The Leupold LCO has been a very successful red dot optic on the market, and many people are comparing it with the EOTech holographic sight.
When you compare Leupold LCO vs EOTech, The Leupold LCO definitely newer with better battery life, field of view & size.
The EOTech EXPS3 has been a great holographic optic the block for a very long time and its slightly bigger.
The company L3 Technologies also makes some of the greatest laser, aerospace, software and other defense-related high tech communication products and much more.
So in this comparison guide, we're gonna check out these two and see which one is a better buy.
Leupold LCO VS EOTech EXPS3 Comparison
Invalid table id.Check out more: Best Red Dot Sight for Tactical Carbines
Size & Weight
Image Referenced Leupold
When comparing these two optics side by side, the EOTech EXPS3 definitely feels a little bit taller and wider than the Leupold LCO when mounting on a standard AR15. However, that isn't a big deal because it still feels very compact.
The EOTech EXPS3, the letter “E” stands for Extreme with a 7 mm raised base, which makes it 1/3rd co-witness ready. 3.8″ in length and about 2.5″ in height and width, weighing 11.2 oz.
The Leupold LCO (Leupold Carbine Optic) is about 3.6″ in length and 2.2″ in height and width, weighing just 9.5 oz.
As far as size & weight goes, the Leupold LCO is a more compact and lighter optic.
Build Quality
The Leupold LCO and EOTech EXPS3 are built with high aerospace-grade aluminum housing (6061 T6) that can take the physical beating.
The EOTech was awarded the Battle-Proven USSOCOM 2018 for providing high-quality close-quarter optic for the U.S. military after a 19-year relationship between USSOCOM and EOTech.
The Leupold LCO is also a high-quality optic just like anything produced by Leupold. Based on the external design of the optic, it very much feels like an Aimpoint and EOTech hybrid.
Even though EOTech has fielded more units throughout military and police units around the world, the Leupold LCO is a newer and light optic that is still gaining its respect in the community.
Price
These two optics are in the $560 – $600 range, and the good thing is that you don't have to purchase aftermarket optic mount for it.
For the price, the Leupold LCO has a better battery, which we will talk about next.
Battery Life
Constantly changing batteries every couple of weeks isn't the best thing in the world. Based on industry-standard, 50,000 hrs is the new norm.
Both optics use a single 123A battery to power the sight, however, their performance is very different.
The Leupold LCO comes on top in this comparison because its 4-5 years of battery life by featuring its Motion Sensor Technology that automatically turns off when it's sitting still, which further lengthen the battery life. It turns back on when motion is detected.
Based on Leupold's tech data, the LCO lasts 96 hours on medium setting. It sounds very little, but in my personal experience, this thing has been working for almost 2 years without ever dying.
The bad part of having motion sensor technology is that if it's mounted your truck rifle, then it's constantly on due to motion, and it could drain the battery.
The EOTech EXPS3 however, only has 600 to 1000 hrs of battery on medium brightness setting without any auto-shutoff feature. Many EOTech owners hate the fact that if they forget to turn it off, the battery will die.
Mount Options
The Leupold LCO uses a weaver style keeper nut and the EOTech EXPS3 uses a single MIL-STD 1913 weaver style quick-release throw lever mount. Both optics will fit on any rail platform.
The great thing about the mount from these two optics is that they stay tight on the rifle, and they hold zero very well.
In addition, you can adjust the torque tension on the mount to absolutely ensure it will not fall off the rifle during sharp recoil cycles and hold zero.
Reticle Parallax
When it comes to reticle parallax, the Holographic reticle tends to do a lot better than a red dot because of the projection method. EOTech EXPS3 has near-perfect optic parallax that allows the shooter to accurately aim at the target even with a slight head position movement.
At 10 – 15 yards, the EOTech has a slight vertical parallax shift, which is expected when the target distance is close.
The Leupold LCO is just as good as the EOTech, however, I did notice some vertical and horizontal parallax shift at close ranges much more than the EOTech.
If near-perfect parallax is what you really want, then the EOTech EXPS3 is the choice.
Reticle Patterns & Dot Sizes
Image Referenced Gunsandammo
The Leupold LCO features a standard 1 MOA center dot that is crisp and bright, which stands out in blinding sunlight or rain. You can quickly change the intensity of up to 16 brightness settings to match your condition.
It's truly an all-purpose sight that you're going to love for many years to come.
After field-testing the LCO, it's definitely an accurate optic for engaging long-distance targets with a 1 MOA dot, however, when it comes to CQB applications the EOTech's center dot plus outer 68 MOA ring reticle just feels so much easier when acquiring up close targets without obscuring the target.
When it comes to estimating ranges and target holdovers, the EOTech EXPS3 with a magnifier is much better. It offers 3 different reticles with bullet drop compensators up to 300 meters.
Image Referenced EOTech
The advantage of using the EOTech's reticle is its superior shooting performance, rapid on target acquisition and accurate placement.
Lens Quality
Both of these optics have outstanding lens qualities as you look through them. The LCO has a light grey tint but it's not very noticeable at all, and the EOTech's lens is as clear as day.
In addition, both of them are water and fog proof that will withstand tough environments without lens edge distortion.
EOTech EXPS3 features a 1/8″ solid front glass and 3/16″ laminate rear window with anti-reflection coating, which makes the optic very clear.
The Leupold LCO features its proprietary nitrogen fill manufacturing process when making its outstanding lens quality.
Field of View
Image Referenced TREX ARMS
The LCO has a 32mm objective lens diameter, and its tapered body design helps to reduce the tunnel viewing effect, aka a better field of view.
The EOTech's field of view is great, however, its outer protective hood makes the sight looks bigger and it obscures part of the shooter's view.
For a wide field of view, I highly recommend the Leupold LCO.
Also check out: Best EOTech Magnifiers for EXPS3
Night Vision Compatibility
Leupold LCO doesn't have any night vision capability.
The EOTech EXPS3 is compatible with Generation I – III type night vision devices. The user can easily toggle between normal and night vision modes by pressing the NV button, and the site will remember the last brightness setting.
Personally, I don't have too much experience shooting with its night vision feature, so please reference EOTech EXPS3's user manual for more detail.
When it comes to night vision use, you have to go with the EOTech EXPS3.
Wrap Up
The Leupold LCO is a smaller, more compact and better battery savings optic compared to the EOTech EXPS3. Even though the EOTech holographic sights have been fielded throughout military and police units around the world, it shouldn't be a deciding factor for you as a civilian consumer.
When picking between the two optics, you need to know the purpose of your shooting application.
For CQB applications and easier target holdover, I highly recommend the EOTech's 68 MOA size reticle for fast on target acquisition. For all-purpose fast-action tactical shooting, you can't go wrong with the LCO.
I hope this article has given you some ideas on which optic to get, and please check out other content on our websites.
![Vortex AMG UH-1 Gen 2 Review [Holographic Sight]](https://www.badassoptic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/vortex-uh-1-amg-gen-2-270x162.png)
![11 RMR Footprint Optics [Updated 2024]](https://www.badassoptic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/holosun-507c-x2-vs-trijicon-rmr-frame-comparison-270x162.png)