Hey Freedom Gorillas, today we are going to deep dive into the EOTech 518 and 558 Holographic Sights. In this review and overview we will tell you everything you need to know about the EOTech 518 and 558 in order to decide if it’s something you would like to purchase or not.
We’ll cover things like the difference between the 518 and 558, the specs of each, the pricing, what comes in the box, and more. We’ve combined this review to cover both the EOTech 518 and the 558, because they are essentially the same optic, except the 558 has additional night vision brightness settings and a stronger waterproof rating. Aside from that internal difference, both optics are essentially the same.
To learn more, keep reading.
Key Takeaways
The EOTech 518 and 558 are both AA Battery Holographic sights with premium features like Quick Disconnect Mounts, side buttons, and a 1/3 Co-Witness. Both of these optics are essentially the same except the 558 has nightvision brightness settings and the 518 does not. The 558 also has a 33ft (10M) waterproof depth, and the 518 has a 10ft (3m) waterproof depth. Besides that both optics are exactly the same.
The EOTech 518 and 558 have buttons located on the side of the optic, they take AA batteries which last an estimated 2,200 to 2,500 hours, they have quick disconnect mount that mounts to any picatinny rail, they weigh 13.8 oz, come in a red circle + dot reticle, are made in the USA, and have a 1/3 co-witness.
If you are looking for a super durable, battle tested Holographic Sight with EOTechs Premium Features and one that takes AA Batteries, then you will love the EOTech 518 or 558.
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Quick Nav
- EOTech 518 vs 558 Specs & Differences
- EOTech 518/558 Reticles
- EOTech 518/558 Models & Pricing
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EOTech 518/558 Battery Type, Buttons, Mount, & Co-Witness
- EOTech 518/558 In the Box
- EOTech 518/558 Review & Highlights
- EOTech 518/558 Downsides
- EOTech 518/558 Warranty
- Conclusion
EOTech 518 vs 558 Specs & Differences
As mentioned above, both the EOTech 518 and 558 are almost identical, except the 558 has additional night vision brightness settings and a better waterproof rating. Aside from that both of these optics are exactly the same, that’s why we combined this review.
Here are the specs for both the EOTech 518 and 558 Holographic sights:
- Button Location: Side
- Mount Type: Quick Disconnect
- Co-Witness: 1/3 Co-Witness
- LxWxH: 5.6" x 2.2" x 2.9" (142.2 x 55.9 x 73.7 mm)
- Weight: 13.8 oz
- Waterproof Rating: 518 10ft. (3 m) depth, 558 33ft. (10 m) depth
- Mount: 1" Weaver or MIL-STD-1913 rail
- Windage & Elevation Adjustment: 0.5 MOA per click
- Brightness Settings: 518/558 20 daylight settings, 558 only 10 night vision settings
- Battery Type: 2x AA Batteries, lithium, alkaline, or rechargeable
- Battery Life: Lithium 2,500hrs, Alkaline 2,200hrs both at setting 12 at room temp
- Operating Temp: -40°F to 140°F (-40°C to 60°C)
- Made in the USA
EOTech 518/558 Reticles
The EOTech 518 and 558 Holographic sights both come in red reticle versions only.
The EOTech 518 and 558 come with the A65 reticle, a.k.a. the 0-Reticle, or as we like to call it, the circle dot reticle. This reticle features a 1 MOA Center dot with a 68 MOA outer ring.
It’s the original EOTech reticle and it gets the job done. The 1 MOA center dot is excellent for precision, even under magnification, and the 68 MOA outer ring is great for quick target acquisition.
Here is a table showing the reticles and a bit about each.
How to decide which reticle style is best for you
In this guide we covered a few different reticle options. If you need some help deciding which is best for you here are some of our thoughts on each.
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EOTech 518/558 Models & Pricing
The EOTech 518 and 558 come equipped with EOTech's most premium features like the quick release mount, 1/3 co-witness, and side buttons. They do all this with the AA battery form factor. The intention here is to give users who want to use AA batteries to get longer battery life the ability to also get quick release mounts and side buttons.
These optics are just as durable and reliable as any other EOTech Holographic sight.
Here are all the models and ballpark pricing for the EOTech 518/558:
*Note: these prices are not intended to be exact, they are just rough estimates to give you an idea of what to expect.
- EOTech 518 ($580+)- 1/3 Co-Witness, Side Buttons, Quick Release Mount, Red Circle Dot Reticle, AA Batteries, No Nightvision Compatibility
- EOTech 558 ($680+) - Exactly the same as the EOTech 518 except it has nightvision compatibility and a better waterproof rating.
EOTech 518/558 Battery Type, Buttons, Mount, & Co-Witness
The EOTech 518 and 558 models all use AA batteries. These can be either alkaline, lithium, or rechargeable.
Both the 518 and 558 also have the buttons located on the side of the optic. Having side mounted buttons is convenient when you are using a magnifier or anything else that could obstruct the rear of the optic.
The mount for the EOTech 518 and 558 is a QD mount that will mount to any picatinny rail. The QD mount is a premium feature and a nice one. It makes taking the optic on and off easy and without the need for tools. It's great in scenarios where you need to rapidly remove the optic in an emergency situation.
The co-witness for both the EOTech 518 and 558 is a 1/3 co-witness. This means the dot will be above your iron sights, and the iron sights will be visible in the lower 1/3 of your optic window. This allows for a more comfortable straightforward head position when shooting.
Here is an example showing the difference between absolute and 1/3 co-witness.
EOTech 518/558 In the Box
When you get your EOTech 518 or 558 and open the box you will receive the optic, a quick start guide, a warranty card, and two AA Alkaline Batteries.
EOTech 518/558 Review & Highlights
Ok so what makes the EOTech 518 and 558 great? Well what really makes it great are that it has EOTechs most premium and modern features such as a quick disconnect mount and side buttons. It also has a 1/3 co-witness which many users prefer.
The best way to summarize the 518 and 558 optics are that they are EOTechs most top of the line Holographic Sights they just use AA batteries. The AA Batteries give these optics 2,200-2,500 hours of battery life vs 1,000 hours compared to their CR123 battery counterparts.
The benefits of a 1/3 co-witness mount height are that you don't have to duck your head down as much to look squarely through the optic. Many people prefer a 1/3 co-witness height because it's a more neutral and relaxed shooting position keeping your head straight forward.
The side mounted buttons are also a sought after option. Many people like to run magnifier with their EOTech Holographic sights. When you have side mounted buttons, you can easily adjust the brightness, and turn the optic on and off. If you had an EOTech with the rear located buttons, having a magnifier could obstruct the buttons which isn't ideal.
Lastly you have the QD mount. Quick disconnect mounts are desirable. It allows you to easily take the optic off and put it back on. This is great for scenarios when you want to put it onto another platform, but the true reason for it is if the optic ever malfunctions or becomes damaged and unusable during a real use case scenario, then you can quickly remove it from the rail and use your back up or iron sights.
Overall the 518 and 558 are a fantastic premium package and they are really intended for those who want the AA battery and extra battery life, with the premium features.
EOTech 518/558 Downsides
The only real downsides to the EOTech 518 and 558 are weight and length.
There's a few things contributing to this. First, EOTech models with Quick Release mounts are a little heavier than those without quick release mounts, so that is the first thing adding weight.
The second thing adding weight is the AA batteries. Any EOTech model that takes AA batteries is going to be heavier than one that takes CR123 batteries.
With that being said, the EOTech 518 and 558 come in at 13.8 oz. This is about 5 oz heavier than the lightest EOTech model that takes CR123 batteries, but only 2 oz heavier than the lightest AA battery model.
The last downside is the length of the optic. Any EOTech Holographic Sight that comes with AA batteries is going to take up more railspace than one that comes with CR123 batteries. This usually isn't a major issue. You can still fit your magnifier and rear iron sights while using this optic, but just know it will take up more space on the top of your platform.
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EOTech 518/558 Warranty
EOTech stands behind their products but they don’t offer a lifetime warranty. Here is a summary of how their warranty works
The optic is covered for 10 years from the date or purchase or the manufacturers date, whichever is later. During the first 5 years of ownership if there is an issue, EOTech will repair or replace the optic free of charge if defects in materials or workmanship are found.
For years 6-10 EOTech will evaluate and repair any defects for a nominal fee upon the customers request.
The warranty is transferable between buyers and it doesn’t cover things like theft, loss, neglect, abuse, misuse, improper installation, cosmetic damage not affecting performance, or damage from unauthorized repairs or modifications.
Conclusion
Hopefully this review and overview helped you learn more about the EOTech 518 and 558 and brought you closer to buying one or helped you figure out a different game plan.
To summarize, the EOTech 518 and 558 are basically the most premium featured AA battery Holographic Sight on the market.
If you want the added battery life, don't mind a few extra oz, and really want the premium features like the side buttons, quick disconnect mount, and 1/3 co-witness, the you can't go wrong with the 518 or 558.
If you have any further questions please reach out to us. You can also check out our EOTech Holographic Sight Cheat Sheet here to learn more.
Thanks for reading!
