Hey Shooters! Welcome to EOTech EXPS3 Review in 2023.
You already know that when I talk about EOTech optics, whichever model I discuss guarantees reliability, quick target acquisition, MOA precision, and a crystal-clear lens.
Here is yet another review of the EOTech EXPS3, one of my favorite holographic sights. Being completely unbiased, EOTech has never ceased to astound me with its excellent optics, and I must admit that I am a big fan.
Not to mention how good it looks on guns. The checkbox for looking cool while you are shooting is ticked. Their optics are so outstanding that picking out flaws is tough. Without further ado, let’s review it right away.
Specifications
Housing Material | Aluminum |
Item Dimension | 3.8 x 2.3 x 2.9 inches |
Weight | 11.2oz |
Magnification | 1x |
Parallax Free | Yes |
Unlimited Eye Relief | Yes |
Reticle Color | Black |
Reticle Options | 1 MOA center dot, 68 MOA ring dot |
Battery Type | CR123 |
Battery Life | 1,000 hours |
Night Vision | Yes |
Power Source | Battery |
Submersion | 33ft |
What’s in the box?
EXPS3’s box contains the following items:
- The Optic Itself
- Quick-Start Guide
- Warranty Card
- CR123 Battery
- Protective Case
Features Of EOTech EXPS3
For professional shooters, the EXPS3 is an excellent choice. The target acquisition speed is lightning-quick, and the durability is trustworthy. It has been designed and engineered to endure the stringent demands of the most devoted precision shooters. Let’s have a look at each of its features in further detail.
1. Reticle
To help you understand how the EXPS3 differs from EOTech’s other holographic sights, the “E” in EXPS stands for side button control and an integrated quick detach mount.
The “3” in EXPS3 indicates that it is a night vision-compatible model. EXPS3-0 has a conventional reticle with a single 1 MOA dot encircled by a 68 MOA ring, as indicated by the last number 0, which is separated from the rest by a hyphen (“-“).
However, other models with the last number 2 or 4 (EXPS3-2 and EXPS3-4) have two or four 1 MOA aiming dots in the center, surrounded by a 68 MOA ring.
2. Construction and Durability
Regarding construction quality, I shall point out that EXPS3 has been built with military and law enforcement applications in mind. Although I haven’t exactly put it through the wringer, I am confident it won’t disappoint me.
It is waterproof to up to 33 feet (10 meters) and fog proof. The most abuse this sight has experienced throughout my ownership includes some drop testing and frequent use in rainy weather, and I have even submerged it.
Even though I did put it underwater, there have been no performance issues. It’s safe to say that it can withstand any real-world scenario I’ve ever encountered, which is mainly rain. I zeroed it in the rain to 100 yards, but the water droplets on the glass made it difficult to see the target, so I quickly cleaned it with a dry cloth to clear my field of view.
Since the lenses on this holographic sight have anti-reflective coatings, you should only clean them with a dampened cloth. Never use a dry cloth on a dry lens while cleaning your sight.
All in all, EXPS3 is pretty durable. The optic is protected by an aluminum hood, and the majority of the sight’s body is made of very high-quality materials. Excellent build quality overall. Even if you do manage to damage the lens, you can still use the sight.
In terms of construction, you’ll notice that the buttons on the EXPS models are sideways, which makes it easy to use a magnifier behind it.
Talking about turret quality, the windage and elevation turrets have been reference marked. It doesn’t come with anything to make modifications within the box, but you can fix that with whatever you already have. Anything will do, whether it’s a coin, a bullet casing, or a flathead screwdriver. The turrets have 0.5 MOA adjustments.
One last thing worth mentioning here that I noticed is that the adjustments on this sight are not as loud as I thought they would be. But I read somewhere that this was done on purpose to meet military requirements.
3. Battery
Battery life might be the only genuine flaw of this sight. The EXPS3 can’t match a red dot in terms of battery life because laser diodes use a lot more power than the LED found in red dot sights.
The EXPS3’s battery life at setting 12 is 1000 hours in typical circumstances. I’ve had my EXPS3 on for more than a month, and it hasn’t failed me yet.
However, there are a few signs to watch out for if your battery is about to run out. When you switch on your sight, be on the lookout for a flickering or flashing reticle since the EXPS3 performs a battery check each time it is powered on. During recoil, keep an eye out for a blinking, flashing reticle; this often occurs after the battery is around 20% of the way through its life.
4. Sight Picture
I selected a zeroing distance of 100 yards for testing the sight picture. I’ll classify it as a victory, given my skill level, which is good. I will say, though, that during my most recent 50-yard range session, it did not maintain zero for me.
Can I entirely put the blame on the optic?
No, because I constantly take it off and then put it back on because of the work I do, messing with it in between range sessions.
As a result, when I returned, my elevation was just one or two inches low. I made the adjustments needed to get it back to zero, and the rest of the session went without difficulty.
So, what to take away from my experience? Try to keep the sight mounted on your gun as much as possible, but if you must remove it, be as precise and consistent as you can be when placing it again.
Given everything I did between the first zeroing and the second zeroing, I’d say the EXPS3 performed well to only be off by one or two inches.
5. Eye Relief
EXPS3 has an unlimited field of view. Using it while keeping both eyes open is actually much simpler and faster because of the large viewing window. Peripheral vision and situational awareness are greatly improved as a result of this.
6. Mounting
The first thing I want to make clear about mounting is which side of the sight is the front and which is the back. And no, it’s not a dumb thing to ask, especially for people just starting with holographic sights.
The protruding portion of the optic and batteries are located on the front side, which faces the target away from you. The backside, often known as the rear side, is the flat side. It is the part that faces you.
You can only see the reticle by using this particular angle with your sight. You won’t be able to see any illumination at all if you try to gaze through the sight from the front. So, there you have it—a quick method to tell which side is the front and which is the back.
The EXPS3 comes with a quick detach mount. It puts it at a height for a lower 1/3 co-witness mount. The mount is pretty good, and it fits on a Picatinny and 1-inch Weaver rails.
Now comes the tricky part, how do you mount it? You must push out the lever in a side-locking latch. If the latch is not engaged, you cannot raise the lever. Lifting the latch causes the clamping fit to widen, and the cross bolt then rests in the rail slot. Place it over the rail and press the lever back down. You must adjust the adjustment nut if, for whatever reason, it does not fit correctly on the rail. Remove it from the rail, then adjust the nut either by losing it or tightening it.
7. Brightness Settings
EXPS3 comes with 20 daylight brightness settings. Since you are adjusting for the condition, the brightness setting depends on what environment you use your sight in.
When I was using it when the sun was out and there were many white surfaces, like white buildings, I tended to crank up the illumination to the max, which is really bright, but when I was at the range, I tended to have the illumination turned down lower.
The dimmer settings are excellent for low-light conditions. I do want to point out that each person may see the illuminations slightly differently. For instance, when my friend, who works for local law enforcement, and I were at the range, he thought that I had turned off the illumination while, in fact, I had it set to a low level. As opposed to me, I believed his preferred setting was a little bit too bright.
This is merely to highlight the extensive range of lighting adjustments available with this sight. For your visual acuity, the terrains, and the weather, you will always find the ideal brightness setting.
Additionally, there are 10 brightness settings that are compatible with night vision; however, these settings cannot be seen without a night vision device. The night vision button is used to access night vision settings.
My Experience with EOTech EXPS3
Overall, using EXPS3 has been a wonderful experience for me. I’ve fired a lot of rounds with this sight, and I am pleased with the results. I would advise trying out this sight to see whether you like it, which I’m sure you will. Even if you don’t, working with a new holographic sight will surely be an enjoyable experience for you. I don’t see any harm in trying out something new.
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See detailed comparison of Exps2 vs Exps3
EOTech EXPS3 Review – Video
Conclusion
That marks the conclusion of this review. I hope this review of mine was helpful and that you learned something new about EXPS3. All things considered, it’s a fairly decent sight, a definite favorite of mine, so why not try it?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does EOTech EXPS3 have a shake-awake feature?
No, EOTech EXPS3 does not have a shake-awake feature. However, it does have an automatic off option. If you press the up button, the sight will automatically power off after 8 hours. If you press the down button, it will automatically power off after 4 hours.
How to turn off EOTech EXPS3?
To turn off EOTech EXPS3, press the down and up buttons simultaneously.
What are the applications of EOTech EXPS3?
Some of the applications of EOTech EXPS3 are Close-Quarters Battle (CQB), Home Defense, Hunting, Law enforcement, SHTF, etc.