Dave in NC
06-10-11, 12:22
On May 26th, I was shooting a few rounds with my S&W M&P15A to confirm my iron sight zero after finding the rear sight "loose" during a cleaning. I didn't think there would be a problem but I figured I needed to check.
I fired 3 rounds with irons only to the body of a B27 target, and for the heck of it thought I'd confirm the EO Tech's zero also. I fired 3 rounds with it to the head of the target. I made the rifle safe, cut the EO Tech off, went downrange, checked these rounds, and returned to fire again.
I fired the 3 rounds with irons only, then shifted to the EO Tech. I pressed the side button, but nothing happened. No reticle.
I pressed again. No reticle. I pressed harder. No reticle. Then I checked the sight, and found the square clear screen (NOT the front or back protective lenses, but apparently an internal "screen") had became dislodged and out of place.
http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n489/DavidnNC/EOTechIssues2011-05-26_15-50-24.jpg
http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n489/DavidnNC/EOTechIssues2011-05-26_15-47-02.jpg
http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n489/DavidnNC/EOTechIssues2011-05-26_15-45-39.jpg
There was absolutely no way to use the sight. I was admittedly disappointed as their nifty marketing shows them working even after taking bullets through the lenses. :(
There is no damage to mine, and no rough handling of the rifle. If not on a sling ON MY PERSON, it rides in a thickly padded case. The model is the 517 (I think) and it is at about the 1200 round mark.
So after I ranted and raved, I called a cell number for a regional rep Thursday evening the 26th and he answered but said they were closed for business (it was after 5:00; he said they were only there putting together a major last-minute package for Joplin Missouri responders).
He said it would be Tuesday 5/31 before I heard from anyone (due to the Memorial Day holiday) but I emailed my story Thursday evening anyway.
I DID-in spite of the holiday-get an email reply on Friday from a CS rep (Daniel Lelko) with an apology and an RMA number.
By the way-the next day, I talked with a special ops (MARSOC) Marine who said that in FIVE TOURS in Iraq, he'd never seen one break, and they mount them on M249s, M240s, and FIFTY CALIBER M2s!
The Marines can't break one in five tours of combat in Iraq while being shot at and attacked with IEDs/EFPs, but I can have one break shooting off a sandbag at the Sheriff's Range! :jester:
(This isn't new for me, I have a Nikon D300 camera which costs well over $1300 and it's currently "broke"-even though National Geographic carries them into the Arctic Circle and into live volcanoes; and I once bought a Colt Python revolver BRAND NEW IN THE BOX that jammed so bad in rookie school I had to send it back to Colt-TWICE! How many of you have ever had a revolver "jam"?)
On Tuesday 5/31 I heard from the CS manager (Michael Kroll) who confirmed the RMA and promised they would fix it. He said my problem was a "detached grating" caused by an assembly error.
I didn't get it to Staples (my UPS Shipping Center) until Saturday the 4th due to work and other issues, which meant it didn't go out until Monday 6-6. They received it on 6-8 and repaired it and turned it back around the same day, shipping it out that afternoon/evening Next Day Air at their expense. I received it today (6-10) at 11:15 AM, and it was back on the rifle at at 11:45 AM.
I have confirmed (for CQB level accuracy) the zero based on the co-witness of the irons. I will-at earliest convenience-confirm the zero by live fire.
So even though I was disappointed in the failure, EO Tech seems to have handled this exceptionally well.
From the time THEY received it, it was back out in a few hours, and back on my gun in 48 hours.
The longest wait was due to Memorial Day and MY usual procrastination! :lazy2:
So...as long as it doesn't fail me again...I have to give EO Tech credit for their service.
I fired 3 rounds with irons only to the body of a B27 target, and for the heck of it thought I'd confirm the EO Tech's zero also. I fired 3 rounds with it to the head of the target. I made the rifle safe, cut the EO Tech off, went downrange, checked these rounds, and returned to fire again.
I fired the 3 rounds with irons only, then shifted to the EO Tech. I pressed the side button, but nothing happened. No reticle.
I pressed again. No reticle. I pressed harder. No reticle. Then I checked the sight, and found the square clear screen (NOT the front or back protective lenses, but apparently an internal "screen") had became dislodged and out of place.
http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n489/DavidnNC/EOTechIssues2011-05-26_15-50-24.jpg
http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n489/DavidnNC/EOTechIssues2011-05-26_15-47-02.jpg
http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n489/DavidnNC/EOTechIssues2011-05-26_15-45-39.jpg
There was absolutely no way to use the sight. I was admittedly disappointed as their nifty marketing shows them working even after taking bullets through the lenses. :(
There is no damage to mine, and no rough handling of the rifle. If not on a sling ON MY PERSON, it rides in a thickly padded case. The model is the 517 (I think) and it is at about the 1200 round mark.
So after I ranted and raved, I called a cell number for a regional rep Thursday evening the 26th and he answered but said they were closed for business (it was after 5:00; he said they were only there putting together a major last-minute package for Joplin Missouri responders).
He said it would be Tuesday 5/31 before I heard from anyone (due to the Memorial Day holiday) but I emailed my story Thursday evening anyway.
I DID-in spite of the holiday-get an email reply on Friday from a CS rep (Daniel Lelko) with an apology and an RMA number.
By the way-the next day, I talked with a special ops (MARSOC) Marine who said that in FIVE TOURS in Iraq, he'd never seen one break, and they mount them on M249s, M240s, and FIFTY CALIBER M2s!
The Marines can't break one in five tours of combat in Iraq while being shot at and attacked with IEDs/EFPs, but I can have one break shooting off a sandbag at the Sheriff's Range! :jester:
(This isn't new for me, I have a Nikon D300 camera which costs well over $1300 and it's currently "broke"-even though National Geographic carries them into the Arctic Circle and into live volcanoes; and I once bought a Colt Python revolver BRAND NEW IN THE BOX that jammed so bad in rookie school I had to send it back to Colt-TWICE! How many of you have ever had a revolver "jam"?)
On Tuesday 5/31 I heard from the CS manager (Michael Kroll) who confirmed the RMA and promised they would fix it. He said my problem was a "detached grating" caused by an assembly error.
I didn't get it to Staples (my UPS Shipping Center) until Saturday the 4th due to work and other issues, which meant it didn't go out until Monday 6-6. They received it on 6-8 and repaired it and turned it back around the same day, shipping it out that afternoon/evening Next Day Air at their expense. I received it today (6-10) at 11:15 AM, and it was back on the rifle at at 11:45 AM.
I have confirmed (for CQB level accuracy) the zero based on the co-witness of the irons. I will-at earliest convenience-confirm the zero by live fire.
So even though I was disappointed in the failure, EO Tech seems to have handled this exceptionally well.
From the time THEY received it, it was back out in a few hours, and back on my gun in 48 hours.
The longest wait was due to Memorial Day and MY usual procrastination! :lazy2:
So...as long as it doesn't fail me again...I have to give EO Tech credit for their service.