Yojimbo
05-29-08, 14:21
It appears there have been quite a few QC issues popping up with EOTech, especially with the newer sights like the 553 and 557.
I don't know what the deal is but the issues seem to have increased after they were bought out by L3. It also seems like their once awesome customer support have gone down hill as well.
Someone once made the analogy that the EOTech was like a 1911 and the Aimpoint was like a Glock. I thought that was a pretty accurate description of the two sights. I have been using the EOTech since the Rev D versions and I’m aware of the issues they have had so I wanted to share some things that I have done that have allowed me to get the most out of my EOTech sights.
I have several Rev F 552s and one of them I have put over 11k trouble free rounds through. This same high round count 552 has also survived a tour of Iraq with my brother and while it was beat to hell it worked 100% without any issues.
Here are a few bits of advice on the EOTech.
1. Do not buy the N cell version. They are more susceptible to failures at high and low temperatures and since no Lithium batteries are available for them the battery life sucks and are susceptible to draining even when powered off.
2. The most reliable EOTechs to date are the AA models which are 552/512. I will not put the 557 on this list because they haven’t been out long enough and they are currently having reticle issues with some of the newer batches. So purchase either a 512 or a 552.
3. IMHO, using alkaline batteries, especially cheap ones, are one of the things that cause a lot of the issues with EOTechs. If you have the option, skip alkaline batteries all together and use only high quality Lithium batteries such as the Energizer E2.
The Lithium batteries are also 1/3 lighter than the alkaline batteries and I believe this small weight reduction helps to mitigate the issue where the recoil will actually cause the batteries to lose touch with the power contacts thus making the sight shut off during firing. I say this because it has never happened to me when using Lithium batteries while I have experienced this issue when using alkaline batteries.
Please note using Lithium batteries will not activate the low battery warning but I believe the advantages the Lithiums give you outweigh the loss of this feature.
4. Always have a spare set of Lithium batteries! If you are using the EOTech for duty then at the very least change the Lithium batteries out monthly. This advice proved very useful in Iraq and helped to keep it functioning 100%.
5. Turn on your EOTech with “Brightness Up” button and when on patrol check and adjust the brightness at least once every 8 hours. This will reset the auto-shutoff feature.
6. Always have a properly zeroed BUIS!
7. Understand the environment you will be fighting in. If you will not have adequate battery supplies available then you may need to use an Aimpoint, if that option is available.
Here are some tips on using the EOTech.
1. Turn down the brightness! Many new users have the reticle turned up too bright for lighting environment that they are in. Having the brightness at the right setting will make the reticle appear clearer and sharper.
2. Keep both eyes open and focus on the target not the reticle! This goes for any 1x red dot sight. One of the biggest advantages of the red dot sights is that they are usable while focusing on the threat.
3. Always mount your sight consistently to the same rail address. Push it forward and tighten the thumbscrew hand tight plus and extra ½ to ¾ of a turn. Also, even though EOTech does not recommend it, use blue Loc-Tite 242. The blue Loc-Tite will keep your thumb screw from loosening and will still be easily removable. Nothing sucks more than having your sight fall off during a firefight.
4. Use the 65 MOA ring for close quarter shooting on the move and use the 1 MOA dot when longer range precise shots are needed. Yes, the 65 MOA looks pixilated but just think of it as a ghost ring and put it on your target and press the trigger. When shooting at close range know and understand your offset!
5. If for whatever reason your EOTech will not come on after changing the batteries you should first verify that it’s not in NV mode. If not then you will need to let the capacitor discharge before it will power up again. To do this leave the batteries out for about 15-30 minutes and then it should power up properly after putting the batteries back in. This issue is generally caused when the EOTech looses power without being shut off properly so always turn off your sight before pulling off the battery compartment!
Nothing manmade is perfect and if you understand their pros, cons and issues you can make the EOTech work very well for you.
With that all that said my next red dot optic will be an Aimpoint T1. This isn’t because the EOTech sucks, I still prefer the EOTech reticle to the single dot, but rather because there are some other features I like such as the extreme compactness, light weight and ridiculous battery life of the T1 Micro.
I have also been following several threads discussing EOTech issues and I have been less than impressed with the current level of EOTech’s customer support. Whether or not I buy another EOTech will really depend on how they handle these issues.
***I don’t claim to be a HSLD type nor am I a professional trainer. I’m just another regular guy who likes to shoot a lot, though not as much as I’d like to these days due to price of ammo:( . I just hope the things I mentioned above might help other EOTech users get the most out of their sights.
I don't know what the deal is but the issues seem to have increased after they were bought out by L3. It also seems like their once awesome customer support have gone down hill as well.
Someone once made the analogy that the EOTech was like a 1911 and the Aimpoint was like a Glock. I thought that was a pretty accurate description of the two sights. I have been using the EOTech since the Rev D versions and I’m aware of the issues they have had so I wanted to share some things that I have done that have allowed me to get the most out of my EOTech sights.
I have several Rev F 552s and one of them I have put over 11k trouble free rounds through. This same high round count 552 has also survived a tour of Iraq with my brother and while it was beat to hell it worked 100% without any issues.
Here are a few bits of advice on the EOTech.
1. Do not buy the N cell version. They are more susceptible to failures at high and low temperatures and since no Lithium batteries are available for them the battery life sucks and are susceptible to draining even when powered off.
2. The most reliable EOTechs to date are the AA models which are 552/512. I will not put the 557 on this list because they haven’t been out long enough and they are currently having reticle issues with some of the newer batches. So purchase either a 512 or a 552.
3. IMHO, using alkaline batteries, especially cheap ones, are one of the things that cause a lot of the issues with EOTechs. If you have the option, skip alkaline batteries all together and use only high quality Lithium batteries such as the Energizer E2.
The Lithium batteries are also 1/3 lighter than the alkaline batteries and I believe this small weight reduction helps to mitigate the issue where the recoil will actually cause the batteries to lose touch with the power contacts thus making the sight shut off during firing. I say this because it has never happened to me when using Lithium batteries while I have experienced this issue when using alkaline batteries.
Please note using Lithium batteries will not activate the low battery warning but I believe the advantages the Lithiums give you outweigh the loss of this feature.
4. Always have a spare set of Lithium batteries! If you are using the EOTech for duty then at the very least change the Lithium batteries out monthly. This advice proved very useful in Iraq and helped to keep it functioning 100%.
5. Turn on your EOTech with “Brightness Up” button and when on patrol check and adjust the brightness at least once every 8 hours. This will reset the auto-shutoff feature.
6. Always have a properly zeroed BUIS!
7. Understand the environment you will be fighting in. If you will not have adequate battery supplies available then you may need to use an Aimpoint, if that option is available.
Here are some tips on using the EOTech.
1. Turn down the brightness! Many new users have the reticle turned up too bright for lighting environment that they are in. Having the brightness at the right setting will make the reticle appear clearer and sharper.
2. Keep both eyes open and focus on the target not the reticle! This goes for any 1x red dot sight. One of the biggest advantages of the red dot sights is that they are usable while focusing on the threat.
3. Always mount your sight consistently to the same rail address. Push it forward and tighten the thumbscrew hand tight plus and extra ½ to ¾ of a turn. Also, even though EOTech does not recommend it, use blue Loc-Tite 242. The blue Loc-Tite will keep your thumb screw from loosening and will still be easily removable. Nothing sucks more than having your sight fall off during a firefight.
4. Use the 65 MOA ring for close quarter shooting on the move and use the 1 MOA dot when longer range precise shots are needed. Yes, the 65 MOA looks pixilated but just think of it as a ghost ring and put it on your target and press the trigger. When shooting at close range know and understand your offset!
5. If for whatever reason your EOTech will not come on after changing the batteries you should first verify that it’s not in NV mode. If not then you will need to let the capacitor discharge before it will power up again. To do this leave the batteries out for about 15-30 minutes and then it should power up properly after putting the batteries back in. This issue is generally caused when the EOTech looses power without being shut off properly so always turn off your sight before pulling off the battery compartment!
Nothing manmade is perfect and if you understand their pros, cons and issues you can make the EOTech work very well for you.
With that all that said my next red dot optic will be an Aimpoint T1. This isn’t because the EOTech sucks, I still prefer the EOTech reticle to the single dot, but rather because there are some other features I like such as the extreme compactness, light weight and ridiculous battery life of the T1 Micro.
I have also been following several threads discussing EOTech issues and I have been less than impressed with the current level of EOTech’s customer support. Whether or not I buy another EOTech will really depend on how they handle these issues.
***I don’t claim to be a HSLD type nor am I a professional trainer. I’m just another regular guy who likes to shoot a lot, though not as much as I’d like to these days due to price of ammo:( . I just hope the things I mentioned above might help other EOTech users get the most out of their sights.