19 Badass AR 15 Accessories [Ultimate List]

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badass ar 15 accessories

One of the coolest things about the AR 15 is that it’s so easy to customize…

Because of that, the after-market has come out with all sorts of accessories that you can either include in an AR build or add-on piece by piece to a complete AR 15 that you already have.

Some of these accessories add real functional value to your AR 15, and some, quite frankly, just look cool…

So, to help you cut through the junk that might look cool without adding anything to your rifle but extra weight and bulk…

Here are 19 badass AR 15 accessories, that will add function to your rifle and look cool at the same time…

Badass AR 15 Accessories – Top 19 List…

1. FRANKLIN ARMORY BINARY TRIGGER (BFSIII AR-C1)

franklin armory binary trigger (BFSIII AR-C1)

That’s right! We’re starting off this list with a BANG – or maybe several BANGs. If you don’t know what a binary trigger is let me give you a quick run-down…

Basically, guns that can fire fully automatic are rare, expensive, and extremely hard to acquire here in the United States. But there is a legal way (at least at the time I’m writing this) to get a semi-automatic trigger which might help you shoot faster

The Franklin Armory BFSIII trigger allows you to fire normally like any other semi-automatic trigger, but it also gives you the ability to fire a round when the trigger is pulled AND when the trigger is released (it’s called Binary mode)…

All you do is switch your safety selector to the 3rd position and then you’ll be able to shoot extremely fast while still keeping your AR as a semi-automatic rifle…

It’s great if you want to be able to shoot faster for tactical situations or for competitions, and it’s also pretty cool if you just want to pop off some rounds really quickly and have some fun at the range.

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Franklin Armory BFSIII Trigger:


2. POF TOMAHAWK AMBIDEXTROUS CHARGING HANDLE

POF TOMAHAWK AMBIDEXTROUS CHARGING HANDLE

One of the easiest accessories to change out on your AR 15 is the charging handle. It’s simple because all you have to do is swap out your old charging handle with a new one when you field strip your AR for cleaning…

And the standard GI style charging handle leaves a lot to be desired because it’s small and hard to grab with one hand, and because it’s not ambidextrous…

Right now, one of the most badass charging handles you can get is the POF Tomahawk Ambidextrous Charging Handle. First of all, it looks really cool, which is always a plus, but it’s also built by POF, so the quality level is extremely high…

It’s also very ergonomic and easy to grab with one hand, and as the name implies, it’s great if you’re a lefty or in need of an ambi charging handle.

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The POF Tomahawk Ambidextrous Charging Handle:


3. CMMG .22 LR CONVERSION KIT

CMMG .22 LR CONVERSION KIT BRAVO WITH 3-10 ROUND MAGAZINES

Wouldn’t you love to shoot your AR 15 more? I know I would, but the problem I run into a lot of times is that the ammo bill starts to really add up! But what if there was a way to you could shoot your same AR 15, but save some money while doing it?

Well, there actually is because with the CMMG .22 LR Conversion Kit, all you have to do is swap out your bolt carrier group (and your magazines), and you can fire .22 LR through your normally 5.56/.223 AR 15…

This is an awesome conversion kit because it’s pretty reliable, and because it’s so quick and easy to switch from shooting .223 to .22LR and back again. It’s great if you want to shoot more often and at the same time, save money by shooting less expensive .22 LR…

And it’s also a great training aid because you can shoot more from the exact same AR 15 (with the same optic and furniture) that you normally train with and use. All in all, I think it’s an amazing accessory because it allows you to shoot a whole different caliber from your AR, and it’s still pretty affordable…

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The CMMG .22 LR Conversion Kit:


4. SB TACTICAL SBA4 PISTOL STABILIZING BRACE

SB TACTICAL SBA4 PISTOL STABILIZING BRACE

AR 15 pistols have come a long way in the last few years, and the reason why is because of the invention of the stabilizing brace. It might look like a stock, but as of right now (when I’m writing this) the ATF has stated that these are not classified as stocks and that they’re legal to put on an AR pistol with a barrel that is shorter than 16 inches (again, always check the current laws for yourself)…

Anyway, the SB Tactical SBA4 Stabilizing Brace is awesome for two reasons in my opinion. First of all, it can be used to create more stability when shooting an AR pistol by strapping it around your arm, placing it against your cheek, or right now, putting it on your shoulder like you would a stock (again, always check for ATF updates because this could change in the future)…

The second reason I love these braces is because they make an AR pistol look so much cooler than if they just have a naked buffer tube at the rear of the gun. And they come in a few different cool colors as well!

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The SB Tactical SBA4 Stabilizing Brace:


5. VG6 GAMMA 556 MUZZLE BRAKE

VG6 GAMMA 556 Muzzle Brake

One of the most simple things you can do to your AR 15 is change the muzzle device. But that one change can make a massive difference in how your rifle shoots…

The VG6 Gamma 556 Muzzle Brake is one of the best muzzle devices you can add to your AR. The reason why is because it makes your rifle extremely flat shooting and softens the recoil to the point where it nearly disappears. This allows you to shoot a lot faster than you normally would.

Now I can tell you from personal experience that the VG6 Gamma is loud, but that’s how every muzzle break is, and I think that the improved performance that you get out of your AR is very much worth it. And if you really don’t like it, you can get the VG6 Cage Device which is will soften down the noise.

And since both the VG6 Gamma and the VG6 Cage Device look super cool in addition to how they make your rifle shoot softer and flatter, I think they definitely belong on this list of Badass AR 15 accessories…

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The VG6 Gamma 556 Muzzle Brake:


6. CMC DROP IN TRIGGER (SINGLE STAGE, TACTICAL FLAT BOW, 3.5LBS)

CMC DROP IN TRIGGER (SINGLE STAGE)

The CMC Drop In Trigger is the second trigger I’ve put on this list, but I just couldn’t avoid including it. First of all, the Flat Bow looks really cool from an aesthetics point of view, but it also performs really well…

Now, the CMC Drop In Triggers are semiautomatic triggers, but they are upgraded pretty heavily. There’s just something about the flat face of the trigger that feels good to me, and because this trigger is 3.5LBS it helps you shoot more accurately and quicker because it’s less work to pull the trigger straight back without disturbing your sights…

It’s also super easy to install because it’s a drop in unit, and compared to other triggers in its class, I think it’s a really affordable option. All in all, I have it. I love it. and I think you will too.

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The CMC DROP IN TRIGGER:


7. Midwest Industries Drop-In Handguard (AR-15/M16 M-Series Two Piece Drop-In M-LOK)

midwest industries drop in handguard (AR-15_M16 M-Series Two Piece Drop-In M-LOK)

I have quite a few AR 15s now, but my first was a Colt LE6920. I love that rifle, but I remember that one of the first things I did was change out the handguard.

It wasn’t a matter of looks, it was a matter of function. I wanted to put a tactical light on my rifle (which I think is a very important accessory), and the standard military-style plastic handguards just aren’t the best for that. I ended up dropping a Daniel Defense Quad rail on it (which is a great rail!), but had the Midwest Industries M-Series Drop-In M-LOK Handguard been around, I probably would have chosen it.

First of all, it looks awesome! But it’s also lightweight, and because it’s an M-LOK handguard, you can put any accessories (lights, lasers, vertical grips, bipods, etc.) that you want on it. It’s also very easy to install and comes in Carbine Length, Mid Length, and Rifle Length.

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Midwest Industries M-Series Drop-In M-LOK Handguard:


8. INFORCE WML Gen 2 Weapon Mounted White LED Tactical Light

INFORCE WML Gen2 Weapon Mounted White LED Tactical Light

Aside from an optic, I think the next most important accessory that you should have on your AR 15 is a good tactical light, and the INFORCE WML Gen 2 is a great one to go with…

As with all the accessories chosen on this list of badass AR gear, it looks really cool and comes in a couple of different color options. The INFORCE also has 400 lumens, which is plenty to light up close to mid-distance ranges. It also comes with an integrated rail, so you save money by not having to buy an extra part to mount it…

And the angled on/off button is simple, and very ergonomic which makes it a very easy weapon light to use. Last, it’s also waterproof in up to 66 feet of water, and it’s built to be rugged. So it can handle the recoil of being mounted on an AR 15 without any issues at all.

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The INFORCE WML Gen 2 Tactical Light:


9. MAGPUL BAD LEVER

MAGPUL BAD LEVER

The AR 15 is my favorite rifle, and part of the reason why is because it’s an inherently very ergonomic platform. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t make small improvements to the ergos here and there…

Take, for example, the Magpul B.A.D. (Battery Assist Device) Lever. This little guy is affordable, and it allows you to do a few things a little easier on your AR 15. It attaches to your bolt release and sits just inside your trigger guard. And what this allows you to do is to drop the bolt or lock the bolt back without taking your hand off of the pistol grip…

It makes reloading your rifle faster, and it can also make clearing malfunctions a little easier as well. On top of all that, it’s very easy to install, and very affordably priced. So it’s a great addition to any AR 15.

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Magpul B.A.D. Lever:


10. ATLAS S-ONE M-LOK Handguard

ATLAS S-ONE M-LOK Handguard

Let me get right to the point on this one, this is an awesome rail. The ATLAS S-ONE is a fantastic rail because it’s sturdy, lightweight, and extremely functional. For example, it’s an M-LOK rail, so you can basically mount any accessories you want on it…

It also saves a lot of weight by not having the picatinny rail go all across the top, the way most rails do. That feature makes the ATLAS S-ONE look very unique and cool, but it also makes the rail slimmer, easier to grab, and more ergonomic…

It basically gives you the ability to grab and aim your AR more comfortably, without giving up the ability to mount accessories like weapon lights, lasers, and vertical grips anywhere you want them.

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The ATLAS S-ONE M-LOK Handguard:


11. MAGPUL MOE SL CARBINE STOCK

MAGPUL MOE SL CARBINE STOCK

Another simple accessory that you can add to your AR 15, which will completely change its look, is to add an after-market stock. But the truth is that adding a new stock is NOT just about changing the looks of your rifle…

I’ve seen the cheap plastic AR stocks break very easily, and they’re also not the most comfortable stocks to put into your shoulder either. On top of that, they rattle around a lot of your rifle, and they limit the ways you can mount a sling on your AR as well…

Now, the Magpul MOE SL is one of my favorites when it comes to upgrading your AR 15 stock. It’s very comfortable in the pocket of your shoulder, and it fits securely onto your AR’s buffer tube without any annoying rattling sound. It also gives you a variety of ways to mount a sling on your AR, and I’ve always loved the cool color options that Magpul offers on all their AR accessories.

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The MAGPUL MOE SL CARBINE STOCK:


12. PSA CUSTOM 5.56 Bolt Carrier Group (BGC) DLC COATED

PSA CUSTOM 5.56 BCG DLC COATED- DARK EARTH

Ever thought about upgrading your BCG (Bolt Carrier Group)? If you have, I think the PSA Custom DLC Coated BCG is a fantastic option. First of all, the machining on this BCG is extremely well done. It’s made from a high-end carpenter steel, and it’s also high pressure tested.

The DLC (Diamond Like Coated) finish is also very cool. The dark earth color looks just a little bit flashy, and it adds a little bit of personality to your AR. On top of that, it’s also an incredibly tough finish and fairly slick, so you don’t need as much oil on your BCG (as you normally do) for your AR 15 to run smoothly. It also makes for easy cleaning too (usually by simply wiping off your bolt carrier with a dry rag).

And here’s the thing, I like having spare parts for my AR 15s because even quality parts can and do break. So picking up an upgraded BCG and keeping your stock BCG in reserve as a back up, is a really good idea in my mind.

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The PSA CUSTOM 5.56 Bolt Carrier Group (BGC) DLC COATED:


13. Holosun Compact Laser Sight

Holosun Compact Laser Sight

Have you ever looked into mounting a laser on your AR 15? Oftentimes, people like to go with IR lasers on their AR’s, but some are looking for green or red lasers. The problem is that lasers are typically either really cheap (and they fall apart) or they’re incredibly expensive…

Luckily, if you’d like to add a laser to your AR, Holosun has come out with a high-quality, affordable option… the Holosun Compact Laser Sight. I really like the Holosun Compact laser because you can get it in IR, green, or red, and even though it is built to be rugged, it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg…

It also comes with a quick detach mount, so you won’t have to spend extra money just to mount it, and overall, it’s a great laser at a good price-point (which always seems to be the case with Holosun products).

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Holosun Compact Laser Sight:


14. Trijicon MRO Red Dot Sight

Trijicon MRO

In my opinion, the first accessory you should add to your AR 15 is an optic, and if you choose to go with a red dot as your optic, I think the Trijicon MRO is an amazing choice…

I love the MRO because it’s built to be insanely rugged, but at the same time, it’s not priced as high as something like an Aimpoint T2, which is also an amazing sight, but it is very expensive. The MRO is a good balance because it offers you extreme high-quality at a reasonable price in my opinion…

I also like the large objective lens that you get with the MRO because you can see more when you’re shooting, and the 2 MOA reticle is great because it’s small enough to allow you to aim with precision, but also large enough that it attracts your eye very quickly (for fast shooting). All in all, I think the Trijicon MRO is a badass optic, at a solid price-point…

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Trijicon MRO Red Dot Sight:


15. Bushnell AR Optics 1-8×24 Riflescope

bushnell ar optics 1-8x24 riflescope

If you don’t want to go with a red dot, you also have the option of mounting a scope on your AR 15… And if you want to go that route, I recommend a low powered variable optic ( a 1-4, 1-6, 1-8, etc.) because you can use the scope in a similar way to a red dot on 1x power, but bump up the magnification when you need to shoot at distance…

One of the coolest scopes of this type (without breaking the bank) is the Bushnell AR Optics 1-8x Scope. I like this scope a lot because the glass is pretty clear, the BDC (Bullet Drop Compensator) Reticle is awesome, and the included Throw lever allows you to switch magnification (from 1-8x) very quickly and easily…

All in all, this scope gives you a huge advantage with you’re shooting at close range AND at mid-to-long range, especially because of the BDC reticle and the included throw lever. And if you want to take it out even further, you can check out this magnifier to pair with it.

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Bushnell AR Optics 1-8x24mm Rifle Scope:


16. MAGPUL MBUS PRO LR REAR SIGHT

MAGPUL MBUS PRO LR rear SIGHT

Magpul makes a lot of awesome stuff, and I like most of the flip-up sights that they offer. But that being said, the coolest option they have is the MBUS Pro LR Adjustable Rear Sight…

Like I said, I think the polymer sights that Magpul makes are very good, but this is a steel rear sight, which means it’s a lot more durable than the polymer sights. But the thing that I like most about this rear sight is that it’s FULLY adjustable. That means you can adjust the windage and elevation from the rear sight without any tools…

I like that because shooting with irons sights is a lot of fun when you can really dial in your sights. On top of that, this sight is super low profile when it flips down, so it can sit under a scope or behind a red dot as a BUIS (back up iron sight)…

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The MAGPUL MBUS PRO LR ADJUSTABLE REAR SIGHT:


17. MAGPUL MBUS PRO FRONT SIGHT

MAGPUL MBUS PRO front sight

Some AR 15’s have a fixed front sight, and if that’s the case with your gun, you can just skip number 17. But if your rifle doesn’t have a front sight, the Magpul MBUS PRO Front Sight is an amazing option…

Like I mentioned earlier, I love the polymer sights that Magpul offers, but even though that’s the case, their steel sights are better. They’re just more rugged and more reliable. And that rings true for the MBUS PRO Front Sight…

Aside from being a very durable sight, it’s also elevation adjustable with no tools, and it’s very low profile when flipped down on your rifle’s rail.

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The MAGPUL MBUS PRO BACK-UP FRONT SIGHT:


18. Andro Corp Industries AR-15/M16 TiN Gold Bolt Carrier Group

Andro Corp Industries TiN Gold Bolt Carrier Group

The Ando Corp Industries TiN Bolt Carrier Group is my second BCG on this list, but I feel I had to include it because the Gold TiN finish it has is super badass…

Now, that gold looks great, but it also adds to the function of the BCG in a few important ways. You see, that gold finish is polished TiN (Titanium Nitride), which is a super durable coating that can add extra life to your bolt and carrier, and it will make your bolt and carrier have more lubricity…

This means that your AR will cycle very smoothly even with a minimal amount of oil or grease. On top of that, the polished TiN finish makes cleaning your bolt and carrier super easy. You basically just have to wipe the gunk off, apply a little bit of oil, and you’re good to go with a bolt that’s going to turn some heads at the range!

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Ando Corp Industries TiN Bolt Carrier Group:


19. JP Enterprises 2 Silent Captured Spring System

jp enterprises silent captured spring

Have you ever noticed the springy sound when you fire your AR 15? That’s your buffer spring getting pushed in while the bolt reciprocates. There’s nothing wrong with having that noise, but there are ways to get your AR to run a little smoother and a little quieter…

The JP Enterprises Gen 2 Silent Captured Buffer Spring System is a fantastic accessory if you want to get your AR 15 running smoother and quieter (without any grating or springy noise).

It can easily be installed by replacing your old buffer spring, and you can also custom tune it to any particular load that you like, which will get your rifle running even better. JP Enterprises is known for making top-notch AR 15s and accessories, and the Silent Captured Buffer Spring System is definitely badass and deserves a spot on this list.

Click The Button Below To Learn More About The JP Enterprises Gen 2 Silent Captured Buffer Spring System:

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DPMS AR 15 Review [Is It The Right Gun For You?]

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dpms ar 15 review

The AR-15 has been dubbed ‘America’s Rifle’ for a reason…

It’s by far the most popular rifle is the country, and when you think about it, it’s easy to see why… 

It’s an accurate design, it’s reliable, and it offers you (as the shooter) some really fantastic ergonomics… 

In addition to that, there are many quality AR’s being built right now that you can get at very budget friendly prices…

So in this DPMS AR 15 review, we’re going to examine if the DPMS Oracle is one of the AR 15’s that offers you good quality at an affordable price tag…

And we’ll do that by discussing how the Oracle stacks up in the following categories…

  • Barrel And Accuracy
  • Bolt And Carrier
  • Upper And Lower Receivers
  • Trigger
  • Stock, Handguard, and Pistol Grip
  • Pros and Cons

In the end, I’ll tell you if I would personally choose a DPMS AR 15 as my own budget-friendly AR or not…

And you should have all the information you need to determine if it’s the right gun for you…

Let’s start the review!  

Check Out My 2 Favorite Budget-Friendly AR-15s…

M&P 15 Sport II
PSA PA-15

Barrel And Accuracy…

The DPMS Oracle features a barrel made from 4140 steel which has a 1/9 twist. 4140 is a decent barrel steel…

It’s not quite as hard as 4150 or some other barrel steels you’ll find out there, but for a budget AR (which probably won’t have a very high round count) it should serve you pretty well…

dpms ar-15 review

In addition to that, the 1/9 twist on the barrel is ideal for lighter (55 grain) 5.56 or .223 loads. Typically, a 1/7 twist barrel is better for heavier loads, and it’s what I personally prefer when I can get it…

But the 1/9 twist barrel that you get on the Oracle works pretty well, and actually shoots pretty accurately too…

There is no barrel lining with the DPMS Oracle such as a chrome lining, but as long as you clean your rifle and barrel, that shouldn’t be much of an issue either…

Overall, I think the barrel quality that you get with the DPMS Oracle is fair-to-good, but there is room for improvement in terms of the materials used.

Bolt And Carrier…

The bolt carrier group (BCG) that comes with the DPMS AR 15 has a full auto profile. Even though that’s not a huge deal in a semi-auto civilian-use AR 15

I still like having a full auto profile bolt carrier, and I’m glad that DPMS didn’t choose to go with a semi auto profile carrier, even though it really wouldn’t make much of a difference in terms of how the gun functions… 

In addition to that, the carrier and the gas key are both chrome lined which will help prevent corrosion and make them easier to clean…

And the gas key is properly staked onto the carrier, so it won’t loosen up as you fire the rifle…

On top of that, the extractor on the bolt includes an O-ring which gives you a little extra extractor power when the rifle pulls out spent cartridges and then kicks them out…

There are no markings on the bolt or carrier showing if they are MPI and HP tested, and DPMS doesn’t seem to have that information easily accessible…

However, they seem like they’re decent quality in relation to that budget-friendly price tag that you pay for the rifle.

Upper And Lower Receiver…

Both the upper receiver and the lower receiver on the DPMS AR 15 are made from 7075 T6 aluminum and they appear to be mil spec in terms of their dimensions…

They also fit together fairly tightly, and the charging handle also appears to be a standard mil spec charging handle as well… 

The upper does include M4 feed ramps which will help aid you in terms of reliability, and it also features a forward assist and a shell deflector which are features that you don’t always find on budget AR 15s…

dpms oracle

The gas block is aluminum, and it sits on a lower plane than the rail on the top of the upper receiver. 

I’m not too sure why they chose to go with this system because if you do end up putting flip up iron sights on the rifle you might run into issues getting them zeroed…

That said, it won’t end up being an issue for you at all if you decided to put a red dot (check out my favorite budget red dot here) or a scope on this rifle…

The lower receiver is also mil spec in terms of its dimensions, and the receiver extension has a  castle nut which is staked (another feature that you don’t always find on budget AR 15s)…

Additionally, you get a carbine weight buffer, and the receiver extension is commercial spec. So if you ever want to change out the stock, make sure you get the commercial spec size rather than the mil spec size…

Last, the extension gives you 6 positions for your stock, so you get a lot of adjustability when it comes to fitting the length of pull to what is most comfortable for you.

All in all, I think the quality of the upper and lower receiver are pretty good considering the price point of this rifle, but I’m not a fan of the gas block that sits lower than the rifle’s top rail.

Trigger Specs And Feel…

The trigger appears to be mil spec in terms of the way it is constructed, and it breaks like a mil spec trigger when you pull it at around 6 pounds…

It’s perfectly usable, but like all AR 15 triggers, it’s pretty easy to swap out if you want to upgrade it in the future…

Stock, Handguard, and Pistol Grip…

The handguards that come included with the DPMS Oracle are a bit strange. They don’t include any sort of heat shield on the inside, and they also have these strange ridges that fit around the barrel…

They’re also kind of fat to hold on to, and they just seem kind of clunky. They’re an easy thing to swap out, but honestly I would have preferred a more slimmed down design even if it doesn’t include a heat shield (similar to the M&P 15 Sport)…

The pistol grip is an A2 style pistol grip which is pretty standard on AR-15s. I’m personally not a big fan of the little nub because it always hits my finger in the wrong spot…

But that’s not too big a deal because again, it can easily be swapped out or even just grinded off if you don’t want to spend 20 bucks on a new grip…

dpms panther ar-15 review

Last, the stock that DPMS includes is also kind of clunky. The back of the stock is angled outward toward the bottom, and it’s just not a really comfortable design in my opinion…

Again, the stock can easily be swapped out for something better, but I wish that it was just flat at the back because I think it would end up being a more comfortable design. 

Overall, I’m not a fan of any of the furniture included on the DPMS AR 15, but as I mentioned before, these are all accessories that can be easily swapped out for something better…

The only problem is that that is going to cost you more money as you upgrade the accessories along the way. 

Pros and Cons…

Pros…

  • It’s An Accurate Rifle
  • Its Reliable
  • The Upper and Lower Receiver Are Good Quality
  • The Bolt Carrier Group Is Chrome Lined
  • The Extractor Includes And O-ring For Extra Power
  • In Includes A Forward Assist And Shell Deflector
  • The Castle Nut On The Receiver Extension Is Staked

Cons…

  • The Barrel Steel Could Be Better Quality
  • The Aluminum Gas Block Sits Lower Than The Top Rail
  • The Handguard Is Odd and Clunky
  • The Stock Design Is Not Very Comfortable

DPMS AR 15 Review – Final Thoughts…

In the end, I think the DPMS AR 15 gives you some decent value at its budget price, but would I choose it as my budget rifle?

No, I would not… I think that the M&P 15 Sport, The PSA PA-15, and the AC-15 from Aero Precision are the best budget AR 15s available and they’ll give you a ton more quality at a similar price point as the DPMS…

Click The Buttons Below To Check Out My Favorite Budget-Friendly AR-15s…

M&P 15 Sport II
PSA PA-15

That said, if you like the DPMS AR 15, and you don’t intend to shoot a high round count through it, it will probably serve you just fine as a plinker for range use…

But if it’s a rifle that you think you might like to use as a self-defense gun, like I said, click the buttons above because I consider each of those rifles to be a big step above the DPMS in terms of quality.

Anyway, I hope this helps you out, and remember to stay safe at the range!  

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Aimpoint T2 Vs Comp M4 [Which Is The Better Optic For You?]

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aimpoint t2 vs comp m4

I think it’s pretty hard not to like Aimpoints…

They’re just super high quality sights, and they give you a sense of confidence that they’re going to keep working for you (no matter what) when you put them on your rifle…

And right now, two of the most popular Aimpoints on the market are…

So in this Aimpoint T2 Vs Comp M4 comparison, we’re going to put these two fantastic sights up against each other and see how they stack up against each other in the following categories… 

  • Durability And Toughness
  • Reticle And Lens Clarity
  • Size Comparison
  • Battery Life And Brightness Settings
  • Extra Goodies Included With The Optic
  • Price Comparison

In the end, I’ll tell you if I personally prefer the compact Aimpoint T2 or the full-sized Comp M4, and you should have all the information you need to determine which optic will work best for you…

Let’s start by taking a closer look at the durability and toughness of these two sights…

Durability And Toughness…

Aimpoint T2

Aimpoints have a legendary reputation for durability and reliability and the Aimpoint T2 is no different. For starters, it has a sight housing that’s constructed from high strength aluminum…

…and it also has a hard anodized non-reflective finish which helps protect the optic from the elements. In addition to that, the sight housing is built up around the windage and elevation adjustments. 

Aimpoint comp m4 vs t2

This is actually a pretty important design feature for me because it means that those adjustment knobs can never be bumped or snapped off accidentally…

The Aimpoint T2 is also a waterproof optic. It’s rated to be waterproof and up to 25 meters (80 feet) of water, and it can easily handle duty use in rainy, snowy, or wet conditions…

Last, the Aimpoint T2 is also a shock proof optic. So it can handle the recoil from being mounted on high-powered rifles, shotguns, and pistol caliber carbines or submachine guns…

All in all, the durability and reliability that you get with the Aimpoint T2 is very impressive especially in such a small optic.

Aimpoint Comp M4

The Aimpoint Comp M4 is also an extremely durable and reliable optic. It also has a sight housing that’s constructed from high strength aluminum…

And it’s also hard anodized with a non-reflective finish which will help you keep a low profile and protect the body of the optic from the elements…

Aimpoint comp m4 vs aimpoint t2

In addition to that, the sight housing on the Comp M4 is also built up around the windage and elevation adjustments… 

So again your adjustment turrets can never be accidentally bumped or snapped off, which isn’t always the case with red dot sights…

The Comp M4 is also a waterproof optic. It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 45 meters (150 feet) of water, and it will easily handle serving in tough rainy or wet conditions…

Last, the Comp M4 is also a shockproof optic, so it can handle being mounted on shotguns, high-powered rifles, and PCC‘s without any issues at all…

Just as with the T2, the durability and reliability that you get with the Aimpoint Comp M4 is extremely impressive to me.

Durability And Toughness Conclusions…

OK so in this category both of these sights are Aimpoints, so they’re both extremely durable and reliable…

For example, they’re both constructed from high strength aluminum, and they both have a sight housing that protects their windage and elevation adjustments…

The biggest difference that I see is in terms of waterproof rating because the Comp M4 has a little bit better waterproof rating than the T2 (even though the T2’s rating is still extremely impressive)…

So because of that small difference I’m gonna give the slight win in this category to the Aimpoint Comp M4.

Winner: Aimpoint Comp M4

Reticle And Lens Clarity…

Aimpoint T2

The Aimpoint T2 has a very clear lens. You don’t get any of that annoying blue tint that you’ll sometimes find on other red dot sights (such as the Trijicon MRO)…

And overall the lens is very clear and you get a very clean sight picture when looking through the optic. Now the reticle on the T2 is a simple 2 MOA (minute of angle) dot which I think is a great reticle for this style of optic… 

Comp m4 vs t2

The reason why I like it is because the dot is large enough for your eye to quickly and easily pick it up, which helps you to shoot faster…

But at the same time, it’s still a small enough dot that it allows you to aim precisely at small targets or targets that are off in the distance…

So it’s a reticle that helps you shoot faster without sacrificing any precision for shots that require a high degree of accuracy, and I much prefer it over a larger MOA dot such as a 4, 6, or even 8 MOA dot.

Aimpoint Comp M4

The Aimpoint Comp M4 also has a very clear lens. Just like the Aimpoint T2, the Comp M4 doesn’t have any of the blue tint that can sometimes be found on these optics…

And overall you’re able to see very clearly through the sight and establish a very clean sight picture. In addition to that, because the Comp M4 is a larger optic than the T2, you get a larger field of view when looking through the sight…

Aimpoint comp m5 vs m5s

That allows you to see more of what’s down range when you’re taking aim, and seeing more is always a good thing when you’re shooting…

The reticle on the Comp M4 is the exact same 2 MOA dot that you get with the T2, and again, I really like this reticle on a red dot sight because…

…at 2 MOA the dot is very easy and quick for your eye to pick up (so you can shoot faster), but it’s also small enough to allow you to aim precisely at small targets.

Reticle And Lens Clarity Conclusions…

So in this category, both of these sights are pretty similar. They both have an extremely clear lens which allows you to establish a very clean sight picture…

And they both feature a 2 MOA dot reticle which I think is a great reticle because it helps you shoot quickly without sacrificing any precision when you need to make an accurate shot…

The only real difference I can think of in this category is the size of the field of view, and even though I think the field of you that you get with the Aimpoint T2 is fairly good, the Comp M4’s  field of view is larger because it’s a bigger optic…

So because seeing more is always an advantage when shooting, the larger field of view on the Comp M4 is going to make it the slight winner in this category.

Winner: Aimpoint Comp M4

Size Comparison…

Aimpoint T2

The Aimpoint T2 is one of Aimpoint’s micro red dot sights, so it’s very small and the exact same size as other Aimpoint Micro sights such as the Aimpoint H2

Aimpoint h2 vs t2

The height on the T2 measures in at 1.4 inches. The width measures in at 1.6 inches, and the length measures in at 2.7 inches…

In addition to that, the weight on the Aimpoint T2 comes in at just 3.0 ounces, which is very lightweight for a red dot sight.

Aimpoint Comp M4

The Aimpoint Comp M4 is a more traditional-sized red dot sight. It’s much larger than the Aimpoint T2, and is a little closer in size to something like the Aimpoint PRO

Aimpoint comp m4 vs m5

The Comp M4 has a height that measures in at 2.8 inches. It has a width that also measures in at 2.8 inches, and the length measures in at 5.3 inches…

In addition to that, the weight on the Comp M4 comes in at 9.4 ounces.

Size Comparison Conclusions…

These two sights are very different in this category. The Aimpoint Comp M4 is a full size red dot sight whereas the Aimpoint T2 is a micro red dot sight…

Because of that, the Aimpoint T2 is much smaller than the Comp M4 in every dimension, and its also much more lightweight as well…

Having a compact and lightweight optic is pretty important for me. I like to keep my rifles lightweight, and its very easy to put too much weight on a rifle when adding accessories…

Even though a few ounces might not seem like much, the ounces can quickly turn into pounds when adding optics and other accessories to your gun…

So I really like the super lightweight and compact size that you get with the Aimpoint T2, and that makes it the clear winner in this category.

Winner: Aimpoint T2

Battery Life And Brightness Settings…

Aimpoint T2

The Aimpoint T2 uses one CR2032 battery which is able to power the sight for over 5 years (around 50,000 hours)… 

I love when red dots have super long battery life like this, and the reason why it’s very simple… you don’t want your optic’s battery dying on you at the wrong time…

Aimpoint t2 vs comp m5

I’ve had red dot batteries die on me at the range before, and it’s something that can get pretty annoying…

But at the end of the day, it’s not really that big a deal because you can just swap out your battery when you get home… 

That being said, I’m a firm believer that you should keep your optic turned on at all times so that the sight is ready to go at a moment’s notice if you ever need to use it in an emergency self-defense situation…

With 50,000 hours worth of battery life, you can keep the Aimpoint T2 turned on at all times and as long as you swap out the battery at least once a year (which is what most people recommend)… 

…you can keep the sight turned on at all times and not have to worry about your battery dying on you at the wrong time.

Now with the T2 you get a total of 8 daylight brightness settings, 4 night vision settings, and 1 extra bright setting… 

The daylight brightness settings are very powerful, and you won’t have any problem seeing the dot even on a sunny day…

And if conditions get really extreme, you always have that extra bright setting that you can bump the side up too…

The night vision settings will have to be used along with night vision equipment, but if you have that equipment (or if you plan on getting some in the future) you’ll be able to run the T2 at night without having any issues at all.

Aimpoint Comp M4

The Aimpoint Comp M4 uses one AA battery which is able to power the sight for over 8 years which is around 80,000 hours…

Again, I love super long battery life like this because you can keep your sight turned on at all times (so that it’s ready to go), and you won’t have to fiddle around with buttons just to turn your optic on if you ever need to use it for self-defense…

Aimpoint pro vs comp m5

Now with the Comp M4 you get a total of 9 daylight brightness settings, 7 night vision settings, and 1 extra bright setting…

Just as with the T2, the daylight brightness settings are very powerful, and you won’t have any problems seeing the reticle even on a bright day (again, you have the extra bright setting as well if you need it)…

On top of that, you also have 7 night vision settings which, again, will have to be used along with night vision equipment… 

But having so many settings can really allow you to fine-tune the brightness level to exactly what works best for you. 

Battery Life And Brightness Settings Conclusions…

So in this category, we (again) have several similarities between these two sights. They both have super long battery life, and they both have several daylight brightness settings, night vision settings, and an extra bright setting…

The differences are small, but that being said, there are some differences. For example, with the Comp M4 you get 80,000 hours of battery life whereas with the T2 you get 50,000 hours…

Honestly, both sights are fantastic in terms of battery lifespan, but even though that’s the case, the Comp M4’s battery lifespan is a little bit longer than the T2’s…

In addition to that, the Comp M4 has more daylight and night vision brightness settings. Again, this isn’t a huge deal in my opinion, but it might allow you to fine-tune your brightness level just a little bit more…

So in the end, even though this is another extremely close category I’m going to give the slight edge to the Aimpoint Comp M4.

Winner: Aimpoint Comp M4

Extra Accessories Included With The Optic…

Aimpoint T2

The Aimpoint T2 comes with front and rear flip up lens covers. The front lens cover is blacked out just like you would normally find, however the rear lens cover is actually clear.

This might seem like a strange set up, but there is an actual purpose behind it. You see, even with the front lens cover blacked out, you can still see the dot through the clear rear lens cover… 

aimpoint t2 for sale

And as long as you keep both eyes open, the dot will actually superimpose over the target that you’re aiming at…

The benefit of this is that you can keep both lens covers closed for maximum protection of your optic, but at the same time, you can still make a quick shot in an emergency (even with both of those lens covers closed)…

Now when it comes to mounts, you can purchase the T2 with a high mount, a low mount, or no mount at all… 

The high mount is going to set you up for a cowitness with back up iron sights (BUIS) on an AR platform rifle such as an AR-15 or an AR-10…

…and the low mount will work well with any firearm that favors a low mounted optic such as an AK or a shotgun.

If you choose to include the high or low mount with the T2 the price of the overall package will go up. So I think it’s more accurate to call these mounts ‘add on’ items rather than included items…

That being said, the least expensive option would be to purchase the sight with no mount, however if you choose to go this route, you will have to purchase a mount on the aftermarket to be able to put the sight on your gun…

The good news is that the Aimpoint T2 is an extremely popular optic, so there are tons of companies out there making high quality mounts that will fit the Aimpoint T2 footprint.

Aimpoint Comp M4

The Aimpoint Comp M4 does come with a rubber bikini lens cover, but much more importantly, it comes with the QRP2 mount…

The QRP2 mount stands for a ‘Quick Release Picatinny’ and it’s a very high-quality mount. It sets you up for a cowitness with back up iron sights (BUIS) on an AR-15 or an AR-10…

However, it has a removable spacer which will allow you to mount the sight lower and that makes it a useful mount for the AK platform, shotguns, and several other types of firearms as well…

aimpoint comp m4

So it’s a fully adjustable mount, which I think is awesome because you’ll be set up to mount your optic right out of the box regardless of the type of firearm you have… 

In addition to that, the QRP2 mount is a truly included item that comes with the Comp M4. That means that getting the mount with your optic is already built into the price…

And that’s convenient because you won’t have to go searching around for a mount on the aftermarket, and you won’t have to spend extra money on that mount either…

So overall I really love that the QRP2 mount is included with the Aimpoint Comp M4, and I think it adds a lot of extra value to the overall sight package.

Extra Accessories Conclusions…

OK so in this category, these 2 sights have some key differences. The Aimpoint T2 can be purchased with a high or low mount…

…but it’s really more of an ‘add on’ item rather than an included item because the cost of the sight does go up when you get it with one of the factory mounts.

On the other hand, the Aimpoint Comp M4 comes with the QRP2 mount which is a fully adjustable mount, and it’s a truly included accessory because it’s built-in to the actual price of the optic…

So because you get an included mount with the Comp M4, once again I’m going to give it the win in this category.

Winner: Aimpoint Comp M4

Price Comparison…

Unfortunately I won’t be able to give you exact numbers in this section because the prices of the sights are changing all the time…

And with the Aimpoint T2, the price can actually change depending on if you get it with a mount or not…

But with that being said, in general, you’ll usually find that the Aimpoint T2 (without a mount) is around 90 to 100 bucks less expensive than the Aimpoint Comp M4…

And even if you include a mount with the Aimpoint T2, the price still usually comes in under the price of the Aimpoint Comp M4 which does include the QRP2 mount… 

So if you’re trying to budget your money and get the less expensive option between these two sights, the Aimpoint T2 is probably going to be the best option for you.

Winner: Aimpoint T2

Aimpoint T2 Vs Comp M4 – Final Thoughts…

So in the end, in the Durability And Toughness category, both of these sights are Aimpoints and they’re both extremely durable and reliable because they’re both built using very strong materials…

But because the Comp M4 has a slightly better waterproof rating than the Aimpoint T2 (even though the Aimpoint T2’s rating is still pretty impressive), I gave the win in this section to the Comp M4…

In the Lens Clarity And Reticle category, both of these sights have a very clear lens which allows you to get a clean sight picture, and they both feature a 2 MOA dot reticle, which I think is a great reticle…

However, because the Comp M4 has a little bit larger field of view than the T2, It came away as the winner here…

In the Size Comparison, the Comp M4 is a full size red dot sight and the T2 is a micro red dot sight… 

So the T2 is much more lightweight and smaller than the Comp M4, and it came away as the winner in this category…

In the Battery Life And Brightness Settings category, both of these sights have super long battery life, they both have powerful daylight brightness settings and night vision settings…

But because the Comp M4’s battery life is a little bit longer than the T2’s battery life, and because you have just a few more options in terms of brightness settings, I gave the win here to the Comp M4…

In the Extra Accessories category, the Aimpoint T2 comes with flip up lens covers, but the Comp M4 comes with the QRP2 mount which is fully adjustable. So I gave the win here to the Comp M4…

And last in the Price Comparison, the Aimpoint T2 without a mount is usually around 90 to 100 dollars less expensive than the Aimpoint Comp M4 which includes the QRP2 mount…  

So which of these sights do I prefer? I prefer Aimpoint T2…

Aimpoint t2 review

I prefer the Aimpoint T2 for a few reasons. First of all, even though I gave the slight win to the Comp M4 in the durability and toughness category, the Aimpoint T2 is still extremely tough…

You can put it through very hard use, and it’s going to keep working for you even in the toughest conditions…

In addition to that, it’s a much smaller sight than the Comp M4, and this is important because it will take up less space on your rifle and keep the weight down as well…

Having a lightweight carbine helps make it faster into action, and it allows you to carry the firearm for a longer period of time without getting fatigued, so it’s a pretty important feature for me…

Last, the Aimpoint T2 is less expensive than the Comp M4 even if you include a mount with it. So it’ll end up saving you a little bit of money as well.

Now if you want maximum durability, a full sized red dot sight, and an included mount, then feel free to go with the Comp M4 because it’s still and amazing optic…

Aimpoint comp m4 review

You won’t go wrong by going with either of these fantastic red dot sights because they’re both Aimpoints and they’re both extremely high-quality optics! 

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Aimpoint T2 Vs Eotech EXPS3 [Which Is The Best Optic For You?]

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aimpoint t2 vs eotech exps3

Whenever you’re talking about premium red dot sights there are two names that will have to be part of the discussion… Aimpoint and Eotech…

Both of these companies have a reputation for making super high quality and reliable optics…

…and they’ve both supplied optics to law enforcement and military units that have been put through the toughest conditions.

And right now, two of their most popular offerings are…

So in this Aimpoint T2 Vs Eotech EXPS3 comparison, we’re going to put these two sights up against each other and see how they stack up in the following six categories… 

  • Durability And Toughness
  • Reticle And Lens Clarity
  • Size Comparison
  • Battery Life And Brightness Settings
  • Extra Goodies Included With The Optic
  • Price Comparison

In the end, I’ll tell you if I personally prefer the rock-solid Aimpoint T2 or the blazing-fast Eotech EXPS3, and you should have all the information you need to determine which optic will work best for you…

Let’s get started!

Durability And Toughness…

Aimpoint T2

Aimpoints are pretty much known for their durability and reliability and the Aimpoint T2 is no different. To start off with, the sight housing on the T2 is made from high strength aluminum…

It’s very rugged, and it also has a hard anodized non reflective finish which helps the sight (and you) keep a low profile and also helps protect the body of the optic from the elements…

Eotech vs aimpoint for home defense

In addition to that, the sight housing on the T2 is built up around the windage and elevation adjustments. This is actually an important feature for me because it prevents them from getting bumped accidentally or even snapped off which is something that can happen with some other red dot sights out there…

The Aimpoint T2 is also a waterproof optic. It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 25 meters (80 feet) of water, and it can easily handle serving in rainy, snowy, or wet conditions…

Last, the T2 is also a shockproof optic. So it can handle the recoil from high-powered rifles, shotguns, and pistol caliber carbines or submachine guns without having any problems at all…

All in all, the durability and toughness that you get with the Aimpoint T2 is extremely impressive, especially considering just how small the sight actually is.

Eotech EXPS3

The Eotech EXPS3 is also a very durable optic. It’s sight housing is also made from a high quality aluminum, and it also has an anodized finish which will help protect the optic from the elements…

In addition to that, the EXPS3 has a large protective hood that goes over the sight window, and I really like this feature because it gives you extra protection in an area that could be a weak point on the sight without it…

Eotech exps3 vs aimpoint t2

Next, the windage and elevation adjustments on the EXPS3 are actually recessed into the sight housing. They can still be adjusted easily with the use of a small screwdriver, but they can never be bumped or snapped off accidentally…

The EXPS3 is also a waterproof optic. It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 10 meters (33 feet) of water, and just like the Aimpoint T2 it can easily handle any rainy, snowy, or wet conditions that you can throw at it…

Last, the EXPS3 is also a shockproof optic and can handle the recoil from being mounted on shotguns, high powered rifles, and PCCs, just like the Aimpoint T2…

All in all, the ruggedness that you get with the EXPS3 is also very impressive.

Durability And Toughness Conclusions…

In this category these two sights have a lot of similarities, but there are a few differences. Both sights are built using very rugged materials, and they both have an anodized finish to help protect them from the elements…

In addition to that, they’re both also shockproof and waterproof. That being said, the Aimpoint T2 waterproof rating is significantly better than the EXPS3 waterproof rating (even though the Eotech’s rating is also pretty good)…

So even though both of these sights are extremely durable and it’s really close in this category, I’m going to give the edge to the Aimpoint T2 but only by a hair…

Winner: Aimpoint T2

Reticle And Lens Clarity…

Aimpoint T2

The Aimpoint T2 has a very clear lens. You don’t really get any of that blue tint (which can end up being distracting) like you do on some other red dots (such as the Trijicon MRO)…

And overall you’re able to see very clearly and to establish a very clean sight picture when looking through the optic…

Aimpoint pro vs eotech exps2

Now the reticle on the Aimpoint T2 is a simple 2 MOA (minute of angle) dot, and I think it’s a very good reticle on this style of optic…

The reason why I like it is because the 2 MOA dot is fairly quick and easy for your eye to pick up, which allows you to shoot fast…

But at the same time, it’s still a small dot that allows you to aim precisely at small targets or targets that are at further distances… 

So I like the 2 MOA dot as a reticle on a red dot sight, and I’m glad that Aimpoint decided to go with a small dot rather than something like a 6 or 8 MOA dot…

…because I’ve found that those larger dots end up covering up too much of the target when you’re trying to shoot very accurately. 

Eotech EXPS3

The Eotech EXPS3 also has an extremely clear lens. It’s actually a holographic sight, which is a little bit different from a reflex sight…

…and it uses a laser driven hologram to produce the reticle rather than a traditional emitter. The result is that the lens is extremely clear without any blueish or greenish tint.

So just as with the Aimpoint T2, the lens on the EXPS3 is very clear, and it allows you to get a very clean sight picture when looking through the optic…

Eotech exps3-4

In addition to that, the EXPS3 has a huge sight window, it’s much bigger than the lens found on the Aimpoint T2, and it gives you a much larger field of view when you’re shooting…

Now the reticle that you get with the EXPS3 will actually depend on which version of the sight you get. For example, the EXPS3-0 has a circle dot reticle which includes a 1 MOA dot which is surrounded by a 68 MOA ring…

I love circle dot reticles like this, and they’re actually my favorite type of reticle on red dot sights. The reason why I like them so much is because that large 68 MOA is extremely quick and easy for your eye to pick up, and that allows you to shoot very fast at large targets up close…

But at the same time, you still have that small 1 MOA dot which is even more precise than the Aimpoint T2’s 2 MOA dot for shots that require a high degree of accuracy…

So it’s a reticle that helps you shoot fast without sacrificing any precision, and that’s why I’m such a big fan of it… 

Another version of this sight is the EXPS3-2, and it gives you a 68 MOA ring reticle with a 1 MOA dot in the center and another dot just below it forming a simple BDC (Bullet Drop Compensator) reticle…

With this reticle you can zero the optic at 50/200 meters and the lower dot will set you up for shots at 500 meters…

The last option is the EXPS3-4, which also has a 68 MOA ring but has a 4 dot Bullet Drop Compensator that helps you range out to 600 meters…

My favorite of the 3 options is definitely the EXPS3-0 because it’s simple and straightforward. However, if you’re going to run a magnifier behind your optic, either of the two BDC reticles would be a great choice.

Reticle And Lens Clarity Conclusions…

Ok so in this section, there are a lot of key differences between these two sights. First of all, they both have great lens clarity which is great because it allows you to get a very clean sight picture…

But that’s pretty much where the similarities end. For example, the EXPS3 has a much larger sight window than the Aimpoint T2, and it allows you to get a larger field of view when looking through the sight…

In addition to that, the Aimpoint T2 only has a 2 MOA dot reticle (which does work well), but the Circle Dot Reticles offered on the EXPS3 are better in my opinion…

The big 68 MOA ring is faster for your eye to pick up than the 2 MOA dot on the T2, and you still have that 1 MOA dot in the center for shots that require a high degree of accuracy…

So taking all that into consideration, I think the clear winner in this category is the Eotech EXPS3.

Winner: Eotech EXPS3

Size Comparison…

Aimpoint T2

The Aimpoint T2 is a very compact optic. It’s much smaller than a traditionally sized red dot sight like the Aimpoint PRO because it’s actually a micro red dot sight just like the Aimpoint H2

Aimpoint vs eotech vs trijicon

Now the height on the Aimpoint T2 measures in at 1.4 inches, and the width measures in at 1.6 inches. In addition to that, the length measures in at 2.7 inches…

And the weight comes in at just 3.0 ounces, which is extremely lightweight for an optic.

Eotech EXPS3

The Eotech EXPS3 is a much larger sight than the Aimpoint T2. It’s not quite as large as the Eotech 512, but its still a fairly large optic…

Eotech vs aimpoint

That said, the height on the EXPS3 measures in at 2.9 inches. The width measures in at 2.3 inches, and the length measures in at 3.8 inches long…

In addition to that, the weight on the EXPS3 comes in at 11.2 ounces.

Size Comparison Conclusions…

In this category these two sights are very different. The Eotech EXPS3 is a full size holographic sight whereas the Aimpoint T2 is a micro red dot sight…

And because of that, the T2 is a much smaller sight (in every dimension) than the EXPS3. In addition to that, the T2 is much more lightweight than the EXPS3…

Now, it’s actually very easy to add too much weight to your rifle when adding accessories and optics because even though a few ounces doesn’t seem like much, ounces quickly add up to pounds…

I like to keep my rifles very lightweight because it keeps them more handy and faster into action. So because of the significant advantage that you get in terms of compact size and lighter weight…

The clear win in this category goes to the Aimpoint T2. 

Winner: Aimpoint T2

Battery Life And Brightness Settings…

Aimpoint T2

The Aimpoint T2 is powered by 1 CR2032 battery, and it’s able to power the sight for over 5 years (around 50,000 hours)…

I love it when red dot’s have super long battery life like that, and the reason why is simple… You don’t want your optic dying on you at the wrong time…

I’ve had red dot sights die on me at the range before and even though that can get pretty annoying, at the end of the day it’s not that big a deal because you can just change out the battery when you get home…

Aimpoint pro

In addition to that, I personally believe it’s a good idea to keep your optic turned on all the time so that it’s ready to go at all times without you having to fiddle around with the buttons to turn it on…

And with 50,000 hours worth of battery life, you can keep the T2 turned on and ready to go at all times, and as long as you swap out your battery at least once a year (which is what most people recommend)…

…you’ll never have to worry about the battery dying on you in an emergency self defense situation or at any other time. 

Now with the T2 you get a total of 8 daylight brightness settings, 4 night vision settings, and 1 extra bright setting…

The daylight brightness settings are very powerful on the high end, and you’ll have no problem seeing your dot even on a bright day…

If you do end up having a problem seeing the dot in some extreme situation, you also have the extra bright setting that you can bump the sight up to…

The 4 night vision settings will only be visible with the use of night vision equipment, and they’ll allow you to easily run the T2 in the dark. 

Eotech EXPS3

The Eotech EXPS3 uses one CR123 battery which is able to power the sight for around 1,000 hours when on setting 12…

1,000 hours might seem like a lot, but in the world of premium red dot sights, it’s actually a fairly short lifespan for a battery (again, the Aimpoint T2 gives you 50,000 hours worth of battery life)…

Eotech exps3-2 review

As I mentioned earlier, I like when red dot sights have super long battery life because you can keep them turned on all the time (so that they’re always ready to go) and really not worry about the battery dying on you…

If you plan on keeping the EXPS3 turned on all the time, then be prepared to change out your batteries several times per year…

Now with the EXPS3 you get a total of 20 daylight brightness settings and 10 additional night vision settings…

The daylight settings get very bright, especially on the high end, and you won’t have any problems with the reticle washing out even on a bright day…

The addition of NV settings is something that distinguishes the Eotech XPS3 line from the XPS2 line, which only has daylight brightness settings…

So just as with the Aimpoint T2, you can run the EXPS3 in the dark as long as you pair it with night vision equipment. 

Battery Life And Brightness Settings Conclusions…

Once again, we have a category in which these two sights have several significant differences. First of all, they both feature powerful daylight brightness settings and NV settings, so there’s not much that differentiates the two there…

But that being said, the Aimpoint T2 gives you 50,000 hours worth of battery life whereas the EXPS3 only gives you 1,000 hours…

Like I mentioned earlier, this is actually a pretty important feature because it allows you to keep the T2 on at all times, and as long as you change out the battery at least once a year…

You’ll never have to worry about your optic’s battery dying on you. The same can’t be said for the EXPS3, and that’s a big downside in my opinion… 

So because of that, the clear winner in this category is the Aimpoint T2. 

Winner: Aimpoint T2

Extra Accessories Included With The Optic…

Aimpoint T2

The Aimpoint T2 comes with a front and rear flip up lens cover. The front lens cover is blacked out like you normally will find, however the rear lens cover is actually clear…

This might seem like a strange set up, but there is an actual purpose behind it. You see, when looking through the clear rear lens cover, you can still see the red dot against the black background of the blacked out front lens cover…

Aimpoint vs eotech

And if you open both eyes, you’ll actually be able to superimpose the dot over any target that you see. It’s just a weird way that your brain works…

And I think it’s a pretty cool feature because it means that you can keep both lens covers closed but still have the ability to make a quick shot in an emergency…

No you can purchase the T2 with a high mount, a low mount, or no mount at all. The high mount will pair nicely with an AR-15 or an AR-10, and the low mount will work well with a shotgun, an AK, or any other firearm that favors a low mount…

Both the high mount and the low mount will increase the overall cost of the sight package, so they’re really more ‘add-on’ items than included, but it is an option to get your T2 with a factory mount…

The least expensive option will be to get the T2 with no included mount. However, if you do this, you will have to pick up a mount on the aftermarket to be able to put the optic on your gun…

The good news is that the Aimpoint T2 is a very common sight, so there are tons of companies making mounts that will fit the T2 footprint…

And by going with an aftermarket mount, you can pick out the exact features you want in your mount. For example, you might want an ultra light weight mount or a QD (Quick Detach) mount…

Those options and many others are easy to find when looking for a mount for the T2.  

Eotech EXPS3

The Eotech EXPS3 comes with a mount built into the housing of the sight, and it’s actually a QD (Quick Detach) mount…

Now the included EXPS3 mount is a high mount, so it sets you up for a cowitness with back up iron sights (BUIS) on an AR platform rifle such as an AR-15, an AR-10, or an AR-9…

Eotech exps3-0 review

That will make it a less than ideal set up for something like a shotgun or an AK which will favor a low mount, but since most people will be mounting it on an AR anyway, I don’t think that’s too big of a problem…

All in all, I love that the EXPS3 comes with an included mount because it means you won’t have to spend extra time and money hunting down something on the aftermarket…

And I really think it adds a lot of extra value to the overall optics package. 

Extra Accessories Conclusions…

Ok so in this category, there are some more key differences between these two sights. First of all, the Aimpoint T2 comes with lens covers, which are actually pretty nice…

But if you want it to come with a mount, you’re going to have to spend extra money or hunt down a mount on the aftermarket (and again pay more money)…

On the other hand, the Eotech EXPS3 comes with an included mount that sets you up for a co witness with flip up sights on an AR-15…

So you won’t have to spend any extra time hunting down a mount for your optic with the Eotech, and you won’t have to spend any extra money just to mount your optic either…

So in this category, I’m going to give the win to the Eotech EXPS3. 

Winner: Eotech EXPS3

Price Comparison…

Unfortunately I won’t be able to give you exact numbers in this section because as the market changes, the prices on these sights are known to change as well…

That being said, in general, you’ll usually find that the Eotech EXPS3 is around 180 to 190 bucks less expensive than the Aimpoint T2…

That’s a significant chunk of change for most of us, and it could be a major factor if you’re trying to decide which of these two sights is right for you…

So if you are on a budget and trying to keep the price of your sight low, keep in mind that the Eotech EXPS3 is definitely going to be the less expensive option for you.

Winner: Eotech EXPS3

Aimpoint T2 Vs Eotech EXPS3 – Final Thoughts…

So in the end, in the Durability And Toughness category, both sights are made using very high quality and rugged materials, and they’re both shockproof and waterproof…

But because the Aimpoint T2 has a slightly better waterproof rating than the Eotech EXPS3, I gave the win to the T2 in this section…

In the Lens Clarity And Reticle category, both of these sights have a very clean lens which allows you to get a clean sight picture…

But the Eotech EXPS3 has a bigger sight window (which gives you a larger field of view), and a Circle Dot Reticle (which I think is a better reticle than the T2’s 2 MOA dot because it helps you shoot faster without sacrificing accuracy)…

So in this section, I gave the win to the EXPS3…

In the Size Comparison, the Aimpoint T2 is smaller in every dimension and more lightweight than the EXPS3. So it came away as the clear winner in this category…

In the Battery Life And Brightness Settings category, both sights feature powerful daylight brightness settings and night vision settings…

However the Aimpoint T2 gives you 50,000 hours of battery life whereas the EXPS3 only gives you 1,000 hours. So I gave the win to the T2 in this section…

In the Extra Accessories category, the Aimpoint T2 comes with flip up lens covers but not with a mount, whereas the Eotech EXPS3 comes with an included high mounting system which makes it perfect for an AR-15… 

So in this section I gave the win to the EXPS3…

And last in the Price Comparison, the Eotech EXPS3 is usually around 180 to 190 dollars less expensive than the Aimpoint T2…   

So which of these sights do I prefer? I prefer Aimpoint T2

Aimpoint t2 review

I prefer the Aimpoint T2 for a few reasons. First of all, it’s an Aimpoint, so it’s going to be super durable and super reliable for you even if you have to use it in tough conditions…

In addition to that, it’s very compact and lightweight, and that’s important because it will help keep your rifle lightweight and fast into action…

Last, I love the super long battery life that you get with the Aimpoint T2 because you can leave the sight turned on for years (so it’s always ready to go), and still not have to worry about the battery dying on you…

Simply put, the Aimpoint T2 is the king of red dot sights right now, and unless something comes out that is as small, lightweight, and just as durable and reliable, it’ll remain the king for years to come.

Now if you want a Circle Dot Reticle, you don’t mind the shorter battery life, and you want to save some money, then feel free to go with the EXPS3 because it’s still an awesome sight…

Eotech exps3 review

Either way, I hope I was able to show you the main similarities and differences between these two legendary red dot sights. 

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Eotech 512 Vs Holosun 510c [Which Is The Better Optic For You?]

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eotech 512 vs holosun 510c

There are so many options when it comes to red dot sights these days, and they come in different styles and forms…

You’ve got micro red dot sights, which are super popular, but some of us are looking for bigger optics that offer better field of view and visibility when shooting…

And right now, two of the most popular larger red dot sights are…

So in this Eotech 512 Vs Holosun 510c comparison, we’re going to put these two sights up against each other in the following 6 categories…

  • Durability And Toughness
  • Reticle And Lens Clarity
  • Size Comparison
  • Battery Life And Brightness Settings
  • Extra Accessories Included With The Optic
  • Price Comparison

In the end, I’ll tell you if I prefer the old school Eotech 512 or the new kid on the block, the Holosun 510c, and you should have all the information you need to determine which optic will work best for you…

Let’s get started!

Durability And Toughness…

Eotech 512

The Eotech 512 is a very tough red dot sight. It has a sight housing that’s constructed from high quality aluminum, which is a very rugged material…

And it’s also anodized which helps protect the body of the sight from the elements…

Eotech vs holosun

In addition to that, there is a protective hood that covers the sight window, and that gives you extra protection over the most vulnerable part of the optic…

On top of that, the windage and elevation adjustments on the 512 are recessed into the sight housing, and this is an important design feature because it prevents them from ever getting bumped or snapped off accidentally…

The Eotech 512 is also a waterproof optic. It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 3 meters (10 feet) of water, and it can easily handle rainy, snowy, or wet conditions…

And it’s also shockproof, so it can handle the recoil from high powered rifles, shotguns, and pistol caliber carbines or submachine guns…

All in all, the durability that you get with the Eotech 512 is very impressive.

Holosun 510c

The Holosun 510c is also a very durable red dot sight. It has a sight housing that’s made from high strength aluminum, and it also has an anodized finish which helps protect it from the elements…

On top of that, it also has a protective hood over the lens, but Holosun decided to make their hood out of titanium which is a super tough material that is also very light weight…

Holosun 510c elite

Additionally, the windage and elevation adjustments on the 510c are flush with the sight housing, so they can also never be accidentally bumped or snapped off…

And they also keep the sight very slick-sided so it doesn’t catch on to any loose clothing or a sling…

The Holosun 510c is also a waterproof optic, and it’s rated to be waterproof in up to 1 meter of water. It can probably handle more depth than that…

But regardless, it can easily handle duty in snowy or rainy conditions, just like the Eotech 512…

The 510c is also a shockproof optic. So it too can handle being mounted on shotguns, high-powered rifles, and PCCs without having any issues at all…

The one knock I have against the 510c in this category is actually just an issue with the style of sight that it is. It’s an open style reflex sight…

And that means that the emitter, which projects the reticle onto your lens, is exposed. Even though it’s highly unlikely, it is theoretically possible for a piece of dirt or debris to fall into the sight and block the emitter from projecting the reticle…

This is not something I’ve ever seen happen, but it is something that’s possible. So I think it should be mentioned in this section of the comparison…

But that being said, the Holosun 510c is still a very durable and rugged optic, and I especially like the titanium hood that it features.

Durability And Toughness Conclusions…

In this category, both of the sights are very durable. They’re both made from very strong materials, they’re both shockproof, and they’re both waterproof…

That being said, the Eotech 512 has a slightly better waterproof rating than the Holosun 510c. So it gets a few extra points there…

But in addition to that, the Holosun 510c is also an open style reflex sight, and even though it’s unlikely to happen, something can theoretically fall into the sight and block the emitter from projecting the reticle onto the lens…

That can’t happen with the Eotech 512 because it’s a fully enclosed optic. So in this section, I’m going to give the win to the Eotech 512.

Winner: Eotech 512 

Reticle And Lens Clarity…

Eotech 512

The Eotech 512 comes with a very clear lens. To start off with, the 512 is actually a holographic sight, not a traditional reflex style red dot sight…

So it uses holographic technology to create the reticle, rather than a traditional emitter which projects the reticle onto the glass…

Eotech 512 for sale

Sometimes traditional red dot sights have a distinct blue tint because it helps the emitter project the reticle more brightly, but that’s not an issue at all on the Eotech 512  because of the holographic technology…

So the result is that you get a very clear lens with the 512, and that allows you to establish a very clear sight picture.

Now the reticle on the 512 is a 1 MOA dot with a 68 MOA ring surrounding it, and I think it’s an awesome reticle…

It’s called a Circle Dot Reticle, and I like it because the 68 MOA ring is extremely easy and quick for your eye to pick up, which allows you to shoot very fast…

But at the same time, the 1 MOA dot in the center is very precise when you need to make a shot that requires a high degree of accuracy…

So it’s a reticle that helps you shoot very fast without sacrificing any precision, and that’s why I’m such a big fan of it.

Holosun 510c

The lens on the Holosun 510c is also very clear. Even though it is a traditional reflex sight with an emitter that projects the reticle onto the glass…

…you don’t get any of that annoying blue tint, the way you do with some other red dots such as the Trijicon MRO.

So as I said, the lens is very clear, and you’re able to get a clean sight picture when looking through the optic…

Now as for the reticle, the 510c includes a feature called the Multiple Reticle System (MRS). Basically this means that you get 3 reticles included in the sight and the 3 reticles are…

  • A 2 MOA dot surrounded by a 65 MOA ring
  • A 2 MOA dot
  • A 65 MOS ring with no dot in the center

The first reticle option is the 2 MOA (minute of angle) dot surrounded by a 65 MOA ring. It’s basically Holosun’s version of a Circle Dot Reticle, and it’s very similar to the reticle that you get on the Eotech 512…

Holosun 510c sale

Again, that 65 MOA ring is very quick and easy for your eye to pick up, which helps you shoot fast, and the 2 MOA dot is still very precise when you need to make an accurate shot or a shot at distance…

So it’s fast and precise just like the Eotech 512’s reticle, and it’s my favorite of the 3 options you get on the Holosun 510c…

Now the second option is a 2 MOA dot. This is also a very good reticle in my opinion because the 2 MOA dot is still fairly easy for your eye to pick up, so you can shoot fast with it…

But at the same time, you still have that fine aiming point for small targets or targets at further distances. If you end up trying out the Circle Dot Reticle and just prefer a more simple sight picture, I think this is a great option…

The last option is the 65 MOA ring with no dot in the center. This is my least favorite of the 3 options, but let me explain to you why some people like to run it…

Because you have the large 65 MOA ring, it is a very fast reticle when you’re shooting at large targets up close, and because you don’t have a dot in the center of the circle, you’re able to see more of your target when shooting…

The obvious downside is that you have no precise aiming point for accurate shots, and that’s why it’s not a reticle that I personally like…

In the end, all 3 reticle options have strengths and weaknesses, but the cool thing about the 510c is that you can try out all of them before settling on which one works best for you.

Reticle And Lens Clarity Conclusions…

Ok, so in this section we have a few similarities and a few important differences between these two sights…

Even though the two sights use completely different technology, they both have a very clear lens which allows you to establish a very clean sight picture…

In addition to that, they both feature a Circle Dot Reticle. Now like I said earlier, the Circle Dot Reticle is my favorite style of reticle on a red dot sight…

…because it helps you shoot faster without sacrificing precision, and both Circle Dot Reticles work very well even though there are some slight differences between them.

That being said, not everyone likes to run a Circle Dot Reticle, and the Holosun 510c gives you 2 other options with its Multiple Reticle System…

So because of that, I’m going to give the win to the Holosun 510c in this category.

Winner: Holosun 510c

Size Comparison…

Eotech 512

The Eotech 512 is a full size sight which uses fairly large batteries, so it’s going to be a little bit larger than something like the Eotech XPS2, and a lot larger than a micro red dot sight like the Aimpoint T2

Holosun 510c vs eotech 512

It has a height that measures in at 2.5 inches, and a width that measures in at 2.0 inches…

In addition to that, the overall length on the 512 is 5.6 inches, and the weight comes in at 11.5 ounces, which I think is fairly heavy.

Holosun 510c

The Holosun 510c is also a full size red dot sight, so it’s also going to be a bit larger than a micro red dot sight, but it’s not quite as large as the Eotech 512…

Holosun 510c with magnifier

It has a height that measures in at 2.31 inches, and a width that measures in at 1.80 inches…

On top of that, the overall length on the 510c comes in at only 3.30 inches, and the weight comes in at only 4.94 ounces.

Size Comparison Conclusions…

So this category definitely favors the Holosun 510c because the 510c is smaller than the Eotech 512 in every dimension, which includes height, width, and length…

On top of that, the Holosun 510c is around six and a half ounces lighter than the Eotech 512…

This is actually a pretty important feature for me because I’m always trying to keep the weight down on my rifles to keep them fast into action…

And even though a few ounces doesn’t seem like much, the ounces can quickly turn into pounds if you’re not careful with the accessories you add onto your gun…

So I really like that the Holosun 510c is the more lightweight option, and that (along with its smaller size) makes it the clear winner in this category.

Winner: Holosun 510c

Battery Life And Brightness Settings…

Eotech 512

The Eotech 512 uses 2 1.5V AA batteries which can be lithium, alkaline, or rechargeable, and they’re able to power the sight for around 2,500 hours on setting 12…

2,500 hours of battery life might seem like a lot to some, but it’s actually pretty low in comparison to many other red dot sights available today…

This is an important feature for me because I believe you should leave your optic turned on at all times and the reason why is simple…

If you are ever forced to use your gun in self defense, you probably won’t have time to start fiddling around with the buttons just to get your optic turned on…

And if you keep the 512 turned on all the time, you’re going to have to keep a close eye on your batteries, and change them out pretty regularly…

Holosun vs eotech

Now the 512 comes with a total of 20 daylight brightness settings. The settings are very powerful on the high end, so you won’t have any problems with your dot washing out on you, even on a very bright day…

And because there are so many of them, you can really fine tune the brightness level exactly to the level that you want it…

There are no night vision brightness settings on the Eotech 512, which isn’t that big of an issue in my opinion because most people will never use them…

But if you are looking for an Eotech that does include NV settings, I recommend you check out the Eotech XPS3.

Holosun 510c

The Holosun 510c uses 1 CR2032 battery which is able to power the sight for a whopping 50,000 hours on setting 6…

That’s the type of ultra long battery life that I like to see on red dot sights because, again, you can keep the sight turned on all the time, and it’ll be ready to go if you need to use it in an emergency…

And as long as you follow the standard advice of swapping out your battery at least once a year (like on your birthday), you’ll never have to worry about your optic’s battery dying on you…

On top of that, 510c also includes Holosun’s Shake Awake technology. This basically means that your sight will automatically turn off after a period of non use, and it will automatically turn on once the sight senses motion…

Holosun 510c vs 507c

This is a great feature because it will help you save battery life (which is already super long), but at the same time, your optic is always so ready to go because it will turn on as soon as you touch your gun…

In addition to that, Holosun includes a solar panel on the 510c, and this is a useful feature for 2 reasons…

First of all, you can use the solar panel as a backup power source (as long as you have sunlight) if your battery does end up dying on you…

Secondly, you can use the solar panel to save your battery life even more if you just switch the sight to the solar setting when you take your gun out to the range…

Now with the 510c you get a total of 10 daylight brightness settings and 2 night vision settings…

Just as with the Eotech 512, the brightness settings on the 510c get very bright on the high end, so you won’t have any problems seeing the reticle even on a sunny day…

And as I mentioned before, most people probably won’t use the 2 NV settings, but some people who use NV equipment will, and they’re included at no additional cost to you…

So all in all, the Holosun 510c is packed with features that are really useful to you as a shooter.

Battery Life And Brightness Settings Conclusions…

Alright, in this section we have some very important differences between these two sights…

First of all, they both have daylight brightness settings that get very bright. So you’ll easily be able to see your reticle, even on a bright sunny day…

But that being said, the Holosun 510c includes night vision settings whereas the Eotech 512 does not. So you get a little extra value there…

In addition to that, the Holosun 510c gives you years worth of battery life, whereas the battery life on the Eotech 512 is actually pretty low in comparison to most other quality red dots these days…

On top of that, the Holosun 510c includes the Shake Awake feature which will save your battery life and keep your sight ready to go at the same time…

And it has the solar panel which will save your battery life even more and back up your sight’s power if the battery does end up dying on you…

So for all of these reasons, I think that the Holosun 510c is the clear winner in this category.

Winner: Holosun 510c

Extra Accessories Included With The Optic…

Eotech 512

The Eotech 512 comes with some pretty cool accessories. First of all, it comes with batteries, which I actually appreciate because it means you won’t have to run off to the store just to be able to turn your sight on…

But more importantly, the 512 comes with an integrated mount. Now the 512’s mounting system sets you up for a co witness with back up iron sights (BUIS) on an AR style rifle (such as an AR-15 or an AR-10)…

eotech 512 or holosun 510c

And I really like that it’s included as a feature on the 512 because it means you won’t have to spend time and more money hunting down an aftermarket mount that will fit your optic…

High quality mounts aren’t always included when it comes to premium optics. So I think that the included mount is great and adds a lot of extra value to the 512.

Holosun 510c

The Holosun 510c also comes with a battery. So again, you won’t have to run off to the store just to be able to turn your sight on…

Holosun 510c green

And just like with the Eotech 512, the Holosun 510c comes with a mount. The mount that comes with the 510c also sets you up for a co witness with back up iron sights on an AR-15 or an AR-10…

And overall, I think it’s pretty high quality. So again, you won’t have to spend time and extra money searching for a mount because the sight comes ready to go right out of the box.

Extra Accessories Conclusions…

Ok, so in this category these two sights are very similar. First of all, they both come with a battery, which I think is a nice touch because you won’t have to run to the store to pick one up when you receive your optic…

But more importantly, they both come with an included high mount, which is ideal for an AR-15 or an AR-10…

An included mount is a pretty important accessory in my opinion because it saves you time and money by not having to search one out on the aftermarket…

So I’m very happy that they both come with mounts, and I don’t think there’s really anything that separates the two in this section. So I’m going to have to call it a draw here.

Winner: Draw

Price Comparison…

Unfortunately I won’t be able to give you exact numbers in this category because the prices of these sights are changing all the time…

That being said, in general, you’ll usually find that the Holosun 510c is around 165 to 175 bucks less expensive than the Eotech 512…

For most of us, that’s a pretty significant amount of money, and it could be a major factor in your decision process when deciding between these two sights…

So if you are on a budget and trying to keep the price of your sight low, then the Holosun 510c is definitely going to be the less expensive option.

Winner: Holosun 510c

Eotech 512 Vs Holosun 510c – Final Thoughts…

So to sum it all up, in the Durability And Toughness category, both sights are made from strong materials, and they’re both shockproof and waterproof…

But because the Holosun 510c is an open style sight in which it’s possible for debris to fall into the sight and block the emitter and the Eotech 512 is an enclosed sight in which that cannot happen, I gave the win to the 512 in this section…

In the Lens Clarity And Reticle category, both sights have a very clear lens which allows you to get a very clean sight picture…

And they both have a Circle Dot Reticle, which as I mentioned is my favorite style of reticle on a red dot sight…

That being said, the Holosun 510c gives you 2 other reticles that you can choose between if you want to. So it came away as the winner in this section…

In the Size Comparison, the Holosun 510c is smaller in every dimension than the Eotech 512, and it’s also more lightweight. So it came away as the clear winner in this category…

In the Battery Life And Brightness Settings category, both sights have powerful daylight brightness settings which is good…

But the Holosun 510c includes NV settings, has much longer battery life than the Eotech 512, and includes the Shake Awake feature and solar panel. So it came away as the clear winner in this section…

In the Extra Accessories category, both sights come with a battery, and they both come with a high mount, which is nice because it makes both optics ready to go right out of the box. So I called it a draw in this section…

And last in the Price Comparison, the Holosun 510c is usually around 165 to 175 dollars less expensive than the Eotech 512…

So which of these sights do I prefer? I prefer the Holosun 510c… 

Holosun 510c review

I prefer the Holosun 510c for a few reasons. First of all, even though I gave the win to the Eotech 512 in the durability category, the 510c is still a very durable sight…

It’s built to be very rugged, and even though it’s an open style reflex sight, it’s very unlikely that something will fall into the sight and block the emitter from projecting your reticle…

And if that does happen, just switch to your back up iron sights, and continue to shoot. In addition to that, I like that you get 3 reticle options with the 510c (including a Circle Dot Reticle!) because you’ll be able to try out all 3 options before settling on which one is right for you… 

I also like that the 510c is smaller and more lightweight than the Eotech 512 because that will help keep your rifle lightweight and fast into action…

And the battery life on the 510c blows away the battery life on the Eotech 512, and that’s aside from it having the Shake Awake feature (which saves your battery life) and the solar panel which backs up your battery…

Oh and the Holosun 510c is a lot less expensive than the Eotech 512 too. So it’ll end up saving you some money.

Now if you want an enclosed optic with a Circle Dot Reticle, and you don’t mind paying a little bit more money, then feel free to go with the Eotech 512 because it’s still an awesome sight…

Eotech 512 review

Either way, I hope I was able to show you the major similarities and differences between these two great red dot optics.

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Aimpoint PRO Vs Holosun 510c [Which Is The Better Optic For You?]

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aimpoint pro vs holosun

High quality red dot sights are pretty easy to find these days… and as a consumer, I think that’s awesome…

It’s just a matter of finding a sight with the individual features that will suit you and your situation best…

Now two of the optics manufacturers that seem to keep getting things right are Aimpoint and Holosun, and right now, two of their most popular sights are…

So in this Aimpoint PRO Vs Holosun 510c comparison, we’re going to put these two awesome sights up against each other in the following 6 categories… 

  • Durability And Toughness
  • Reticle And Lens Clarity
  • Size Comparison
  • Battery Life And Brightness Settings
  • Extra Goodies Included With The Optic
  • Price Comparison

In the end, I’ll tell you if I prefer the Aimpoint PRO or the Holosun 510c, and you should have all the information you need to determine which optic will work best for you…

Let’s start the comparison! 

Durability And Toughness…

Aimpoint PRO

Aimpoints are pretty much known for their durability and reliability, and since the Aimpoint PRO actually stands for ‘Patrol Rifle Optic’…

…you know that it’s intended to be used in serious situations, and it definitely lives up to Aimpoint’s legendary reputation.

Aimpoint pro vs holosun 510c

To start off with, it’s an enclosed tube-styled sight with a high strength aluminum alloy housing, so it can definitely withstand a lot of abuse…

And the sight housing is also hard anodized, which will help protect the surface of the sight from corrosion and the elements…

In addition to that, the windage and elevation adjustments are set fairly low, and I like this design choice because it makes it highly unlikely that they’ll be bumped or snapped off accidentally…

Now the Aimpoint PRO is also a waterproof optic. It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 45 meters (150 feet) of water, and it can easily handle duty in rainy, wet, or snowy weather conditions…

Last, the PRO is also a shockproof optic, and this means that it can handle the recoil from being mounted on high-powered rifles, shotguns, and pistol caliber carbines or submachine guns…

All in all, the durability and reliability that you get with the Aimpoint PRO is extremely impressive.

Holosun 510c

The Holosun 510c is also a very durable red dot sight. It has a sight housing that’s constructed from high strength aluminum, and it also has an anodized finish that will protect the sight from the elements…

In addition to that, the 510c actually has a titanium hood over its lens, and that gives you a lot of extra protection in an area that could have been a weak point without it…

Holosun vs aimpoint pro

On top of that, the windage and elevation adjustments on the 510c are recessed completely into the sight housing, which makes it impossible for them to get accidentally bumped or snapped off…

And it also keeps the optic slick-sided which prevents it from getting snagged on something like clothing or a sling…

The Holosun 510c is also a waterproof optic. It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes… 

I think it can actually handle much more than that, but regardless, it can easily handle rainy or snowing conditions without having any issues at all…

The 510c is also a shockproof optic, so it can also handle being mounted on high-powered rifles, shotguns, and PCCs…

Now the one criticism I have in regards to the 510c is simply that it is an open-style red dot sight. That has some benefits which we’ll talk about later in this comparison…

But the biggest drawback is that the emitter (which projects your reticle onto the lens) is actually exposed…

This is an issue because, theoretically, it’s possible for an object to fall into the sight and block the emitter from projecting the reticle onto the glass…

Now that’s not something I’ve ever seen happen, and I don’t know anyone who has run into that issue either, so I think it’s highly unlikely to happen…

But as I said, it is theoretically possible. So I think it bears mentioning in this section of the comparison.

Durability And Toughness Conclusions…

So in this category, both of these sights are known for being incredibly durable. They’re both constructed from very strong material, and they’re both shockproof and waterproof…

That being said, the Aimpoint PRO has a much better waterproof rating than the 510c (even though the 510c’s waterproof rating is still pretty good)…

But there’s also the fact that the PRO is an enclosed red dot sight and the 510c is an open-style sight. And even though it’s highly unlikely that something will end up accidentally blocking the emitter on the 510c…

It is something that’s theoretically possible, whereas on the Aimpoint PRO it is not. So even though I think both sights are pretty tough and reliable, I’m going to give the win in this section to the Aimpoint PRO…

Winner: Aimpoint PRO 

Reticle And Lens Clarity…

Aimpoint PRO

The lens clarity on the Aimpoint PRO is very good. You don’t get any of the annoying blue tint that is common on some other red dot sights (such as the Trijicon MRO)…

And the glass is very clear which allows you to get a clean sight picture when looking through the optic…

Aimpoint pro vs holosun 515

In addition to that, the Aimpoint PRO is a full-sized red dot sight with a 30mm tube, and because it’s a large sight, you get a pretty generous field of view…

It’s a better field of view than you’ll get with a micro red dot sight (such as the Aimpoint T2), and that’s one of the main benefits you get by going with a larger optic…

Now the reticle on the Aimpoint PRO is a simple 2 MOA (minute of angle) red dot, and I think it’s a good reticle on this style of optic…

The 2 MOA dot is large enough to attract your eye fairly quickly, which allows you to shoot quickly…

And at the same time, it’s small enough that it allows you to aim precisely at small targets or targets that are at further distances…

So all in all, I think it’s a good reticle because if you practice with it, it allows you to shoot very quickly and with a high degree of accuracy.

Holosun 510c

The lens clarity on the Holosun 510c is also very good. Just as with the Aimpoint PRO, you don’t really get any of the annoying blue tint that’s found on some red dots…

And overall, you can see clearly through the sight and establish a very clean sight picture…

In addition to that, the 510c is a full-sized open-style red dot sight, which offers you a couple of advantages…

First of all, because it’s a full size sight (just like the Aimpoint PRO), it gives you a pretty generous field of view when looking through the optic…

But on top of that, because it’s an open-style red dot, you don’t have any of the constricting feeling that you get when looking through a tube sight (again, like the PRO)…

Everything feels wide open, so you can see a lot of what’s going on down range, and you also have great situational awareness because you’re looking through a large sight window rather than focusing through a tube…

Now with the 510c you get Holosun’s Multiple Reticle System (MRS), which means that you get 3 reticles to choose between in the same sight…

The 3 reticles are…

  • A 2 MOA dot surrounded by a 65 MOA ring (the Holosun Circle Dot Reticle)
  • A 2 MOA dot
  • A 65 MOA ring with no dot in the center

Now the 2 MOA dot surrounded by a 65 MOA ring is called the Circle Dot Reticle, and it’s pretty much my favorite style of reticle on a red dot sight…

Holosun hs510c

It’s very similar to the reticle that you’ll find on Eotechs as well, and it’s a great system for a couple of reasons…

First of all, the large 65 MOA ring attracts your eye insanely fast, which means you’ll be able to shoot faster…

But at the same time, you still have that small 2 MOA dot in the center for shots that require a high degree of accuracy…

So it helps you shoot faster without sacrificing precision, and that’s why I’m such a big fan of it…

Now the second option is the simple 2 MOA dot, which is the exact same reticle that you get on the Aimpoint PRO…

Again, I really like this reticle too because it’s pretty fast and also very precise, and it’s a good reticle if you feel that the Circle Dot Reticle is too cluttered or busy…

The last option is the 65 MOA ring with no dot in the center. This is my least favorite of the 3 options, but let me explain to you why some people like to run it…

Because you have the big 65 MOA ring, it’s a very easy and quick reticle for your eye to pick up, which allows you to shoot very fast at large targets up close…

But at the same time, you don’t have anything obstructing your view of the target in the center of the reticle. So you can see a little bit more of what you’re shooting…

The obvious downside is that you have no precise aiming point for shots that require a lot more accuracy, and that’s why it’s not a reticle that I personally like to use…

Overall, all 3 reticles have their strengths and weaknesses, but the great thing about the 510c is that they’re all included. So you can try shooting with all 3 before settling on which one works best for you…

Last, the regular Holosun 510c (HS510C) comes with a red reticle. However, Holosun also makes a model that comes with a green MRS system (the HE510C-GR)…

Personally, I prefer red on all my sights and optics because it’s just a little bit fast for my eye to pick up, but there are a lot of shooters out there who really like green…

So whichever one you decide to go with will really come down to your own personal preference, and I think it’s nice that Holosun offers both models.

Reticle And Lens Clarity Conclusions…

In this category, we have a lot of important differences between these two sights. First of all, they both have an extremely clear lens which allows you to get a clean sight picture…

But that being said, the open style of the Holosun 510c allows you to see a little bit more when you’re shooting and have a little bit better situational awareness than the 30mm tube of the Aimpoint PRO…

In addition to that, you only get a 2 MOA dot reticle with the PRO, whereas you get 3 reticles with the Multiple Reticle System on the 510c…

The MRS includes the same 2 MOA reticle that you get on the PRO, but you also get the Circle Dot Reticle (which is my favorite) and the 65 MOA ring reticle…

So in the end, you get a little bit better field of view with the Holosun 510c,  and you get 3 reticles as opposed to 1. So it’s the clear winner in this section.

Winner: Holosun 510C

Size Comparison…

Aimpoint PRO

As I mentioned before, the Aimpoint PRO is a traditional full-sized red dot sight with a 30mm tube, and because of that, it’s much larger than a micro red dot sight like the Aimpoint T2…

That’s ok with me because larger sights do offer some benefits over micro red dots sights in areas like durability and field of view, even though they may be bigger and heavier…

Aimpoint pro vs trijicon mro

Now the actual dimensions of that Aimpoint PRO are the following… The height comes in at 2.2 inches, and the width also measures in at 2.2 inches…

In addition to that, the overall length on the PRO measures in at 4.5 inches long, and it has a weight that comes in at 7.8 ounces.

Holosun 510c

Like I mentioned earlier, the Holosun 510c is a full-sized open-style reflex sight, so it’s also fairly big compared to something like a micro red dot sight…

Holosun red dot

It has a height that measures in as 2.31 inches, and a width that comes in at 1.80 inches. In addition to that, the overall length on the 510c is 3.30 inches long, and it has a weight that comes in at just 4.94 ounces.

Size Comparison Conclusions…

Both of these optics are full-sized red dot sights, but because they’re two totally different designs, they actually have a lot of differences in this category…

To start off with, they both have similar heights and widths, but that being said, the Holosun 510c is shorter in terms of overall length, and it’s also much lighter in terms of weight… 

Even though a few ounces here or there might not seem like much, the ounces can quickly turn into pounds when you’re adding optics and accessories to your rifle…

And you don’t want to be running around with a heavy rifle because it’ll be more weight for you to carry around (remember you can carry more ammunition if your rifle is more lightweight)…

And it makes your rifle slow into action. So weight is actually a pretty important factor for me when it comes to rifle optics, and because of that, I’m going to give the win in this section to the Holosun 510c.

Winner: Holosun 510c

Battery Life And Brightness Settings…

Aimpoint PRO

The Aimpoint PRO uses one 2L76 or DL1/3N type battery which is able to power the sight for around 30,000 hours on setting 7…

30,000 hours is over 3 years worth of battery life, and I love it when red dot sights have super long battery life like this…

The reason why having long battery life is important on a red dot sight is because it allows you to keep the sight turned on all the time, so that the optic is ready to go at all times…

Aimpoint vs holosun

If you ever have to use your optic in an emergency self defense situation, you probably won’t have time to start fiddling around with the buttons just to get your sight turned on…

So having that long battery life allows you to keep your sight ready to go, and at the same time, you won’t have to worry about your optic’s battery dying on you at the wrong time…

Especially if you follow the typical advice of replacing your battery at least once a year (most people say to do it on your birthday)…

Now with the Aimpoint PRO you get a total of 6 daylight brightness settings, 4 night vision settings, and 1 extra bright setting…

The daylight brightness settings are very powerful, and you won’t have any problems seeing the reticle even on a sunny day…

And if the conditions get really extreme, you still have that extra bright setting that you can bump the sight up to…

The 4 night vision settings will have to be used with night vision equipment, and I like that they’re included with the PRO which isn’t always the case with premium red dot sights (like the Eotech XPS2)…

All in all, I like the long battery life and brightness settings that you get with the Aimpoint PRO. 

Holosun 510c

The Holosun 510c uses one CR2032 battery which is able to power the sight for around 50,000 hours on setting 6…

50,000 hours is over 5 years worth of battery life, so it’s even longer than the 3 years of battery life that you get with the Aimpoint PRO…

Again, I love long battery life like this on my red dot sights because it makes it very unlikely that the battery will end up dying on you at the wrong time…

Holosun vs aimpoint

Another cool feature that you get with the Holosun 510c is the Shake Awake technology. Basically, this means that your optic will automatically turn on after a period of non use…

And it will automatically turn on when the optic senses motion. This is an awesome feature because it saves your battery life (which is already super long)…

But at the same time, it keeps your optic ready to go because as soon as you touch your gun, the sight will turn on…

On top of that, the 510c has a solar panel on top, and this is a cool feature for two reasons. First of all, the solar panel is a backup power source that you can use if your battery dies (as long as you have some sunlight)…

And secondly, it can save your battery life even more if you switch to the solar setting when you take your gun out to the range…

Now with the 510c you get a total of 10 daylight brightness settings and 2 night vision settings. Just as with the Aimpoint PRO, the settings are very bright and you won’t have any trouble seeing the reticle even on a bright, sunny day…

And I like that the NV settings (which will have to be used with NV equipment) are included in the optic at no additional cost…

So overall, the Holosun 510c is packed with features that are really useful to you as the shooter.   

Battery Life And Brightness Settings Conclusions…

Ok, so in this category, these two sights have a number of differences. First of all, they both have super long battery life and very powerful brightness settings (which include night vision settings)…

That being said, the Holosun 510c has over 5 years worth of battery life whereas the Aimpoint PRO only has 3 years worth…

On top of that, the 510c has the Shake Awake feature which saves your battery life and keeps your optic ready to go at the same time, and it has the solar panel which backs up your battery and saves your battery life even more… 

So considering those extra features which are actually very useful, I think the clear winner in this section is the Holosun 510c. 

Winner: Holosun 510c

Extra Accessories Included With The Optic…

Aimpoint PRO

The Aimpoint PRO comes with some pretty cool accessories. First of all, you get 2 flip-up lens covers. The front lens cover is blacked out like you normally find, but the rear lens cover is actually clear…

This might seem strange, but there is an actual purpose behind this set up. You see, even with both covers closed, you can still see the reticle because of the clear rear lens cover…

aimpoint pro mount

And if you shoot with both eyes open, the reticle will actually superimpose over your target even with the blacked out front lens cover…

It’s just the way your brain works, and it’s cool because it allows you to keep both covers closed but at the same time, you can still make a quick shot in an emergency…

In addition to that, the PRO actually comes with a mount. It’s called the QRP2 mount which stands for ‘Quick Release Picatinny’, and it’s a pretty high quality mount…

It sets you up for a cowitness with back up iron sights (BUIS) on an AR style rifle (AR-15s, AR-10s, etc…), but it also has a removable spacer which allows you to lower the sight when mounting it…

This makes it more ideal for rifles that favor a low mount such as shotguns, AKs, and some pistol caliber carbines…

So all in all, I think it’s a great mount because of that adjustability, and it adds a lot of value to the Aimpoint PRO because you wont end up having to search out an aftermarket mount and pay more money just to start using your sight.

Holosun 510c

The Holosun 510c also comes with a mount, but it is a little bit different than the mount that comes with the PRO…

The mount that comes with the 510c is a QD (Quick Detach) mount, and it sets you up for a co witness with back up iron sights on an AR platform rifle…

Holosun review

It can still be mounted on rifles that favor a low mounted optic such as shotguns and AKs, but it will sit the optic rather high, which is not really ideal…

Since most people will be putting their optic on an AR-15, I don’t think this is a huge problem, but it is something to be aware of if you have another style of rifle or carbine…

That being said, I think the inclusion of this mount also adds a lot of value to the Holosun 510c because if you’re putting it on an AR-15 or an AR-10…

…your sight will be ready to go right out of the box, and you won’t have to go searching for a mount or spend any extra money.

Extra Accessories Conclusions…

So in this section, there are a couple of important differences between these two sights. First of all, the Aimpoint PRO comes with flip up lens covers…

And they’re pretty cool because they offer your sight a little extra protection, and you can still use the sight to make an emergency shot if you have to…

You don’t get any form of cover with the Holosun 510c (even though you can buy some separately). In addition to that, even though both sights come with mounts…

The Aimpoint PRO’s mount is adjustable as a high or low mount, and the 510c’s mounting system is limited to just a high mount…

Again, that’s not a concern if you’re going to put the sight on an AR-15, but I do think it adds a little extra value to the Aimpoint PRO’s mounting system…

So because of the adjustable mount and flip up lens covers, the winner in this category is the Aimpoint PRO.

Winner: Aimpoint PRO

Price Comparison…

Unfortunately I won’t be able to give you exact numbers in this category because the prices of these sights are known to change as the optics market fluctuates…

But that being said, in general, you’ll usually find that the Holosun 510c is around 135 to 145 bucks less expensive than the Aimpoint PRO…

That’s a pretty significant amount of money for most people (me included), and it could be a major factor if you’re trying to determine which is the right sight for you…

So if you are on a budget and trying to keep the price of your sight as low as you can, then the 510c is definitely going to be the less expensive option for you. 

Winner: Holosun 510c

Aimpoint PRO Vs Holosun 510c – Final Thoughts…

So to sum it all up, in the Durability And Toughness category, both sights are very tough and reliable, and they’re both shockproof and waterproof…

However, the Aimpoint PRO has a superior waterproof rating to the 510c, and it’s also an enclosed optic…

…which makes it impossible for something to get in the sight and block the emitter. So because of that, the PRO came away with the win in this section.

In the Lens Clarity And Reticle category, both sights have a very clear lens which allows you to get a clean sight picture…

However, the field of view is a little bit larger on the 510c, and it gives you 3 reticles (including the Circle Dot Reticle) as opposed to just one with the Aimpoint PRO. So I gave the win here to the 510c…

In the Size Comparison, both sights have similar dimensions in terms of height and width…

However, the Holosun 510c is shorter in terms of length and more lightweight than the Aimpoint PRO, so I gave the win to the 510c in this category…

In the Battery Life And Brightness Settings category, both sights have super long battery life and powerful brightness settings…

However, the 510c has longer battery life, the Shake Awake feature, and the solar panel. So it came away as the winner in this section…

In the Extra Accessories category, the Aimpoint PRO comes with flip up lens covers and a mount that can be adjusted to be a high or a low mount…

Whereas the Holosun 510c only comes with a high mount. So the PRO came away as the winner here…

And last in the Price Comparison, the Holosun 510c is usually around 135 to 145 dollars less expensive than the Aimpoint PRO…

So which of these sights do I prefer? I prefer the Aimpoint PRO…

Aimpoint pro review

PriI prefer the Aimpoint PRO for a few reasons. First of all, it’s a more durable sight than the 510c. Aside from being an Aimpoint (which are legendary for their durability and reliability)…

It’s also an enclosed optic. And even though it’s highly unlikely that a piece of dirt or debris will fall into the 510c and block the emitter, it is something that can possibly happen…

I also like that the PRO comes with high-quality lens covers, which will give extra protection to your sight…

And I like that the mount that comes with the PRO can easily be adjusted as a high or a low mount. So you can set it up on any rifle or carbine that you have.

Now if you want the Circle Dot Reticle (which is an awesome reticle), you’re happy with an open-style sight, and you want to save some money…

Then feel free to go with the Holosun 510c because it’s still an amazing optic…

holosun 510c review

Either way, I hope I was able to show you the major similarities and differences between these two fantastic red dot sights!

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Aimpoint PRO Vs Eotech XPS2 [Which Is The Right Optic For You?]

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<a href=Aimpoint PRO vs eotech xps2″ class=”wp-image-5397″/>

Whenever you start talking about the top tier of red dot sights, there are two companies that always get brought into the conversation…

Those two companies are Aimpoint and Eotech, and part of the reason why they’re such popular optics manufacturers is because they make super durable and reliable sights…

Now two of their most talked-about options are definitely…

So in this Aimpoint PRO Vs Eotech XPS2 comparison, we’re going to put these two awesome sights up against each other and see how they stack up in the following categories… 

  • Durability And Toughness
  • Reticle And Lens Clarity
  • Size Comparison
  • Battery Life And Brightness Settings
  • Extra Goodies Included With The Optic
  • Price Comparison

In the end, I’ll tell you if I personally prefer the Aimpoint PRO or the Eotech XPS2, and you should have all the information you need to determine which sight will work best for you…

Let’s start the comparison by taking a closer look at the durability and toughness of these two optics…

Durability And Toughness…

Aimpoint PRO

Aimpoint is known for making some of the most rugged and reliable sights on the market, and the Aimpoint PRO is no exception…

To start off with, it has a sight housing that’s constructed from a high strength aluminum, which is a very rugged material, and it’s also hard anodized which will help protect the optic’s body from the elements…

Eotech xps2 vs aimpoint pro

In addition to that, the windage and elevation adjustments sit fairly low. So even though they are raised, I think it’s highly unlikely that they’ll get bumped or snapped off accidentally…

The Aimpoint PRO is also a waterproof optic. It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 45 meters (150 feet) of water, and it can easily handle duty in rainy, snowy, or wet conditions without having any issues at all…

And it’s also a shockproof optic, so it can handle being mounted on high-powered rifles, shotguns, and pistol caliber carbines or submachine guns…

All in all, the durability and toughness that you get with the Aimpoint PRO is extremely impressive.

Eotech XPS2

The Eotech XPS2 is also a pretty durable sight. First of all, years ago there were some Eotechs that had a few problems in extremely cold weather conditions…

Those issues are completely resolved now, so the current Eotechs that are being sold are very reliable even in cold weather…

Aimpoint vs eotech

That being said, the sight housing on the XPS2 is made from a high strength aluminum, and it also has a hard anodized finish which will protect the body of the sight from the elements…

In addition to that, the XPS2 has an aluminum protective hood that goes over the lens and protects it from bumps and impacts…

On top of that, the windage and elevation adjustments are recessed into the sight housing. The can still be adjusted with the use of a small screwdriver, but it’s impossible for them to get accidentally bumped or snapped off…

The XPS2 is also a waterproof optic. It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 3 meters (10 feet) of water, and it can also handle rainy or snowy conditions without having any issues…

Last, the XPS2 is also shockproof, so it too can handle being mounted on shotguns, high-powered rifles, and PCCs.

Durability And Toughness Conclusions…

So both of these sights are very durable and reliable optics. They’re both made from a high quality aluminum, and they’re both waterproof and shockproof…

That being said, I think the Aimpoint PRO is going to squeak out the win here just because it has a much higher waterproof rating than the XPS2 (even though the XPS2’s waterproof rating is also pretty good)…

So the winner in this category is the Aimpoint PRO, but just by a hair.

Winner: Aimpoint PRO

Reticle And Lens Clarity…

Aimpoint PRO

The lens on the Aimpoint PRO is very clear. You don’t get any of that annoying blue tint that you’ll find on some other red dot sights…

And overall, you can see very clearly when looking through the optic and get a very clean sight picture…

Eotech vs aimpoint pro

In addition to that, since the PRO is a full size red dot sight with a 30mm tube, you get a larger field of view than you would on a micro red dot sight (such as the Aimpoint T2)…

The larger field of view allows you to see more when looking through the sight and seeing more when you’re shooting is always going to be a benefit to you…

Now the reticle on the Aimpoint PRO is a simple 2 MOA dot, and I think it’s a very good reticle.  I like a 2 MOA dot on red dot sights for two specific reasons…

First of all, the 2 MOA dot is large enough that it’s fairly easy for your eye to pick it up quickly, but at the same time…

…it’s a small enough reticle that it allows you to aim very precisely at small targets or targets at further distances.

So it’s a reticle that allows you to shoot fairly fast, but at the same time, you still have a very fine aiming point for shots that require a high degree of accuracy.

Eotech XPS2

The lens on the Eotech XPS2 is also very clear. Part of the reason it’s so clear is because the XPS2 is a holographic sight rather than a reflex sight like the Aimpoint, so it uses different technology…

You see a holographic sight produces a laser driven hologram to produce the reticle image, and because of that, there is no need for a blue tint which as I mentioned earlier is prominent on some other red dot sights (such as the Trijicon MRO)…

So the image that you get when looking through the XPS2 is extremely clear, and you’re able to establish a very clean sight picture…

On top of that, the Eotech’s boxy design allows the sight to have a HUGE sight window. That huge sight window gives you a very large field of view. So you’re able to see a lot of what’s going on down range when looking through the sight…

Now the reticle that you get with the Eotech XPS2 will depend on which particular model you decide to go with…

Eotech vs aimpoint

For example, the XPS2-0 has a 1 MOA (minute of angle) dot surrounded by a 68 MOA ring reticle. This is also called the Circle Dot Reticle, and it’s actually my favorite style of reticle on a red dot sight…

I like it because the 68 MOA ring is extremely fast and easy for your eye to pick up. So you can shoot very, very quickly at large targets up close…

But at the same time, the 1 MOA dot is very precise and allows you to aim at small targets and targets that are at extended ranges…

So it’s a reticle that helps you shoot very fast without sacrificing any precision, and that’s the reason I’m such a big fan of it…

Now the XPS2-1 has a simple 1 MOA dot reticle. This is also a good reticle but because you don’t have the large 68 MOA ring catching your eye, it’s typically not as fast of a reticle as the Circle Dot Reticle…

Next, the XPS2-2 has a 68 MOA ring that surrounds two 1 MOA dots. The two dots are aligned vertically, and the top dot is right in the center of the reticle while the other dot is placed a little below it…

This basically creates a bullet drop compensator (BDC) in which you can zero the sight (the top dot) at 50 yards and then the lower dot will allow you to shoot out to 500 yards…

I think this is a great reticle if you plan on pairing your sight with a magnifier, because then you’ll be able to use the BDC to its full potential, but without a magnifier, I think the Circle Dot Reticle with 1 center dot is the way to go…

Last, the XPS2-0GRN has the exact same Circle Dot Reticle as the XPS2-0, but instead of being red the reticle is green…

Personally, I prefer red on all my sights and optics because for me it’s just a little bit faster, but there are a ton of shooters out there who really like green…

So in the end, whether you go with red or green will just have to come down to personal preference.  

Reticle And Lens Clarity Conclusions…

Ok, so in this category, these two sights have some major differences. First of all, they both have extremely clear glass which allows you to get a very clean sight picture…

In addition to that, they both feature a large field of view, but because of the Eotech’s boxy design, its field of view is just a little bit larger than that found on the Aimpoint PRO…

On top of that, I prefer the reticle options that you can get with the XPS2. My favorite is definitely the Circle Dot Reticle found on the XPS2-0…

And I think it’s superior to the 2 MOA dot reticle found on the Aimpoint PRO because the 68 MOA ring is very fast and easy for your eye to pick up…

And the 1 MOA dot in the center of the reticle is a more precise aiming point than the 2 MOA dot found on the Aimpoint as well…

This is not to say that the 2 MOA dot on the PRO is a bad reticle, but if I have the choice between the two, I much prefer the Circle Dot Reticle on the XPS2…

So because I prefer the reticle on the Eotech XPS2 and because the field of view is a little bit larger, I’m going to give the win in this category to the XPS2.  

Winner: Eotech XPS2 

Size Comparison…

Aimpoint PRO

The Aimpoint PRO is a traditional tube style red dot sight. Again, with the 30mm tube it’s going to be a lot larger than a micro red dot sight, but it’s still a very reasonable size…

Aimpoint pro for sale

Now the height on the PRO measures in at 2.2 inches. The width also measures in at 2.2 inches, and the length measures in at 4.5 inches…

In addition to that, the Aimpoint PRO has a weight that comes in at 7.8 ounces.   

Eotech XPS2

Even though the Eotech XPS2 is a holographic sight rather than a traditional red dot sight like the Aimpoint PRO, it is a similar size…

Eotech xps2 for sale

Now the height on the XPS2 measures in 2.5 inches. The width measures at 2.1 inches, and the length measures in at 3.8 inches…

In addition to that, the XPS2 has a weight that measures in at 9.0 ounces. 

Size Comparison Conclusions…

So as I said earlier, these two sights are very similar in terms of their overall size. They’re both going to be much larger than a micro red dot sight, and that’s OK because larger sights have advantages in other areas…

That being said, there is a difference that separates these two sights in this category in my mind, and that is their respective weights…

The Aimpoint PRO is over an ounce lighter than the Eotech XPS2 and even though that doesn’t seem like much…

The ounces can really start to add up quickly when you’re adding accessories to your rifle. So since I’m always looking to cut ounces wherever I can when outfitting my rifles…

I’m going to give the slight win in this section to the Aimpoint PRO…

Winner: Aimpoint PRO

Battery Life And Brightness Settings…

Aimpoint PRO

The Aimpoint PRO is powered by a 2L76 or DL1/3N type battery which is able to power the sight for around 30,000 hours on settings 7…

I love when red dot sights have super long battery life like this and the reason why is because you don’t want your optic dying on you at the wrong time…

Eotech xps2 or aimpoint pro

I’ve had red dot sight’s batteries die on me at the range before, and even though it’s really annoying when that happens, at the end of the day it’s not really a big deal because you can just swap out the battery when you go home…

But what you really want to avoid is your optic’s battery dying on you in an emergency self defense situation…

On top of that, if you ever do need to use your optic is a life or death situation, you probably don’t want to be fumbling around with the buttons just to turn your sight on…

So I’ve always felt that it’s a good idea to keep your sight turned on all the time, so that it’s always ready to go…

And since you have over 3 years worth of battery life with the AImpoint PRO, you can keep the sight turned on at all times and not have to worry about your battery dying on you at the wrong time…

Especially if you follow the common advice of changing out your optic’s battery at least once a year (a lot of people say to do it on your birthday)…

Now with the Aimpoint PRO you get a total of 6 daylight brightness settings, 4 night vision settings, and 1 extra bright setting…

The daylight brightness settings get very bright on the high end, and you shouldn’t have any problems with your reticle washing out even on a sunny day…

And if the conditions get really extreme, you have that extra bright setting that you can bump the sight up to as well…

I also really like that you get 4 night vision settings included with the PRO. You will have to have NV equipment to be able to use these settings…

But you can easily ignore them if you’d like to, and if you have NV equipment or plan on getting some, you’ll be able to run the Aimpoint PRO at night very easily.

Eotech XPS2

The Eotech XPS2 uses one CR123 battery which is able to power the sight for 1,000 hours…

Now 1,000 hours of battery life is OK, but I would prefer a lot longer battery life personally for the reasons I described when talking about the Aimpoint PRO’s battery life…

Eotech does include an auto shut off feature in which the sight will automatically turn off after a period of nonuse, and I do like that because it will help save your battery life…

But it would be nice if they included an auto-on feature in which the sight would automatically turn back on when it senses motion (such as when you pick up your gun)…

Unfortunately the current XPS2 doesn’t have an auto-on feature, but perhaps that’s something that Eotech will add in the future…

Aimpoint pro or eotech xps2

Now with the XPS2 you get a total of 20 daylight brightness settings. The daylight brightness settings are very powerful on the high end, and because you have so many of them, you can really fine tune your brightness to the perfect level…

There are no NV settings included with the XPS2, and I actually don’t think that’s a big problem because most people will never use them anyway…

But if you’re interested in the Eotech and want NV settings, you’re going to want to take a look at the Eotech XPS3 which does include night vision settings.

Battery Life And Brightness Settings Conclusions…

Once again, we have a category in which these two sights have a lot of differences. First of all, they both have brightness settings that get very bright and won’t wash out on you even on a sunny day…

But that being said, the Aimpoint PRO also has night vision settings, whereas the XPS2 does not. In addition to that, the Aimpoint PRO has around 30,000 hours of battery life, whereas the XPS2 only has 1,000 hours…

Obviously 30,000 hours is far superior to 1,000 hours, and that’s actually an important feature on a red dot sight because it allows you to keep your sight always ready to go without having to worry about the battery dying on you…

So because of that super long battery life, I think the Aimpoint PRO is the clear winner in this section.

Winner: Aimpoint PRO

Extra Accessories Included With The Optic…

Aimpoint PRO

The Aimpoint PRO comes with some pretty cool accessories. First of all, you get a front and rear flip up lens cover…

The front lens cover is blacked out just like you normally find, but the rear lens cover is actually clear. This may seem like a strange thing to do, but there actually is a purpose behind it…

aimpoint pro mount

You see, even with both lens covers closed, you can still see the reticle when looking through the sight, and if you keep both eyes open, the reticle will actually superimpose over the target you’re aiming at…

It’s just a matter of how your brain works, and I like this feature because it allows you to keep both lenses fully protected, but at the same time, you can still make a quick shot if you need to…

On top of that, the Aimpoint PRO comes with an included mount. The mount is called the QRP2 mount which stands for ‘Quick Release Picatinny’ mount, and it’s actually very high quality…

It sets you up for a co witness with BUIS (back up irons sights) on an AR-15 or an AR-10, but it also has a removable spacer which will allow you to mount the sight lower for something like a shotgun or an AK…

So overall, I think it’s a great mount, and it adds a lot of value to the Aimpoint PRO package because you won’t have to go searching around for a mount after getting your sight…

And you won’t have to spend any extra money on an aftermarket mount either. 

Eotech XPS2

One of the cool things about the Eotech XPS2 is that it also comes with an included mount. In the case of the XPS2, the mount is built directly into the sight housing, so it’s always connected to sight itself…

Eotech vs aimpoint vs trijicon

It sets you up for a co witness for an AR-15 or an AR-10 as well. However it’s not adjustable if you have a firearm that favors having an optic mounted lower (like an AK or a shotgun)…

That being said, if you’re looking to outfit an AR, the mount works perfectly, and just like with the Aimpoint PRO, it adds a lot of value to the XPS2 because you won’t have to spend time and money hunting down an aftermarket mount.

Extra Accessories Conclusions…

Both sights actually come with some pretty cool accessories. I really like the flip up lens covers that come with the Aimpoint PRO because they give extra protection to the optic while still allowing you to use your sight in an emergency…

And I like that both sights come with an included mount. The biggest difference for me is that the QRP2 mount that comes with the PRO is adjustable as a high or low mount…

But the Eotech only allows for a high mount. That’s not a problem is you’re putting the optic on an AR-15, which is what most people will do…

But it could cause an issue if you’re putting the optic on a shotgun, an AK, or any other firearm that favors a low mounted optic…

So because of the adjustability of the included mount and the included lens covers, the Aimpoint PRO is going to come away as the winner in this section.

Winner: Aimpoint PRO 

Price Comparison…

Unfortunately I won’t be able to give you exact numbers in this category because the prices of these sights are changing all the time…

But that being said, in general, you’ll usually find that the Aimpoint PRO is around 100 to 110 bucks less expensive than the XPS2…

A hundred bucks is a lot of money for many people (including myself), and it can be a big factor if you’re in the buying process and trying to keep the price of your sight down…

So if you are on a budget, the Aimpoint PRO is going to be the less expensive option for you by a significant amount of money.

Winner: Aimpoint PRO

Aimpoint PRO Vs Eotech XPS2 – Final Thoughts…

So to sum it all up, in the Durability And Toughness category, both sights are made from high quality aluminum, and they’re both waterproof and shockproof…

But because the PRO has a higher waterproof rating than the XPS2, I gave it the slight win in this section…

In the Lens Clarity And Reticle category, both sights have a very clear lens that allows you to get a very clean sight picture…

However, because the XPS2 has a little bit larger field of view than the Aimpoint PRO and because I prefer the Circle Dot Reticle on the XPS2-0, it came away as the winner here…

In the Size Comparison, both sights are similar in terms of their overall size and dimensions. However the Aimpoint PRO is over an ounce lighter than the Eotech XPS2. So I gave the win to the PRO in this section…

In the Battery Life And Brightness Settings category, both sights have brightness settings that get very bright on the high end…

However, the Aimpoint PRO includes NV settings and more importantly, its battery life is much longer than the battery life found on the XPS2. So in this section, I gave the win to the Aimpoint PRO…

In the Extra Accessories category, the Aimpoint PRO comes with lens covers and an adjustable mount, whereas the XPS2 only comes with a high mounting system…

So because of that I gave the win to the PRO in this section…

And last in the Price Comparison, the Aimpoint PRO is probably going to be around 100 to 110 dollars less expensive than the XPS2… 

So which of these sights do I prefer? I prefer the Aimpoint PRO

Aimpoint pro review

I prefer the Aimpoint PRO for several reasons. First of all, it’s an incredibly tough optic. So no matter what type of hard use you put it through, it’s going to continue to work for you and be reliable…

In addition to that, the battery life on the Aimpoint PRO is much superior to the battery life on the XPS2. It gives you over 3 years worth of battery life…

And that means you can keep your sight turned-on at all times so that it’s always ready to go. I also like that the included mount on the Aimpoint PRO is adjustable to be a low or a high mount…

So you can set the sight at the perfect level for your particular gun… And last, the Aimpoint PRO is also less expensive than the XPS2, so it’ll end up saving you some money…

Now if you want the Circle Dot Reticle (which is an awesome reticle!), and you don’t mind some of the Eotech’s quirks, then feel free to go with the XPS2 because it’s still an amazing optic…

Eotech xps2 review

Either way, I hope I was able to show you the major similarities and differences between these two fantastic sights!

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Aimpoint PRO vs Comp M2 [Which Is The Better Optic For You?]

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Aimpoint PRO vs Comp M2

Aimpoint sure makes some high quality optics, and they’ve been doing it for a long time…

Their red dots are extremely rugged and reliable, and that’s part of the reason they’ve been so popular over the years…

Right now, two of their most talked about optics are…

Now at this point, the Comp M2 is discontinued. So you can’t really get it unless you’re able to find one on the used market…

But despite that, in this Aimpoint PRO Vs Comp M2 comparison I’m going to put these sights up against each other in the typical 6 categories I use to compare optics…

  • Durability And Toughness
  • Reticle And Lens Clarity
  • Size Comparison
  • Battery Life And Brightness Settings
  • Extra Goodies Included With The Optic
  • Price Comparison

It should be pretty fun, and in the end, I’ll tell you which one of these two sights I prefer. Let’s get to it! 

Durability And Toughness…

Aimpoint PRO

As I mentioned earlier, Aimpoints are pretty much known for their durability and reliability, and the Aimpoint PRO continues that tradition…

To start off with, the PRO actually stands for ‘Patrol Rifle Optic’. So from the start, you know that it was built for serious use and that it’s a very tough optic…

Aimpoint pro vs comp m3

Now, the sight housing on the Aimpoint PRO is constructed from a high strength aluminum, which is a very rugged material…

And it also has a hard anodized finish which will help protect the optic from the elements. In addition to that, the PRO is a waterproof sight…

It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 45 meters (150 feet) of water, and it can easily handle duty in rainy, snowy, and other wet weather conditions… 

Last, the Aimpoint PRO is a shockproof optic. So it can easily handle the recoil from being mounted on high powered rifles, shotguns, and pistol caliber carbines or submachine guns…

All in all, the durability and reliability that you get with the Aimpoint PRO is very impressive. 

Aimpoint Comp M2

The Aimpoint Comp M2 is also a very tough red dot sight. It was actually used in the Armed Forces, and because of that, it had to be built to a very high standard…

Now the sight housing on the Comp M2 is also constructed from a high strength aluminum, which again is a very rugged material…

Aimpoint comp m2 vs m4

And it also has a hard anodized matte finish that will help protect the sight from the elements and keep it non-reflective at the same time…

 On top of that, the Comp M2 is also a waterproof sight. It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 25 meters (80 feet) of water, and just as with the Aimpoint PRO, it can easily handle any rainy or snowy conditions you can throw at it…

Last, the Comp M2 is also a shockproof optic. So it can also handle being mounted on shotguns, high powered rifles, and submachine guns or PCCs. 

Durability And Toughness Conclusions…

This is a tough category in which to compare these two optics because they’re both Aimpoints and because of that, they’re both incredibly tough red dot sights…

First of all, they both have a sight housing that’s made from high strength aluminum with a hard anodized finish, and they’re both shockproof, so they can handle being mounted on pretty much any type of rifle…

But the biggest difference between the two comes when we compare their waterproof ratings. The Aimpoint PRO is rated to be waterproof in 150 feet of water, whereas the Comp M2 is only rated to be waterproof in 80 feet of water…

Even though both are very impressive waterproof ratings, the PRO is clearly superior. So for that reason, I’m going to give the win to the Aimpoint PRO in this category.

Winner: Aimpoint PRO 

Reticle And Lens Clarity…

Aimpoint PRO

The lens on the Aimpoint PRO is very clear. You don’t really get any of that annoying blue tint that you’ll find on some other red dot sights…

And overall, you’re able to get a clear view when looking through the optic and establish a clean sight picture when you’re shooting…

Aimpoint m68 vs pro

Also, because the PRO is a full size red dot sight (rather than a micro red dot sight like the Aimpoint T2 or Comp M5), you’re able to get a fairly large field of view when looking through the sight…

Seeing more when you’re shooting is always going to benefit you, and that’s one of the key benefits that you get with a full-sized optic like the PRO…

Now the reticle on the Aimpoint PRO is a simple 2 MOA dot, and I think it’s a very good reticle. The reason why I like it is because the 2 MOA dot is large enough that your eye picks it up very easily and quickly, which allows you to shoot very fast…

But at the same time, the 2 MOA dot is small enough that you can aim very precisely at small targets or targets that are at further distances…

So it’s a great reticle because it helps you shoot fast without sacrificing the precision you’ll need for accurate shots, and I much prefer it over larger MOA dots such as 4 MOA, 6 MOA, or even 8 MOA… 

Aimpoint Comp M2

The lens on the Aimpoint Comp M2 is also very clear. Again, you don’t get any of the annoying blue tint that’s found on some other red dot sights…

And overall, you can see clearly when looking through the optic, and get a very clear sight picture when shooting…

Aimpoint comp m4 vs m5

In addition to that, the Comp M2 is also a full sized red dot sight. It has a 30mm tube just like the Aimpoint PRO, and because of that and the objective lens size, you’re (again) able to get a larger field of view than you would with a micro red dot sight…

Now the reticle on the Comp M2 is a 4 MOA dot. It works well in that it’s very easy for your eye to pick up the dot quickly, but I do sometimes wish it was a little more precise when shooting at very small targets…

That being said, it’s very functional for realistic-sized targets. I just typically prefer a smaller dot for more precision.   

Reticle And Lens Clarity Conclusions…

Ok so in this category both of these sights have a very clear lens which allows you to get a clean sight picture…

That being said, they have different reticles because the Aimpoint PRO has a 2 MOA dot reticle and the Comp M2 has a 4 MOA dot reticle…

Both will work, but I prefer the 2 MOA dot reticle that you get on the PRO because its just as fast as the 4 MOA dot on the Comp M2

But at the same time, you get a little bit more precision for making shots that require a high degree of accuracy…

So in this category, I’m going to give the win, once again, to the Aimpoint PRO.

Winner: Aimpoint PRO

Size Comparison…

Aimpoint PRO

The Aimpoint PRO is a full sized red dot sight. It has a height that measures in at 2.2 inches. It has a width that also measures in at 2.2 inches, and it has a length that measures in at 4.5 inches…

Aimpoint pro vs comp m4

In addition to that, the weight on the Pro comes in at 7.8 ounces.

Aimpoint Comp M2

The Aimpoint Comp M2 is also a full sized red dot sight. It also has a height that measures in at 2.2 inches, and the width is also 2.2 inches…

Aimpoint comp m2 vs aimpoint pro

The length measures in at 5.1 inches, and it has a weight that comes in at 7.1 ounces. 

Size Comparison Conclusions…

Both of these sights are very similar in terms of size. They both have the same dimensions when it comes to width and height…

And the differences in overall length and weight are very minimal. So because these two sights are so similar, I’m just going to call it a draw in this category.

Winner: Draw

Battery Life And Brightness Settings…

Aimpoint PRO

The Aimpoint PRO uses one 2L76 or DL1/3N type battery which is able to power the sight for around 30,000 hours when on setting 7…

I love super long battery life like this on my optics and the reason why is very simple… You don’t want you optic dying on you at the wrong time…

I’ve had cheaper red dot sights run out of batteries at the range before and that can get pretty annoying, but at the end of that day, it’s not that big a deal because you can just change out the battery when you get home…

Comp m2 vs aimpoint pro

But what you really want to avoid is your optic’s battery dying on you in a life or death self defense situation…

On top of that, I think it’s a good idea to keep your optic always turned on because again, if you’re ever forced to grab your gun in an emergency, you don’t want to be fiddling around with the buttons just to turn your sight on…

And since the Aimpoint PRO has 30,000 hours of battery life, you can keep it turned on and ready to go at all times, and it’s very unlikely that your battery will die on you…

Especially if you follow that standard advice of changing it out at least once a year (a lot of people recommend doing it on your birthday)…

Now with the Aimpoint PRO you get 6 daylight brightness settings, 4 night vision settings, and 1 extra bright setting…

The daylight brightness settings are very powerful on the high end, and you shouldn’t have any problems with the reticle washing out even on a sunny day…

And if the conditions are really extreme, you also have the extra bright setting that you can bump the optic up to…

Now the 4 night vision settings will have to be used with night vision equipment, and if you have that equipment or plan on getting some, you’ll be able to run the optic at night very easily.

Aimpoint Comp M2

The Aimpoint Comp M2 also uses a 2L76 or DL1/3N type battery, and it’s able to power the sight for around 10,000 hours…

That’s not quite as long as the battery life you get with the Aimpoint PRO, but it is over a year’s worth of battery life which means you can keep the sight turned on at all times…

aimpoint comp m2 mount

And still not have to worry about the battery dying on you at the wrong time (as long as you swap out the battery at least once a year)…

Now the brightness settings on the Comp M2 are exactly the same as those found on the Aimpoint PRO. So you have 6 daylight brightness settings, 4 NV settings, and 1 extra bright setting…

Again, the daylight brightness settings get very bright on the high end, and you should be able to see your reticle even on a very sunny day…

And the NV settings will have to be used with NV equipment and will allow you to easily run the optic in the dark.

Battery Life And Brightness Settings Conclusions…

So in this section, both of these sights use the same battery, and they both have the same exact brightness settings which include NV settings and the extra bright settings…

That being said, they’re very different when it comes to battery life because the Aimpoint PRO gives you 30,000 hours of battery life whereas the Comp M2 only gives you 10,000 hours…

Super long battery life is actually a very important feature on a red dot sight because it allows you to leave the sight on at all times, so that it’s ready to go in an emergency….

So because of that, the Aimpoint PRO is the clear winner in this category.

Winner: Aimpoint PRO 

Extra Goodies Included With The Optic…

Aimpoint PRO

The Aimpoint PRO comes with some pretty cool accessories. First of all, it comes with flip up lens covers…

The covers are actually pretty unique because the front lens cover is blacked out like normal. However, the rear lens cover is clear…

This might seem like it doesn’t make much sense, but it actually does have a purpose. You see, the clear lens actually allows you to see the reticle even if both lens covers are closed…

aimpoint pro mount

And as long as you keep both eyes open, the dot will superimpose over your target allowing you to aim. It’s just the way your brain works…

And I think it’s cool because you can keep both lenses completely covered and still have the ability to make a quick shot in an emergency…

Now in addition to that, the Aimpoint PRO comes with an included mount. It’s called the QRP2 mount which stands for ‘Quick Release Picatinny’, and it’s actually a pretty high quality mount…

It sets you up for a co witness with an AR-15 or an AR-10 style of rifle (or any other rifle that requires a high mount)…

But it also has a removable spacer, which will lower the sight and make it a more suitable level for something like a shotgun or an AK…

The inclusion of the mount is huge in my opinion because it means you’ll be able to mount your optic without having to spend extra money on an aftermarket mount…

So your whole sight is ready to go right out of the box, which is really nice, and that’s not always the case when dealing with premium quality optics.

Aimpoint Comp M2

Since the Aimpoint Comp M2 has been discontinued, it doesn’t come with any accessories anymore. So, not much to discuss here.

Extra Accessories Conclusions…

Well, this is a pretty easy category to call because the Comp M2 has been discontinued. But even though that’s the case, the Aimpoint PRO comes with some awesome accessories…

I like that you get the two lens covers and that the rear cover is clear so you can make a quick emergency shot if you need too…

And I love that you get an included mount with it because you won’t have to spend extra money after picking up your sight…

So yeah, the Aimpoint PRO is obviously the winner here.

Winner: Aimpoint PRO

Price Comparison…

It’s really hard to compare these two sights in this category because as I’ve mentioned already, the Comp M2 is now a discontinued optic…

But that being said, you can sometimes find them on the used market, and even though the prices are going to vary a lot, they’re typically going to be around 230 to 240 bucks more expensive than the Aimpoint PRO…

Now I don’t want to give an exact number in terms of the Aimpoint PRO’s price either because those prices are known to fluctuate as well…

But the least expensive option is going to be the Aimpoint PRO, and it would have been the less expensive option even if the Comp M2 was not discontinued… 

So the winner in this category is the Aimpoint PRO. 

Winner: Aimpoint PRO 

Aimpoint PRO Vs Comp M2 – Final Thoughts…

So in the end, in the Durability And Toughness category, both sights are made from a high strength aluminum, and they’re both shockproof…

However, the Aimpoint PRO has a superior waterproof rating to the Comp M2. So for that reason, it came out ahead in this category…

In the Lens Clarity And Reticle category, both the Aimpoint PRO and the Comp M2 have a very clear lens which allows you to get a clean sight picture…

However, the PRO has a 2 MOA dot reticle whereas the Comp M2 has a 4 MOA dot reticle. I prefer the 2 MOA dot on the AImpoint PRO because it’s just as fast as the 4 MOA dot…

But at the same time, it allows you to shoot more accurately. So the PRO came away as the winner here… 

In the Size Comparison, both sights are a very similar size. They both have the same dimensions in terms of height and width, and the differences in terms of their length and weight are very small. So I called it a draw in this category…

In the Battery Life And Brightness Settings category, both of these sights use the same battery and they both have the same brightness settings, which include NV settings…

However, the Aimpoint PRO gives you 30,000 hours of battery and the Comp M2 only gives you 10,000 hours. So the PRO came out ahead in this section…

In the Extra Accessories category, it was an easy win for the Aimpoint PRO because the COmp M2 has been discontinued…

But regardless of that fact, the Aimpoint PRO is pretty formidable in this category because it comes with flip up lens covers and a fully adjustable mount…

And last in the Price Comparison, the Aimpoint PRO is the less expensive optic by at least around 230 to 240 (if you’re even able to find a Comp M2 on the used market)… 

So which of these sights do I prefer? I prefer Aimpoint PRO… 

aimpoint pro review

I prefer the Aimpoint Pro for several reasons, and I would even if the Comp M2 was not discontinued. The Aimpoint PRO is a newer sight than the Comp M2, and I think that really showed throughout the comparison…

First of all, the PRO is slightly more durable with a much higher waterproof rating than the Comp M2. So it’s going to keep working for you even through some very tough use…

In addition to that, the PRO has a better reticle in my opinion. The 2 MOA dot will be just as fast as the 4 MOA dot on the Comp M2, but it’ll give you greater precision for accurate shots at the same time…

The battery life is also much longer on the Aimpoint PRO than the Comp M2. So you can keep your sight ready to go at all times and still have confidence that you’re optic won’t run out of batteries on you…

And you get some pretty cool accessories with the PRO like the QRP2 mount, which will save you time and money because you won’t have to go out and purchase a mount separately…

Last, the PRO is a less expensive optic than the Comp M2 even if you’re able to find one on the used market. So it’ll end up saving you some money too…

So in the end, Aimpoint was able to produce the PRO which is more durable than the Comp M2 and has more features at a lower price point…

So it’s easy to see why the Comp M2 was discontinued…

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the comparison between these two awesome Aimpoint red dots!

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Holosun 509t Vs Aimpoint ACRO [Which Is the Right Pistol Optic For You?]

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holosun 509t vs aimpoint acro

It’s really cool to see how pistol optics are progressing…

Sure, we’ve had optics like the Trijicon RMR being mounted on handguns for a number of years now, but some people just don’t trust an open style sight for serious use…

And if you’re the type of person looking for maximum reliability on your pistol optic, you’re probably going to want to start looking at an enclosed pistol optic…

And without question, the two most popular options right now are…

So in this Holosun 509t Vs Aimpoint ACRO comparison, we’re going to put these two cutting edge sights up against each other and see how they do in the following categories… 

  • Durability And Toughness
  • Lens Clarity And Reticle
  • Size Comparison
  • Battery Life And Brightness Settings
  • Extra Accessories Included With The Optic
  • Price Comparison

In the end, I’ll tell you if I prefer the 509t or the ACRO and you should have all the information you need to determine which optic is right for you…

Let’s get started! 

Durability And Toughness…

Holosun 509t

The Holosun 509t is a pretty tough little optic. First of all the “t” in its name designates that it has a sight housing constructed from titanium…

Titanium is a very strong material, which has the added benefit of being pretty lightweight. So the titanium sight housing is very robust…

Holosun 509t picatinny

In addition to that, the windage and elevation adjustments are recessed into the sight housing. They can still be easily adjusted with the use of a small screwdriver…

But they can never be bumped or snapped off accidentally, which is something that can happen with some other red dot sights…

The Holosun 509t is also a waterproof optic. It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes, but I think it can actually handle a lot more than that…

Regardless, it will definitely hold up in rain or snow, and you shouldn’t have any issues in wet conditions…

Last, the 509t was created to be a pistol optic from the get-go just like it’s open style sight companions, the Holosun 507c and the 508t

And because of that it can easily handle the beating an optic takes while being run on the slide of a handgun…

All in all, the durability that you get with the 509t is very impressive.

Aimpoint ACRO

If you’re unaware, Aimpoint sights are pretty much known for their durability and reliability, and the Aimpoint ACRO continues on with that tradition…

First of all, it has a sight housing that is constructed from a high strength aluminum, which is also a very rugged material…

Aimpoint acro vs holosun 509t

And it has a hard anodized matte black finish which will help protect the optic from the elements and keep it non-reflective as well…

In addition to that, the windage and elevation adjustments are also recesses into the sight housing. So they can never be accidentally bumped or snapped off…

And that also helps keep the sight from snagging on loose clothing or other items as well…

The Aimpoint ACRO is also a waterproof optic. It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 25 meters (82 feet) of water, and it can easily handle any rainy or snowy condition you can throw at it…

Last, the ACRO was also designed to be a pistol optic from the start. So it’s also shockproof, and to be sure of that…

…Aimpoint has tested the ACRO with 20,000 rounds of .40 S&W being run through the pistol slide in which it was mounted (and .40 S&W is a lot snappier than 9MM, which is what most people will be shooting)…

All in all, the Aimpoint ACRO is also a very impressive sight when it comes to durability and reliability…

Durability And Toughness Conclusions…

This is an interesting category in which to compare these two sights because they have some key differences, but they’re both very durable…

For example, the Holosun 509t is constructed from titanium which is a very strong material, whereas the Aimpoint ACRO is made from a high strength aluminum which is also very strong…

It’s very hard to determine which sight actually has the advantage when it comes to the material they’re made from. So I think I’m just going to call it a draw there…

That being said, the ACRO is rated to be waterproof in up to 25 meters of water, whereas the 509t is only rated to be waterproof in 1 meter of water…

Even though both are going to hold up in the rain or snow, the ACRO can clearly handle more. So because of that, I’m going to call it the slight winner in this category. 

Winner: Aimpoint ACRO

Lens Clarity And Reticle…

Holosun 509t

The lens on the Holosun 509t is very clear. You don’t really notice much of the distant blue tint that you’ll find on other red dot sights (like the Trijicon RMR)…

And overall, you can see clearly through the optic and get a very clean sight picture…

Now when it comes to the reticle on the 509t, Holosun includes a feature called the Multiple Reticle System or MRS…

Basically, this means that you get 3 reticles included in your sight, and the 3 reticles are…

  • A 2 MOA dot with a 32 MOA ring surrounding it (The Holosun Circle Dot Reticle)
  • A 2 MOA dot
  • A 32 MOA ring with no dot in the center

The 2 MOA (minute of angle) dot with a 32 MOA ring surrounding it is also called the Circle Dot reticle, and it’s actually my favorite reticle on this style of sight…

Trijicon rmr vs holosun 509t

I like it because the 32 MOA ring is extremely quick and easy for your eye to pick up, which allows you to shoot very fast…

But at the same time, the 2 MOA dot is very precise and allows you to aim with a high degree of accuracy at small targets or targets that are off in the distance…

It’s a reticle that helps you shoot quickly without sacrificing precision the way a large MOA dot would. So because of that, I’m a big fan of it…

The next option is the simple 2 MOA dot. This is another great option in my opinion, especially if you prefer a more simple sight picture…

The 2 MOA dot is still fairly easy for your eye to pick up, and you still have that precise aiming point for shots that require a high degree of accuracy…

The last option is the 32 MOA ring with no dot in the center. This is my least favorite option, but let me explain to you why some people like to run it…

The 32 MOA ring is very quick and easy for your eye to pick up, which again allows you to shoot very quickly…

And because there is no dot in the center of the reticle, you’re able to see all of your target as you make the shot…

This can work very well if you’re just shooting at large targets up close, but the obvious downside is that you have no precise aiming point for small targets or targets at further distances…

So in the end, all 3 reticle options have their own strengths and weaknesses, but the great thing about the 509t is that you get all of them in the same sight…

So you can experiment with all of them, and then settle on which one works best for you and your style of shooting.  

Aimpoint ACRO

The lens on the Aimpoint ACRO is also very clear. Again, you don’t get any of the annoying blue tint that you’ll sometimes find on red dot sights…

And overall, you can see clearly through the sight and get a very clean sight picture…

Holosun 509t vs acro

Now the reticle on the ACRO is a simple 3.5 MOA dot. It’s very similar to the simple 2 MOA dot that you can run on the Holosun 509t…

…But because it’s a little bit bigger, it’s a tiny bit easier for your eye to pick it up and track it. At the same time, it is a little bit of a larger dot, so it’s a tiny bit less precise (not really in a noticeable way for most shooters though). 

So overall, I think it’s a very good reticle, and it’s definitely a reticle that can be run quickly and accurately.

Lens Clarity And Reticle Conclusions…

So in this category, we have some pretty big differences between these two sights. First of all, they both have pretty clear glass, which is good because it allows you to get a clean sight picture…

However when it comes to the reticle options, they’re very different. The Holosun 509t features the Multiple Reticle System which gives you 3 different reticles to choose from in the same sight…

And as I mentioned earlier, the Circle Dot Reticle is my favorite because it helps you shoot fast without sacrificing precision…

I do like the 3.5 MOA reticle on the Aimpoint ACRO, but it is a fixed reticle and very similar to the 2 MOA reticle that you get on the 509t…

So because the 509t gives you 3 choices of reticle and the ACRO only gives you 1, I’m going to give the win in this category to the Holosun 509t.

Winner: Holosun 509t

Size Comparison…

Holosun 509t

Like I mentioned earlier, both the Holosun 509t and the Aimpoint ACRO are enclosed red dot sight designs that are intended to be run as pistol optics…

So because of that, they’re both pretty compact sights. Now the Holosun 509t has a height that measures in at 1.35 inches…

Holosun 509t offset mount

It has a width that measures in at 1.21 inches, and it has a length that measures in at 1.61 inches…

In addition to that, the weight on the 509t comes in at just 1.72 ounces.

Aimpoint ACRO

The Aimpoint ACRO is similar in size to the Holosun 509t, but the dimensions are slightly different. Now the height on the Aimpoint ACRO measures in at 1.2 inches…

Acro vs holosun 509t

The width on the ACRO also measures in at 1.2 inches, and the length measures in at 1.9 inches. On top of that, the ACRO has a weight that comes in at 2.1 ounces.

Size Comparison Conclusions…

So as I said, the two sights are both very small optics for enclosed sight designs, and even though they have different dimensions, they are similar in terms of their overall size…

That being said, the Holosun 509t is a tiny bit shorter than the Aimpoint ACRO in terms of length, and it’s also a little bit more lightweight…

I always prefer my optics to have a small footprint and to be as light as possible. So in this category, I’m going to give the slight edge to the Holosun 509t.

Winner: Holosun 509t

Battery Life And Brightness Settings…

Holosun 509t

The Holosun 509t uses 1 CR1632 battery which is able to power the sight for around 50,000 hours on setting 6…

I love ultra long battery life like this on my optics, and the reason why is simple… You don’t want your optic dying on you at the wrong time…

I’ve had red dot sights run out of batteries at the range before, and even though it’s pretty annoying when that happens…

Fn 509 holosun 509t

At the end of the day, you can just go home and swap out your battery. However, if you ever need to use your optic in an emergency self defense situation, it would be a disaster to have the optic run out of batteries on you…

With 50,000 hours worth of battery life, it’s not likely that that will happen with the 509t especially if you follow the standard advice of swapping out your battery once a year…

Now when it comes to changing out the battery on the 509t, it’s a very quick and easy process because it has a side loading battery…

You see, some optics actually load their battery from the bottom of the sight, and this creates a problem because to change out the battery you’ll end up having to remove the optic from your gun…

And then (once you’ve changed the battery) you’ll have to re-mount the optic and then take it to the range and re-zero it, which is all a huge hassle… 

So I really love the sideloading battery on the 509t because it makes swapping out the battery a quick and easy process… 

Another cool feature that you get with the 509t is Holosun’s Shake Awake technology. Basically, this means that the optic will automatically turn off after a period of non use, and it will automatically turn on after sensing motion… 

This is a great feature because it will help save your battery life, which is already super long, and at the same time, your optic will be ready to go because it will turn on as soon as you touch your gun…

On top of that, the 509t comes with a solar panel on top, which is a cool feature for a couple of reasons…

First of all, you can use the solar panel as a backup power source (as long as you have some sunlight) if your battery ends up dying on you…

Or it can be used to save your battery life even more if you switch to the solar setting when you take your gun to the range…

Now with the 509t you get 10 daylight brightness settings and 2 night vision settings. The daylight brightness settings get very bright on the high end…

And you won’t have any problems with the reticle washing out, even on a very sunny day. The 2 NV settings will have to be used with NV equipment…

So if you have NV equipment or plan on getting some in the future, you’ll be able to run the 509t at night very easily…

In the end, all the useful features that you get with the Holosun 509t are very impressive, even when you compare it to sights that cost a lot more money…

Aimpoint ACRO

The Aimpoint ACRO uses a CR1225 battery which is able to power the sight for around a year and a half when on setting number 6…

That’s not quite as long as the battery life you get on the 509t, but it’s still pretty impressive. And as long as you swap out your battery once a year…

aimpoint acro for sale

You should be able to keep the ACRO turned on at all times (so that it’s ready to go) and still not have the optic’s battery die on you…

In addition to that, the ACRO also has a side loading battery which again, means that you’ll be able to easily swap out the battery in a matter of minutes when it comes time to do so…

Now the ACRO comes with a total of 6 daylight brightness settings, 4 night vision settings, and 1 extra bright setting…

Just as with the 509t, the daylight brightness settings get very bright, and you won’t have any issues with the reticle washing out on you…

And if the conditions get really extreme, you have that extra bright setting that you can bump the sight up to…

Last, the 4 night vision settings will, again, have to be used with night vision equipment, and with that equipment, they’ll allow you to run the ACRO in the dark very easily.   

Battery Life And Brightness Settings Conclusions…

There are a lot of important differences between these two optics in this section. First of all, they both have powerful daylight brightness settings and night vision settings…

They also both have a side loading battery and long battery life, which is all good. But the differences come in the details…

The battery life on the Holosun 509t is much longer than the battery life on the ACRO by a margin of several years…

In addition to that, the 509t comes with Shake Awake technology which will help save your battery life and the solar panel which will back up your battery and save your battery life even more…

So because of all the extra features packed into the 509t by Holosun, it’s going to come away as the winner in this category.  

Winner: Holosun 509t

Extra Accessories Included With The Optic…

Holosun 509t

The Holosun 509t comes with a few accessories. First of all, it comes with a battery, which is nice because it means you won’t have to run off to the store once you receive your optic just to turn it on…

In addition to that, you also get a lens cloth which is a pretty common item that typically comes with every optic you purchase…

Holosun 509t footprint

That’s all fine and good, but the really exciting item that you get with the 509t is an RMR footprint adaptor plate…

You see, the 509t uses a proprietary mounting rail system, and there are not many guns or accessories that are designed to work with that system yet (because it’s relatively new)… 

But because Holosun includes the RMR adaptor plate, it’ll actually end up being very easy to get the 509t mounted on your gun…

The reason why is because the RMR footprint is the most common footprint when it comes to mounting pistol optics…

Many slides come cut for the RMR footprint already, or they come with an RMR footprint adaptor plate…

So including that RMR adaptor plate with the 509t is huge in my opinion because it means you’re going to have a pretty easy time getting the optic mounted on your gun…

And it won’t cost you any extra money to do it either. Last, if you haven’t heard of the brand new Holosun EPS, you might want to check out how it differs from the 509T here.

Aimpoint ACRO

Like the Holosun 509t, the Aimpoint ACRO comes with a battery which again, is something I really like because it means you’ll be able to turn on your sight without an extra trip to the store…

In addition to that, the ACRO also comes with a proprietary mounting system, but unlike the 509t, it doesn’t come with any type of adaptor plate…

aimpoint acro footprint

Now you can purchase an adaptor plate for the ACRO with an RMR footprint (and a number of other footprints too)…

So mounting the ACRO will not be too difficult, but because you will have to get an adaptor plate or actually have a gunsmith cut your slide for the optic…

It will be an additional cost to get the ACRO mounted on your gun. 

Extra Accessories Conclusions…

In this category, there is a major difference between these two sights, and it really decides the winner here… 

The Holosun 509t comes with an RMR adaptor plate, and the Aimpoint ACRO does not, and this is actually an important included item for these two optics…

You see, both of these optics are kind of a new class of optic. So there is no standard mounting system for these enclosed pistol optics yet… 

And the fact that the 509t includes the RMR footprint adaptor, means that you’ll easily be able to mount it right out of the box…

The Aimpoint ACRO, on the other hand, is going to cost you more money because you’ll need to purchase an adapter plate separately or have your gun’s slide cut specifically for the ACRO…

So there’s a lot of extra value included in the box with the Holosun 509t, and that makes it the clear winner in this section.

Winner: Holosun 509t

Price Comparison…

Unfortunately I won’t be able to give you exact numbers in this category because the optics market is always changing and that makes the prices of the sights change constantly as well…

But that being said, in general, you’ll usually find that the Holosun 509t is around 165 to 175 bucks less expensive than the Aimpoint ACRO…

That’s a pretty decent chunk of change, and it could be a huge factor in the decision making process if you’re on a budget and trying to decide between these two sights…

So if you are on a budget, and you’re trying to keep the price as low as possible on your optic, the Holosun 509t is probably going to be the less expensive option for you. 

Winner: Holosun 509t

Holosun 509t Vs Aimpoint ACRO – Final Thoughts…

So to sum it all up, in the Durability And Toughness category, both sights are built like tanks but because the Aimpoint ACRO is rated to be waterproof in up to 25 meters of water…

Whereas the Holosun 509t is rated to be waterproof in only 1 meter of water. I gave the win to the ACRO in this category…

In the Lens Clarity And Reticle category, both sights have a very clear lens which allows you to get a very clean sight picture…

However, the 509t comes with the Multiple Reticle System, which gives you 3 reticles in the same sight, and the ACRO only comes with 1 reticle. So the 509t came away as the winner here…

In the Size Comparison, both sights are a similar size and very compact, but the Holosun 509t came away as the winner because it is just a little bit shorter in terms of length and a little more lightweight than the ACRO…

In the Battery Life And Brightness Settings category, both sights come with powerful brightness settings, NV settings and long battery life…

However, the battery life on the 509t is much longer than the battery life on the ACRO, and it also comes with the Shake Awake technology which will help save your battery life… 

And the solar panel which will back up your battery and save your battery life even more. So I gave the win to the 509t in this section… 

In the Extra Accessories category, both sights come with a battery which is a nice touch in my opinion. However, the Holosun 509t comes with an RMR adaptor plate…

Whereas a similar plate for the Aimpoint ACRO will cost you extra money. So the winner in this section was the Holosun 509t…

And last in the Price Comparison, the Holosun 509t is around 165 to 175 dollars less expensive than the Aimpoint ACRO…

So which of these sights do I prefer? I prefer the Holosun 509t

holosun 509t review

I prefer the Holosun 509t for several reasons. First of all, even though I gave the slight win to the ACRO in the durability and toughness category, the 509t is still a very durable optic…

It’s built like a tank, and it’s going to keep working for you even if you put it through some very tough use. In addition to that, I love the Circle Dot Reticle that you get with the Multiple Reticle System on the 509t…

It’s going to help you shoot fast without sacrificing accuracy, and if you don’t like it, you have two other reticles you can choose to run on the sight…

In addition to that, the battery life on the 509t is much longer than the battery life on the ACRO, and the Shake Awake feature and solar panel will end up saving your battery life even more…

And we can’t forget about the included RMR adapter plate which adds a ton of extra value to the 509t because it’ll make mounting the sight very easy, and it won’t cost you extra money to do it… 

Last, the 509t is significantly less expensive than the ACRO even though it has more useful features. So it’ll end up saving you a lot of money, and I think it’s a better value overall…

Now if you want a sight that’s a little bit more rugged and you don’t mind paying a little bit more money, then feel free to go with the ACRO because it’s still an amazing sight…

Aimpoint acro review

Either way, I hope I was able to show you the major similarities and differences between these two cutting-edge pistol optics. 

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Aimpoint PRO Vs T2 [Which Is The Better Optic For You?]

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aimpoint pro vs t2

There is definitely a top tier in the world of red dot sights…

And one of the brands that has to be included in that tier is Aimpoint…

Aimpoints are awesome because they’re all pretty much built like tanks, and they just keep on working no matter what type of hard use they’re put through…

And right now, two of the most popular Aimpoints on the market are…

So in this Aimpoint PRO Vs T2 comparison, we’re going to see how these two fantastic sights stack up against each other in the following 6 categories…

  • Durability And Toughness
  • Reticle And Lens Clarity
  • Size Comparison
  • Battery Life And Brightness Settings
  • Extra Goodies Included With The Optic
  • Price Comparison

In the end, I’ll tell you if I prefer the T2 or the Pro, and you should have all the information you need to determine which optic will work best for you…

Let’s start the comparison!

Durability And Toughness…

Aimpoint T2

The Aimpoint T2 Micro, like all Aimpoints, is a very tough little optic. First of all, it has a sight housing that is constructed from a high strength aluminum, which is a very tough material…

And it also has a non-reflective hard anodized finish, which will help keep the optic discreet and protect it from the elements…

aimpoint t2 vs pro

In addition to that, the sight housing is built up around the windage and elevation adjustments, and that’s actually an important feature because it protects your adjustments from getting bumped or even snapped off accidentally…

The Aimpoint T2 is also a waterproof optic. It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 25 meters (80 feet) of water, and it can handle any rainy, snowy, or wet conditions you can throw at it…

Last, the T2 Micro is shockproof and can easily handle being mounted on high powered rifles, shotguns, and pistol caliber carbines or sub machine guns…

Overall, the durability and reliability that you get with the Aimpoint T2 is very impressive.

Aimpoint Pro

The Aimpoint Pro is also a very durable red dot sight. It’s actually called the Aimpoint PRO (Patrol Rifle Optic), which lets you know from the get-go that it’s intended for serious use…

Now the sight housing on the Aimpoint Pro is also made from high quality aluminum, which as I mentioned before is very tough stuff…

aimpoint pro vs h2

And it’s also hard anodized with a non-reflective finish which will help you keep a low profile and help keep the sight protected from the elements…

Now the windage and elevation adjustments are not covered by the sight housing on the Aimpoint Pro like they are in the Aimpoint T2…

But they do sit relatively low, which makes it highly unlikely that they’ll get accidentally bumped or snapped off if the optic takes a hard hit…

The Aimpoint Pro is also a waterproof optic. It’s rated to be waterproof in up to 45 meters (150 feet) of water, and it can also easily handle being used in rainy and wet conditions…

Last, the Aimpoint Pro is also a shockproof sight. So it can also handle the recoil from being mounted on high powered rifles, shotguns, and PCCs.

Durability And Toughness Conclusions…

In this category, these two sights have a lot of similarities because they’re both Aimpoints, but there are a few key differences…

First of all, they both have a sight housing that is made from high quality aluminum, and they’re both waterproof and shockproof…

That being said, the Aimpoint Pro is rated to be waterproof in up to 150 feet of water, whereas the Aimpoint T2 is rated to be waterproof in up to 80 feet of water…

Both are impressive, but obviously, the Aimpoint Pro can handle more, and it’s no surprise that the Pro can handle more because it’s simply a bigger optic with more overall material…

So even though the two are very close in this category, I’m going to give the slight win here to the Aimpoint Pro.

Winner: Aimpoint Pro

Reticle And Lens Clarity…

Aimpoint T2

The Aimpoint T2 Micro has a very clear lens. You don’t really get any of that annoying blue tint when looking through the sight, the way you do with some other optics (like the Trijicon MRO)…

And overall, you can see clearly through the glass and get a very clean sight picture…

aimpoint h2 vs t2

Now the reticle on the Aimpoint T2 is a simple 2 MOA dot. I really like a 2 MOA reticle on the T2, and there are a couple of reasons why…

First of all, the 2 MOA size is very easy for your eye to pick up. I’ve always found that it’s just as quick and easy as a larger MOA dot (such as a 4 MOA or 6 MOA dot), and that allows you to shoot very quickly…

However, at the same time, that 2 MOA dot is small and has the advantage over a 4 MOA or 6 MOA dot in terms of accuracy because you can aim with more precision at small targets or targets at further distances…

On top of that, if you ever feel like you need a larger dot reticle, you can simply bump up the brightness level until the dot starts to bloom out…

So all in all, the lens is very clear on the Aimpoint T2, and the 2 MOA dot reticle is awesome because it allows you to shoot quickly without sacrificing any precision.

Aimpoint Pro

The lens on the Aimpoint Pro is also extremely clear. Again, you don’t get any of that annoying blue tint that’s found on some other red dot sights…

And overall, you can see very clearly through the optic and get a very clean sight picture. On top of that, the Aimpoint Pro is a larger optic (with a 30mm tube) than the Aimpoint T2…

aimpoint pro vs mro

And that comes into play here because you get a little bit larger field of view when looking through the optic. Now the field of view on the T2 Micro isn’t bad at all, especially if you’re shooting with both eyes open…

But the larger Aimpoint Pro does allow you to see a little bit more through the sight, and that is always a good thing…

Now the reticle on the Aimpoint Pro is also a simple 2 MOA dot. It’s exactly the same as the reticle on the Aimpoint T2, and that’s a good thing…

…because, like I said earlier, the 2 MOA dot reticle is very quick and easy for your eye to pick, which allows you to shoot fast.

But it’s also small enough to give you a lot of precision when aiming at small targets or targets that are off in the distance.

So all in all, the lens on the Aimpoint Pro is also very clear, and the 2 MOA dot reticle is also very helpful when you’re trying to shoot fast and accurately.

Reticle And Lens Clarity Conclusions…

This is another category in which these two sights have a lot in common, but there is one key difference between them…

To start off with, they both have a very clear lens that allows you to get a clean sight picture, and they both have a 2 MOA dot reticle, which again I think is a great reticle on a red dot sight…

But that being said, the Aimpoint Pro is a larger optic and it gives you a slightly larger field of view. Now the field of view isn’t that much larger than the field of view found on the Aimpoint T2…

But it is larger, and that allows you to see a little bit more when looking through the optic. So in this category, the Aimpoint Pro is again going to come out on top, but just by a hair.

Winner: Aimpoint Pro

Size Comparison…

Aimpoint T2

The Aimpoint T2 is one of Aimpoint’s micro red dot sights, and because of that, it’s a very compact and lightweight optic…

aimpoint t1 vs t2

It has a height that measures in at 1.4 inches. It’s width measures in at 1.6 inches, and it has a length that measures in at 2.7 inches…

In addition to that, the weight on the Aimpoint T2 comes in at just 3.0 ounces. 

Aimpoint Pro

The Aimpoint Pro is a more traditional sized red dot sight. So it is a bit larger and heavier than the Aimpoint T2 Micro…

Aimpoint t2 vs aimpoint pro

The Aimpoint Pro has a height that measures in at 2.2 inches. It has a width that measures in at 2.2 inches, and it has a length that measures in at 4.5 inches…

On top of that, the weight on the Aimpoint Pro comes in at 7.8 ounces.

Size Comparison Conclusions…

These two red dot sights are very different when it comes to their dimensions, and that’s because the Aimpoint T2 is a micro red dot whereas the Aimpoint Pro which is a traditional red dot…

So because of that, the Aimpoint T2 is more compact than the Aimpoint Pro in every dimension. In addition to that, the T2 Micro is a more lightweight optic than the Aimpoint Pro…

Having a low profile, compact and lightweight optic has many advantages, but to keep things simple, it keeps the bulk and weight of your rifle down…

…which is important for having a rifle that is fast into action, and easier to shoot. So the winner in this category, is clearly the Aimpoint T2. 

Winner: Aimpoint T2

Battery Life And Brightness Settings…

Aimpoint T2

The Aimpoint T2 uses 1 CR2032 battery which is able to power the sight for around 50,000 hours which is over 5 years…

Having super long battery life like that is actually a very important feature on a red dot sight for a few reasons…

Aimpoint t2 micro

First of all, you don’t want your red dot’s battery to die on you at the wrong time. I have actually had red dot sights die on me while shooting at the range before…

And that can get pretty annoying, but it’s really not a big deal because you can just swap out your battery when you get home…

That being said, you definitely don’t want your optic’s battery to fail on you, if you ever need to use it in a life or death situation…

In addition to that, I think it’s a good idea to keep your optic always turned on and at the ready because, again, if you’re forced to use your optic in an emergency self defense situation…

You’re probably going to be feeling a lot of pressure, and you definitely don’t want to be fiddling around with the buttons on your sight, just to get it turned on…

So since the Aimpoint T2 sets you up with over 5 years of battery life, it’s very unlikely that you’ll run out of batteries at the wrong time (even while keeping the optic on all the time)…

Especially if you follow the standard advice of swapping out your battery at least once a year (a lot of people say to change it on your birthday)….

Now with the Aimpoint T2 you get a total of 8 daylight brightness settings, 4 night vision settings, and 1 extra bright setting…

The daylight brightness settings get very bright on the high end, and you won’t have any problems with the reticle washing out even on a sunny day…

And even if the conditions get really extreme, you have that extra bright setting that you can bump the sight up to…

I also really like that the 4 night vision settings are included on the T2 Micro, which is not the case for all Aimpoint red dots (such as the H2)…

These NV settings will have to be used with NV equipment, but if you have that equipment or ever plan on getting it, you’ll be able to run the T2 at night without any issues.

Aimpoint Pro

The Aimpoint Pro uses 1 3V lithium battery (such as the DL 1/3N) which is able to power the sight for 30,000 hours (around 3 years) on setting 7…

That’s not quite as long as the battery life you get on the Aimpoint T2, but I think 3 years worth of battery life is definitely sufficient…

Aimpoint pro vs aimpoint t2

…because you can still keep your optic turned on and ready to go at all times and not have to worry about your optic’s battery dying on you (especially if you swap out the battery once a year).

Now the Aimpoint Pro has a total of 6 daylight brightness settings, 4 night vision settings, and 1 extra bright setting…

Just as with Aimpoint T2, the daylight brightness settings are very powerful on the high end, and you shouldn’t have any problems with your reticle washing out on a bright day…

And again, Aimpoint gives you that extra bright setting, just in case the lighting conditions are really extreme…

Last, you also get the 4 NV settings with the Aimpoint Pro which (with the use of NV equipment) will allow you to run your sight in the dark very easily.   

Battery Life And Brightness Settings Conclusions…

So in this category, there are some key differences between these two sights. First of all, they both have very long battery life…

And they both have powerful daylight brightness settings and NV settings. The differences come into play when we start getting into the details…

For example, even though they both have powerful brightness settings, the Aimpoint T2 has 8 daylight settings as opposed to the 6 daylight settings you get with the Aimpoint Pro…

Those extra settings, while not being a huge advantage, will allow you to fine tune your brightness level just a little bit more than you can with the Aimpoint Pro…

In addition to that, the Aimpoint Pro gives you an impressive 3 years worth of battery life. However, the Aimpoint T2 is even better because it gives you 5 years worth of battery life…

So because of those small advantages, I’m going to give the win to the Aimpoint T2 in this category.

Winner: Aimpoint T2

Extra Goodies Included With The Optic…

Aimpoint T2

The Aimpoint T2 comes with a front and rear flip-up lens cover. The front lens cover is blacked out, but the rear lens cover is actually clear…

This might seem strange, but it actually has a pretty cool purpose. You see, even with both lens covers closed, you can still use the optic very quickly in an emergency…

aimpoint t2 low mount

As long as you aim with both eyes open, because of that clear rear lens cover, you’ll be able to see the dot superimposed over your target even with the front lens cover blacked out…

It’s just the way your brain works, and it’s pretty cool because you can keep both covers closed giving your sight maximum protection, but still have it ready to go if you need to make a quick shot…

Aside from that, you can purchase the Aimpoint T2 with a high mount, a low mount, or no mount. The high mount will work well on an AR platform rifle (or any other rifle that requires a high mount)…

And the low mount will work well with a number of pistol caliber carbines, shotguns, the AK platform, and many other firearms…

Both included mounts will raise the price of the sight. So unfortunately I would actually classify them as an add-on item rather than a truly included item… 

But that being said, you can also purchase the T2 with no mount, which means you’ll have to pick up a mount on the aftermarket…

Luckily, the Aimpoint T2 is incredibly popular. So there are a ton of aftermarket companies making mounts for the T2 Micro, and you won’t have any trouble finding a great mount for your optic.

Aimpoint Pro

Like the Aimpoint T2, the Aimpoint Pro comes with front and rear lens covers, with the front lens cover being blacked out and the rear lens cover being clear…

Again, I think this is a really cool feature because you can still use your sight in an emergency, even while keeping both covers fully on the optic…

aimpoint pro low mount

On top of that, the Aimpoint Pro comes with a high quality mount. It’s called the QRP2 mount which stands for Quick Release Picatinny mount, and I think it’s a great mount…

It’s high enough that you can co witness the Aimpoint Pro with back up iron sights on an AR-15  or on an AR-10…

But it also has a removable spacer, which will allow you to easily mount the optic on a firearm that requires a low mount too…

So all in all, I think it’s a great mounting system, and I think it adds a lot of value to the Aimpoint Pro because it is included with the sight.

Extra Accessories Conclusions…

In this category, there is a major difference between these two optics. First of all, they both include a front and rear flip-up lens cover, which is cool…

However, the Aimpoint Pro comes with the QRP2 mount, whereas the Aimpoint T2 does not come with a mount (a mount will cost you extra)…

The addition of a mount is huge in my opinion, and it gives you a ton of added value because you won’t have to go out and spend more money after getting your optic…

So because of that, the Aimpoint Pro is the clear winner here.

Winner: Aimpoint Pro

Price Comparison…

Unfortunately I won’t be able to give you exact numbers in this section because the prices on the sights are changing all the time….

But that being said, in general, you’ll usually find that the Aimpoint Pro is around 330 to 340 bucks less expensive than the Aimpoint T2…

That’s a huge difference and a large chunk of change for most people (me included!), and it’s definitely an amount that could be a major factor if you’re trying to decide between these two optics, especially if you’re on a tight budget… 

So if you are on a budget, and you’re trying to keep the price of your sight as low as possible, the Aimpoint Pro is definitely going to be the less expensive option of the two.

Winner: Aimpoint Pro

Aimpoint PRO Vs T2 – Final Thoughts…

So in the end, in the Durability And Toughness category, both sights are made from high quality aluminum, and they’re both waterproof and shockproof…

However, because the Aimpoint Pro is rated to be more waterproof than the T2 and because it’s a bigger optic with more material, I gave it the slight win in this section…

In the Lens Clarity And Reticle category, both the Aimpoint T2 and the Aimpoint Pro have a very clear lens which allows you to get a clean sight picture, and they both have a 2 MOA dot reticle, which is a great reticle…

However, the Aimpoint Pro is a larger optic which has a little bit bigger field of view than the T2. So it came out as the slight winner again in this section…

In the Size Comparison, the Aimpoint T2 Micro is smaller in every dimension and more lightweight than the Aimpoint Pro. So it was the clear winner in this category… 

In the Battery Life And Brightness Settings category, both sights give you years worth of battery life, powerful daylight brightness settings, and night vision settings…

However, the Aimpoint T2’s battery life is longer than the AImpoint Pro’s, and it gives you a few more daylight brightness settings as well. So I gave the win to the Aimpoint T2 in this section…

In the Extra Accessories category, both sights come with a front and rear lens cover, but the Aimpoint Pro comes with a mount, whereas the Aimpoint T2 does not…

So in this section, the Aimpoint Pro was the clear winner…

And last in the Price Comparison, the Aimpoint Pro is usually around 330 to 340 dollars less expensive than the Aimpoint T2…

So which of these sights do I prefer? I prefer Aimpoint T2…

Aimpoint t2 review

I prefer the Aimpoint T2 for a few reasons. First of all, even though I gave the win in the durability category to the Aimpoint Pro, the Aimpoint T2 is nearly just as durable…

It’s built like a tank, and it’s going to serve you and maintain reliability even after being put through extremely tough use…

On top of that, the Aimpoint T2 is much more compact than the Aimpoint Pro. I love micro red dot sights because they keep the weight and bulk down on your rifle (which allows you to run your rifle very fast)…

And the Aimpoint T2 is the king of all micro red dot sights, so I think it’s awesome. Last, I also like that the battery life is longer on the T2 than it is on the Aimpoint Pro…

And I think the CR2032 battery is a little bit more common and easier to find than the battery used on the Aimpoint Pro as well.

Now if you don’t mind running a slightly bigger red dot sight, you want an included mount, and you want to save a ton of money…

Then feel free to go with the Aimpoint Pro because it’s still an amazing optic…

Aimpoint pro review

You won’t go wrong with either of these two optics because they’re both Aimpoints and as I said at the beginning of this article, they’re both in the top tier when it comes to quality red dot sights.

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