Holy Warrior S1 EXPS3 vs EXPS3-style clones: why it leads the pack

All the sights below are EXPS3-style LED reflex optics for airsoft. They copy the form factor and user experience of the EOTECH EXPS3. The Holy Warrior S1 EXPS3 stands out on build, glass, brightness control, and mounting.

What sets the Holy Warrior S1 EXPS3 apart

• Build quality
  • CNC 7075 aluminium housing and hood.
  • Tight machining, clean anodising, solid lever with adjustable tension.
  • Better impact resistance than the 6061 bodies seen on many rivals.

• Optics and reticle
  • High-transmittance glass and low tint.
  • Crisp 65 MOA circle with 1 MOA dot style reticle.
  • 30 brightness levels with true low settings that work better behind Gen 1 and Gen 2+ NODs than most clones.

• Mount and zero
  • Quick-detach lever on a 20 mm Picatinny footprint.
  • Consistent return-to-zero when remounting.
  • Positive windage and elevation clicks that track as expected.

• Compatibility
  • Pairs cleanly with G33/G43-style magnifiers at the correct height.
  • Fits common flip-up BUIS without crowding the rail.

• UK buying notes
  • Typically £150 from UK retailers.
  • Good stock, quick dispatch, and easier warranty support than imports. You can buy from us for £145 and get next day dispatch and 24 hour delivery.

Key competitors you’ll actually find in the UK

Typical UK price bands in 2024–2025:

• Holy Warrior S1 EXPS3: £150
• Aim-O EXPS3: £85–£120
• WADSN EXPS3: £60–£95
• JJ Airsoft EXPS3/558-style: £70–£110
• Element EXPS3: £45–£70

Aim-O EXPS3 (multiple variants)

• Pros
  • Solid mid-tier glass with moderate tint.
  • Decent brightness range with multiple steps.
  • Compatible with G33-style magnifiers and standard Picatinny rails.
  • Widely stocked in the UK and EU.

• Cons
  • Usually 6061 aluminium rather than 7075.
  • NV-labelled settings are often just dimmer daylight modes and can bloom under NODs.
  • Occasional QC variance on mounts and turret tracking.

WADSN EXPS3 (various SKUs)

• Pros
  • Strong value. Often the lowest price while still looking the part.
  • Functional QD lever and simple controls.
  • Glass coatings have improved across recent batches.
  • Big community user base and easy to find spares like lens guards.

• Cons
  • QC variance across batches. Reticle halo and tint can vary.
  • NV use is mixed. Some units too bright at the lowest step behind Gen 1/2+ NODs.
  • Turret feel can be soft. Tracking not as consistent as higher-end clones.

• Best for
  • Budget builds or loaner guns where cost is key and minor issues are acceptable.

JJ Airsoft EXPS3/558-style

• Pros
  • Good feature set for the money. Clean reticle on many units.
  • Often ships with extras like a killflash or lens cover.
  • Compatible height for magnifiers.

• Cons
  • Tinted window on some runs that darkens the view.
  • Brightness range can feel compressed. Mid steps jump quickly.
  • Battery life reports vary. Some units drain faster at mid–high settings.

• Best for
  • Players who want a feature-rich package at a fair price and don’t mind reduced vision due to glass tint.

Element EXPS3

• Pros
  • Very low cost entry point.
  • Light weight. Simple controls.
  • Easy to source on marketplaces.

• Cons
  • Glass tint and reticle bloom more noticeable.
  • QD lever slop on some units. Can shift zero if knocked.
  • Some versions use button cells instead of CR123A. Shorter runtime.

• Best for
  • First-time buyers testing the EXPS3 format on a strict budget where money is more important than gameplay.

Why the Holy Warrior S1 EXPS3 comes out on top

• Strongest housing
  • 7075 aluminium is a clear material upgrade for this class. It shrugs off knocks and rail torque better than 6061 units.

• Best brightness control
  • 30 steps give you daylight punch and very low settings for NODs. Many clones offer fewer steps or a lowest level that is still too bright for night games.

• Cleaner glass
  • High-transmission lens coating and lower tint help with target ID in UK woodland and overcast light. Less colour shift than budget rivals.

• More consistent zero
  • The QD lever and base have tighter tolerances. Players report better return-to-zero when removing it for a magnifier or transport.
    
    
• Best low parallax
  
  
• Great NV compatibility

• UK support and availability
  • Regular UK stock at around £150 means easy returns and fast replacement if needed. That matters during season.

Important expectations for all EXPS3-style airsoft clones

• These are LED reflex sights styled like an EXPS3. They are not true holographic units like the real EOTECH.
• Parallax is low but not zero. Keep a consistent cheek weld for best results.
• NV performance depends on your tube, ambient light, and the sight’s lowest brightness step. The S1’s low levels are among the most usable, but test with your own NODs.

Use cases

• CQB and urban
  • Run the S1 solo for maximum speed and peripheral vision.
• Woodland and milsim
  • Pair with a G33/G43-style 3x magnifier. The S1 sits at the right height to flip behind it without alignment issues.
• GBBR builds
  • The stronger housing and tighter mount tolerances help it hold zero under recoil better than budget clones.

Read more about the Holy Warrior HWO S1 here.