EOTECH 518 VS EXPS2 – [Which One is The Right Optic For You?]

Since you’ve ended up finding this article, we can assume you had fun using the red dot sights and now would like to explore a bit more in the advanced sighting system. For that Holographic sights are a great option to consider. Even though they tend to be costlier than the red dot sights, they can impress you with their aiming accuracy.

Similar to the red dot sights, they come in a compact design and work perfectly for close-quarter target acquisition. So, buying them can be a good investment to make. And if we talk particularly about these Holographic sights, we will just say they’re worth every penny.

You will love how both of them can support you through all shooting situations. The best part is they don’t take much of the rail space. Hence, if you want to add an accessory like a G33 magnifier, you can use it along with the sights. All in all, they are quite identical in their functions.

However, there is a BUT! They do have one or two differences which may work as an ultimate deciding factor for you. Want to know what that is? Just scroll down!

EOTECH 518/ EXPS2 – Outlooks

EOTECH 518/ EXPS2 – Specs

Specs	EOTECH 518	EXPS2
Reticle	68 MOA ring and 1 MOA	68 MOA ring and 1 MOA
Mount	1″ Weaver/ MIL-STD-1913 rail	1″ Weaver/ MIL-STD-1913 rail
Windage & Elevation	0.5 MOA per click	0.5 MOA per click
Brightness Adjustment	20 daylight settings	20 daylight settings
Side Button Control	Up & Down push buttons	Up & Down push buttons
Water Resistant	10ft. (3 m) depth	10ft. (3 m) depth
Magnifier Compatibility	G33 Magnifier compatibility	G33 Magnifier compatibility
Night Vision Compatibility	No	No
Battery	Two 1.5 V AA batteries	One CR123 battery
Length x Width x Height	142.2 x 55.9 x 73.7 mm	96.5 x 58.4 x 73.7 mm
Weight	13.8 oz	11.2 oz

EOTECH 518/ EXPS2 – Differences

The specification list is self-explanatory enough to give you an overall idea about the products. They have similarities in almost every feature, except in these three:

• They have differences in their batteries. When the EOTech 518 is offered two 1.5 V AA batteries, the EXPS2 comes with one CR123 battery.
• Even though the height of the sights is similar, they have differences in their length and width.
• The weight of the sights is also different.

Differences Of The Holographic Sights

Note that, the dissimilarities of the sights are only part of their configurations. It has nothing to do with their quality. So, by discussing these factors we mainly want to help you to decide better which model will be right for your shooting needs. So let’s begin!

Battery

Since the sights need a power source to function, different manufacturers provide various types of batteries along with the products. These battery types allow the sights to work for different shooting purposes. Plus, they also create variations in the sight price range.

EOTECH 518: To operate this model sight you will need a pair of standard AA or Lithium batteries. If you continuously use the sight at the nominal setting 12, it can support you for nearly 2200-2500 hours. Hence, the shooters who prefer sights that can function for a longer period will love this sight model.

EXPS2: On the other hand, the EXPS2 needs only one 123 Lithium battery to operate. With this battery, the optic can function around 1000 hours at the 12 nominal settings. So, if you’re someone who doesn’t need to use the optic for a long time, you can settle with this one.

Overall, though both of the sights are great, the EOTech 518 weighs a bit higher when it comes to battery life.

Design

The sights’ dimensions can play out as an advantage or disadvantage for you. Since we always opt for compact sight design, one of these sights weighs over than the other.

EOTECH 518: The length of this sight is 5.6-inch whereas its width is 2”. Besides, the sight’s height is 2.9”. Therefore, even though the width and height of the sights are in perfect sizes, the length is a bit long.

EXPS2: Conversely, the length of this model is 3.8” and the width is 2.3”. Moreover, like the 518, the height of this sight is 2.9”. Interestingly, in terms of the length difference the EXPS2 is quite shorter than the 518 (5.6”). However, width-wise the 518 has a shorter width (2”) than the EXPS2.

All in all, if you’re looking for a sight that has a compact design, you can choose EXPS2 instead of the 518 model.

Weight

The weight of the sights is equally important as the other features. If the optic has a heavyweight, it will add extra grams to your firearms. As a result, you may face a bit of difficulty while carrying the firearm in different terrains.

EOTECH 518: When the sight needs more batteries, its construction also gets affected by it. To occupy the batteries, naturally, the optic will need more space and will weigh a bit more than the other sights. Therefore, this sight model weighs a little more than the EXPS2. It has nearly 13.8 oz of weight.

EXPS2: Since this model optic needs a singular battery, it is lightweight. It weighs around 11.2 oz. Hence, the shooters who like lightweight sights may prefer the EXPS2 model over the former one.

So, in terms of weight, the EXPS2 has got an extra point than the EOTECH 518 model.

EOTECH 518/ EXPS2 – Videos

Summary

Therefore, it comes down to you and your shooting needs. If the weight doesn’t matter to you and a longer battery life is what you prefer most in your sights then the choice is easy. The EOTECH 518 sight will be right for you.

But if you prefer lightweight, compact sights and don’t need long battery life for your shooting purposes, choose EXPS2 for your firearm. Having said all, let’s not forget, both of the sights are equally good in quality. They work great to improve your shooting accuracy. And of course, both of them are expensive!