Resisted for years getting a quality holo sight.  Sports Optics had an irresistable deal for $377 free shipping, and a mail in rebate of $75.

With my birthday gift from step-mom, will have a new EOTech for about $200. 

Could not bring myself to buy one of those Sightmark things, so now I find out about EOTech.

Any gotchas about setting it up and usage?  Will laser boresight it before zeroing.

I used to have a 512 and from what I recall they are super easy to use and zero. One thing maybe is to make sure she’s ok with the height of the mount (absolute co-witness).

I think I used the laser to boresight at home, but I recall the “look down the barrel and adjust method” was pretty quick to get on paper at 50 yards.

I also used lithium batteries, but nothing wrong with standard batteries.

I used to have a 512 and from what I recall they are super easy to use and zero. One thing maybe is to make sure she’s ok with the height of the mount (absolute co-witness).

I also used lithium batteries, but nothing wrong with standard batteries.

Have flip up sights and prefer staying at the same level.  Had an old Primary Arms M4 clone and did not like the 1/3 witness thing at all.  Poor cheek weld.

Lost too many electronic widgets to leaking alkalines, will only use lithium from now on.

Any thoughts on protection? I see GG&G flip up caps that apparently go under the cover, and the usual slip on sock type covers.

Sock type would be fine if not sloppy fitting.

Helped my friend get his first AR and he wanted a 512 with a magnifier. He loves it as his first optic. AA batteries are extremely abundant where ever you go so no need to worry about that and the reticle can be used as a range finder on a whim, just google some pictures.
Personally I like 1/3 cowitness with a front sight, but I can understand why it wont really work out with the eotech reticle.

I recommend just looking down the bore (assuming you're running an AR) and sight it in to a object 50 yards away than a laser boresighter. It should let put you on paper pretty close to where you're aiming when you hit the range. Never had any luck with those laser boresighters.

512 arrived, a bit surprised at the size and heft, but I suppose mil-tech drove the design.

Already had flip down sights, Matech in the back, and I prefer a consistent cheekweld and set up scopes with as low an axis as fold downs will allow..  I like the Eotech window much more than tube type red dots with the lack of clutter..

 Fiddling with fore-aft location.  Seems back almost to the irons gives a nice big window to look through.  Will not use a magnifier, would switch to a scope if I wanted that.

Since my iron sights are close to spot on and it is cowitness, i just adjusted so the dot is sitting on top of the front sight with a normal iron sight picture.

Should be close, other than I I want to zero at 100.  Inch or so off maybe.

Have a Scopecoat coming to protect it.  Thought about the GG&G flip ups but decides on the coat.

The GG&G quick release looks interesting, but not so needed unless i want to mount the scope I have with own quick releases..