Greetings. I really like the EOTech XPS-2 on my AR15. But my eyes are playing the aging job on me. I can no longer see a sharp dot and circle. (astigmatism?)
At 100 yards the dot is a small blur without much definition. Center mass I do fine. Neck and head shots are not so great now adays.
It has been suggested I go to a scope so I can return to those tight groups.
I’m on a tight retired guy budget. The only scopes I have available are a 4x32 Ruger and the 3-9x40 on my 7mm rem mag. I also have a red/green dot 1x (CP Tactical, I think. I can see a good dot in this one. but it is 4 moa.).
You fellas have any suggestions about what I should do or use? That is other than buy another scope or quit shooting?
Thanks for your help.
Check out the Trijicon reflex sights. The dot on that is a lot sharper than any Aimpoint or Eotech I’ve handled. It doesn’t need batteries, either.
Why can’t you use your existing scopes?
I would go with something like the new Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x, variable optics give you the best of both worlds, quick up close similar to a reddot, magnification when you need it for the longer shots, only downside is a bit more weight than a red dot.
Edit: The Strike Eagle is already selling for $299, very hard to beat that price.
Do you wear corrective lenses? I have astigmatism in my right eye which causes issues with red dots, as you’ve experienced. Several months ago, my eye doc moved me to contacts designed for astigmatism, and all is well again. If you don’t want to go with a zoomed optic, you could also look at prism scopes, such as the Vortex Spitfire. They can be used during the day without being turned on, and since the reticle is etched in, it can’t blur on you.
Thanks for the replies.
Buying new is out of the question for a while.
Thats kinda what I’m asking Chatterbox. Would I be better off with a tube scope?
The 4x32 Ruger scope worked on a 30-30. Would it stand up to the AR15?
I wear glasses. Perhaps I’m due for an eye exam? I might give that a try. If they can fix yours with contacts maybe they can fix mine with new glasses.
At 53 and several eye operations, I use a 3-9x40 out to 300 yards. I have canted side mount irons for close in targets. I shoot local “outlaw” 3-gun and get by OK.
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I am glad you started this thread as I am having the same issue. I have had an Aimpoint ML2 mounted on my carbine for well over ten years. The older my eyes get, the more the red dot looks like a star burst when the light intensity is a little high. I compensate by turning down the light intensity and it seems to help.
When I have to turn the sight completely off to get rid of the star burst, I’ll have to find another sight. Any suggestions for an alternative to the ML2 would be greatly appreciated.
I just installed a 4x32 scope on my Rock River Operator upper and love the setup. I paired it with an ADM 1-piece QD mount and it’s rock solid. I wanted a setup that would just give me a little “bump” for shooting further out, but also be friendly for 50yds and closer.
I say go with the 4x32 
One other thing to try is get vermillion colored safety glasses. Vermillion enhances red. You can turn down the dot intensity and still have the dot clear. I’m red/green color blind and even the brightest red dot gets washed out in bright sunlight. If you shoot clays, it enhances them too. Grainger has them pretty cheap.
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It depends on what your needs are. But let me suggest that you consider one of the prismatic optics. Maybe try something like the Vortex Spitfire (which comes in 1x and 3x). Prismatics seem to be the hot thing right now, maybe because a lot of people who have red dots now have the same vision issue as many people in this thread. But prismatics are not cheap.
Also, you guys might want to look into a low power variable scope. I know money is tight for a lot of people. So if you are looking for something to use on a range beater gun, you should consider the Primary Arms 1-4x24 (for $119, and an extended Primary Arms mount is only an extra $49). It’s got an illuminated 2 MOA center dot in addition to the German #4 style reticle. The adjustment knobs feel low quality. But the optical clarity/sharpness is better than a Vortex Viper Viper PST 1-4x which costs about 4 times as much.
Joe Mamma
I have an EXPS2. I had the same problem you have. Put my glasses on and problem solved. I use glasses with all my non magnified sights. Don’t use them with scopes.
If it was formerly sharp and now just a blur in a short amount of time, I’d have your eyes checked. At 53 my close up vision has taken a nose dive but it’s happened slowly, over time. I’ve always had an astigmatism, so red dots are never perfectly round. Sometimes I get a ghost figure eight, or if the intensity is turned way up, more of a star like pattern. None of this has affected my ability to make shots at any distance. If you’re having trouble at 100 yrds with shots you used to make, I’d definitely see the eye doc. From one retired guy to another, hope you get it resolved.
Edited to add; I wear corrective lenses, both contacts and glasses (not at the same time obviously).
I cant address the other type sights, but I’m using an older 2-7 Redfield on an A-2 and am happily hitting the 22" 600 yard plate and plinking rocks to about 900 yards or so. I’m a believer in scopes.
At 70 my eyes have been changing for the past 10 years. I wear the bi-focals all the time. Otherwise I bump into things.
I hate to remove the OETech. It has been good at steady and snap shots.
I like time at the range. But, I use the AR15 in .223 and a 22 pistol for hog hunting.
When sighting the EOTech in I sight at 55m. That gives me 2" high at 100m and right on at 200m. Shots over 50 to 100m are rare in the woods and swamp.
Hopefully the 4x32 will sight in like the OETech. I’ll give it a try.
4x may (or may not) be a bit much for moving stuff at relatively close range. Would the 7mm do OK with the 4x and use the 3-9 on the AR? I did fine with a fixed 4x on my 338 for general shooting, but it wasnt much woods type stuff.
I guess you can try it and see how it does. You could swap them if need be and see how that works.
I used this scope for a while:http://swfa.com/Leupold-25x20-FX-II-Ultralight-Riflescope-P3264.aspx
Fast, light, and durable. I found it to be as fast as a red dot in daylight conditions shooting with both eyes open. Excellent for snap shots. I used an ADM mount.
A RDS project the dot in the same plane as the target. You aren’t supposed to focus on the dot. If you see the target clearly, you should see the dot clearly.
It’s possible but unlikely you’ve developed astigmatism. More likely just presbyopia. In the event it’s related to something else, some other eye disease, yes, by all means see an eye doctor. Presbyopia and astigmatism are correctable with accurate refraction.
I suffer from both of these and wear corrective lenses. I have no problem with red dots or holographic sights. I’m trying to understand this. tom.