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Looking at a couple of Eotech Red Dots, first let me say that I own a Colt LE6920 fixed front sight. I am looking at either the 517 or the XPS2. Thoughts please, I am looking at putting a Vortex or an Aimpoint 3x magnifier. Ready, Set, Go!

I own a 517 and I really like it. I've had it for several years now. About a year ago, I put it on my wife's carbine, simply because the 3X magnifier wasn't enough ooomph for my aging eyes. She shoots without the magnifier.

I can't speak to the quality of the Vortex or Aimpoint magnifiers. Mine is the EOTech magnifier. It is as rugged as the sight itself (VERY rugged), but I don't know if it is any better than the other two. Mine came with a A.R.M.S. flip-to-side mount, for $499.

I had problems with the Eotech and my eyes. I went with the Aimpoint Pro and I have no trouble.

I prefer Aimpoint

My wife and I both have an Eotech XPS2 on our ARs and we both love them. For us, they have certainly been worth the price.

I've never used one with a magnifier, so I can't comment on that aspect.

One of my neighbors has an Eotech and prefers my Mueller 1-4 Speedshot.

What is the purpose of the rifle. I have a trio of 1-6x, 1-4s, and aimpoints

carlson1 wrote:I had problems with the Eotech and my eyes. I went with the Aimpoint Pro and I have no trouble.

Aimpoint PRO is the way to go!

I put one on a new rifle last year and was convinced! I sold my EOTechs and replaced them all with a PRO.

I'm easily hitting a tennis ball at 100' consistently.

Yes, Eotech vs. Aimpoints is personal preference. I have both and both has it's advantages and disadvantages. Aimpoints are a lot tougher and longer batterty life.

carlson1 wrote:I had problems with the Eotech and my eyes. I went with the Aimpoint Pro and I have no trouble.

I have the Eotech. Love it. My eye problem is short distance. You know, I have about six pairs of readers staged where ever I need them (read forgot them). For me the Eotech means I can shoot with regular safty glases. As long as I am looking at the TARGET not the Dot.

I have an XPS2 and like it. I prefer the reticle on the EOTechs over Aimpoints. However, I am going to buy an Aimpoint Pro as soon as I have the extra money purely because of battery life. Eotechs can't compare to Aimpoints on battery life. You can leave an Aimpoint Pro on for 3+ years and a CompM4 on for like 8 years. I leave my backup Irons folded up in case I forget to turn my Eotech on but I would rather just leave my RDS on all the time.

TheDude wrote:I have an XPS2 and like it. I prefer the reticle on the EOTechs over Aimpoints. However, I am going to buy an Aimpoint Pro as soon as I have the extra money purely because of battery life. Eotechs can't compare to Aimpoints on battery life. You can leave an Aimpoint Pro on for 3+ years and a CompM4 on for like 8 years. I leave my backup Irons folded up in case I forget to turn my Eotech on but I would rather just leave my RDS on all the time.

Get an ACOG, and batteries cease to be an issue. If you don't want magnification, then get a Trijicon Reflex. I totally get what you're saying about batteries, and that is why I got rid of my Burris AR-536 and bought an ACOG instead. For my eyes, I need the magnification, but I really wanted to get away from being tied down to a battery. I really do like my EOTech, but if I had to do it all over again, I'd buy the Trijicon Reflex for that reason.

Also, and I don't know if Trijicon is still making these but they are probably available, but you can get a Trijicon TriPower Reflex Sight which offers Tritium, battery, and fiberoptic power for the reticle. I don't know if they are any good or not, but their other products certainly are, so maybe these are too.

The Trijicons are nice, but the difference in price between them and an EOTech will buy a LOT of batteries.

Never used an Aimpoint, so I can't offer anything meaningful there. For what it's worth, I have an EOTech 512 on my AR (IIRC, the 512 is lower-profiled than the 517, for easier cowitnessing. I might have that backwards).

I also have a 6920 and stayed with just the iron sights for several months before getting an $45-$50 RDS. I had not used one before and didn't want to spend the money on a quality one without knowing if it was something I even liked looking through or not. After only a few trips to the range I began saving up for something. I like the idea of the ACOG, but was getting impatient and had enough for either an Aimpoint or EOTech and ended up going with an EXPS2-0. I like it and can see through it just fine.

Your intended use can help you decide and looking through them at a store also can. Maybe you find that you can't see one or the other very well. I wouldn't want to find that out after spending $400+, although there would probably be someone around here that would help you out and buy it from you if that did happen.