EOTech 512 A65 Rev F

Setting the standard for holographic weapon sights, the EOTech 512 is the AA battery version, and with over 1,000 hours of battery life, it is hard to beat for use in CQB through 2-300 yards.


I'm a perfectionist. I love research, and I agonize over most of my purchases. The EOTech sight had been out a while by the time I decided to buy one (I was able to get the noted "revision F" which I guess solved a few of the glitches they had in earlier models. Now that I've had the scope for more than a year, I by no means regret the purchase, but I will be honest and say that I don't think a perfect AR-15 weapon sight exists today. What I will say is that (since I can only have one) I honestly believe the EOTech comes closest.

Here's what I love:
- Super bright, intensity adjustable, easy to understand reticle.
- Durable, lightweight, low profile design.
- Unbeatable field of view with minimal edges, providing amazing "both eyes open" shooting experience
- Solid factory mount, maintains zero, and returns to zero after removal and re-installing on the gun

Here's what I still want
- Magnification, without a second, 1 pound magnification device.
- Elevation and windage controls, that don't require a screwdriver, and that have setting markings.
- No batteries? Dead in the water... Requires back up iron sights for emergencies.

Here are the competitors I've tried:
- Trijicon ACOG: Great reticle, 4x magnification is nice, but I'd much rather have 1x for offhand shooting up to 200 yards. 4x is great if you have some kind of rest, but makes offhand shooting harder. I love the concept of the zero battery required, but field of view is tricky, and fixed 4x isn't for me.
- Aimpoint: Great battery life, super durable, super simple red dot. I don't like the dot to be more than 1 MOA though, and $800 for a red dot sight? Why??
- Leupold CQT 1-4x: Great concept, great glass etched reticle, very close to my ideal "wants". It is heavy though, and not nearly as nice as the EOTech for both eyes open close up shooting. It is also very pricey.
- EOTech flip to side 4x magnifier: Nice, and the reticle looks super crisp at that magnification. It's heavy though, and forces me to mount the EOTech further forward that I would like... Also, it's another $500. Ouch.

All that said, I'm sticking with the EOTech, solo, for now, unless anyone can suggest a leading competitor that I missed.

One other FYI - even though the 512 is not listed as a "night vision capable" model (nearest one is $100 more), it definately works with night vision. Here's the only difference. The night vision models come with one extra button labeled "NV", that simply turns the scope on at a very low intensity. All you need to do with your 512 is turn it on, and dial it down by hand several clicks, and presto - night vision capable...