EOTech as a company was formed in 1995 as a spinoff of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor’s Environmental Research Lab, specifically to commercialize holographic weapon sights. Their first product was the Model 400, released in collaboration with Bushnell as the Holosight. They partnered with Bushnell because that was one of the biggest names in firearms optics at the time. EOTech had hologram expertise and manufactured the sights, but no commercial presence. Bushnell provided that, giving the new product access to a major marketing base. The collaboration worked very well, and the optic sold successfully.
The 400/Holosight uses two N-cell batteries, and it fitted with Weaver rail mounts. Because of its quite low battery life, it actually includes a battery check button. It also includes interchangeable reticles, which was pretty easy to do thanks to the nature of how holograms work. The standard reticle was the now-familiar 65 MOA circle/dot, but EOTech made 6 or 8 other reticles as well, including things like a tombstone shape to match the AP-1 target used in the Bianchi Cup.
The main market for the Holosight was action pistol competition, and many of them ended up attached to 1911 pistols by way of a levered frame mount. After about 4 or 5 years, EOTech refined the design and created the 500 series sight, and the 400 ceased production in approximately 2000.
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