Optic Suggestions - Anyone used eotech xps2-1?

[rob_s]

Eric, maybe I missed it, but can you clarify if this is an issue you're having with the optic at home vs. out on the range?

My first RDS, a diamond-reticule Eotech, appeared horribly pixelated and blurry when I first looked through it at home, hand held. It didn't get a whole lot better when I mounted it up and stared at it at home. It got a little bit better when I was at the range trying to zero it. It wasn't until after I got out to the range and started running some drills with it that I didn't notice the blur at all. To this day my astigmatism causes some degree of blur in every red dot sight I use. How much I notice said blur depends on what I'm trying to do with it. In actual use I don't even think about it.

However, the Trijicon line of optics offer no blur to me whatsoever. I used a 3X compact ACOG with great success for several years. In very bright sunlight it blooms and makes precision shots more difficult, but there are workarounds for that. The Accupoint 1-4x can work equally well. Neither are as "fast" at close range as an RDS, and both cost more, as much as 2x more.

I have found no functional difference between the Aimpoint and Eotech when it comes to blur. The Eotech starts out with a smaller dot so it appears smaller after the bloom as well. Both are mitigated to a large degree by turning down the brightness. For me, in actual use, when the majority of shooting is done at 50 and in, the RDS is still the better option due to cost, weight, and speed.

[Eric D.]

I think it would have been a problem regardless of the setting. I rarely wear my glasses, I'm actually supposed to wear them when I drive but I usually don't unless I'm going to an unfamiliar area and I need to read street names. Its not like a can't see objects, especially moving ones, I just have a hard time reading text and objects don't look very crisp. I did notice that the EOtech looked clearer depending one the distance it was projecting to and the type of background it was. Looking out into the snow on a sunny day with the brightness turned up made it much clearer than looking at a wall across the room in moderate light even without glasses. I was shooting with my glasses at 50 yards to zero it. Without my glasses, I can definitely see the paper and the black circle but the red center is hard to see. At 50 yards, the reticule eclipsed the entire target without glasses. Placing the EOtech out further didn't make it any clearer, just larger. Since close quarters is my primary concern, I agree and RDS is the best option. I was looking at an EOtech xps2-1, the one with just a 1 moa dot. This seems like an excellent solution: no ring to get in the way, plus increased precision. I did a search on the xps2-1 and despite what you might think, most people didnt find the smaller dot difficult to acquire. Have you ever used an xps2-1, Rob?

[rob_s]

No, the ring is about the only thing I like about the Eotech. For a smaller dot I like the Aimpoint C3 with 2 MOA dot, or would look at the new Aimpoint PRO you can get from G&R Tactical for $410 with mount.

[Alaskapopo]

Have you attempted to move the positioning of the EOTech back and forth on the rail to see if it gives you a clearer picture? Maybe placing it more far forward?

For close range use it does not seem to matter and you may not need magnification, I would still go with an EOTech. Although I do not have the eye problem, I find the EOTech ring easier to locate under stress than a simple dot on the Aimpoints. So that governs my selection. For close range, under stress, I would not feel the need for magnification.

The problem with EOTech, was that some of their rings were canted it what appeared to be a factory defect. The Hash marks at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock were not level. Although not related to the eye problem issue, I would also check into that possible defect with canting. I changed a lot of rails before seeing others had the same issue. So it was a nuisance trying to get perfection. Hope that problem is resolved now.

On a low budget, I stay away from Trijicon since the years go past very fast and I worry about having to send them back and the long wait to get it back, the expense, compared to a quick battery change.

Trijicon scopes will work in daylight forever. The tritium does go bad eventually but the scopes are still usable.
Pat

[Eric D.]

Does anyone have any experience with the xps2-1 with just a 1 moa dot? Looking around on the web I can't find any videos or review on that specific model.

As I said before I think the 1 moa dot would be an excellent solution but I'm torn between that and the aimpoint CompML3. My only concerns with the aimpoint is that it may not go bright enough to see in total darkness or on a black or bright surface. It also seems that the EOtech would be better for both eyes open.

[Alaskapopo]

Does anyone have any experience with the xps2-1 with just a 1 moa dot? Looking around on the web I can't find any videos or review on that specific model.

As I said before I think the 1 moa dot would be an excellent solution but I'm torn between that and the aimpoint CompML3. My only concerns with the aimpoint is that it may not go bright enough to see in total darkness or on a black or bright surface. It also seems that the EOtech would be better for both eyes open.

Its easier to see the dot in darkness so your statement does not make sense to me. The Aimpoint is every bit as bright as the Eotech and its a better built sight.
Both are easy to shoot with both eyes open. I shoot all optics and irons this way. You just have to train yourself.

[Hmac]

Does anyone have any experience with the xps2-1 with just a 1 moa dot? Looking around on the web I can't find any videos or review on that specific model.

As I said before I think the 1 moa dot would be an excellent solution but I'm torn between that and the aimpoint CompML3. My only concerns with the aimpoint is that it may not go bright enough to see in total darkness or on a black or bright surface. It also seems that the EOtech would be better for both eyes open.

I agree with PoPo that at night particularly, you really want to dial the brightness down on any RDS, so I don't understand the question. Both the Eotech and Aimpoints in my experience accommodate any lighting condition, total darkness to bright sunlight.

For my part, I prefer the Eotechs. Partly for their reticle with the ring and partly because they're easier for me to shoot both eyes open. The reason for that IMHO is less "tube" effect, which for me makes for less critical head position in order to get the reticle into view of my dominant eye. I find I can pick up the reticle much quicker and get my aiming done more efficiently with the Eotechs than with the Aimpoints. I worked my T-1 on my SBR for months...just couldn't warm up to it. No denying that the Aimpoints are popular, and a well-made RDS, though. If it works for you, Aimpoint is always a good choice.

[Eric D.]

Ooof *slaps head* I guess it would make sense that its easier to see the dot in low light.

The more I look at the aimpoints, the more they grown on me. The lens caps, battery life, and switching mechanism are all pluses. Its hard to know which will work best for me without actually looking through them but I think I might jump on an aimpoint.

For $100 price difference, what are the differences between the Comp ml3 and the PRO?

[ac130usnsr]

Ooof *slaps head* I guess it would make sense that its easier to see the dot in low light.

The more I look at the aimpoints, the more they grown on me. The lens caps, battery life, and switching mechanism are all pluses. Its hard to know which will work best for me without actually looking through them but I think I might jump on an aimpoint.

For $100 price difference, what are the differences between the Comp ml3 and the PRO?

For $100 more, the CompML3 gives you 50k hours of battery life vs the PRO's 30k. You also get a choice of 2 or 4 MOA reticle vs the PRO's 2 MOA reticle. What you don't get is the PRO's NVD settings and the free QRP2 mount. Everything else is the same.

[DOA]

I have the XPS Eotech with the single dot. I prefer the heads up of the EOtech vs the tube like Aimpoint, although I have to agree the Aimpoint is better built and the battery life is no contest.
The single dot I am very happy with and can be seen in bright daylight.