In this guide I’m going to show you the best holographic sight.
In fact:
These are the same sights that many optic experts and competitive shooters use.
The best part?
I’ve sorted the holographics by use. So whether you’re on a budget or need a solid holographic sight for your AR-15, you’ll find it here.
Let’s get started!
| Best Holographic Sights | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| EOTECH EXPS3 | Overall | $595.00 |
| EOTECH 552 | AR15 | Not avaliable |
| EOTECH XPS2 | Money | $451.71 |
| EOTECH 512 | Budget | $489.00 |
Red Dots vs Holographic Sights: What’s Best For You?
So you’re trying to decide between a red dot or a holographic sight, but you’re not sure which one would be best for you.
Decisions, decisions…
In this informative breakdown, I’ll hit the major points of each device so you can finally choose wisely.
Now let’s go over the details:
Price
For a red dot that’s worth your time, it will have to be in the higher price range.
We’re talking $200-500.
It’s true you can get a decent red dot for $100 — as I’ve covered in my Best AR-15 Scopes guide — but it’ll be subpar compared to an expensive and higher quality dot.
Plus, there are a crazy amount of companies that make red dots. So you’ll be able to find one that fits your price range.
However, when it comes to holographic sights, your options are severely limited.
That’s because only two companies make holographic sights: EOTech and Vortex.
Both companies have their holographic sights priced in the $400+ range.
So you’ll have limited price ranges, but you’ll get high quality devices.
Size
Now…does size matter?
Yes, depending on what you prefer.
If you want the best pistol red dot (or need something small), red dots are the best choice. They come in various sizes because the technology is easier to construct than holographic sights.
Plus, red dots are small enough to fit on rifles and handguns.
Whereas holographic sights are not as compact. They aren’t huge, but there’s no way you’re going to get a holographic sight on your handgun.
Durability
As I’ve said in my best long range scopes guide, the only way to get truly durable optics is to go for the higher price range.
It sucks when you’re on a budget, but you’ll get your money’s worth and have a solid optic that’s waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof.
And that’s the case with red dots. The cheaper ones will serve you best in airsoft, not for serious shooting.
But holographic sights thrive in durability features.
In fact, these sights don’t need their internal front window to work.
So if you’ve got mud or debris blocking your sight, a holographic sight will still work as long as there’s a partial view available.
Power
The last thing you need is your optics shutting off while in the middle of important shooting business.
So let’s talk about battery life.
Red dots use LED technology, which saves a lot of power.
While testing my best red dot sights, I found red dots typically last 50,000 hours of battery life. That’s like leaving it on for 5 years…or more.
Whereas holographic sights have battery life that will only last you about 500-1000 hours.
Reticles (Color & Pattern)
One feature both red dots and holographic sights have in common is their red illumination reticle.
The eyes easily pick up the color red, so it’s the obvious color choice for these optics.
But new versions are available with green illumination. And green is actually easier on the eyes.
The only downside of using the green light is that it doesn’t move as well when you point it in differently lit areas.
So if you’re clearing multiple rooms, you’ll want the red light to move smoothly from the living room to the basement.
But what is the green light best for? Competition.
When you’re in consistent outdoor lighting, the green light will easily be picked up by your eyes.
Night Vision
Another similar feature between the red dot and holographic sight is their night vision compatibility.
They both use dimmer settings that won’t damage night vision devices.
Plus, if you have eyesight trouble such as astigmatism, red dots will look like squiggly lines rather than a precise light.
If this is an issue, definitely get a holographic sight. Although they’re not a cure-all, they’ll work a lot better with your eyes.
Magnification
Both red dots and holographic sights can magnify.
But a holographic sight is able to double its magnification.
How?
When you put a magnifier in front of a 2 MOA red dot, it becomes a 6 MOA. It then covers more of the target.
But when you put a magnifier in front of a holographic sight, it will still show up as 1 MOA.
Because the sight remains the same size, it actually gives your eyes a better view of the target. That said, a scope — like the best AR-10 scope — is better for longer range (150+ yard) shots.
Field of View (FOV)
A great view is crucial to shooting your shot.
A bonus of using an electronic sight is that you can use both eyes.
But red dots tend to have small windows. Which means you’ll have to get behind it more to get your best target sight.
What works best is the rectangular view that holographic sights offer. They have a much wider FOV than some of their red dot counterparts.
To be fair, there is a wide FOV range for red dots. But the wider FOV of holographic sights will favor you more.
(Pro Tip: Confused about FOV? Read my rifle scope basics guide.)
Acquisition Speed
And now the finale before my recommendations list.
Red dots and holographic sights are much faster than traditional irons. This is why I recommend reflex sights in my best ruger 10/22 scope guide.
But red dots will focus the dot to your eye. So the focal distance is pretty much at the sight.
Whereas holographic sights project the hologram in front of the sight.
Because your eye can only focus on one thing at a time, you’ll get slowed down. Holographic sights superimpose onto your target.
So the reticle will focus right when you focus on your target.
And remember when we talked about MOA?
Because the holographic sight remains at 1 MOA, you’ll get more accurate shots.
Conclusion & Favorites
The clear winner for me would be the holographic sights.
Holographics are:
- Rugged
- Easier On The Eyes (due to better FOV)
- More Accurate (as you can focus on both target & reticle at same time)
This is why most military operators prefer holographic sights for close quarter combat. For longer range engagements, I recommend reading my best rifle scopes guide.
That said, holos are quite pricey. But worth the investment if you want to become the best shooter possible.
Now onto my top holographic recommendations…
The 4 Best Holographic Sight
If you’re pressed on time, here’s a quick list of the best holographic sights:
- EOTECH EXPS3: Best Overall Holographic Sight
- EOTECH 552: Best Holographic Sight for AR15
- EOTECH XPS2: Best Sight for the Money
- EOTECH 512: Best Budget Holographic Sight
1. EOTECH EXPS3: Best Overall Holographic Sight
The EOTECH EXPS3 is the best holographic sight overall.
I’ve used the EXPS3 for hunting a variety of game from sunrise to sunset and even casual to competitive shooting. It’s one of the few TRUE holographic weapon sights in my experience.
In fact, several of my buddies in the military swear on it as one of the best sights for lightning-fast target acquisition in close-quarter situations.
By the end of this review, you’ll know if the EOTECH EXPS3 is for you.
Let’s get started!
Glass Clarity & Reticle
The EXPS3-0 HWS comes with a 68 MOA Circle with 1 MOA red dot reticle that’s visibly clear and accurate.
Its glass stands out among the crowd by being the only one with zero tints. It’s super bright just on its own.
The sight has 20 reticle brightness settings that go from barely visible to blindingly bright, with level 12 as “standard.” It also comes with ten additional settings, compatible with Gen I through III+ night vision devices.
One minor setback:
The reticle is somewhat blurry, but that’s common with holographic sights. The solution? Close one eye or adjust the brightness until it loses the fuzz.
If that doesn’t fix it, you may need to check out a few different red dot sights for astigmatism and nearsightedness.
Also, if it’s your first time using a holographic sight, you may see a “grainy effect.” That’s because this kind of technology uses thousands of tiny red dots to create the reticle image.
Shooters who are used to LED-based sights might be surprised by this effect. So at first, this may bother you, or it may not. For me, It wasn’t a big deal.
The EOTECH EXPS3 takes a bit longer to turn on. For its price tag, it would’ve been great if it had an always-on feature for when something unexpected comes along.
This sight does come with an automatic shut-down feature and warns you of low battery.
The unit comes with two arrows. The down arrow gives you four hours of use before shutdown. On the other hand, the up arrow (or the NV button ) enables you to use eight hours before shutdown.
Take note: if you use any of these buttons, maybe to change the intensity of the reticle, the shutdown time resets.
Unfortunately, compared to other red dot sights – like the Aimpoint models – all Eotechs pale in comparison when it comes to battery life. The EXPS3 only runs around 600 hours on level 12 brightness.
I’ve learned that lesson when I left it on for too long.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
The EXPS3 HWS comes with unlimited eye relief.
This sight allows you to use your backup iron sights with a lower third co-witness.
It has a large eye box that gives you a wide field of view. This made shooting targets quicker for me, even with both eyes open.
Zeroing was easy and it held zero well.
Durability and Weight
The EOTECH holographic sights are known to be exceptionally durable and rugged.
The EXPS3 is manufactured from aircraft-grade hardened aluminum alloy and nitrogen purged O-rings, making it practically weatherproof and shockproof. I’ve never noticed any shift during hard recoil.
The EXPS3 stores its CR123 battery in transverse orientation, a feature that doesn’t come in earlier models of EOTECH sights.
With an overall length of 3.8 inches, there was plenty of room on my mounting rail for other accessories, like my G33 magnifier, which is used for long-range targets.
- G33 Magnifier
Elevation & Windage
For elevation and windage, the EXPS3 gives you 40 MOA travel with 0.5 MOA increments of adjustment.
The buttons were mushy and hard to press especially when I had gloves on. You can physically hear a click but it’s barely audible, and the buttons are recessed in its protective shroud.
A good thing, though, is you won’t accidentally bump the buttons.
Magnification & Parallax
The EOTECH EXPS3 comes with a fixed 1x magnification.
I’ve used this sight for over a year now, and I can’t recall a time I had issues with parallax—two thumbs up for EOTECH.
Mounting & Rings
The EXPS3 sports a built-in 7mm riser with a quick detach lever mount. It fits a 1″ Weaver and MIL-STD 1913 Rails.
It’s super easy to use. It mounted firm and tight on my AR-15’s rails.
Is the EOTECH EXPS3 worth it?
If you’re looking for a high-end scope that’s versatile and dependable, the EXPS3 is definitely worth the price.
Why? It’s got…
- Bright optics
- Wide field of view
- Unlimited eye relief
- Lightweight yet durable
- 20 daytime brightness settings
- Ten additional settings for night vision
Plus, this sight comes with EOTECH’s Prestige 10-year Warranty. Repairs and replacements can be easily done as long as its within coverage, just don’t lose your receipt.
The EOTECH EXPS3 is no doubt one of the best holographic sights on the market. Trust me, you’re not going to want to go back to any other optic after you experience it.
2. EOTECH 552: Best Holographic Sight for AR15
EOTECH 552 is a top of the line holographic sight that’s perfect for your AR-15.
In fact:
It’s the number one pick for most US military and law enforcement officers.
Want to know why?
Glass Clarity & Reticle
The glass on the EOTECH 552 is incredibly clear.
It has 20 different daylight settings and is night vision compatible, with 10 additional settings for that, promoting complete clarity at any time of day.
It has a 1 MOA dot reticle and a 68 MOA ring, for quick and easy target acquisition at short to medium ranges.
If you don’t know much about holographic sights, EOTECH has a great guide you can read.
What you need to know though, is that with a holographic sight, wherever the red dot is, the bullet goes.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
With the EOTECH 552 you get unlimited eye relief.
One of my favorite things about this sight is that it’s made to use with both eyes open. You don’t have to worry about eye alignment or head positioning at all.
Between that and the wide field of view you get from the eyebox, you’ll have maximum situational awareness, as none of your peripheral vision is blocked.
Durability
If you’re looking for the best 6.5 creedmoor scope, knowing that you’ve got something that’s built to last is important.
The EOTECH 552 meets this need because it was made to withstand harsh conditions and is water resistant.
The most amazing thing about this sight is that it is still pinpoint accurate, even if the sight window is covered by dirt, mud, or snow. It even works if it’s partially shattered!
Plus, it comes with EOTECH’s HWS Prestige Warranty.
The only downside to its extreme durability, is that it’s a little bulkier and heavier than something like a red dot or prism sight.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
The elevation and windage turrets are 0.5 MOA adjustment clicks.
One thing I really like about these turrets is that the screws are exposed and can easily be turned with a screwdriver or even a coin. You won’t have to worry about taking off and losing caps.
What about zeroing?
It took me all of a minute to get the EOTECH 552 zeroed. I’ve banged mine around a bunch and the reticle is still exactly where I set. It’s deadly accurate!
Parallax & Magnification
The magnification for the EOTECH 552 is 1x, which makes it phenomenal at short range.
You get lightning fast target acquisition, so you’ll be better prepared in close quarters combat (CQB) and self defense situations.
For hunting application, I’d recommend going for a low powered variable optic (lpvo) like the ones I recommend on my best rimfire scopes post.
With the EOTECH 552 and holographic sights in general, you don’t need to worry about parallax at all. They are almost completely immune to parallax issues.
Mounting & Rings
While the EOTECH 552 doesn’t come with a mount or rings, it is compatible with both 1” Weaver rings or MIL-STD 1913 rails.
This means that if you’re using your holographic sight on an AR-15 style rifle, it will mount directly to the standard picatinny rail that they’re usually equipped with.
I did buy a GG&G EOTECH lens cover for extra lens protection when I’m not using it.
- 121 years of experience and expertise in the design, Manufacturing, and integration of optical mounting Systems and tactical accessories
- Pioneers in the development of tactical weapon accessories with one of the most dominant and innovative lines of tactical products
- Gag manufactures over 335 products of them proudly made in the USA
Is the EOTECH 552 worth it?
If you want the best holographic sight for your AR-15, the EOTECH 552 is the right choice.
While it is fairly expensive, you get what you pay for and the quality on the EOTECH 552 is more than worth the cost.
You get:
- Unlimited eye relief
- Easy to use turrets
- Uncomparable durability
- Maximum peripheral vision
- Simple and easy to use reticle
- Lighting fast target acquisition
There’s a reason this sight is popular with military and law enforcement officers. It offers predictable and effortless accuracy at close range, when lives are on the line.
If you want to know that you’ll be able to make precision shots when it counts, try the EOTECH 522. You’ll be happy you did.
3. EOTECH XPS2: Best Sight for the Money
The EOTECH XPS2 is the best sight for the price.
It’s a high-quality holographic sight that is sure to impress.
Need to know more?
Keep on reading…
Glass Clarity & Reticle
The glass clarity is nice…
…but the clarity of the holographic is unclear and not solid enough.
Meaning that I could see the hologram, but it wasn’t as bold as it could be.
But for a sight in this price range — similar to budget red dots in my best mini 14 scope guide — the clarity is still unmatched.
Plus, even when the sight window is partially covered with debris or shattered, the holographic sight will still function properly.
And what about the reticle?
This sight has a HWS-2 dot illuminated reticle. Meaning that this reticle offers extremely prompt target acquisition.
Plus, it has 20 adjustable levels of brightness so you’ll be ready in any light condition.
And the hologram is illuminated in red, meaning that your eyes will easily catch onto it.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
The eye relief is unlimited.
Meaning that both of your eyes can quickly locate the reticle.
And your eyes will appreciate the wide sight window. This makes it easier to focus on your target.
Durability
The XPS2 is built for danger.
Not only is it protected by its rugged roll bar styled hood. It’s also designed and tested to handle the most demanding environments.
Plus, it’s waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof.
Related: Best .300 Blackout Scopes and Optics
Elevation & Windage Knobs
The turrets are pretty small, but you can adjust them wherever you want.
Just be sure to have a coin ready to properly adjust the knobs.
But does it hold zero?
Yes. This sight zeros in very easily at 50 yards.
In fact, I’d suggest getting a standard flip up. This will ensure your sight remains upright and zeroed under any condition.
Parallax & Magnification
The magnification is 1x.
Which could work if you’re shooting short-range, but more magnification would be helpful.
I’d highly suggest making this a holographic sight with magnifier to get those long-range shots in. But more on that later in my recommendations.
And this sight is also parallax free.
Mounting & Rings
The XPS2 has a handy rail mount. So it’s ready to slide into your rifle right away. Plus, its compact design leaves space for rear iron sights or a magnifier.
If you need more magnification, I recommend using a UTG 3X Magnifier with Flip-to-side QD Mount. This will smoothly adjust the 1x sight magnification to 3x.
- Broadband Multi-coated Lens to Provide Crystal Clear 3X Image, Wide Field of View - 30% Bigger Than Comparable Models from Other Brands.Compatible Rail-Picatinny/Weaver.
- Windage/Elevation Adjustability for Optimum View Centering. Refer user manual for list of compatible manuals
- 42mm Center Height for Most Common Dot Sight Combination, Innovative Flip-to-Side Mechanism for Quick Transition between 1X and 3X Image.Objective Diameter:25mm;Field of View @ 100 yards:45'
Also, I’d equip the Troy Industries Front HK Folding Battle Sight.
- Easy to install and to deploy, with no levers or springs to fumble with
- Stainless-steel cross-locking system ensures sights remain upright and zeroed under extreme combat conditions
- No tools required for adjustment
This will keep your sight upright and zeroed. It’s also easy to install, offers dead-on accuracy, and there’s no springs or levers to fumble with.
Is the EOTECH XPS2 worth it?
The EOTECH XPS2 is a great option for anyone wanting to dip their toes into the world of holographic sights.
It’s not as pricey as other sights, but it offers similar features that are worth trying:
- Wide field of view
- Close quarter combat
- Two-eyes open shooting
- Ultra-durable sight window
It also comes with a 10-year limited warranty. You’re covered for the first five years if your sight breaks or needs replacement.
But in the last five years, you’ll have to cover a $79 bench fee to get your sight repaired.
Which I know is not the unlimited warranty of our dreams, but I have to be transparent.
The XPS2 holographic sight is worth a try for its high-quality features at a lower price than other sights. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and a great option for the occasional target shooter or serious hunter ready for their next epic hit.
- EOTECH XPS2 Holographic Weapon Sight
- Mount - Compatible with both 1" Weaver and MIL-STD 1913 Rails
- Adjustable Brightness - The XPS2 has 20 brightness settings for use in any lighting scenario
4. EOTECH 512: Best Budget Holographic Sight
The EOTECH 512 is by far the best budget holographic sight on the market today.
In fact:
I’ve taken mine coyote hunting in -18 degree temperatures, to the range to ring steel, and swapped the same sight onto my home defense arms
Here’s why…
Glass Clarity & Reticle
The EOTECH comes with a very clear, non-reflective glass, and no red light bleeds through to the other side. There’s no hue or tint to it like other sights.
The window is generously sized allowing for quick and easy target acquisition.
The no-nonsense 1 MOA red dot reticle is clean and crisp, surrounded by a 68 MOA ring designed for fast target acquisition without the fuss.
At 100 yds, the 1 MOA dot is the perfect size. Some other products are 5 MOA or 10 MOA which generally obscures the target at the range.
The EOTECH ring is also great for shorter distances since it eliminates the hunt for the dot while sighting, resulting in almost immediate target recognition.
Brightness can be adjusted through 20 different brightness settings. The rear button adjustment buttons make this sight friendly for both left and right hand shooters.
Despite the brightness range, this is not a night vision sight. So long as I could see my target with the naked eye, I could see the red dot on the lowest setting.
The Holo sight is way more accurate than iron sights. The last mag I went through, I put 30 rounds in a 2″ bulls eye. I can’t do that with the iron sights.
As much as I love this clean reticle design, it’s not perfect.
Even though the reticle is visible at different viewing angles, it will ghost just like in other red-dot sights. When viewing the reticle from the far left or right, there’s a slight 3-4 MOA deviation.
However, depending on your type of weapon you might not even plan on using a proper sight picture, so this may not be an issue.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
The EOTECH 512 offers unlimited eye relief, making it ideal for two eyes open shooting. That style of aiming can be an adjustment for some shooters, but it’s a fast and lethal method.
The objective lens is .85 inches and its generous size only makes it easier to sight and shoot.
Durability
EOTECH takes the lead for most durable sights over other brands like the Vortex Holographic sight.
While not identical to the military contracted models, the EOTECH 512 retains its uncompromising durability.
Waterproof, fogproof, and designed for rugged use, all built in the USA.
The packaging alone is higher quality than the build of most reflex sights. It’s built like a tank: metal housing, sealed rubber push buttons, and a reticle that works in extreme hot or cold.
I’ve used my EOTECH for coyote hunting in below zero temperatures. I never had to worry about my breath fogging up the glass like regular scopes sometimes do in cold weather.
The 512 is on the larger size (11.5 oz and 5.6 in long), but this is because it houses AA batteries as opposed to more expensive lithium batteries.
At around 1,000 hours, the battery life isn’t as competitive as some other sights, but batteries are stupid easy to change out. The reticle blinks to let you know if the batteries are low, and an auto shut-off feature after 4 hours saves battery life.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
Elevation and windage are easily made on the side with coin slot adjustment knobs with tactile clicks — the same feature found on any of the best scope for 308.
Adjustments can be made with a screwdriver, dime, and I’ve even used shell casings too. Adjustments by hand are possible, but it’s not as easy.
The sight was practically zeroed right out of the box. After some fine tuning, I was ringing steel in minutes with lethal accuracy.
Parallax & Magnification
The holographic sight doesn’t feature any added magnification, but it can be paired with a magnifier for longer range targets.
The holographic ring and dot don’t expand with magnification which means that your red dot won’t grow to obscure your target.
I paired mine with the Vortex Optics VMX-3T Magnifier with Built-in Flip Mount for a killer combo.
- The VMX-3T Magnifier and Flip Mount combo adds a 3x magnification to your rifle's red dot sight. Simple, fast, and effective, the push button design engages and disengages the flip mount allowing the...
- The lens are fully multi-coated maximizing resolution, light gathering capability, and color fidelity. Eye Relief-2.2 inches. Field of View-38.2 feet/100 yards
- The VMX-3T does not require any special sight-in. The dot centering screws can be used to help center your red dot image in the VMX-3T's field of view.
While this sight is nearly parallax free, I did encounter some at a distance of 2-3 feet, but this vanishes at any reasonable distance.
Mounting & Rings
The 512’s built-in mount is compatible with both 1” Weaver and MIL-STD 1913 rails.
The EOTECH 512 can co-witness with back-up iron sights as well. One nice feature is that I can leave the back-up iron sights up and still use the EOTECH. The sight doesn’t interfere with the hammer motion nor does it hit the iron sight.
Is the EOTECH 512 worth it?
Designed for close-quarters combat, this sight is ideal for home defense arms and even recreational shooting.
With some added accessories, it makes a great addition for game hunting.
Here’s what makes it stand out:
- Universal mount
- AA battery powered
- Tactical grade durability
- EOTech Prestige 10 Year Warranty
- Crisp and clean 1MOA dot with 68 MOA ring
While this sight does dance on the higher end of budget sights, it’s worth every penny.
If you’re looking for a holographic sight that will stand the test of time and environment while giving you the best shots of your life, the EOTECH 512 is your next toy.
Now It’s Your Turn
I hope you enjoyed my best holographic sight guide.
So as a recap:
If you’re looking for the best overall holographic sight, get the EOTECH EXPS3.
Looking for the best holographic sight for AR15? Choose EOTECH 552.
How about the best for the budget? Then opt-in for EOTECH 512.
Lastly, if you are looking for the best sight for the money, I’d recommend EOTECH XPS2 or go for a red dot.
- EOTECH XPS2 Holographic Weapon Sight
- Mount - Compatible with both 1" Weaver and MIL-STD 1913 Rails
- Adjustable Brightness - The XPS2 has 20 brightness settings for use in any lighting scenario
Now I want to turn it over to you:
Which holographic sight will you pick?
Let me know by leaving a quick comment down below.
I’ve just become acquainted with your blog. I appreciate your clear, easy to understand explanation of optics topics. Thank you for your diligence when covering these topics.
I found your article on the Burris website after purchasing a Trijicon MRO green dot for my .300 blackout 8.5 in AR pistol. I have an astigmatism, but after reading your article, I might have chosen the red dot instead. Curious how the MRO stacks up against the Eotechs.
I have much more reading to do before I purchase additional optics. Currently, I’m researching an optic for my AR 5.56 rifle.
I primarily target shoot. Verification of strikes is a problem. The CMP range at in Anniston has electronic visual verification for shooters. I really appreciate the instant feedback when practicing at 100-200 yards. Also, I’m having a budding interest in hog hunting at night, and home defense is always on my mind. My thought is that at night , someone hiding with I’ll intent would have a clear advantage being acclimated to the dark. I take to the idea of scanning my yard and woods before investigating what tripped a motion detector in my open shop. Is there a solution here? Perhaps a NV that is daytime use and interfaces with an IPad or cell phone?
Very informative for a newbie with eye issues.
Thank you.
Thanks for sharing this amazing info