Holosun, a relative newcomer on the optics scene, has taken the market by storm by offering high-performing optics at an affordable price. Founded in 2013, Holosun manufactures its optics in China, which helps keep the costs down. Still, it has managed to keep the quality up and push the envelope on innovation. Although we’re still waiting for its foray into the magnified scope game, Holosun produces a number of red dot sights and reflex optics for both rifles and handguns. I’ll cover the top options for 2024.
EPS
The Holosun EPS, or Enclosed Pistol Sight, is a full-sized, enclosed handgun sight featuring an aspheric lens for a perfectly clear sight picture. The MRS variation incorporates Holosun’s multi-reticle system, which allows shooters to select between a 32 MOA circle with 2 MOA dot, 2 MOA dot only, or 32 MOA ring only — without losing zero. The optic is also available with either a 2 MOA or 6 MOA green or red dot for those who prefer a minimalistic sight picture.
Notably, the EPS has an incredibly low dot height to allow cowitnessing with most factory iron sights. The 650nm red Super LED provides up to 50,000 hours of battery life from the CR1620 battery. The Holosun EPS also includes shake awake technology, with 8 daylight and 4 night vision compatible brightness settings.
Additionally, Holosun offers EPS Carry models with a smaller Shield RMS footprint designed for better concealment.
507C X2
Incorporating Holosun’s efficient LED technology, the 507C X2 has a solar cell that works in tandem with a CR1632 to provide dual power supplies and an impressive 100,000 hours of battery life. The optic features the Multiple Reticle System as well, and it is equipped with shake awake motion-activated technology to ensure it is ready when you need it on every draw. With so many features for the price, it’s hard to beat the 507C X2, which is why it’s so popular. With the same footprint as the Trijicon RMR, it provides you with a similar setup for around half the cost.
Additionally, Holosun offers a 507Comp with the company’s new Competition Reticle System. The CRS is an enhanced multi-reticle system with four components, including a precision 2 MOA dot, 8 MOA circle, 20 MOA circle, and 32 MOA circle with multiple combination settings to suit the shooter’s preference.
509T X2
The Holosun 509T X2 is a hard-use optic that’s designed for handgun use, but the optic is just at home on a rifle as well. The 509T features a lightweight and durable titanium housing. The closed emitter system seals the electronic components and protects the optic from shock and the elements. A solar panel and “failsafe” guarantee ensures that should your battery fail, you’ll always have a backup power source. The upgraded X2 version adds improved glass clarity and a lock mode to keep your settings in place. Like most Holosun optics, it incorporates Holosun’s Multiple Reticle System for added versatility.
510C
For those looking for the benefits of an open emitter design on a long gun, such as a wider field of view and lighter weight, look no further than the Holosun 510C. The 510C is a versatile open reflex optic specifically designed for long gun applications. The durable design is perfect for carbines, PCCs, and shotguns. The optic features an aluminum housing with titanium hood for added shock resistance and includes a QD absolute co-witness mount.
The 510C is packed with typical Holosun innovation, including a solar failsafe, shake awake, MRS, and Super LED with up to 50,000 hour battery life and 10 daylight/2 night vision intensity settings.
403
The 403 is an affordable rifle red dot that helped build the Holosun name. The 20mm tube design is simple, robust, and cost-effective. This is a great option for those just getting into shooting with a red dot or who want something basic for a standard AR-15 or MSR.
The 2 MOA dot has 10 daylight and 2 night vision compatible brightness settings. With Super LED technology, the 403 has a 50,000 hour battery life off a single CR203 battery. It can withstand high levels of shock and vibration, and is water-resistant.
There’s a “R” version with a rotary switch to select reticle intensity, a “B” version with buttons to adjust brightness, and a “C” version with an added solar failsafe to ensure your reticle is always ready. Whichever you choose, you’re getting a dependable optic.
AEMS
The Holosun AEMS, or Advanced Enclosed Micro Sight, is a compact optical sight with a larger lens and twice the surface area of standard 20mm micro-style sights for an increased field of view. The AEMS is constructed from 7075 aluminum and includes a proprietary lower 1/3 co-witness Picatinny mount.
The AEMS features include glass flip-down lens covers, Holosun’s Multiple Reticle System with a precision 2 MOA dot inside a 65 MOA circle, solar failsafe, and shake awake technology. A side-mounted battery tray houses a single 2032 battery that provides up to 50,000 hours of battery life. Further, Holosun’s red Super LED provides 12 intensity settings, 4 of which are night vision compatible.
SCRS
The SCRS, or Solar Charging Rifle Sight, advances Holosun’s solar technology to create a new compact 20mm tube sight designed for long gun applications. The SCRS features light sensors and an advanced auto mode for automatic reticle intensity adjustment. The optic also includes a mode for manual control of dot intensity.
SCRS is made from 7075 aluminum and includes a lower 1/3 co-witness mount that utilizes Holosun’s proven 509T footprint for compatibility with third-party offset mounts. SCRS is available with a 2 MOA dot only, as well as Holosun’s Multiple Reticle System (2 MOA dot/65 MOA circle) with a 50,000-hour battery life. Further, the optic incorporates 12 reticle intensity settings, four of which are compatible with night vision devices.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking for a duty-ready optic for self-defense or a budget red dot for the range, Holosun has an option — or a few — for you. Its innovative designs feature the quality and affordability modern shooters appreciate. The only trouble is deciding on which one you want to pick up first.
I prefer the Holosun HE507K-GR with the ACSS Vulcan reticle. The large circle around the dot that guides your eyes back to the dot is a game changer.
Bob Campbell is the greatest since Bryce Tousley. But, to Holosun. I have used them for several years and never had occasion to contact customer service. No problems yet. They are all on 10mm’s and recoil on some is stiff. Hundreds of rounds in several pistols.
But I just was diagnosed as having astigmatism for the first time in my life a couple of months back. I was having trouble with dot sights blooming at higher brightness levels in bright sunlight.
My eye doc told me to look at the chevron reticle, as several of his patients said it solved the dot blooming problem when you have astigmatism. I now have 3 Holosuns with the patented chevron reticle and I find them very precise and no issue at high brightness levels as I used to.
The tip of the chevron makes for very precise aiming and is just slightly superior to dots in precision, and so groups get a bit better. Off the bench, I find the chevron decidedly more precise. Offhand, still more precise, but not as great an increase as off the bench. Could it be me??
By the way, I gave up on mounting enclosed lamp sights low enough to use standard back up sights and instead followed the advice of “Ox” to learn to shoot with a broken dot. I now find, after a while, that I get quite acceptable center mass hits with the reticle off and two lines, one on top of the optic housing and the other right down the middle of the back of the optic sight base that lines up with the front sight when the muzzle is tilted up. At normal aiming, when the front sight is invisible, the line on the optic base works acceptably well — not competition accurate but good enough to put a world of hurt on anyone before my pistol certainly out to 7 yards and possibly 10 yards. If they are farther out, I hope I do not have to shoot. I just float the target in the middle of the blank optic window in line with the line on the base and blaze away. No more money on back up, suppressor height, etc. sights. Just use the lines on my optic. It took some practice but now doable. More money for practice ammo and less on backup sights.
I have had very good luck with Holosun products. I much prefer the circle with dot sight as well. It’s much easier and faster for me to find and use.
Hi do use deliver to the uk mainland scopes and gunbags
Well, their products are DOA for me since they come from Red China.
I had the only Holosun that ever gave up, one of the oldest models- it may have been dropped a time or two. I e mailed customer service, had a reply in exactly five minutes, they sent a label for shipping. Back in about 31 days.
That says a lot.
The three shops I deal with locally have sold hundreds and no returns.