I just got my first AR, Now I want an EOTech. Which one should I get? Is it ok to let the front hang over the handguards? I want to mount it as far forward as I can. My gun is just for plinking so the battery life is not a big concern. I might upgrade to an RAS or SIR in the future but I want the EOTech first.

I have the 551. The 552 will hang over your hand guards and that is fine. I like the 551 because it is more compact and battery life is
not a real concern.

551 all the way smaller size allows it to mount it further foward th batterys are cheap enough .

I am going to buck the trend and say 552.  While the N batteries in the 551 are not uncommon, you can buy AA's [i]anywhere[/i].  While you may not be concerned with battery life, more is always better [;)].

552 hands-down.

Can't beat "AA" battery prices and the fact you can buy them just about anywhere [;)]

[blue]Love the (my) 552. Size isn't a problem, nor have I had problems with battery life. If I need batterys, AA are everywhere. [/blue]

I honestly don't know where you guys buy batteries but everytime I'm in the grocery store, WalMart, Home Depot or Walgreens I see N batteries right along side the AA ones.  Sure they are smaller but they're not that small [;)]

I went with the 551 because of the smaller size.  Battery life isn't an issue for me either but I could store 6 N batteries in my VLTOR stock if I ever felt the need.

Good Luck and be sure to check out [url]www.gandrtactical.com[/url] for prices and availability!

Get in touch with GMP if you're looking for one. Wicked price and great service.

green-mountain-gear.com

Mine showed up in no time and it's a wicked weaponsight!

Maybe it showed up so fast because you are in the same tiny state?

Just wish to second the other poster, buy it from Grant at G&R Tactical Outfitters and make it a 552, allows you to have one common coppertop. Through rain, storms and hurricanes Grant shipped super fast, great product, grade A+++ service, couldn't ask for better!

Yeah...that might be it...LOL!
Could take 2wks longer for you to get it in NH though [:D]

It's the swim across the river that adds to the delivery time [;)]

552E

I'm planning to spend my money on a 552 from C4iGrant.  AA batteries, longer life...'nuff said.  Unless you're planning on stacking accessories on your receiver rail, the extra size shouldn't be a problem.  As for the price, it ain't THAT much more, you're already dropping over 300 for the sight, might as well invest a few extra greenbacks....

I have a 552 mounted on my A3 upper with standard CAR handguards, and my sight cannot be mounted to extend any farther forward than just beyond the Delta ring without interference. It doesn't bother me. I really don't see how the 1.5 inch difference in a receiver mounted 551 would have that much impact on sight perception.......JMHO. Good luck with the new toy.

I chose the 552 because "AA" batteries are all too common and I have nothing that takes "N" batteries.

In my emergency supplies I have the following equipment that all takes AA batteries:
Mini-Mag Flashlight
Garmin GPSIII+
Motorola FRS/GMRS Radio
Grundig AM/FM/SW Radio

This way I can limit the amount of extra batteries that will needed to be carried, and know that AA batteries will always be easy to get to in an emergency...

I'm looking at the EoTech as well ... is it possible to fit a ARMS #40 and a EoTech 552 on a standard (no swan sleeve, etc) receiver?  That's the only thing that has me looking at the 551 ...

Not problema t all fitting the ARMS 40 and the 552E on the receiver rail.  As you can see by the pic below even with the fat M4 handguards you actually have room to slide forward about half an inch if you need.  If you use the standard carbine handguard for the top half you can slide the EOTech forward even more.  

I know your're wondering...Yes, I still had enough room to use the controls on the EOTech with ARMS 40 in front of it.[;)]

[img]http://a6.cpimg.com/image/70/D2/19917936-d7a4-02000180-.jpg[/img]

IMHO, unless you really, really need the small footprint of the 551 you should go with the 552E.

The much longer battery life and better cold weather performance of lithium AA's far outweigh the extra inch of length it adds.

I feel the EOTech is the best non-manified red dot optic available at this time. [:D]

go with the 552. Got to love AA batteries and the big time battery life.

Definately go with the 552!

You can mount the 552 just as forward as the 551 as long as you use a standard CAR upper handguard.

The 552 will last longer on rechargable NiMh batteries than the 551 will on 'N' batteries.  If you use Alkaline or Lithium 'AA' batteries you will get 2x (or more) the life.

So for a modest increase in length (1") and weight, you'll get a sight that can use rechargable batteries or use the most common disposable battery in existance.

Shoot I can get AA's anywhere (including the local gas station or 7-11)  N batteries are not nearly as common.

Justin look for yourself:

[img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0dQDTAvUjEVyK1aFfRaFcAc70Jz3eF6gACyUjmW1cm0K*8iw*pb1wQtAJzEkv6qId5Ru55SmyQLpuEkTLq2pZOifOxECRHXD!CQUw!CTBeN*T!0excZ7QNNQxxAQ51Yo0BKAnJXVp7jaP9Gu1CbQ3bjuLTgtYzS9trYyi9RnKTcY/Lightweight%20and%20EOTech%20552%20p02.jpg?dc=4675441986476072327[/img]

In this photo you see my EO Tech 552 (AA Powered) its mounted to the [b]LAST[/b] slot on the upper receiver.  Its very secure and you'll notice how it fits over the CAR handguard just fine (assuming your handguard is on right).

I can mount my EO Tech anywhere along the rail from up against the ARMS#40 to the end.

Closer View:
[img]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0dQDjAvYjX1yK1aFfRaFcAc70Jz3eF6gACyUjmW1cm0K*8iw*pb1wQoYLwbpzYSVy40wlUhFMHV5l!hcazl9DL4IQ1NLKQsaY57AEUeI*rvWOTJgNEenZ58hsOKowm9LYbKBn4BRH3HcyJIADCOyHRMaxtbfT!qp59h1U3dGo8qM/Lightweight%20and%20EOTech%20552%20p03.jpg?dc=4675441986479051762[/img]

Yojimbo and Forest, thanks for the input.  I have a Surefire M500A on my Bushmaster carbine but it's good to know that there is enough space to use both!  

I'm going to buy the 552 when the next paycheck comes in ... I'm getting sick of my Aimpoint Comp-M rotating in its mount and losing its zero.  

Nice rifles and pics!

Justin

Justin,
With the Surefire 500 you'll have to mount it back like Yojimbos.  Not quite as easy to use the controls that way (dim & NVG buttons are harder to use when its all the way back IMHO), but you can use the 8hr On and Bright controls easy enough with the right thumb.

Enjoy!

Like em both though I do prefer the smaller size of the 551!

Ya know I'd be more impressed with the 551 if they used a 123 battery or two.  Then I'd only have to deal with one type of battery for both the sight and the light.

But since I need to have two types - might as well make the sight's battery the common one.

[i]Edited to add[/i]
The concept of EO Tech using CR 123 got me thinking so I did some research.

Typical N battery (From Energizer) has 1000mAh and weighs 9g.  You need two of them to make 3v, so your weight goes up to 18g.

Typical 123 battery (lithium) is already 3v, has 1300mAh in capaciy, and weighs 15.5g.  So for a bit less weight and a bit less space needed you could run the EO Tech roughly 30% longer.  As a bonus you'll get a longer standby time, better cold weather performance, and compatibility with your light's batteries.

For some reference, here are the figures for an AA battery pack (need 2 batteris for 3v) [data all from Energizer so all batteries are from the same manufacturer]:
Lithium 2900mAh, 29g
Alkaline 2850mAh, 46g
Alkaline (E2) 3135mAh, 46g
NiMH (rechargable) 2100mAh, 54g

A double 123 battery pack would be a bit shorter than the Lithium AA unit, weigh virtually the same, and pack 2600mAh.  So you'll save a bit over half an inch in length and lose about 10% of capacity compared to the AA Lithiums.  

This compares with saving an inch of length and 11g but giving up 65% of your capacity (run time) comparing the N's to the Lithium AAs.  So is 0.4" and 0.4oz  (difference in size and weight compared to CR123) worth 55% of your run time?  I hardly think so.

I don't know what EO Tech was thinking - but N seems to be a poor choice compared to either AA or CR123.  Especially when you consider Logistics.

Forest,

I asked EOTech about the 123 batteries and I was told that the 123's are too fat.  It would require the whole unit housing to be taller and move the sight pane up too high to cowitness properly.  Oh well, I guess you can't have everything...[:|]

Yeah I did the math on that too.  It would raise the housing and put the sights in the lower part of the screen.  We are only talking 2.5mm here (0.1").  You could still use your iron sights through the window; the front sight just won't take up as much real estate as it had before (which many of us - including me - have complained about).

You'll get two improvements just by using 123 types instead of 'N' types.

Its do-able, if EO Tech has the money for a redesign of the housing and new molds to produce it.

[i]Edited to Add:[/i]
In fairness to EO Tech; doing the cost per mAh when the sight was released - it would make sense to use the N battery if you were looking for a unit the same size as an Aimpoint M2.  Average cost for a CR123 was $6 at Wally World for 1300 mAh versus $4 for four type N for 2000mAh.  So for someone buying their own batteries and not worried about logistics N made more sense (actually AA makes more sense but you get a unit slightly larger than an M2).

But now that Surefire sells the CR123 for around $1.25 each the CR123 makes MUCH more sense logistically (and it gets that window up a bit higher!).