Introduction
Shooting with red dots has dramatically increased my desire to shoot pistols. Judge me if you must, but I claim no purity as a pistol shooter.
I have been increasing my collection to include quite a variety of red dots from various manufacturers, so when given the opportunity to test the new EFLX from EOTECH, I was eager to volunteer.
It would be hard to discuss weapon sights without mentioning EOTECH. The US manufacturer has been in the business for nearly two decades and is famous for its holographic sights.
Now that it offers the EFLX in the same footprint (DeltaPoint Pro) as many other popular optics on the market, it’s time we see if it’s just another run-of-the-mill optic or a game changer.
Specifications
| Magnification | 1X |
| Dot Size | 3 MOA (also available in 6 MOA) |
| Adjustment value | 1MOA per click |
| Dimensions | 1.9 x 1.2 x 1.0 inches |
| Brightness settings | Eight daytime settings, one night vision setting |
| Auto-Shutdown | User controlled 12-hour |
| Battery | Top Loading CR2032 |
| Battery Life | 25,000 hrs at setting 5 |
| Footprint | DeltaPoint Pro |
| Weight | 1.4 ounces |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Rapid target acquisition
- Large window
- Tactile control pad
- Aluminum housing
- Auto-shutoff/always on
- NV compatible
- Popular DeltaPoint Pro footprint
- It says EOTECH on it…good for all the fanboys
- A variety of mounting accessories are included
Cons
- Contains products known to the state of California to cause cancer
- Open emitter (I had to dig really deep for that one)
Unboxing & First Impressions
Opening the sturdy case, I found everything I needed to mount the EFLX to my chosen pistol: my Shadow Systems DR920. It almost seems a shame that it comes in such excellent packaging because I will likely never use it again. But that’s just me.
The screw assortment and included tools allowed me to get the red dot mounted and zeroed quickly, and the thin base of the EFLX allowed me to continue using the fixed sights on the pistol, which is a plus.
Like all red dots, the EFLX presents a red aiming dot in the window of your sight picture. This allows the shooter to keep their focus on the target rather than the sights and simply bring the aiming dot onto the target.
I quickly found the large window of the EFLX to give a more forgiving area with which to aim.
In the short time I’ve been shooting with the EFLX, I’ve really grown to love the large sight window. And in fact, there are very few things about it I don’t like.
Features
The EFLX boasts many features that I’ll get into below, but one often-overlooked bonus is the top-loading battery. It operates on a single CR2023 lithium battery and has two buttons to adjust the brightness.
It’s a small but useful feature. Now, let’s look at some of the other features.
Auto-Shutdown Control
To save battery life, the EFLX has an auto-shutdown function that will cause the unit to shut down after 12 hours.
This feature is easily activated or deactivated by using one of the two buttons to turn on the unit. Enabling the power using the down button will start the 12-hour shutdown while powering it up with the up button will cause it to stay on until manually shutdown.
Deltapoint Pro Footprint
Many of the best red dots out there have a Deltapoint Pro footprint option. This makes it more universally adopted by shooters, as it fits a wide variety of firearms and mounting systems.
Always ensure you have a compatible mounting area before ordering any red dot.
Large Sight Window
As I mentioned before, I love the large sight window on the EFLX. If you are used to red dots like the Shield or the Holosun 407, you will find this to be significantly bigger.
On the other hand, if you are used to the Trijicon SRO or the Deltapoint Pro, it may seem pretty standard.
Score Card
Reliability (9/10)
Carrying this pistol for several weeks with the EFLX installed has resulted in no issues. It’s been in below-freezing and humid conditions for extended periods with no problem.
It fits great in the holster, and when I leave it on, it’s always there glowing when I need it.
Ergonomics (9/10)
The EFLX has simple and easy-to-understand controls.
Customization (8/10)
The auto-shutoff feature is nice, as are the varied mounting screw sets included.
Appearance (9/10)
It’s an EOTECH, so it gets points for its traditionally good looks. I think the EFLX is a handsome addition to any weapon.
Value (8/10)
There is a lot of competition in the red dot market, meaning plenty of more affordable options exist.
That said, the EFLX isn’t a bad purchase compared to its competition. But you can find less expensive optics with similar quality and functions.
Conclusion
While red dot sights are pretty simple devices, the EOTECH EFLX seems to have everything you could want in one.
It does everything I hoped it would, and it looks sexy while doing it. It has kept its zero, stayed on or off the way I wanted it to, and has withstood extreme conditions.
On top of it all, with the EOTECH name behind it, you can count on first-class service if you ever need it.
You can’t go wrong by adding another red dot to your collection, and there is no reason I wouldn’t recommend this particular one. If you have the money to spend, get your own ELFX to test out for yourself.
-CBM