Eotech Dot Reticle EOTECHXPS2-1 Holographic Weapon Sigh (Open Box)

I am an avid shooter and I own numerous red-dot-sights for both rifles and pistols. For various reasons I decided to purchase the EOTech XPS2-0. Most EOTech sights, this one included, feature a circle-dot reticle: a 65 MOA circle with a 1 MOA dot in the center. I had initially been skeptical of the reticle type that the EOTech uses. I worried that it would be more distracting than the simple "red dot" reticle that most sights of this type use. After considerable use, I am now a believer in the EOTech reticle. Many in the military prefer the EOTech reticle because it makes fast target acquisition easier -- the shooter does not have to "hunt around" to find the reticle when trying to acquire and shoot the target. Further, the EOTech sight is very high-quality, and I have found that the reticle does not obscure the target or in any way interfere with precision shooting. The one MOA center dot is ideal for precision shooting while the 65 MOA circle aids in fast target acquisition. As with all red-dot-sights, the trick is to focus one's eye on the target, not the reticle. Through the magic of holographics, the reticle will then be in focus anyway, along with the target, making for an ideal sight picture. (A common error that shooters make with red-dot-sights is to focus their shooting eye on the reticle rather than the target.) The EOTech XPS2-0 is the only sight I have ever used in which it seemed natural to keep both eyes open while shooting. I am a shooter who otherwise has shot rifles and pisols with my left eye closed for the past 40 years. There are other model variants of the XPS2 that have other reticle patterns. The pattern is not selectable on this model, however. It provides only the circle-dot reticle described in this review. The sight is very easy to mount and zero. It has wonderful mounting hardware -- the user can choose between a large hand-adjustable bolt that secures the sight to a Weaver or Picatinny rail, or a smaller Allen-type bolt (the necessary Allen wrench is supplied as well). The advantage to the large hand-adjustable bolt is that it can be adjusted in the field in case one wishes to remove the sight. The zeroing hardware is excellent -- the sight provides large adjustable screws for windage and elevation with large lettering identifying which direction to move the adjustment to adjust Point of Impact of the rounds. I found the sight very easy to zero in at the rifle range. The adjustment hardware is first-rate. This, by the way, is a common shortcoming in some red-dot-sights. I have evaluated sights where the zeroing hardware was tiny little Allen screws that were very easy to strip and very difficult to manipulate at the range. I prefer a robust adjustment mechanism as is present on this EOTech model. The construction of the EOTech XPS2-0 is robust and excellent, as one would expect for a military-grade sight. One missing feature to the sight is a dust cover. I get it that the sight is built to withstand rain and mud. But most users will come to appreciate and value this sight, and seek to take good care of it. It is surprising that EOTech does not provide a simple dust cover for the sight. Most users will purchase one of the after-market dust covers that are available. In its price range the main competition for the EOTech XPS2-0 are the Aimpoint red-dot-sights. I have extensively used the Aimpoint H-1, which is a bit more expensive than the EOTech XPS2-0. Both are excellent sights and the user will not go wrong with either. Among other things, the Aimpoint H-1 is notoriously good as regards battery life, rated for an astounding number of continuous hours. The EOTech manual states that this one is good for around 600 hours. The EOTech warns the user when the battery is getting to the end of its service life, and due to the nature of lithium batteries, when this occurs, failure is not long to come. Longer battery life is an advantage of the Aimpoint. Another advantage of the Aimpoint is size. While the XPS2-0 is small, the Aimpoint H-1 is even smaller. In practice both sights are small enough to use even on a large pistol such as the Ruger Mark III pistol or a rail-equipped revolver. The size difference is probably unimportant for a rifle. The XPS2-0 fits superbly on a Ruger 10/22 rifle, for example. Either sight is ideal for rifle use. The EOTech, of course, has the EOTech circle-dot reticle while the Aimpoint approach is a small red-dot. Each has its advantages. I never thought I would say it, but I have come to prefer the EOTech approach. For shooting Zombies the quick target acquisition that the circle-dot reticle affords can be the difference between a dead Zombie and being overcome. Of course, the two sights are very different in that the EOTech is a holographic open sight while the Aimpoint H-1 is a tube-style sight. Both are superb, military-grade solutions and the user's preference is probably the final determinant as to which approach is better. Overall, I am very enthusiastic about the EOTech XPS2-0. This is a beautiful, robust sight. It is not inexpensive and not everyone will want to spend as much money on the sight as many firearms cost. But for those who want the best in a non-magnified optical red-dot-sight, the XPS2-0 is an outstanding solution. Highly recommended without reservation. RJB.