Red Dot Magnifier - EOTech vs. Vortex

[krb]

Hi everyone. I have a red-dot (Aimpoint Micro T-1) on my AR. As I'm getting older I'm having a harder time with farther targets and I'm thinking of purchasing a magnifier. I see EOTech 3X Magnifier for around $520 and Vortex for around $175. It's a big price difference and I assume the quality of the construction and glass is dramatically better on the EOTech vs. the Vortex - otherwise why buy so much more expensive?

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks!
Keith

[BobTheNailer]

If you don't have a very specific reason for buying EOTech, then I'm usually on the side of Vortex. I'm not fast roping out of helicopters for a living, and the price premium is pretty rich for my tastes.

The VMX-3T did away with the thick rubber from the original that could get in the way of some BUIS. Other than that, if you don't have any ergonomic or aesthetic preferences, the Vortex is a safe bet if you want to save money.

[krb]

Thanks Bob. I've been looking into it some more and ... I was at Oaktree last weekend shooting my AR with an Aimpoint. I felt like the laser dot from the aimpoint was really big. We also shot a rental with an Eotech and the Eotech just felt better - more accurate. So I'm actually considering getting the combination EoTech red dot and 3X multiplier. Not sure I'm ready to drop a grand though since I already have the Aimpoint. But I really liked the EoTech better.

[BobTheNailer]

Thanks Bob. I've been looking into it some more and ... I was at Oaktree last weekend shooting my AR with an Aimpoint. I felt like the laser dot from the aimpoint was really big. We also shot a rental with an Eotech and the Eotech just felt better - more accurate. So I'm actually considering getting the combination EoTech red dot and 3X multiplier. Not sure I'm ready to drop a grand though since I already have the Aimpoint. But I really liked the EoTech better.

Hey, nothing beats an in-person trial! It's hard to go wrong with brands like what we're discussing, and it definitely seems like it's coming down to subjective preferences in your case. Maybe you can get some bucks for that Aimpoint!

[ct4surf]

I own the Vortex VMX-3T. I am running it behind the XPS2-2.

The glass is fantastic, and the mount works great. I tried my friend's Eotech G33 3x, and did not see any difference in the clarity of the glass, or operation of the mount.

The only benefit as I understand it is the G33 is built more durable. Not worth triple the price in my opinion.

[LeadFarmer74]

I have the vortex magnifier and it's great. Would highly recommend getting that and saving some $$. I'm sure the eotech is worth it but if your unsure then $200ish isn't going to end the world if you don't like it.

[Jonesy72]

Have the vortex behind a Eotech 512, love it

Also have a Primary Arms behind a Exps-2, love it as well plus was available in 6X, I find im kind of a wuss and like the extra magnification

[CouchOperator]

T-1's have a dot issue with magnifiers. The T-2 fixed that issue

[Packy14]

Hi everyone. I have a red-dot (Aimpoint Micro T-1) on my AR. As I'm getting older I'm having a harder time with farther targets and I'm thinking of purchasing a magnifier. I see EOTech 3X Magnifier for around $520 and Vortex for around $175. It's a big price difference and I assume the quality of the construction and glass is dramatically better on the EOTech vs. the Vortex - otherwise why buy so much more expensive?

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks!
Keith

What you really want is a good 1-4 or 1-6 variable scope. Adding a magnifier is just putting a bandaid on the situation (I did that back when I owned an Eotech, quickly found it was heavy and clunky and sold both and never looked back) at the cost of weight and clunkyness. For 100 yards in, stick with a regular aimpoint. For anything farther or close/far go variable with true 1X.

[krb]

Thanks Packy. I feel like the AR is a CQB gun, so fast target acquisition is more important (honestly I just shoot paper at the range so I am an armchair ninja). For that I like the idea of a red-dot. I only shoot as far as 100 yards but honestly my eyes are OK for 25, mediocre for 50, and I can see little to shoot accurately at 100 so my old eyes like the idea of magnification.

I'm leaning toward getting the EoTech EXPS - magnifier combination, but it's about a grand. One alternative is to buy just the EoTech magnifier and use it on my Aimpoint, and anticipate buying the EoTech Red Dot later. The Aimpoint laser dot is really frustrating though because it takes up so much of the target, especially shooting at 50 yards. So then I think maybe I should just buy the Vortex magnifier because at under $200 it's not much of a sacrifice if I decide I don't like it...

Choices choices!

Thanks for your thoughts!
Keith

[ClickClickPow]

At the gunshot this weekend I looked through the vortex magnifier with Holoson circle dot reticle which is similar to Eotech's circle dot. Great package for budget minded person, I may get the vortex magnifier for one rifle and if I like it a lot then get the eotech magnifier for my SHTF rifle setup! Don't rule out the Holosun RDS, they've been getting great reviews for the price