EOTech makes some pretty awesome optics…
I like them because they’re super rugged, and they generally have features that are pretty innovative…
And that really makes them stand out from the crowd in the world of tactical carbine optics…
They’re also extremely high-quality, and without a doubt two of their most popular offerings are, the EXPS2 and the EXPS3…
| Image | Products |
 | EOTech EXPS2 – Click Here To Get Best Pricing (Over 188 Customer Reviews!) |
 | EOTech EXPS3 – Click Here To Get Best Pricing (Over 232 Customer Reviews!) |
But that leads us to the big question… Which of these two EOTechs is better…?
Well, in this EXPS2 vs EXPS3 comparison, I’m going to answer that question for you, and I’ll be doing that by examining how these two optics stack up against each other in several categories…
So if you’re in the market for an excellent holographic optic for your rifle and want to know which of these two fantastic sights is right for you…
Stick around as I break it all down for you, and by the end, I’ll tell you which of these two sights I prefer and you should have all the information you need to determine which is going to work best for you…
Let’s get started!
EXPS2 VS EXPS3 – Which EOTech Is Right For You…?
The EXPS2 and the EXPS3 are both manufactured by EOTech, with the EXPS3 having night vision capability and additional water protection with an increase in its submersible rating. Additionally, because the EXPS2 has no night vision settings and is not quite as waterproof as the EXPS3, it comes in at a slightly lower price point…
Below, I’ll give you more detail explaining the key differences between these two optics, and I’ll start by going over the technical Specs…
EXPS3 VS EXPS2 – Features and Specifications…
As I mentioned before, EOTech (the same company) manufactures both products, and in comparison, their specifications are pretty similar…
That being said, however, there are differences in some of the features that they offer you…
The EXPS2 Specs…
The EOTech EXPS2 Holographic Sight is compact and uses holographic technology which allows you to aim while keeping both eyes open…
It comes with a red holographic reticle which is designed for close to medium-range encounters…
In addition to that, it has easily adjustable brightness buttons and a quick-detach lever…
It’s powered by a lithium 123 battery, and I recommend you check out the features outlined in the table below for more of its technical specifications.
The EXPS3 Specs…
The EOTech EXPS3 Holographic Sight was launched in 2012. It’s a night vision compatible optic and offers both-eyes-open shooting with a higher base…
It comes with easily adjustable side buttons, and the quick-detach lever allows for quick and easy mounting and removal…
In addition, its NV compatibility is ideal for night hunting or close engagements with moving targets. See the table below for more detail.
| Feature | EXPS3 | EXPS2 |
| Night Vision Compatibility | Yes | None |
| Optics | Holography | Holography |
| Magnification | 1x (none) | 1x (none) |
| Night Vision Brightness Settings | Ten settings for Gen I through III | None |
| Day-light Brightness Settings | 20 settings | 20 settings |
| Operation Time | 600 continuous hours at a nominal setting | 600 straight hours at a nominal setting |
| Adjustment (per click) | Approx 0.5 MOA (1/2″ at 100 yds) when zeroing | Approx 0.5 MOA (1/2″ at 100 yds) when zeroing |
| Adjustment Range | +/-40 MOA travel | +/-40 MOA travel |
| Water Resistant | Submersible to 33 ft. depth | Submersible to 10 ft. depth |
| Mount | 1” Weaver or MIL-STD-1913 rail | 1” Weaver or MIL-STD-1913 rail |
| Eye Relief | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Field of View | (100 yds): 30 yds (28 m) at a 3” eye relief | (100 yds): 30 yds (28 m) at a 3” eye relief |
| Optical Surfaces | Anti-reflective coating on external surfaces | Anti-reflective coating on outer surfaces |
| Power Source | One 123 lithium battery | One 123 lithium battery |
| Weight | 11.2 oz (317.5 g) | 11.2 oz (317.5 g) |
| Size | 3.8”L x 2.3”W x 2.9”H (96.5 x 58.4 x 73.7 mm) | 3.8”L x 2.3”W x 2.9”H (96.5 x 58.4 x 73.7 mm) |
EXPS2 And EXPS3 Night Vision…
Night vision brightness settings can be useful for a variety of reasons…
For example, this feature is ideal for transitioning from day-light to low or no lighting conditions in a hunting or tactical/self-defense setting…
Now the overall cost of the optic does go up with that additional feature, but the NV-capable model (the EXPS3) gives you that option if you have night vision equipment and want to pair that equipment with the optic on your carbine or rifle…
EXPS2: Again, the EXPS2 has 20-day-light settings, which allows you to really dial in the brightness to your liking during the daytime…
This model does NOT include night vision brightness settings, and if you do not intend to use your optic at night with NV equipment, this might be the better option for you because it comes in at a lower cost than the EXPS3…
EXPS3: The EXPS3 is night vision capable with included NV brightness settings to quickly transition between high and lower brightness scenarios…
Those additional 10 NV brightness settings compliment the default 20-day-light settings very well, and it greatly expands the capability of the optic…
For example, if you were to move in a building from a floor (daylight) to the basement (darkness), you could press one button and be on an appropriate NV setting…
EOTech XPS2 Vs XPS3 Submersibility…
If you live in a typical wet environment or plan to use the sight in rainy or wet conditions, the good news is that both of these sights have a very strong waterproof rating…
EOTech XPS2: The EXPS2 is rated to be waterproof in up to 10 feet of water. It can easily handle rainy, snowy, or any other wet conditions…
EOTech XPS3: The EXPS3 has even more water protection than the EXPS2 with its waterproof rating at 33 feet of water…
So if you want a more waterproof and a slightly more durable optic, the EXPS3 is probably the right option for you…
EXPS2 And EXPS3 Reticle Options…
Each of these sights comes with the standard reticle of your choice…
And because these are holographic sights, the red dot reticle is a hologram with no parallax and no fish bowl effects on the edges…
In addition to that, the reticle is magnifiable without the dot changing size. So with either of these optics, you get a very clear and clean image with a large field of view while you’re shooting…
EXPS2: The EXPS2 is available in two reticle options…
- Eotech One Dot Reticle – This 68 MOA ring with 1 MOA dot provides three usable aiming points. This model code will end in -0.
- Eotech Two Dot Reticle – This two-dot reticle pattern is visible with or without magnification and offers an additional long-range, aiming dot (below the center dot). This model code will end in -2.
EXPS3: The EXPS3 has three reticle options available…
- Eotech One Dot Reticle – This 68 MOA ring with 1 MOA dot provides three usable aiming points. This model code will end in -0.
- Eotech Two Dot Reticle – This two-dot reticle pattern is visible with or without magnification and offers an additional long-range, aiming dot. This model code will end in -2.
- Eotech Four Dot Reticle – This ballistic reticle is compatible with certain calibers and speeds. This model code will end in -4 (It’s awesome with a magnifier).
Out of all of these reticle options, my favorite is the 68 MOA ring with a 1 MOA dot inside it…
This Circle Dot Reticle is what Eotech is famous for, and it’s a fantastic reticle because it helps you shoot fast and accurately at the same time…
The big 68 MOA ring allows you to shoot at large targets up close with blazing speed…
And the small 1 MOA dot in the center allows you to aim with a great deal of precision at small targets that are off in the distance…
So as I said, this is my favorite reticle option offered by Eotech, and it comes on both the XPS2 and the XPS3.
EXPS3 And EXPS2 – What’s Included In The Box…?
It’s always nice to know what comes in the box when you purchase a new piece of gear…
And that’s probably why unboxing videos are so popular on YouTube…
So here’s a list of what you get with both of these sights from Eotech…
Inside the EXPS2 box:
- The Eotech Exps2 Holographic Day Sight
- Your Choice of Reticle
- CR123 Battery
- Product Registration
- Warranty Card
- Quick-Start Guide
- Protective Case
Inside the EXPS3 box:
- Eotech Exps3 Holographic Weapon Sight
- Your Choice of Reticle
- CR123 Battery
- Product Registration
- Quick-Start Guide
- Warranty Card
- Protective Case
EOTech XPS2 Vs XPS3 – Final Thoughts…
So in the end, both of these holographic sights are excellent because they’re both extremely durable and reliable…
In addition to that, they both have amazing reticle options and a large sight window that gives you a huge field of view when you’re shooting…
That being said, the EXPS3 has night vision capabilities because of the included NV brightness settings, and it also has extra water protection with a more robust waterproof rating…
On top of that, we also have to factor in that those extra features do add a little bit of extra cost to the optic, which makes the EXPS2 less expensive…
So which of these two optics do I prefer? I prefer the EXPS2…
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The EXPS2 (Over 188 Customer Reviews!):
I prefer the EXPS2 for a few reasons. First of all, the EXPS2 is extremely rugged and reliable just like the EXPS3 and it comes with the Circle Dot reticle which, as I mentioned earlier is my favorite…
It also has a fairly strong waterproof rating, even though it is less than the EXPS3, and for my purposes, I don’t really need NV capability because I keep a white light on all of my rifles…
Oh, and it’s the less expensive optic as well…
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The EXPS3 (Over 232 Customer Reviews!):
Now if you have a need for NV capabilities on your optic (or if you just want to have those capabilities) then feel free to go for the EXPS3 because it’s still an amazing holographic sight…
You won’t go wrong getting either of these two optics because they’re both made by EOTech, and they’re both premium holographic sights that are bet-your-life reliable.