Eotech vs Bushnell

[dieselpower]

I am getting to widely varied stories on these.

First is that Bushnell made the Holosite, then L3 bought the rights and made then stronger inside and out, so a Bushnell Holosite isn't as good as a EoTech.

The other story is Bushnell designed both sights, one for civilians and one for the military, but all you need to do is add the armor and a Holosite is the same as a EOTech. L3 is simply the guys who sell the EOTech.

So the question remains, can I buy the armor plate and mount it on a Holosight? Where can I buy the Plate?

[SJgunguy24]

I have a holosight by bushnell. Got it around 5 years ago and it has held up very well. When i've compaired to the EO techs the only difference is the armor. I've been told the EO techs will still produce and project an image with most of the glass shot out, well i'm not gonna try that myself. The other thing is the batteries, my Holosight takes "N" and they last around 40-50 hrs. The N batteries are expensive and can be tough to find. The EO's have a AA version and last waaayyy longer. I did pay 249$ for the Holosight vs 500$ for the EO tech.

I have got the Holo soaked and used it in cold weather and it works just fine.

[evollep3]

I had both and whats weird is everyone always say the bushnell one is fuzier but i dont see that i think they are both very close

[SuperSet]

They aren't interchangeable and you can't upgrade. Take a look at SMGLee's thread here:

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-73255.html

[maxicon]

Eotech (originally Electric-Optic Technologies) designed the Eotech originally, and licensed it to Bushnell while they got the bugs out, so Bushnell brand holosights were sold before Eotech brand ones. The first gen didn't pass military testing, so they updated it into the version we know now.

No, you can't upgrade the hood, as described below.

Here's my standard post on the differences between Bushnell and Eotech models. More than you wanted, I'm sure, but here ya go!


The Bushnell Holosight and the Eotech use the same holographic technologies, and the Bushnells that look like the Eotech are made in America, in the same plant as the Eotechs. There are 2 styles of Bushnell Holosight - the Eotech style, and the XLP, which is much more futuristic looking, and is made in Japan. The XLP is physically a completely different design, with a lower centerline of about 1.1", but still uses the same reticle. From a reticle perspective, there's very little difference between any of them except for max brightness.

Essentially, the Eotech style Bushnell is a pre Rev F Eotech without the hood.

Here are the key differences:

- The Eotech uses their Rev F technology (starting in 2005), which greatly extends battery life and gives a much wider range of reticle brightness, including more brightness at the high end, and has improved buttons. The Bushnells use the pre-Rev F technology still, with shorter battery life and less brightness range. The Rev F Eotechs are marked with an F on the hood, but the hood can be replaced or changed easily, so this isn't always a good indication.

- Battery life:
Eotech N battery version - 200 hours at the 12 (of 20) setting
Eotech AA version - 600 hours (alkaline), 1000 hours (lithium) at the 12 (of 20) setting.
Eotech CR123 version - 1100 hours at the 12 (of 20) setting
Bushnell N battery version - 40 hours life at the 12 (of 20) setting
Bushnell N battery new version (on/off switch) - 60 hours
Bushnell AAA battery version (XLP) - 100 hours life at the 10 (of 15) setting

There's no data I've found on battery life for the Bushnell AA version.

- The Eotech has a protective hood. The Eotech style Bushnell doesn't, and can't be retrofitted, though the hood is available as a replacement part through Eotech. The hood fits on a set of rails with tapped holes on the Eotech base that aren't there on the Bushnell. Both have encapsulated electronics for recoil and impact resistance. The Bushnell XLP has a hood built in to the design, but is not directly comparable to the Eotech design.

- The 55X models of the Eotech have night vision compatible settings in addition to the regular settings. The 51X Eotechs and the Bushnells don't have this.

- The 55X versions of the Eotech are waterproof to 33 feet, while the 51X versions and the Bushnell are waterproof to 10 feet.

- The Eotechs are available using N or AA batteries, and the new 553 uses CR123 version. The Eotech style Bushnells are available using N batteries, and had an AA version that's not available in their current catalog (though there are indications they'll release one as part of their new line). The Bushnell XLP models use AAA batteries.

For all of them, if you use lithium batteries, you dramatically increase battery life, especially at low temperatures, but the low battery indication doesn't work with lithium batteries. Note that N batteries aren't generally available in lithium. Also, there have been a number of problems reported with N battery Eotechs draining the battery rapidly, even while off. The conventional wisdom is to use name brand batteries to help avoid this, but there's little hard data on this problem.

Both brands have a 2 year warranty.

[dieselpower]

Thanks. I have used EOTechs but never Holosites. I was and still am considering a Holosite, since I am on a tight budget.

[aplinker]

The simple answer is they will function exactly the same from a user standpoint.

The only real differences are in structure and internal electronics.

If you're shooting at the range, buy the Bushnell. If you need something more rugged, buy an Aimpoint.

[CSTactical]

If you are talking about the one that looks like the EoTech then you are talking about an EoTech. EoTech makes them for Bushnell when EoTech made them for them selves they were called a 502.

Mike @ CSGW