Can't Decide: Eotech or Aimpoint

[WinstonSmith]

I like the aimpoint pro. Should be able to get used for $250. Never owned a micro don't know how they hold up over time. Eotech is good. I've had them and they never failed on me but I never used them hard over a long period in adverse conditions either. The pro I know and trust so I stick with it.

 

[ReservoirDawg10]

 

[Burdy]

The Aimpoint is known for bomb-proof reliability and leave-on-all-the-time battery life. It is the best of Red-Dot sights.
The EOTech is known for speed and lack of parallax. It is the best of a very limited category of holographic sights.

EOTech's made past mid year 2016 are very reliable optics (Does it have the new logo? Its good to go). There was several issues with past iterations. SOCOM chose the new version EOTechs after extensive testing by CRANE against all other options. If you know how CRANE tests something, you understand what winning that contract means. There is no politics involved in a decision to come BACK to your optic after throwing your optic out and suing you, without significant product improvements. As nwbn90 mentioned, historically CR123 powered EOTechs have been the more reliable model.

• If you want to run a magnifier, EOTech is preferred as the center dot will always appear 1 MOA for better precision
• The EOTech will also have significantly less parallax than a red dot sight (3 to 4 times less). An even greater discrepancy appears between the two if you are shooting at the edge of your window
• Aimpoints will have significantly better efficiency and battery life because it is driving an LED instead of a laser (10 to 15x+ longer battery life)
• Aimpoints will inherently be more durable because it is much less complex with fewer moving parts
• Most people with astigmatism with find a holographic sight to work better for them, but a small minority don't as astigmatism varies from individual to individual.
• EOTechs seem fuzzy to some, but most of that is because you are looking at the reticle (like with a red dot sight), holography is designed to be focused on at the distance of the target, if you change your focus to your target, the reticle will clear up because to your eye/brain, the holographic reticle is at the target distance, not in the window. Add a magnifier and the fuzzinnes completely disappears because it forces the proper focus.
• The Aimpoint will be smaller and lighter
• The EOTech will have the larger FOV
• The EOTech will have clear glass whereas the Aimpoints have a slight tint, the highest end models have the least amount
• As for reticles, the bottom of the EOTech ring, the hash is your 7 yard CQB POI, for some, they like having that reference along with the ring, others prefer just a dot like the Aimpoints (You can actually order an EOTech with only a dot, they have a -1 designation to the part number)

There is a lot to be said for an optic that you can leave on. It's always ready and its simple. From a self defense and patrol optic standpoint, that goes a long way. That and durability is why Aimpoint does so well.

If your job is staying ready and kicking doors, or you are just a spun up individual, you will likely appreciate the quicker EOTech with better parallax and easier off axis shooting.

Either way you go, if you go magnifier, get the EOTech magnifier. It is the best one on the market and there really is no argument about that. They simply DO NOT break. The glass is clear and you will have it forever, the only real downside is the slightly tight eyebox.

 

[DTW556]

The newer EOTechs are solid (XPS/EXPS) models have been addressed from the prior bugs. Aimpoints are still the most reliable optics and have vastly better battery life. But I prefer the Eotech for the larger window. To me it seems faster. I don’t like the “tube effect” aimpoints give

100% agree. Ran a 512 for about a year, loved it. Got rid of it and tried out the T1 micro on a larue mount and loved it too. Smaller window and tube effect bothered me, not sure why other than personal preference. Plus magnifying the T1 causes weird dot flaring and such. I know the T2 solved that problem, and I've never heard of any of the Comp or Pro series having said issue with magnification. Seems like you want the magnifier OP, so either option would work for you.

I ended up getting a new production XPS2 and I love it. Just really like the nice clear open window and the reticle. Plus the added benefit (debatable as all things are) of the lack of dot size change under magnification. Battery life isn't a big deal to me, as I do battery checks as a part of my cleaning regimen. My XPS actually has decent life for what I use it for, home defense and light competition. I use the surefire 123 batteries and just check it every so often. The reason I tried the T1 was all the hype around the micro series, and it's all true. That thing was super nice, and one of the few times I've spent that kind of money on something and felt like I got my money's worth, like a Geissele trigger. The Eotech is no different, well built and worth every penny.

In the end, as a civilian rocking a dad bod and a budget, I went with what I like. Is it the best at battery life, bomb resistance, etc? Nope. Does it work for me and what I plan to use it for, and will likely handle any abuse I can put it through? Absolutely. Just try what you can, and decide which one you like personally. That's the luxury of it not being issued to you, you get to pick what works best for you, not what works for most. Like Burdy elloquently put it above, you can't go wrong with either one.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[RiverBend]

Eotech, actually 2 of em for aimpoint costs, for home defense, much faster acquisition and the large ring is all you need in a building, or up to 25 yards away, if the circle is on em, the hole is in em, the 1 moa dot is for precision shots on an AR pistol.

 

[Rattlehead]

I've owned both and prefer the Aimpoint T2, but the Eotech worked just fine as well.

 

[cjnowell72]

I have used both in and out of the sandbox. Personally like the larger window in eotechs. Like other have said i dont like the tube effect and small windows of aimpoints. Personally as little as most of us use our rifles i doubt that battery life will really affect most of us. Eotech has a great warranty for 10 years. I just sent one back that was 16 years old. Since they cant fix it they gave me 50% off anything on the entire website. So i got a $1900 vudu for half price. Dont know about aimpoints warranty

 

[nwbn90]

100% agree. Ran a 512 for about a year, loved it. Got rid of it and tried out the T1 micro on a larue mount and loved it too. Smaller window and tube effect bothered me, not sure why other than personal preference. Plus magnifying the T1 causes weird dot flaring and such. I know the T2 solved that problem, and I've never heard of any of the Comp or Pro series having said issue with magnification. Seems like you want the magnifier OP, so either option would work for you.

I ended up getting a new production XPS2 and I love it. Just really like the nice clear open window and the reticle. Plus the added benefit (debatable as all things are) of the lack of dot size change under magnification. Battery life isn't a big deal to me, as I do battery checks as a part of my cleaning regimen. My XPS actually has decent life for what I use it for, home defense and light competition. I use the surefire 123 batteries and just check it every so often. The reason I tried the T1 was all the hype around the micro series, and it's all true. That thing was super nice, and one of the few times I've spent that kind of money on something and felt like I got my money's worth, like a Geissele trigger. The Eotech is no different, well built and worth every penny.

In the end, as a civilian rocking a dad bod and a budget, I went with what I like. Is it the best at battery life, bomb resistance, etc? Nope. Does it work for me and what I plan to use it for, and will likely handle any abuse I can put it through? Absolutely. Just try what you can, and decide which one you like personally. That's the luxury of it not being issued to you, you get to pick what works best for you, not what works for most. Like Burdy elloquently put it above, you can't go wrong with either one.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

I think aimpoints are the best red dot on the market..... but people really still have a bad taste in there mouth from the Eotech issues of years past. the new ones are extremely rugged and from what I've read and the dudes I know in the "industry" all still use Eotechs.

 

[halo696]

I prefer the Eotech over the Aimpoints even though I still have both. I'm not saying the Aimpoint isn't tougher or battery life isn't better. It came down to which one I personally was on target with faster and more accurate with. Eotech was the winner. The advantages of the Aimpoint over the Eotech weren't enough to out weigh speed and accuracy for me. Especially in what ever far fetched situation I would ever in a thousands year get into here at home or the surrounding areas where I would even have access to the weapon. I also wanted my optic, laser and light to all use the same battery not to mention my clip on thermal matched way better with the Eotch than the T1s etc.... I figure if I need to worry about grenade percussion or being in the field around town weeks at a time without extra batterys we probably have much more pressing issues to worry about. ha! I suggest you try both and see which one you are more proficient with. That is my opinion a more realistic aporoach than whether if it gets ran over by a car or how long the optic will stay on sitting in a closet or trunk of a car.

 

[KonstantOne]

This is great insight. A BIG thank you out to everyone for contributing!!