Are EO-Tech's Preferred For Close to Medium Range Engagements by U.S. SOCCOM Guys ?

[opmike]

i know this wont help the overall topic, but the vast majority of the regiment guys i've been working with use eotechs. they seem very happy with 'em.

Data on EOTechs seems to be all over the place. One group of guys will report nothing but success with maybe a dead battery here or there, and another group will report having a box of broken units waiting to be repaired. One person will say an he's never seen a group EOTechs make it though a class without one having some kind of problem, and another will report a class full of EOTechs that made it without an issue.

And things get muddied further when we don't have the details. Was the optic being run with Lithiums or cheap alkalines? What model was it? When was the optic made (post Revision F)? It is my understanding that some of the older units were more prone to failure, however it sometimes seems some of the new models (excluding the XPS) haven't substantially improved matters. I recall another thread where some people reported issues even with the latest revision.

However, this is all hard to discern when we simply get a report of a failure without specific details about the model that went down. Otherwise, you run the risk of having old models with known issues "muddying the waters" with respect to the ones produced more recently.

And again, I have no stake in any of these companies. I prefer Aimpoints myself overall. However, my own curiosity simply wants as much quality, objective, first hand knowledge on any product as possible. The EOTechs have caught my attention due to conflicting reports from knowledgeable individuals who have experience with a relatively large number of them.

[sniperfrog]

The biggest thing I don't like on Eotechs is the on/off buttons. they can be kinda of difficult to press with gloves on and it's easy to accidently hit the NVG button in the middle, which, as you know makes the reticle only visible with NVGs on. I see guys do that alot and then you have to turn it off and back on, hit the button 20 times to bring up the reticle, etc....with the Aimpoint, just spin the dial.

[opmike]

I see guys do that alot and then you have to turn it off and back on, hit the button 20 times to bring up the reticle

EOTechs come on in the middle setting, correct? Why would the button need to be hit 20 times after turning it on with either arrow?

[chavez_e_chavez]

EOTechs come on in the middle setting, correct? Why would the button need to be hit 20 times after turning it on with either arrow?

agreed , mine seems like it comes on the same brightness which i shut it off from previously.. also i have one built in apr-may..

[SuicideHz]

An N-cell model with ARMS mounts? As far as I know, that's never been a combination you'd find in a production Eotech.

The Eotechs with the ARMS mounts are the newer 553s and such which take the CR123s.

Also, it IS important, as mentioned, to know if the batteries being used were alkalines or lithiums.

It specifically states in the manual for the SU-231/PEQ that lithiums will work better than alkaline in colder weather but they will NOT allow the Eotech to use the low batter warning that the alkalines will. I do not know why this is, maybe due to how the voltage drops gradually on an alkaline but perhaps cuts off with a lithium.

Basically, when using a lithium battery, you won't get the warning feature where the reticle flashes for a few seconds when initially turned on.

I don't know what came with my new 553 that was dated from March of '10, but they are working fine. I have a stash of CR123s in my SOPMOD stock for the SF 600 Scout but I don't know if they are alkaline or lithium. I think they are alkaline but I'll have to check them and perhaps find a good deal on alkalines.

On another note, I've found that my mk18mod1 clone (with 12.5" Centurion Arms barrel) is more accurate for me at distances of ~225yds with the Eotech as opposed to the H1 with 4MOA dot that I had. I specifically traded out the Aimpoint so I could get this Eotech, the third (or fourth?) I've ever owned. I have always loved the 1/3MOA dot in the middle. Are they still 1/3? I know they used to be in the 55x and 51x models. Supposedly our eyes can't really use 1/3MOA so it appears the same as a 1MOA.

Regardless, I like this thing but it's a bit long. Kind of has to sit on the DD RIS II OR be back up against my DD BIS.

[gits]

It seems to be a split 50/50 with the guys in my unit running Elcan vs Eotechs, maybe a couple guys here and there running an ACOG. For the most part most of our Aimpoints have been turned in. I run an Eotech, over an Elcan just mainly because I don't like the scope shadow if I need to aquire a target real fast. But the Elcans are sure nice and clear.

[JSantoro]

I do not know why this is, maybe due to how the voltage drops gradually on an alkaline but perhaps cuts off with a lithium. That's basically it.

Basically, when using a lithium battery, you won't get the warning feature where the reticle flashes for a few seconds when initially turned on. You may get it, but because of the above, you need to do an immediate battery change; there's little to no grace period, which applies to many devices that can use either alkalines or lithiums.

I have a stash of CR123s in my SOPMOD stock for the SF 600 Scout but I don't know if they are alkaline or lithium. I think they are alkaline but I'll have to check them and perhaps find a good deal on alkalines.

Shouldn't be. The 123A battery should be exclusively lithium. All the CR/DL/CL/whichever prefixes are slapped on there by the particular manufacturer and mean nothing functional or derivative.

[QuietShootr]

Shouldn't be. The 123A battery should be exclusively lithium. All the CR/DL/CL/whichever prefixes are slapped on there by the particular manufacturer and mean nothing functional or derivative.

Correct. 123s are lithiums only.

[BooneGA]

My mistake. I dont know batteries like I dont know EOtech nomenclature. I thought N-Cells and 123s were the same. It was running 123s. The ones the army issue ones that come in the brown box with each battery individually wrapped in brown and clear plastic.

Rick

[dpast32]

THANK'S Guys for all the assorted replies ! I had no idea that my question would elicit such a response. My original query stems from some comments I overheard at the range recently, regarding continuing problems with the EoTech series. I've also read that some "high profile" law enf. trainers strongly prefer the AimPoint to the EoTech for certain reasons, although there was no mention of what "those" reasons were. As I'm always trying to persuade my Dept. to issue the EoTech instead of the AimPoint, I try to keep aware of any "issues" pertaining to either of the systems. I guess what I really wanted to know in my original posting was; Are the SOCOM boys still using the Eotech's in combat, & if so, does SOCOM as a whole tend to prefer them to the AimPoint's ? Why ask as to what SOCOM is using ? It has nothing at all to do with the "coolness" factor, just that SF usually run a good many rounds through their weapons, & do tend to engage in numerous firefights. Please don't misunderstand my referring to SOCOM & not to all the regular line units. ALL the troops overseas seem to getting their share of trigger time, but the SF guy's are allowed to use pretty much what they desire, which many times is not the case with regular units who must use what theyr'e issued. My reasoning was that if the EoTech's are standing up & working well for the trigger puller's over there, they should be more than sufficient for us folks back home.

THANK'S again for all the replies, I really appreciate everyone's input.