EOTech holographic sights are bar none the best sights for low light shooting conditions as well super-fast target acquisition while keeping the rest of the field in view. The problem most people run into is the price tag of these sights. While there are plenty of EOTech clones on the market that may not match the quality and technology of a legit EOTech sight, they do come close in some cases and will fill that niche without putting a hole in your pocket.
Some of the most popular holographic sights in both the military and law enforcement camps are EOTech optics. These sights are the standard that other holo sights strive to match. Because of this, there are hundreds of EOTech clones on the market.
The Best EOTech Clones:
Top Pick
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Gun Gear Depot EoTech 558 3X Red Dot Scope |
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$84
 
Shop NowClick to read my review |
|
Sightmark Ultra Shot |
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$269
 
Shop NowClick to read my review |
|
Vector Optics Ratchet Multi Reticle Sight |
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$54
Shop NowClick to read my review |
|
Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec |
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$119
Shop NowClick to read my review |
In this article, we will look at four of the top replica EOTech models, including a Dagger Defense red dot review, and discuss their features and why they are worth considering as an alternative to the high-end EOTech brand sights. We will also briefly look at what exactly EOTech gun sights are and how they work.
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What are EOTech and EOTech clone sights?
Holographic sites are not magnified. With a holographic sight, a 3-dimensional reticle is designed and etched into the holographic plate and placed between two display windows. Lasers are then used to illuminate the reticle. The reticles often have zooming properties that will increase the MOA of the reticle and makes target acquisition at farther distances much easier.
The three-dimensional properties of this design allow excellent depth perception of the target even when you move your head at different angles. A stark advantage to this type of system.
While we will not get into the electronic technology of these scopes, it becomes clear why these sights run so high in the price range.
On the other hand, there are several EOTech alternatives that will save you wads of cash while still allowing you to utilize your tactical and small arms weapons.
Some of these models are not worth the low price as they are poorly made and do not perform at a high enough standard in the field.
There are some major differences between the EOTech clones we will review when compared to the legit models. The biggest and most obvious difference besides the lower electronic technology is that these replicas do not use holographic sights. They are either a simple red dot or reflex sights, which are closer to holographic. Both red dot and reflex sights use LED lights instead of lasers.
Before we get into our 4 top EOTech Clone lists, let’s briefly look at some characteristics of these sights that you should be aware of when looking to purchase one of these rifle optics.
In the following and last section of this article, you can read up on the main aspects we took into consideration when choosing the four options presented above.
EOTech Clone Buyer’s Guide
- Material: For any sight that is going to be used on a high caliber firearm, you are going to want a material that will hold up to both physical and chemical abuse. Aluminum and magnesium alloy are the best materials you can have for the sight’s housing. They provide optimal strength while remaining relatively lightweight.The cheaper models might utilize a carbon graphite material, and while this material further cuts down on weight, it is not strong enough to repeatedly absorb high recoil and maintain its structure and function.
- Reticle: As we mentioned earlier, the clones we will list are not holographic sites, that why they do not run as high in price as an EOTech sight. They are simple dot sights, or they are reflex sights. Reflex sights give you a lot more versatility regarding reticle size and design.Often, these sights will feature several types of reticle options that can be easily revolved through and remain locked into setting while in use.
- Window Size: These sights are built for quick target acquisition in close to midrange quarters. An important component to this feature the window aperture that the shooter views the reticle and field through.You need windows that are a square shape as this gives you the best field of view. You also want high grain glass that has been treated to reduce glare and provide you a clear and crisp view of downrange.
- Power Source: To illuminate the reticle, EOTech clones will often use a battery as its power source. Since these replicas most often use LED illumination rather than lasers, it helps reduce the amount of energy needed. You want a decent battery life that is going to give you a few hundred hours of illumination before needing to be changed. If you’re not going to get at least 200 hours you shouldn’t bother with that sight.
- Brightness Adjustment: These are tactical sights that are designed to be used in very low level light or in tandem with night-vision goggles. With this in mind, it makes no sense to buy an EOTech knockoff where the brightness level cannot be adjusted. You also want a sight where adjustments can be made easily, and the setting remains stable during firing.
- Resistance: For a sight used on tactical weapons, it is important that the sight can hold up to any weather or environmental condition it is put through. The main resistance we are looking for is water resistance. These sights are electronic heavy and need to keep water out of the internal compartments. The best replicas available might even be waterproof and can be submerged in water without losing functionality.You also want a sight that is shock resistant. A lot of these sights are used on high caliber weapons that generate a lot of recoil. An EOTech knockoff sight needs to be able to absorb this shock and still function properly.
- Mounting Options: Like any scope or gun sights, you need to be sure that the EOTech alternative you are planning on purchasing will be compatible with the rail system of your firearm. While you can always buy an adapter, it adds weight, height, and cost to your sight, all of which can be easily avoided.With all of this new, or old, information in mind, let’s jump into our top 4 EOTech clone models that are available, and while they are not the name brand holographic sights, we think you will be happy with these alternatives and happier with the amount of money you will save.
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The 4 Best EOTech Knock Offs and Alternatives
In this section, we will review 4 of the best choices, if you are looking for EOTech-like that doesn’t break the bank.
Gun Gear Depot EoTech 558 3X Red Dot Scope
The EoTech 558 3X Red Dot Scope is a cheap but reliable accessory for your AR-15. It uses aluminum material for its entire housing, adding to the sight’s high durability. Also, the said material shields it against natural elements like water and fog. Operated by one CR123A battery, this allows it to run up to 600 hours of continuous use. It has resettable windage and elevation adjustments. Thus, you can change the adjustments however you like.
When using this sight, you can get up to 3X magnification and 7.3 degrees field of vision. To add, you also get to have 2.2” of unlimited eye relief. It comes with an integrated 5/8” 20 mm Weaver rail for easy installation. The sight also has an ambidextrous switch orientation. This allows you to mount it on your gun using your left or right hand. It weighs 6.10oz and has a length of 3.9”, making it small and portable to carry.
Besides AR-15 rifles, this sight can fit all HWS models with a 7mm riser. Black, pink, and red are some of the color samples you can choose for this sight. In brief, you can get all these superb features with a sale price of only $74.99. Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, the EoTech 558 3X Red Dot Scope is your AR-15’s best buddy. Like other EoTech products, this sight can give you the highest picture resolutions. Plus, its waterproof and fog proof attributes make it a perfect sight to use during foggy or rainy days. Not to mention, it can accommodate HWS models besides AR-15 rifles. Hence, its compatibility with other firearms makes it an all-around gun accessory. With an ambidextrous switch orientation, you won’t have a hard time turning it on/off. Also, its given dimensions make this sight easy to carry around and mount on your gun.
The only complaint we have on this sight is that it’s difficult to adjust the leverage downwards. It can take you several times before you can adjust it to your desired position. Other than that, this is a decent AR-15 sight with dependable scope features and long battery life.
What we say: The EoTech 558 3X Red Dot Scope is our top pick in this review. You can find many online shops selling it for less than $100. Despite its affordable price, it’s still a premium accessory for your AR-15. If you’re all about both high-quality and inexpensive AR-15 sights, then this is worth your gun and money.
- Unlimited field of vision
- Is waterproof and fogproof
- Lightweight and compact
- Easy to install
- Very affordable
- Compatible with HWS models
- Available in various colors
- Long battery life
- Switch orientation is ambidextrous
- Comes with an integrated Weaver rail
- Leverage a bit difficult to adjust downwards
Sightmark Ultra Shot
Sightmark might be the next best brand behind EOTech when it comes to holographic/reflex gun sights. The Sightmark Ultra Shot is a lower-priced Sightmark model, but it offers incredible performance. This EOTech replica offers four red reticle options with each being clear and crisp within the lens. It also features a quick detach mechanism for easy mounting ability to any Weaver-style rail system.
The Sightmark Ultra also utilizes a digital switch button to make quick brightness adjustments that cover a wide range of settings for any shooting conditions. The glass has an aluminum shield hood that also helps reduce the amount of glare on the lens. The black matte finish of the body also helps with reducing the amount of glare.
On top of this protection hood, the lenses use an AR red lens coating to further reduce light reflection and provide a clear viewing field. The window on this scope measures 33X24mm for an excellent view of field. This scope is weather-resistant and shockproof and is a great option for both tactical scopes and shotguns. This reflex reticle sight is extremely lightweight coming in at only 7.6oz.
What we say: This is a terrific, low-cost EOTech alternative for capturing close-range, fast-moving targets, and it provides you the assurance of a reliable sight.
- Very Lightweight
- Affordable
- Excellent aperture and display window
- Rugged design
- It’s not an EOTech. It’s the best we could come up with.
Vector Optics Ratchet Multi Reticle Sight
This model is one of the more affordable EOTech clones that are worth buying. It features both red and green dot reticle options, with both color reticles having two reticle shape options. The scope also features a reticle lock, so you don’t have to worry about inadvertently changing the reticle feature while in the field.
This scope was designed with real-life fire caliber in mind, and you can be confident that it will withstand the rigors of firing in the field. Elevation and windage adjustments are not the best. This is one of the lightest EOTech knockoffs on the market only weighing in at 4.9oz. Though it is light, it is durable and shockproof to withstand high-caliber recoil. It is made from aircraft-grade aluminum alloy and has a black matte finish to help reduce glare. This scope can be mounted to a Weaver-style railing.
This scope uses a tubeless sight window which helps keep the wider field in view while using the 23X34 sized lens. The FOV of this scope at 110 yards is an incredible 80′ which allows you an incredible view of the surrounding area when locking in on your target.
What we say: This is the most inexpensive on our list yet with the features, you can’t say that it’s cheap. If you’re looking for an affordable sight with a wide FOV, this could be the one for you.
- Very recoil resistant
- Super light
- High field of view
- Poor elevation and windage adjustment
Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec
The housing on this scope is magnesium alloy with a protective hood covering the glass windows. The reticle used on this replica EOTech site is a red 65MOA circle dot crosshair. This holographic reticle sight has six brightness levels for daytime use and six settings for night vision use. There’s a digital switch for brightness adjustments.
This reflex sight has an extremely high waterproof rating and can function after being submerged in water up to 40ft. Besides being waterproof, this sight is shockproof and has been tested to withstand the recoil of a .50 caliber shot repeatedly. With this quality, your windage and elevation adjustments will remain zeroed.
The Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec features a 33X24mm window lens that features an AR red lens coating for optimal contrast, clarity, and glare reduction. This sight uses a dual-pane lens system that has been parallax corrected. The field of view for this sight is 105ft at 100 yards and is the largest field of view for any EOTech clone on this list. And last but not the least, this EOTech replica features low power consumption and offers a battery life of up to 1,000 hours!
What we say: While this Sightmark reflex sight costs more than a hundred bucks, it is also one of the best EOTech clone models. While a bit expensive, it is still nowhere near the price range of the original EOTech sights.
- Incredible reticle options
- Excellent viewing aperture
- Fully Weatherproof
- Parallax corrected
- Long battery life
- Bit pricey
Conclusion
We have provided four of the best EOTech clones that are available on the market. Are they up to par with the EOTech sights? No, they aren’t, but you don’t need them to be for most civilian purposes.
An EOTech knockoff offers you similar shooting experiences at a fraction of the cost. And that is the point of them. We, therefore, recommend the Gun Gear Depot EoTech 558 3X Red Dot Scope. Comes in at less than $100 and does the job. We hope this article has provided a brief explanation as to what EOTech sights are as well as provided several EOTech clones that will perform in the field and will be worth your time and money.
I used a Sightmark Ultra Shot on a Sabre Defence XR41 (G3-Clone). The quick detachable mount left after a few rounds, the point of impact changed after each shot. Now I use a Vector Optics Sphinx.