EOTech is a U.S. company that manufactures firearm optics, and sights.
Their products are often used by the military, law enforcement, and civilians.
The company’s holographic sights reflect an LED dot off a lens.
It uses a laser to project a reticle onto a film inside the sight.
The design of the optic provides faster target acquisition and a large field of view.
As good as the company is, its products have faced some challenges.
Most notably, U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan experienced several problems with the EOTech optics on the battlefield.
It started with the optics experiencing thermal drift.
When soldiers exited air-conditioned vehicles into the desert heat, the sight’s point of aim would shift significantly.
Even worse, the red dot appeared steady even if it was far off from the point of impact.
According to the military, in sub-zero temperatures, the sight would distort accuracy by more than 20 inches at 100 yards.
As one soldier put it, “Is it worth risking one person’s life on this? What if there is a guy in the mountains in Afghanistan… takes a shot that misses wide due to distortion of the reticle… he’s dead a fraction of a second later.”
In addition, soldiers reported that the optics would have moisture incursion.
Even though the sights were waterproof, the sight seals failed in wet conditions.
This led to internal fogging of the sight, making them unreliable and even unusable in some situations.
Alarmingly, EOTech knew about the thermal drift and moisture issues, but the company didn’t disclose the problems to the Department of Defense.
This led to the U.S. government filing a lawsuit against the company.
EOTech settled the lawsuit by paying $25 million and admitting to the defects.
I would imagine that by now EOTech has resolved many of the problems that occurred with their optics.
But whether you have an EOTech or another brand of sight it’s important to maintain optical equipment so it works when you need it.
One way to keep your optics in top shape is to clean them regularly, but this is not as simple as it sounds.
You need to use the right cleaning products and the safest methods to ensure you don’t damage the sight.
Here are a few ways to keep your sight in top condition:
Cleaning solutions:
Be sure to use cleaning solutions that are designed for optical lenses.
Most of these solutions are alcohol-based so they evaporate fast without leaving streaks.
One option is Eclipse Optic Cleaning Fluid.
In addition, there are lens cleaning wipes such as ones made by Zeiss.
These are a good idea for keeping in your range bag when you might need a quick cleaning option.
A third option is a lens cleaning pen.
These pens have a soft brush end to remove dust and smudges.
It’s a non-liquid option that is convenient and something you can keep in your pocket for the range.
The Nikon LensPen is one way to clean without liquid.
Cloth/air:
When cleaning an optic always use a quality microfiber cloth to wipe the lens.
Microfiber removes oil and fingerprints without damaging the lens.
Plus, microfiber can be used with or without a cleaning solution.
Another way to remove debris from a lens is with compressed air because it works without touching the lens and reduces the chance of scratching it.
Compressed air is ideal for removing dust.
Use it in short bursts and keep a safe distance to avoid accidentally damaging the lens.
Here are a few things to avoid doing:
Fabrics:
One mistake that some people make is using abrasive materials to clean the lens.
Avoid using paper towels, tissues, or even a T-shirt because these can scratch the lens.
Plus, if you use these materials repeatedly on the lens it can degrade the lens coating over time.
Cleaners:
Gun cleaners are not the same as lens cleaners.
Never use the same solution for cleaning the gun and the lens.
Gun cleaners have lubricants, chemicals and solvents that can damage the lens and leave buildup since the cleaner is designed for metal parts.
Also, some cleaners are strong enough to seep inside the optic and damage the internal components which would ruin the sight.
Avoid wiping down the optic with the same microfiber cloth that you use on the gun as this could transfer the cleaning solution to the lens.
Use the right materials and avoid harsh cleaning chemicals.
After you are done cleaning the optic make sure you let it completely dry because any moisture that lingers can seep into the lens.
Because cleaning your optic, and doing it properly, is so important, you should have one of the cleaning methods mentioned above in your gear – especially your go bag.
Many people ignore simple items like this in their go bag and suffer horribly for the oversight.
