It's very safe to say that I'm always in search of the magic optic that will turn my rifle, pistol or shotgun into the magic wand that never misses. It's equally safe to say that I realize what I'm looking for is anything that can help me focus on objects that are now only sharply in focus without optical assistance in my fuzzy memory.

Unfortunately, I'm learning today that optics I thought weren't doing the job for me in the past weren't bad, they were incorrectly utilized. The problem, honestly, was operator error, not faulty optics.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2042801.jpeg> EOTech's model XPS-2 sight and accompanying/optional G-23 magnifier. High-tech optics that, when correctly applied, produced repeatable accurate hits at some very long ranges. They're slightly separated for the photo. Jim Shepherd photo.

One of those devices was the holosight. I first tested one from Bushnell and, honestly, couldn't do much with it. After spending a goodly amount of time on a couple of today's modern variants from L3/EOTech (they licensed that original technology to Bushnell), I realize I wasn't operating the sight correctly.

It took a trip to Gunsite and some hands-on instruction from EOTech. There, I learned that one of my problems was the old-timer habit to, well, spend too-much time looking at my target. The holographic concept puts the sight out there where you can get a hit by simply putting the crosshairs on the target and smoothly pressing the trigger. I'm not going to get into the optical magic that's required to make it so effortless, because, frankly, I'm not qualified to explain the such a complicated manufacturing process. It is safe to say there's a lot of research and development put into their sights and magnifiers.

Running the Scrambler field course, I completed the course with no misses using the EOTech non-magnified optic atop Smith & Wesson's new model M&P -15 Sport. It's S&W's new basic gun - and paired with the high-end EOTech optic provided a great all-round shooting platform for a price that isn't priced to be a budget-buster for most shooters.

When I really understood the versatility of the combination XPS-2/G-23 was when I went to the longer-distance rifle ranges. I say longer-distances, because for my tired eyes, 300 yards is a very-long distance. It's still considered mid-range to top level shooters. I don't doubt that a good shooter could produce hits on a target well beyond my comfort zones, but I'm convinced that you should never take a shot at a target beyond your comfort zone. With adequate magnification and a stable rest, that's about 600 yards for me. With the AR/XPS-2/G-23 combination, 300 yards was very comfortable from a supported position.

By simply adding the G-23 to the back of my sight, I could go from 1-3x magnification with very little thought. With the A-65 reticle (65MOA circle with 4 MOA dots), it was a simple deal to adjust my point of aim for the distance. And the fact the reticle stays at 1 MOA meant consistency at either zero or 3x magnification.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2042802.jpeg> With the G-23 flipped to the side, I could either use the basic sight window for close-quarters, or flip up my backup iron sights for more confident shots at longer distances. Jim Shepherd photo.

The EOTech mount with its ambidextrous flip lever meant I had the option of having the G-23 flip left or right, according to your personal preference. If you're a lefty with a left-handed rifle, you'll really appreciate that ability. It also came with a 7mm riser to make certain it aligned precisely with the XPS-2.

Another feature made possible by the G-23's flip to side mount was the fact I could flip it to the side and flip up by backup iron sights. I know the EOTech XPS-2 window can be used for close-range aiming, but having the backup iron sights is another confidence builder for shots out to my 125 yard comfort range.

Like most mil-spec optics, these aren't inexpensive, but when it comes to high-quality optics, I'm a believer in spending for the best gear I can afford. As individual items, I've seen the EXP-2 online at around $500 and the G-23 running about $550. As a combo, I've seen them at $998 online.