Which EOTech Magnifier Is Best For Your Setup?

When you’re running an EOTech holographic sight, a magnifier can be an extremely beneficial add-on. Whether for PID, spotting, or stretching your effective distance, a flip-to-side magnifier helps you get more out of your optic without giving up speed.

But which magnifier is the best: the G33, G43, or G45? They’re all solid choices for a magnifier, but they serve different use cases depending on distance, weight, rail space, and optic compatibility. What your purpose is and the style of your build will determine which magnifier you should chose.

Our team at Defense Distributors has broken down how to figure out what works best for your setup.

What is a Magnifier?

A magnifier is an optical accessory designed to work in tandem with a red dot or holographic sight, providing the shooter with increased magnification when needed. Unlike traditional scopes, magnifiers don’t have built-in reticles or adjustments for aiming—instead, they simply enlarge the reticle and sight picture of your primary optic, often in 3x or 5x magnification.

Mounted behind the red dot, many magnifiers feature a flip-to-side or quick-detach mechanism, allowing shooters to switch rapidly between close-quarters engagement and longer-range precision. This makes them a versatile choice for anyone who wants extended reach without sacrificing speed or situational awareness.

The Best EOTech Magnifiers

Now, EOTech magnifiers are premium optical tools built to enhance the performance of red dot and holographic sights by offering crystal-clear magnification without compromising speed. Known for their rugged construction and field-tested reliability, EOTECH magnifiers typically come in 3x and 5x options, making them ideal for shooters who need to quickly transition between close-quarters and mid-range targets.

With features like flip-to-side mounts, adjustable diopters, and generous eye relief, these magnifiers deliver sharp clarity and fast target acquisition. Whether for tactical use, hunting, or range shooting, EOTECH magnifiers are trusted for their durability, precision, and seamless integration with the brand’s renowned holographic sights.

EOTech G33 Magnifier: The Base Choice

The G33 is the most fielded of EOTech’s magnifiers, and for good reason. It's rugged, reliable, and gives you a clean 3x magnification behind your holographic sight. This is the magnifier you'll see mounted comonly on duty rifles everywhere.

The eye relief is decent at 2.2 inches, just enough if you don’t have a rear iron sight in the way. If you do, prepare to mount it a little further forward, which will reduce your FOV slightly.

Best for: General-purpose use with 3x clarity at mid-range.

EOTech G43: Compact and Smaller

The G43 gives you the same 3x magnification as the G33, but in a much smaller footprint. If you're running out of rail space, want a lighter build, or are working with a PDW or SBR setup, this is a good pick.

The eye relief is slightly better than the G33 at 2.5 inches, which can help if you're mounting over or near a backup rear sight. However, this will be negated by the fact that the magnifier itself is smaller and thus you will have more issues utilizing the G43 with rear iron sights than you will the G33 or G45. Iron sight clearance is often overlooked, but critical. If your rear BUIS is tall or not offset, you'll want to test placement carefully.

Best for: Compact builds or builds without a rear iron sight.

EOTech G45: Further Clarity

The G45 offers 5x magnification without stepping into LPVO territory. It’s heavier and longer than the G43 or G33, but if your use case involves longer PID ranges, spotting, or engaging targets past 300 yards, the G45 starts to make sense.

It still uses the same Side-Flip mount, but you'll need more rail space and more eye relief (2.6 inches) to make it work well. However, if you need the clarity at distance it's worth the sacrifice.

Best for: Distance identification with precision.

Good Red Dots to Pair a Magnifier With

All of these magnifiers pair best with EOTech holographic sights. If you don’t already have one, here are some solid options:

• EOTech EXPS3: Night vision compatible, compact footprint.
• EOTech XPS2: Lightweight and clean, great for daytime use.
• EOTech 512: AA battery powered and cheaper.

Final Thoughts

There’s no single “best” EOTech magnifier, only the one that fits your build and use case. Hopefully this helps to give you a simple guide to which magnifier best fits each situation and setup.

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