TimeOut

One of the most popular accessories for a handguns or rifles are sights.  You can you use plain ironsights, scopes, or something high tech like red dot optics.  Many years ago it was common to see Tasco Pro Points in the competitive circles.  Aimpoint came along and then brands like C-More and Bushnell came out with the heads-up style display.  The old Bushnell Holosights were big compared to the ones offered today.  Battery life has improved and they've managed to make them more compact.  I have a few Eotech 551's and they have been utterly reliable.  Lately I have been looking into upgrading so I bought a couple of the EXPS2 sights.  The great thing about the new ones is that they are a lot smaller and can use a 123 batteries that most tactical lights use.  Here's one of the new EOtech Holographic Weapon Sights:

The GG&G flip covers were pretty easy to install on the 551's but on the EXPS2, it's a bit more involved.  You get a brand new replacement housing and other parts.  We start off with removing the screws

Note the integrated quick detach mount on the EXPS2 which is a nice feature over the older models:

After unscrewing the torx heads, remove the batter cover

The EXPS2 has a tether cord to prevent loss of the cap when removing or replacing the battery under stressful environments.

Since the EXPS2 has the buttons on the side (designed to work with a magnifier behind it) GG&G has a certain procedure to take off the protective hood.  They provide a heavy duty plastic strip to cover the buttons when swapping out the hood.

Wiggle it in and you can start taking the hood off.

Easy peasy!

Here we have the new GG&G hood with the flip covers on the left with the OEM hoos on the right:

Next step is to work on the battery tether:

There's two recommended ways to remove the tether, you can attempt to carefully open the crimping block and save to reuse it...

or the quick and dirty method by straight up cutting it:

The new protective hood goes back on the weapon sight, once the plastic button strip is removed, you can re-install the torx head screws:

Looks good!

Almost done... all we have to do is reattach the tether from the hood to the battery cap:

GG&G provides a new cord and 3 crimp blocks.  You only new two for the install but they provide an extra just in case you lose it or mess one up.  They appear simple to do but with my macros the parts are actually pretty tiny.  Loop into and around the hole in the protective hood and then reinsert into the crimping block. 

Since there is excess length, you can pull it back for a neat look:

Getting close to flush...

Once you are happy with the placement you can take a pair of pliers and gently squeeze the crimping block to secure this end of the tether

Once that is completed we move to the battery cap end.  Place the second crimping block to the tether cord:

Loop around the battery cap, make sure when you cinch it down it goes into the groove of the battery cap:

When you adjust the tether, make sure you have enough slack so that it can rotate when you open or close the battery cap.  As with the other side, adjust the tether and then crimp the block:

All done! 

Over the years, Eotech have served me well.  This new one (especially with the GG&G flip covers) is a vast improvement over the older generation weapon sights, it's smaller and uses the more common 123 batteries found on tactical lights.  The side buttons comes in handy when you want to use a G33 flip magnifier.  One thing I do notice is the sight picture with a set of BUIS.  The EXPS2 sits higher and gives a 1/3 co-witness instead of the true co-witness that I am used to on my other rifles.  It's not hard to get used to, just different.  If you use BUIS like I do, make sure you get sights that are high enough (no micros) so that they work with the EXPS2.  Adjustments to windage and elevation are simple and if you are familiar with the older generation Eotechs, then sighting in will be a breeze.  The quick detach mount is very secure and locks in solidly on my LMT's, Colt's, and other A3/A4 forged uppers.  Overall I'm extreme;y happy with this version of red dot weapon sight.  Happy shooting everyone!


-MW

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