EOTech Sights are some of the most DURABLE holographic sights that are even used by law enforcement and the military.
However, it would help if you knew how to zero EOTech sight to get the most out of their accurate sighting.
By zeroing, you make sure that the bullet HITS where you aim.
When I was a complete newbie, I thought I was just bad at shooting or my sight was just defective.
It turns out I just didn’t know how to zero my EOTech!
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll give you step-by-step instructions to zeroing in and answers to related questions.
Contents
Zero-in Your EOTech Holographic Sight
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to zeroing in on your EOTech Holographic sight like a pro!
Things to Prepare
Here are a few things you need to have and prepare before you have your rifle scope zeroed.
- Your weapon (usually a rifle)
- The EOTech sight
- Three rounds or more of ammunition
- A clear range to shoot in
- A stable shooting platform
1. Gathering Materials and Setting Up
First, you need to set up your rifle, ammunition, EOTech sight, and other equipment in a safe and comfortable environment.
I begin by setting up my weapon on a stably supported shooting platform. Next, I place a paper target at a set distance of 25 yards from my weapon.
Doing so will give your EOTech an accurate aim point of up to 300 yards. Next, make sure your EOTech sight is set up properly.
Rotate both windage and elevation dials using the adjusting screw all the way to one direction.
Rotate them back to the other direction by exactly 80 clicks. Both dials have 160 clicks to them, so setting them up at 80 makes them both neutral/zero.
2. Look for the Average Strike Location
I usually load my weapon with three rounds and shoot at the center of the paper target that I previously set up.
I DON’T recommend adjusting your positioning between each shot, as it will affect the zeroing process.
I made this mistake, which resulted in my shots being all over the place.
For now, it doesn’t matter where the bullet hits; just place your reticle as close to the center as possible.
When you’re done, render the weapon safe and go to the target to check the AVERAGE strike location.
The average strike location is located in the middle of where the three rounds strike.
For example, if the three rounds form a triangle, then the average strike location would be the middle of the three points.
If the rounds are too far apart, repeat this process. Try to get the groupings within three inches of each other.
3. Measure the Average Strike Location
The next step starts by creating an imaginary center line on the target running both horizontally and vertically. This line will help determine how far off-center the bullets hit.
First, measure the average strike location left or right towards the imaginary line running from top to bottom.
Then, measure the location up or down towards the line running from left to right.
Record both measurements, and you’ll use this for the next step.
4. Convert Measurements to Needed Clicks
At 25 yards, each click on the screw will adjust the point of impact to 1/8 inch. To move the point of impact 1 inch, turn the screw eight clicks.
This objective is to move the point of impact CLOSER to the center, or where your initial point of aim was when shooting earlier.
5. Adjust Both Elevation and Windage
Now that you know the distance and number of clicks, you need to adjust the point of impact to match the point of aim; it’s time to turn the screw on each turret.
First, adjust the elevation by turning the relative screw clockwise to go down and counterclockwise to go up.
Do this to the converted clicks you recorded in the last step.
Next, turn the relative screw for the windage clockwise to go right and counterclockwise to go left.
6. Last Changes
The final step is to check if the adjustments you’ve made are from an accurate reading of the shots you took.
Fire an additional three rounds and recheck the target.
If the bullet’s point of impact is still off from the point of aim by a lot, go back to the measurements and turn each screw accordingly.
The point of impact should be around 1/2 inch below the point of aim at the center of the target.
In my experience, it was definitely a trial-and-error process, but you’ll eventually get the hang of it!
How Do Holographic Sights Work?
Holographic sights like the EOTech work differently than the typical reflex red dot sight.
Instead of a reflected reticle system, they record the reticle in a three-dimensional space.
It’s then projected onto a holographic film in the optical viewing window.
The reticle also uses collimated light to move it along with the eye position of the shooter.
A holographic sight has a few advantages over a reflex sight.
The optic’s semi-squared shape gives it a WIDER field of view and better peripheral vision.
The EOTech, in particular, also has a 68 MOA ring with a 1 MOA dot that is the finest available in any scope.
My speed and accuracy are great on holographic sights because of this!
Another benefit over red dot sights is that the aiming dot doesn’t expand when used with a magnifier, giving a shooter better precision over a long range.
How to Laser Bore Your EOTech
Bore sighting is just as important as keeping your red dot sights zeroed.
Sighting in a scope is important, especially on the EOTech, providing accurate sighting to 300 yards.
If keeping a sight zeroed means aligning the point of aim with the point of impact, then doing bore sighting aligns the firearm barrel and sight.
A laser bore sight helps make this procedure much faster by using a laser bore projected dot inserted into the barrel of the firearm.
It acts like a laser pointer to see if both are aligned.
- To laser bore sight a holographic sight with your rifle, first make sure your weapon is verified safe and isn’t loaded.
- Insert the laser sighting device onto the barrel.
- Project the dot onto a wall 7 yards away from you.
- Turn on the EOTech sight, and adjust the brightness settings to make the center dot dimmer than the laser bore projected dot.
- Align the EOTech to the projected laser on the wall. Align the bottom part of the outer circle with the 6 o’clock hash mark.
Finish off this process by doing a live fire at 25 yards or 50 yards using the center dot as the point of aim.
PRO TIP: The EOTech website has printable laser bore sight target diagrams that will make it easier for you to align the sight.
Will the EOTech HWS Hold Zero in Temperature Fluctuations?
I did notice my EOTech HWS has issues with the point of impact shifting away from the aiming point when it’s under more extreme temperatures.
This is because the materials used on the holographic sight expand and contract depending on the ambient temperature.
This expansion and contraction get more noticeable the hotter or colder it is. This was the case when I took my EOTech out on a snow day.
EOTech sights made before 2016 have a shift of +/- 5 MOA at temperatures between -40 degrees and 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
After revisions, the shift is down to 1.4-1.8 MOA.
A second issue is also prevalent – the sights might not remain zeroed. The zero may shift when the temperature returns to normal after exposure to more extreme temperatures.
However, the average consumer won’t notice this shift. The zero shift will also be so small that a casual shooter won’t see it shift off-target.
Will Mounting and Unmounting the EOTech Affect Zero?
If you mount and unmount the EOTech sight on your rifle, you might notice that the zero shifts slightly. I definitely noticed it.
It will be pretty close to the aiming point.
To prevent this from happening, I use a mount designed to attach and detach off the firearm without sighting in each time.
Sighting in your sight on target can be annoying for any shooter, especially if you have to do it every time you set up.
Frequently Asked Questions
After learning more about sighting in your EOTech sight, you may still have questions about the clarity, bore sighting, or what situations it can be used in.
Why Does My EOTech Look Fuzzy?
If it’s not a manufacturing problem, it may be astigmatism.
You should immediately check with a doctor if you have astigmatism if the EOTech or any holographic or red dot sight looks fuzzy.
Astigmatism is a condition that makes any light seem fuzzy or sparkle too much.
You can’t remedy this by using different optics, only through corrective lenses like glasses.
I recommend getting your eyes checked as soon as possible if you experience this because it can worsen quickly without corrective lenses.
Looking at a target with a fuzzy dot is frustrating.
Can You Bore Sight an EOTech?
Yes, you can do bore sighting on an EOTech sight.
I recommend using a laser bore sight to make the process easier. Read the earlier section on this for a quick tutorial.
What Tactical Applications Can the HWS Be Used?
The EOTech HWS sights are usually made for close-range engagements.
The 1x zoom level, wide field of view, zero parallax, and great peripheral vision make getting on target while being aware easy.
If you want to extend the distances, try adding a flip magnifier. The advantage of this is you get BOTH close and long-distance sights in one.
However, if you’re looking for something with more extreme accuracy, look at other sights like a Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO) or a dedicated scope.
Are EOTech Sights Worth the Money?
If you are serious about shooting, then yes, I think EOTechs are worth it! Otherwise, they may be too expensive for casual shooters or beginners.
For what they are worth, the prices speak to their image clarity, durability, and efficiency in giving you an accurate aim point
Conclusion
The EOTech holographic scope is one of the most durable, accurate, and reliable sights available today.
However, to get the most out of it, you NEED to zero it in. Doing this is really important to keep the accuracy of your sight on target.
Remember to check if your red dot sight is still zeroed regularly, and pick a mount that will keep zero even if you take off the EOTech from your weapon.
If you do these things regularly, you can expect to have flawless and smooth shooting sessions with minimal issues!
