NOTE: THE FOLLOWING REVIEW IS COPYRIGHT 2010 BY James Bell Jr.
ALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED.
EOTech XPS 3-0 Holographic Weapon Sight
Electro-Optics Technology, Inc
1201 East Ellsworth Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 USA
734-741-8868 [VOICE]
734-741-8221 [FAX]
Some years ago while working for another publication, I had the opportunity to test and review some fantastic CQB and medium -range optics. When I started looking at the PS90 as a home defense option (after looking at the factory optic on the PS90 USG version), I decided that the PS90TR (Triple Rail) version would be the most versatile in terms of configuration for home defense. However - it comes with no optic. You must add an external optic or set of iron sights in order to use it.
I tested a few of the same optics on the PS90TR that I tested back then on a 16" AR platform. I started with the Leupold CQ/T - which I presently recommend for 20" AR-15 platforms. It didn't really work on the PS90TR. The eye relief didn't quite fit and it sat too high for a good cheek weld. It was also a bit long. It just doesn't work in this application, but is great on an AR.
The Leupold CQ/T on the FNH USA PS90
After that I immediately thought of the EOTech 552.A65, which we recommended for M4geries - specifically the Bushmaster Patrolmans Carbine. It worked well, and was the clear choice, but at 5.4" long it also turned out to be a little to big for the PS90TR. While the viewfinder is at the ideal height, the factory side rails are mounted close enough to the top rail that the length of the 552.A65 covers their top surface, rendering them useless.
EOTech 552.A65 on the FNH USA PS90
Luckily, the folks at EOTech haven't been sitting on their haunches. They have been working on even smaller, lighter versions of their Holographic Weapon Sights - including the XPS 3-0 which we are recommending for the PS90TR.
The XPS 3-0 comes in a hard carrying case with foam lining. It includes a second battery door retainer, hex head bolt and hex wrench, and a DL123A-type Lithium Battery. A knurled installation bolt is included already on the XPS 3-0. A warranty card (two year warranty) and an instruction manual are also included.
The EOTech XPS 3-0 is functionally identical to the 552.A65 - with the same 65-MOA outer circle and 1-MOA inner-dot reticle and night vision capability - but it comes in a package that is only 3.6" long.
The difference in length is facilitated by the power supply. The 552.A65 uses two AA batteries mounted in front.
The XPS 3-0 uses one 123A-type Lithium battery mounted across the front.
This shorter length allows it to occupy the rear portion of the top rail, keeipng the area above the side rails clear and even giving some mounting space in front of the XPS 3-0 on the top rail. This may become even more important as we get into evaluating targeting assist lasers.
Mounting the unit is very simple. The XPS 3-0 comes with a knurled bolt installed which makes it easy to install and remove the optic by hand with nothing more than a coin. It can be replaced with the hex head bolt if desired, which eliminates the protrusion created by the knurled bolt. This is our chosen method of mounting since it will be dedicated to the PS90.
I found the ideal mounting location on the PS90TR for the XPS 3-0 to be on the top rail with the cross bolt mounted in groove number 5 counted from the back.
The XPS 3-0 mounted on a PS90 in groove # 5
The XPS 3-0 provides NO magnification. You can install an optional (and extra cost) 3x magnifier behind it as long as you have sufficient rail mounting space. For the PS90TR, this is not necessary as it is purpose-built for CQB, and the infinite eye relief on the XPS 3-0 works out perfectly.
The EOTech line of Holographic Weapon Sights operate by using an internally-mounted laser to illuminate a reticle that is etched on the internal surface of the rear sealed glass lens. The great thing about EOTech optics is that no matter where your eye is positioned - once the unit is sighted in to the firearm, the dot will always appear on the point of impact. They are VERY different from - and far better than - conventional red dot sights. The following photo simply doesn't do justice to the crispness of the reticle when viewed in person - tt's one of the hardest items we have ever tried to photograph. This is the best out of about 75 photos we tried.
One the back of the XPS 3-0 are three buttons - two rectangular buttons and a third round button mounted slightly above and centered between the other two.
The left rectangular button will activate the unit with a 4-hour shutdown timer, and is also used to reduce the brightness of the image in the reticle.
The right rectangular button will activate the unit with an 8-hour shutdown timer, and is also used to increase the brightness of the image in the reticle.
Pressing both of these buttons at the same time will turn the unit off.
If you see the reticle flashing when you first turn it on, you have less than 5 hours of operational time remaining before you will need to replace the battery.
The center round button will turn the unit on in night vision mode with an 8-hour shutdown timer. It will also allow you to toggle between night vision and regular modes when the unit is on. In night vision mode the reticle is invisible to the naked eye, but clearly visible through night vision goggles or other night vision optics.
There are 20 brightness levels available in visible mode, and another 10 in night vision mode.
There are two knobs on the right side of the XPS 3-0 which are used for sighting it in. One click of each knob (elevation and windage) results in 1/2 MOA of adjustment (1/2" at 100 Yards). On our test unit, the elevation knob clicked but there was no click on the windage knob.
Adjustment is possible via a coin.
In our testing, we initially boresighted a targeting assist laser to the PS90, and then adjusted the XPS 3-0 so that it was right on with the laser. At the range we needed only minor adjustments to both and we were then dead on.
Once I had it sighted in, hits at multiple distances were easy. At CQB ranges the 65 MOA circle sits right on the torso and allows you to target with great speed - and makes multiple-target engagement very fast. At more extended ranges, the 1 MOA dot lets you place your shot with great accuracy.
The optic sits at just the right height for a great cheek weld on the PS90. It gets you as close to the bore axis as you can on any model of PS90 currently available. It is also the very best optic I have ever found for shooting with both eyes open. I have not found anything better.
Brightness adjustment was simple - as easy as it was on the 552.A65. It's easy to use, and the night vision capability of the XPS 3-0 works well with all of the NV optics we tested. If you are .MIL or LE, it's a fantactic choice. You can expect battery life around 600 hours. In all of our testing we haven't had to change the battery.
If you don't need the night vision feature, you can pick up the XPS 2-0, which is the same size and setup, but without the night vision features (and the third round button).
Also, please be aware that if the brightness is turned up all the way, in low lighting you can indeed see the reticle projected forward - visible from the front of the XPS 3-0. For no practical purpose that I encountered would you ever turn the brightness on the unit all the way up - most especially in lower lighting conditions. It was painful in daylight to look through it at maximum brightness without using very dark glasses. I can't imagine doing this in low light, but under those conditions it is possible to cause an image to be visible from the front.
The manufacturer offers excellent warranty support. The warranty is 2 years.
I can't think of any drawbacks to the XPS 3-0 on the PS90, and I give it my highest recommendation. If you are setting up an FNH USA PS90 TR, the EOTech XPS 3-0 should be your optic choice. The XPS 3-0 is also a great choice for any 16" AR-15 or M4gery.
-- James Bell, Jr. -JeepGunner.com
Click Here To Visit The EOTech Website To Learn More About The XPS 3-0
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