Didn’t see any thread like this, so hopefully its not a repost.
Anyways, I see a lot of people here saying their EOTech has had some kind of problem, so I’m curious as to actual numbers.
Please note, this is for first-hand experience only - meaning that you were operating the optic when it failed. I’d also understand if it was a buddy of yours who suffered the issue, but please limit it to only if you were at the range shooting with him (or if it happened during OPS or something similar). No “I heard this…” please. If you’d like to include a story about someone you actually know and trust (let’s try to avoid duplicates), feel free to post, just please refrain from using the poll.
Please refrain also from batteries being dead as the issue. I know Aimpoints last longer. But there is a difference between a malfunction and the batteries running out, obviously.
Finally, please post the actual model and any info on it (what happened, how long/hard you’ve been running it, etc.) as well as if you sent it in to EOTech and what their resolution was/how well it worked.
I started it off, all good so far with my 512. Its been about 4 years since I bought it and I just recently received my first low battery warning. Only about 600 rounds of 5.56 and maybe about 1000 of .22 so far, but it did have a few years of paintball useage, FWIW.
I had an EOTech 552 on an M249 and later transferred it to my AR15. I never had any malfunctions while using the optic, but I did have to order a new battery cap after some batteries corroded the original beyond repair. Maybe this was due to the design of the EOTech battery cap allowing the batteries to be jarred or maybe it was just the batteries. EOTech CS was prompt, helpful, and mailed me the new battery cap free of charge.
I have a 512 model, as well as 3 other good friends who shoot alot, and none of us have ever had any issues (we’re all civilian shooters). I’ve been running mine for about 2 years now, including during multiple carbine classes, and I’ve never personally had one go down or even seen one go down. I did have a buddy who’s batteries died during a shoot, but I think they had been in there for a couple years. A quick battery change and he was back shooting.
I don’t know why you have “no problem” listed as a vote choice.
There will always be more people that do not have issues with them than those that do have issues if only because only those that actually use the weapons will experience failures beyond dead batteries, and there is something like a 10:1 ratio of those the store weapons to those that use weapons.
Basically, you are going to drown out your information with white noise.
Probably a more useful metric would be a list of what issues the users had with each model.
I had an Eotech 552 model that I experienced two (potentially three) problems with.
#1 The windage mechanism went out on it and the sight would not hold zero. I sent the sight back to Eotech and they were very gracious about fixing it and getting it back to me in a timely manner.
#2 I ran a PVS14 behind the 552 and I noticed that it was leaving somewhat of a ghosting on the NV. Moreso than I was comfortable with during use. Before long it came out on the forums that the sights weren’t quite dim enough for NV use and were leaving marks on the tubes of the NV. I contacted Eotech and explained what was going on. They again received it for repari/update and upgraded the internals to REV F configuration along with the waterproof pressure pad being upgraded.
#3 This could be arguable I suppose but…At one point I was running the 552 on an AK47 with Ultimak rail. I discovered that after about 200 rounds the sight would start shutting off from the heat. When it all cooled down again it would come back on and return to service. Either way on that particular gun it was a no go on any heavy use.
So overall at least two mechanical problems. However in both instances the company was more than gracious to make it right and do so as quickly as possible. However I us Aimpoints on all my first line actual work guns.
But at the end of the day. All the goodwill, quality service, and professional courtesy don’t do you a bit of good in the heat of a gunfight when you need something to work, and work 100%.
Or as I’ve told my coworkers, usually to no avail, “Customer service doesn’t mean anything at the center of a firefight.”
I realize that there will be more people who have not had any problems than those that have, at least there should be. But I wanted to see out of all the owners on here, what percentage did have problems. My interest is not as heavily in what type of problems, though it is nice to know which is why I asked they post details.
I ran that 552 pretty extensively over the years on a couple flat top AR15’s, a Remington 870P, an M1A in SAGE stock, a Barrett 82A1, and the previously mentioned AK.
Of all that the only problem that ever surfaced host gun wise was the AK.
516 with 2.5 years LE use. The optic has been fine up until recently, the center of the optic was noticeably dimmer than the edges of the optic (when viewing the reticule). This became annoying pretty quickly while I was covering an area and I would move the rifle from side to side. It was perhaps a 3/4 brightness clicks in difference, so when scanning an area, the optic brightness kept changing.
I have returned it to EOTech and I am waiting for news of its repair. I just shipped it last friday. It is out of warranty, but they are repairing it for free.
The 553 I had for many years and used in a few carbine courses, finally crapped out during a carbine course. Both battery terminals detached while being stuck to both batteries. It was brought back a couple of times, then finally took a dump. Both springs appeared to have taken a set. It was the first RDS on my first, then new, 6920. Both had over 10K rounds fired. According to their web sight, the latest “F” version, has new contacts, a new circuit board which gives 10 times more battery life, and tested to higher G forces in a simulator, similar to firing a 454 Casull.
In my agency/office, we have over 100 Eotechs, all 552 (AA battery), all mounted on Colt M4’s. About 15% to 20% have had problems, almost all of which relate to the battery compartment. I have had one agent break the lever used to lock the battery compartment into place. I have also had two units that would turn on and then switch themselves off after firing a few rounds. I am not sure if it is a battery compartment issue, as I have had the same problem after replacing the battery compartment multiple times on both units. I have seen several units simply fall off the weapon during training, despite marking all the mounting screw heads with a paint reference line, some folks simply do not check.
All other problems have concerned the crappy rubber grommet/spring assembly dropping out of the battery compartment and refusing to stay put. The problems are resolved with a replacement battery housing unit. But honestly, they should be better made so the agency is not shelling out $12 to $15 to replace something that should be better designed and built…
The Eotech on my issued weapon has been running great for about 5 years, probably around 5k rounds. It has been dropped on the sight a couple of times in training. The hood is scratched up, but the sight works fine.
My “sample of one” that was issued to me is a winner, but overall, I think the design was flawed. Glad to see the newer models have the CR1123 battery in a different orientation. Hope it has solved the problem.
I never had a problem with mine. Sent it to EOTech for a warranty repair for cosmetic issues and they took care of me no problem. I am surprised they didn’t ask me what I did to it to make it look like it did.
Its always this, I’m superior to you and I know everything, and Aimpoint is better if you say other wise, well you never use your gun then.
So Failure2Stop, why is it that with the systematic problems, that guys with EOTechs going on hikes in the mountains of Afghanistan together for a year together, never seem to get what crap EOTechs are, and how right you are?
I had a couple of older 512’s that would drain batteries when off (like fresh lithiums found DOA after a month of sitting in the gunsafe) but that’s the only problem I’ve personally experienced.
Tomac
I had a 552 Rev F for several years. I ended up having to send it back since it would eat batteries just sitting in the safe for a period of less than 3 weeks. They ended up replacing the board. I got rid of it soon after.
That’s a stretch and disingenuous. Nice first post by the way.:rolleyes: No one is trying to piss on anything. I see it as a log for listing problems. Have you noticed there are other "problem " threads with the Glock and M&P? The Eotech problems have been known for years. It is one of my favorites and had the 553 for a long time, however, it is also well known that they were not as durable as the aimpoint, until they fixed the Batt compartment issues within the last couple of years, then redesigned them and the new ones, so it would not be an issue again. I own 3 aimpoints and have no complaints, but I still prefer the EOTech reticle.
FYI everyone knows they are being used in AFG and other environments. Everyone knows, the battery compartment and point of shift issues were first detected by SOCOM years ago. It’s part of their SOPMOD program. Everyone knows they are being ran hard by SOF and other personnel. Everyone knows that the older model 553s broke with the amount of shooting that they do, as well as other older models.
Most are not FanBoys here. No one is being compensated to talk up or shit on, any product. We (the actual users who actually shoot… a lot) make ever effort to speak the truth, without bias, about what we experience with are gear and gadgets, good or bad… but sometimes, it doesn’t turn out that way. The Mods are good at squashing unsubstantiated bullshit and fanboyism, as well as most of the members here. The sponsers know full well that with M4C, they will get an honest opinion, whether they like it or not. In return, they get real user feedback.