Crafted by the deviously brilliant minds at EOTech, the XPS2-Z2 “Zombie Stopper” holographic weapon sight is a work of art. Built off of their highly-successful XPS-2 line of holographic sights, the Zombie Stopper brings some undead flair to the mix with a special edition reticle and paint scheme.
Many airsoft players ask if an optic makes a difference in your play, and my response to that is it depends on how fanatical you are. Many casual airsofters are happy with “walking” their BBs onto their intended targets sans optic. If you are more serious about the game, however, you probably know that a properly-zeroed optic can reduce the time it takes you to acquire and successfully hit your target by sometimes a matter of game-saving seconds. Of course, airsoft guns are not nearly as predictable as real steel firearms, so there will always be some level of inherent inaccuracy – but a good optic definitely lessens that effect.
Another factor in rifle optics – mainly red dot sights where a laser beam is reflected off of a lens, is a condition known as the “parallax effect”. On red dot sights, when viewed from any other angle than directly down the center-line of the optic, the red dot will shift due to the technology that creates it. This means that if you are not lined up properly, you can decrease your accuracy quite a bit. With EOTech’s holographic technology, the optic is parallax-free. You can aim off the center-line, at weird angles, upside down, you name it, and be just as accurate so long as the reticle is still pointing where you want it to. If you want to extend your EOTech’s zoom, you can even attach one of those cool, flip-out image magnifier tubes in front of it. The tech will adjust and still give you proper aim. It’s a very cool technology that, unfortunately, also comes with a hefty price point.
This EOTech XPS2-Z2 has an MSRP of $589.00 dollars but you can find it for a bit cheaper at various online retailers. Obviously, this is more expensive than the cheap red dot sights many airsoft players use. However, if you are a MilSim airsoft player or someone with the spare cash to spend, you will not find a better sight for your airsoft gun. Or, perhaps you will swap the Zombie Stopper out on your real steel AR platform when not playing airsoft – the choice is yours.
Obviously, you will want to protect your Zombie Stopper when in the middle of an airsoft game. I highly suggest shopping around for one of the acrylic EOTech lens protectors on the market. Stay away from the cheap plastic model being sold by most airsoft retailers – that model will distort your image and can be somewhat difficult to attach thanks to its low build tolerances. The acrylic model is a bit more expensive, but will protect your XPS2-Z2’s lens from just about anything in the airsoft world.
Installing the EOTech XPS2-Z2 is very simple, and the mounting platform on the base of the sight simple attaches to your picatinny rail and tightens down via a built-in bolt. Zeroing is equally easy, as the adjustment screws are crisp with audible detents. Once zeroed, I found no noticeable reticle drift – even after several days’ worth of airsoft games. Even after removing the sight and putting it back into its hard-shelled carrying case for several days – once re-attached to my airsoft gun’s rail, it was right back on target. I should note that I did not get a chance to try the Zombie Stopper on a real steel firearm yet, but will update this review once I do.
Beyond its performance, this version of EOTech’s XPS2 holo sight features a green, zombie-inspired paint scheme and a very cool, special edition reticle shaped like a bio-hazard symbol. At first, I thought the reticle might be a bit distracting, but it turned out to be no trouble at all. Another thing I like about this EOTech sight as opposed to some of the red dot sights I have used is just how much real estate you have looking through the sight window. It is a fairly wide field of view which helps you aim – with one or both eyes open, depending on your technique.
Overall, the EOTech XPS2-Z2 Zombie Stopper holographic sight is an exceptional optic for quickly acquiring and engaging a target. It is made for real steel shooting, so it can easily handle anything the game of airsoft can throw its way. If you have the available cash, I highly-recommend picking one up.
[easyreview title=”EOTech XPS2-Z2 Zombie Stopper holographic sight Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]
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