to view through.
I hope you enjoy the pics, and the small write up. Perhaps it will be useful to most who are in the market for some similar items but don't know where, or who to ask.
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