In the world of shooting, accuracy is everything, and your holographic sight can make or break your shot. I tested the best options on Amazon to help you improve your shooting precision.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
1. EOTECH EXPS3-0 - Holographic Weapon Sight
Highlight: Military standard for efficient use and endurance.
Helpful review: A service member came to my shop and wanted to build a custom AR10 rifle. He wanted it in a 16-inch barrel and, if possible, to make it fully automatic. The only thing I could not do for this soldier was the full auto function. Everything else was included for a true-to-form badass machine; sorry to get all technical speak on everyone.
The AR10 shoots the .308 Winchester or the NATO 7.62x51. I have built many other calibers on this platform. Many customers like this rifle built in 6.5 Creedmore, and they do very well in competitions. The AR10 I built for this customer uses the standard NATO rounds and is fed with 30-round polymer magazines. The 16-inch barrel is an attention-getter. Folks from seven shooting positions away stopped what they were doing to have a look when I took it to sight in, and that was on an outdoor range.
After severely testing my hearing protection, I screwed on the muffler, and then it was much more pleasant to shoot. The rest of the gun is pretty standard but of high quality. All finishes were done in Parkerized finish; after doing this in the shop, I like this and may need to make a shed that does only that style finish.
The optic he wanted was an EOTech. He had one issued overseas and will not go with anything else. I read some great reviews about the EXPS3 and found one on the way. The mounting system that came with the sight was made for the AR platform, and I went with that. I also used the Magpul pop-up sights, and the EOTech will co-witness with them perfectly. The co-witness is done in the lower third of the sight. That means that to see through the open iron sights, I had to look through the bottom part of the sight to line up the post and peep.
The reticle is what folks call the donut of death. This is an excellent way to describe the "dot." The reticle is a circle with cross bars on each point of the clock and a smaller dot in the center. This reticle will line up on a target nearly instantly; I could not find a way that this article in this optic will not work and pick up on the target instantly, short of turning it off. When I did that, all I had to do was use the open sights, and I was still in business.
On a holographic sight, a true holographic sight, there is no parallax. Parallax means the need to keep my eye behind the optic. This happens more with scopes and some red dot optics. I could shoot this gun with my head nearly off the buttstock, so long as I could look and see the doubt of death and it on the target, that bullet would hit right where I was aiming.
The holographic has many brightness settings; I think it has to be 12 or more; it gets from nearly too dim to look like a laser pointed at me. The settings for Night Vision are simple to get into; you need to push the NV button, and it is ready to go. The NV settings also go from one to ten, making this the perfect combat weapon optic. I know this can be used with a magnifier, and the one I can think about is the magnifier that Vortex offers. This will instantly take the magnification from 1x to 3x and then off again for closer targets.
The other thing I learned from my customer is the durability of this manufacturer. I did not take the brand-new optic from my customer and chuck it down the rocks, so I have to take his word for it. From what I have been told, the drops and tip-overs of his issued gun and optic could not be counted, and four drops or tosses out of a helicopter for various missions. After all of this wear and tear, the sight never moved.
The one drawback of this optic is the price tag. This optic cost as much as a new AR15 right off the shelf at any gun store. This is more of the top-of-the-heap optic, and the price can be weighed against the threat of living long enough to get home. Many hunters and long-range shooters will tell you the optics will cost about as much as the rifle.
Get it from Amazon now: $699.99 & FREE Returns
2. Vortex AMG UH-1 Gen II - Holographic Rifle Sight
Highlight: Large Viewing Window; easy target acquisition.
Helpful review: After experiencing EOTech with a customer, I began to think about holographic sights. I decided to try a few to see what I needed to keep on the shelf. The Vortex option actually surprised me in its performance compared to everyone else.
The Vortex's build quality can compete with the EOTechs on the market. The reticle on the Vortex is easier for me to see, and I wear glasses. From what I have read and researched, wearing glasses is the bane of folks using a holographic sight. So, for all my customers who come after learning all of this, I will suggest the Vortex due to the ability to see the reticle wearing corrective lenses.
Battery Life:
The optic uses the CR123A battery, and due to its sound design, it is easy to change it out. Vortex claims 1500 hours, and the EOTech folks claim eight hours. I did not test them until the battery died; I probably should have, but I had to close a deal so that I would trust the box and owner's manual.
Glass:
According to my buddy, the coatings on the UH-1 leave a slight blue hue. I can't see that myself, but I have difficulty seeing colors. Looking through the optics side by side, I can't tell the difference between the two for glass clarity.
Price:
When the UH-1 first came to the market, everyone went nuts, and finding them was a little tricky. The places that could get them were very proud of them, and the price reflected that. Amazon now carries them, and the price is lower than EOTech's, but it's not cheap.
Warranty:
Like everything Vortex makes, it has a lifetime unlimited, no-questions-asked warranty. EOTech has a 10-year limited warranty. The significant part about both of these manufacturer products is that it's pretty hard to break them in the first place.
Aesthetics:
From looking across the room, I could not tell which was which unless I looked hard. If I show up to the indoor range with the Vortex UH-1 on an AR build, people will stop to stare at the optic, and I am sure they think it's the EOTech. I don't know why shooters have such a warm fuzzy for this style of optic. When I notice folks looking, I have them try it on for size and look to make a sale; that's what I am made of: guns and parts sales.
Get it from Amazon now: $569.99 & FREE Returns
3. EOTECH EXPS2-0 - Holographic AR-15 Sight
Highlight: Green reticle and side adjustment for brightness.
Helpful review: The EOTech line-up is the gold standard in two-eye open shooting. The EXPS2 is an excellent, more compact unit. When I say compact, I mean the other holographic two-eye shooting optics, not all.
Holographic or proper holographic optics are big, usually wider than the rifle they sit on. The site is significant because it allows it to work with two eyes open and shoot while moving. If holographic sights were the size of red dots or rifle scopes, looking through them in the heat of battle would cause massive tunnel vision. I know people who can shoot a deer rifle scope with both eyes open; I have tried it, and at times, I can do it, but it is only on the range when I have time to do such shooting.
The EXPS2 has the battery sitting along the back of the optic, which protects the connections from unsetting during recoil. This will only happen with heavy recoiling guns; if this is on an AR15 or even the AK47, they do not deliver that much recoil. The batteries can be replaced without removing the optic, and the battery is protected against water by an o-ring and tight threaded cap.
The materials used to make this optic are like those used to make the other EOTech options, built like a lightweight tank. Nothing short of a hammer or giant rock dropping on the rifle will hurt this sight. The glass is clear, and at 1x magnification, it feels like I am looking through a hollow, not through glass.
The reticle is very bright. It will meet and match whatever the environment brings to the shooter. I like the reticle design: the outer ring with the inner dot. Target acquisition is fast and on the money every time. I have the green reticle for this optic as I find it easier to see during the day.
The mount will work with Weaver or Rail bases and has a quick-release lever. The sight can be removed and then put back on if space is an issue. The sights will be on target and good to go at close ranges. Suppose this rifle will try for distance, maybe coupled with a magnifier. In that case, I am not sure I would trust the accuracy without being able to check it. This comes to mind when I see a show on TV; the spy assembles a rifle for a bag, twists the scope in place, and shoots a golf ball-sized thing between two people's heads. None of that would happen, and my thoughts about a quick disconnect optic mount feel the same.
Some may have an issue with this model's Night Vision setting. It does not have a one-button night vision like the other models. This is not a big deal; I don't use night vision for shooting, but this may be a big issue for other folks in hostile areas or nighttime hog hunting.
Get it from Amazon now: $599.00 & FREE Returns
4. EOTECH 512 - True Holographic Sight
Highlight: Specifically designed and built to work on the M4/AR15 platform.
Helpful review: When most shooters think about the side profile of the EOTech, this is the one they are thinking of, and many of the knockoff copies mimic this profile to gain trust they have not earned. The long "nose piece" is the removable battery compartment, which is secured with a clip or lever and makes changing the battery simple and fast. The nosepiece can make mounting the 512 a challenge for some guns, but this optic has been made for the AR platform from the day it was born.
I had a turkey-hunting fanatic who wanted one badly on his 10-gauge extra-tight choke turkey-killing Mossberg. Being dutiful and happy to do it, gunsmith, I will put one on there for him. The Mossberg comes drilled to accept a rail mount, and the EOTech can use an adapter to mount there, so that is what happened.
I am unsure what the exact need for this optic on a turkey gun was or is, but that's what the customer wanted. The 512 looks very cool on that long-barrel shotgun; I will not lie. I am sure the customer had good experiences with this model overseas, and they will withstand abusive recoil and never complain. From what I have heard from him, after shooting over 100 10-gauge shells, the reticle is still right on the money.
The reticle is the standard Circle and dot style and works great to put that gobbler's head in the kill zone. With the broad view, it is easy to follow Tom Turkey until it is transparent and available to take the shot. The 20 brightness adjustments on the reticle help when he is in the dark brush waiting for the bird to get close enough or in the sagebrush in the middle of the day.
Mounting this on a shotgun made for birds means there is no front sight to align it to co-witness with the opinions. Still, like the rest of the EOTech holographic sights, it will set up the lower thirds of co-witnesses without a hassle. The optic uses lasers instead of LED emitters, so the more expensive holographic is for one holographic and not fancy red dots. The laser allows for perfect transmission of the reticle to the glass, now a projection of the LEDs to the glass.
The 512 has been built to the same military standard as the rest. It has been punished with rocks and trees, pounding down the old logging and forest service trails on the handlebars of a four-wheeler for a couple of years now. The worst damage this EOTech has suffered is that some paint has scratched off at times. The paint is fixed with a high-speed secret formula ink held inside a standard Sharpie marker. My customer plans to do a Duracoat Camo paint scheme and include the optic, ensuring the birds have less chance than before.
Get it from Amazon now: $479.00 & FREE Returns
5. EOTECH XPS2-1 - Holographic AR Sight
Highlight: Waterproof to thirty-three feet deep submersion.
Helpful review: This weapon sight is made for quick, close shots. When I say close, I am talking within 100 yards and man-size targets. This optic is also made to be shot with both eyes open, not like a scope shot with one eye closed.
The XPS2 is one of the best in the world for shooting while moving. This optic is fantastic and cannot be beaten for this type of shooting. The glass is wide and very clear. I have never seen a reflection on the glass from the shooter's side. The reticle is sharp; EOTech uses a laser to send the reticle, not LED, being reflected on the glass.
When I say it uses a laser, not an LED, this is what makes a true holographic sight. The laser always puts the reticle in the center of the glass. The LED style will project the reflection, but it will only be on target if the shooter's eye is right behind the lens. The reticle is a large outer ring around a small 1MOA dot. This reticle makes sight acquisition fast with the large ring, then precise with the tiny dot if needed. The retile for this one is red, not the green reticle, making it much better for dark or night use.
Sighting in an EOTech is a treat. I can laser bore sight them in my shop in a few minutes, then take them to the range. I usually get these on target at 25 feet in about five minutes at the range. I can move the target to 50 yards, and I may have simple adjustments to make, but the round hits in the nine rings all the time. When I take it to the 100-yard line, it takes me three or four rounds again, and I am in the X-ring. I am not a master shot or anything; I use a Caldwell Lead Sled to make the shooting more accurate. After getting on the X-ring, I have the rest of the ammo box to enjoy just shooting this rifle and optic. This optic style is best mounted forward, as far up on the receiver as possible. If I can find a mount to move the optic forward, I will get a pile of them.
I have mounted probably thirty EOTechs on rifles and some shotguns. I have never had a customer mention the reticle getting off target, regardless of the rifle or shotgun recoil. The sight is somewhat significant in outer dimensions but only weighs eight ounces. Most AR rifles I build and sell go out of here with a red dot sight; most folks don't want to spend or can't afford to spend the money on a true holographic. The folks that mount a scope on their AR rifles soon learn that the added weight and bulk are not the right choice for a gun that is carried in hands all day long.
PROS:
- A reticle that makes target acquisition fast and accurate.
- Crisp and clear glass for lens.
- Fully coated lens.
- Large Field of View.
- No parallax for easy to use in all positions.
- Unlimited eye relief.
- Rugged and tough materials manufacture.
CONS:
- Short battery life compared to others in the market.
- It uses a CR123 battery, which is not as easy to find as AA batteries.
- It weighs twice as much as Aimpoint Micro or Sig Romeo5.
Overall, this sight excites me when I mount one and use it at the range. The way EOTech builds products is inspiring. When I grow up, I hope my machining skills reach this level of perfection. For anyone who wants to own and use a holographic sight and can afford the XPS2-0, feel free to get one and mount it on your rifle. They are built for the AR platform, but if a gun can use a rail, this sight will work there.
Get it from Amazon now: $579.99 & FREE Returns