Ah, the traditional EOTECH 512. It’s maybe particularly becoming that we have now one in for testing because it was such a star throughout America’s longest conflict. EOTech was an on the spot hit with the US Navy and got here to the eye of many people when the GWOT began in 2001. The primary true Holographic sight, EOTECH took the world by storm. In case you are sufficiently old, you might bear in mind the ever present show at gunshops of the 512 mannequin, a bullet shot by means of the glass, and the reticle nonetheless alive and nicely. EOTECH was the selection of America’s ninjas, which just about made it the selection of all people with the {dollars} to accumulate one.
However for those who ask anyone who served for a size of time over the past 20 years, they doubtless have a love-hate relationship with EOTECH. Like many contemporary romances, EOTECH began off in a approach that they might do no mistaken. However that relationship soured over time, lastly had a authorized separation in 2015, and you possibly can say perhaps went to counseling and reconciled round 2018.
It went one thing like this. The unique EOTECH, whose father or mother firm was EOTECH, was an upstart little store out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. They solved the holographic challenge and gained Optic of the 12 months in each 1996 and 2001 (with their second-gen sight). That second date, you in all probability observed, was simply in time for Afghanistan to begin. With the flood of funding to Particular Operations Forces post-September 2001, guys began on the lookout for any benefit they might discover. And EOTECH supplied simply that.
The unique EOTECH was like nothing else. It resembled an enormous TV display with a glowing purple circle, which principally meant that you just couldn’t miss at shut vary. The purple circle had a really small heart purple dot, which proved to be remarkably agile at hitting small targets, even at longer ranges. You would maintain an EOTECH the wrong way up, wrong-handed, at any angle, and it nonetheless put the bullet on the goal. It was principally magic, and the troops have been in love.
Fairly quickly, you noticed EOTECHs in all places on the battlefield. Guys with cash to purchase business off the shelf purchased dozens of them. Particular person troopers purchased private ones, reasoning that $500 was a small value to pay for a greater probability of surviving even when the Authorities didn’t appear to suppose so. And also you noticed EOTECHs on issues I’m certain the designers by no means meant them for. I noticed them on M2 50 Caliber machine weapons, miniguns for each truck and plane, and no kidding Carl Gustav recoilless rifles. My crew Bravo was truly the one to indicate me the EOTECH on a Carl G trick, and I used to be amazed at how nicely it labored. And I desperately want I had an image of it proper about now.
Not solely did you see an EOTECH on all these platforms, however they survived. Because the GWOT years glided by, the sturdiness of the EOTECH turned legendary. It was like a space-age sight child from a tryst between Glock and Kalashnikov. They only stored going, they appeared unstoppable. EOTECH was the child from Ann Arbor, not simply within the ring with the world champions of digital sights, however spanking them handily. These have been the glory days. However then….
Tragedy struck. SOCOM had purchased so many EOTECHs off the shelf they wished a contract for each individual within the command. And for causes I don’t know, proper earlier than or after that contract was issued, EOTECH offered to L3. After which the fairy story was over. As occurs many occasions, the product modifications when it will get offered to a mega-corporation. Corners get reduce, and processes get cheapened. Which is strictly the way it went with EOTECH and the 512.
Inside a 12 months of being fielded the brand new FDE EOTECHs, we knew we had a significant issue. They only wouldn’t keep collectively. Anybody that had an outdated black EOTECH fought tooth and nail to not flip it in, lest they be caught with the brand new FDE atrocity. Once I was instructing CQB for my teacher rotation, it wasn’t unusual to interrupt 20% of the EOTechs in a given 6-week class. Not even regular points prefer it wouldn’t zero. It would by no means activate once more after a taking pictures string. Or the glass would possibly actually fall out of the lens housing. After which, the doozy…
In 2015, the US Authorities sued EOTECH for civil fraud, due to thermal drift that not solely occurred however that EOTECH/L3 allegedly tried to cowl up. Thermal drift meant that temperature variations may trigger the aiming level to shift as a lot as a foot at 300 yards. Type of an enormous deal once you is perhaps preventing to your life with it within the Hindu Kush. EOTECH/L3 settled for $25.6 million and likewise had to purchase again EVERY EOTECH in the marketplace. It was completely bananas, however EOTECH would ship you a verify for MSRP for those who despatched them again an EOTECH of any mannequin, no questions requested.
So why are we nonetheless speaking about this? Nostalgia? Why would anyone be caught lifeless with an EOTech in any case that? I’ll grant, that will be quite a lot of fame injury to beat for EOTECH/L3. However an incredible factor occurred. EOTECH formally separated from L3 and is again in non-public palms. Not solely that, however additionally they got here again to the desk with SOCOM for the newest Shut Quarters sight contract and gained once more. You’ll be able to wager EOTECH was receiving additional scrutiny, Uncle Sugar doesn’t prefer it a lot when he has to set his legal professionals on you for faulty merchandise. That in itself is a really uncommon consequence, he often simply takes it and buys one thing else. So I feel we are able to all safely gamble that the 512 is again to its outdated Herculean type.
And I, for one, am very comfortable about that. I do have fond reminiscences of the 512, I used one for many of my profession. It’s a incredible CQB sight, with a subject of view few can match. It runs off AA batteries, not one thing unique and onerous to seek out in a pinch. Do I belief her totally? Not but. However we’re going to beat absolutely the canine snot out of ours over the subsequent 6 months, to seek out out for all of us.
You should purchase an EOTECH from Major Arms HERE.
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