Holosun 508T Review – The RMR Killer?
BY Herschel Smith
2 years, 8 months ago
He obviously likes the Holosun.
It’s Chinese. We all know that. It’s also less expensive than the Trijicon RMR.
If Trijicon wants to compete against a product just as good and less expensive, they’re going to have to do it by coming down on price. I hope someone who works for Trijicon is reading this.
It’s just that simple. Yea, you can make the claim that you don’t want to fund business in China. That’s all well and good. But every unnecessary penny you spend now will affect your future wealth or the wealth of your children’s children.
So Americans can get their righteous indignation on, but when it comes to spending wealth, the case becomes much more complex. God has expectations for what we do with our wealth. So go ahead and play that balancing act – you know that’s what’s going on. And I don’t mind pointing it out.
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On April 6, 2022 at 10:44 pm, Ratus said:
I look at it like this, I was able to get four good reliable Holosun Red Dots for the price of one Aimpoint (also an import, Sweden). I count that as a better use of those funds, four rifles with an improved sighting system vs just the one.
As for RMR sized pistol dots, it’s about two or three to one for these depending on the model. But again it’s a more functional device vs the dot only RMR and somewhat more reliable than the US version.
Also, a Red Dot on a pistol is going to be better for those with aging or less than ideal eye sight.
At worse it’s “put big blurry red blob on bad guy, shoot.” At best it’s closer to “I can see it without using my bifocals!”
With a lower cost of entry on top of all the other benefits, I’d consider this a win.
And to soothe some of the “Don’t buy Chinese gear” crowd, most of the money is going to the US company not the manufacturer in China.
On April 6, 2022 at 10:47 pm, Herschel Smith said:
Yea I was just pricing out the difference in price. Goor Lord! Up to about $800 for an RMR for the most expensive model.
On April 7, 2022 at 1:50 am, Georgiaboy61 said:
Trijicon has long been charging outlandish prices for its products. The company invented a technology – the Bildon both-eyes open aiming concept and the optic to use it, the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight, or ACOG – and have been living it up ever since, getting fat and complacent on government military and LE contracts which paid top dollar. Easy to spend the dough when it belongs to the taxpayers, and even easier to charge top dollar when they aren’t even at the negotiating table.
Trijicon had a lengthy run of success selling their optics to the military, from the 1980s up to a few years ago, when someone else finally beat them for the contract to supply the Army with optics, namely Sig-Sauer. Now, after years of neglect of the civilian market, Trijicon’s executives all of a sudden want our business again! Gee, feature that!
They make good but overpriced products…. I’m OK with letting ’em sweat a while and maybe think about pricing their products more competitively, before this buyer considers them as an option again.
On April 7, 2022 at 9:46 am, luke2236 said:
Yes, God indeed has some expectations on what one does with one’s wealth, and that does NOT include wasting it on/with the red chinese. Period.
There are millions of reasons to not send money to the chinese – and I dont care if some of it ends up with the importer or retailer or not – but consider this since the Word was brought into this discussion – remember that “he who fails to provide for his own is worse than an unbeliever.” And it is NOT talking about immediate family – that is covered also, but is talking about kinsmen, both/mainly racially as well as nationally.
Due to treason in high places and the worship of mammon all over, I understand that we are stuck with certain amounts of products from red china , but one should avoid them like a plague, especially if an alternative is available.
On April 7, 2022 at 9:57 am, George 1 said:
I was of the same disposition as the narrator up until a few months ago. I was not prepared to believe that the Holosuns were as durable as the RMR. But they have certainly proved themselves. Multiple credible testers have shown the 508 and the 509 are good optics. The 509 is the enclosed emitter and that style will probably be the standard in a few years.
I paid about $450.00 for my Type 2 RMRs. Euro Optic has them for about that price today when I checked. I could get a 508 for about $80.00 less but with more features. The price differentials are a lot more when it comes to rifle red dots in comparison to the Aimpoints.
If I buy another micro sight I would certainly look at the 509. Enclosed emitter at about $500.00. The Aimpoint P2, if you can find one will, will be about $100.00 more. Steiner has come out with a, so far, well reviewed mico optic, the MPS. It is priced around the $500.00 area and is also an enclosed emitter.
So Trijicon had better get their game on. Specifically they had better develop an enclosed emitter micro pretty soon. They will also need to keep it in that $500.00 range. Previously they could claim durability however others have caught up.
On April 7, 2022 at 11:23 am, Fred said:
All in, the IRS with various State and Locals, get 50% of every dollar. The white socialists running America now are no better than the chinks. They’re all commies, they all hate you, they all want you broke and dead in that order.
I buy Holosun. Good stuff. the commies get their cut either way.
On April 7, 2022 at 12:50 pm, RHT447 said:
I do not (yet) own an RMR type handgun sight. However, I do have a 512C (red) for an AR platform–
https://www.brownells.com/optics-mounting/electronic-sights/red-dot-sights/hs512c-red-dot-sight-prod145243.aspx?avs%7cManufacturer_1=holosun
The price at he link is only $10 more than I paid for mine in 2019. Note they also offer a gold color option specifically for those who are color blind.
Love this sight. At the time of purchase, I was beginning to suffer from cataracts. This sight was a life saver. Have since had cataract/lens replacement surgery. No I can see the BUIS too. Hooah.
On April 7, 2022 at 3:11 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
The Holosun HS510C series of open reflex sights have a lot of nice features for the money, including multiple reticles from which to choose (three types, button-selectable), a solar backup power supply, an LED with a battery life of 50,000 hours, and “shake-awake” activation. Twelve brightness settings, ten daytime and two night-vision compatible. Parallax-free and unlimited eye relief. CR2032 battery.
The reticle features a 65 moa circle with hash-marks at 12, 3, 6 and 9o’clock, with a 2 moa center dot. Users familiar with EOTech reticles will find these easy to use.
Retail price @ $ 364.69, but street value often near or even under $300.
They’re very good optics, a less-expensive option if EOTech is too expensive for you.
@ Fred is right: Here or there, the communists seem to get their cut. They say they hate guns, but they sure don’t seem to mind profiting from them.
On April 7, 2022 at 3:12 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
One last point: The HS510C is a rifle and carbine optic, and is not intended for handgun use.
On April 7, 2022 at 3:29 pm, Matt said:
I have a couple of Holosun HS510C’s. I’ll second Georgiaboy61. They are very good.
On April 7, 2022 at 8:51 pm, James said:
I have a aim point(love it) and really like my friends acog.
That said,both have reputations for being good when treated roughly,friends including friends in military also back this review as far as durability.
To those who own the Holosun do you feel in tough treatment they will keep on ticking?
I would much rather pay a lower cost but not at the cost of durability,thanks for any insights from owners.
On April 8, 2022 at 2:14 am, Georgiaboy61 said:
@ James
There is absolutely no question that the Trijicon ACOG and the Aimpoint sights have earned their spurs in combat. They have, and I fully get why a lot of grunts and former grunts have a strong allegiance to these companies and their products. Larry Vickers, who is ex-SOF-D (Delta Force), still endorses Aimpoint, and a lot of guys like ACOGs still.
If durability is important to you, then you won’t go wrong with either product.
Just be aware that Trijicon has a rep for treating civilian customers like cr*p and not paying a whole lot of attention to that part of their business. I used to own a TA11H-G 3.5×35 ACOG, and my experience with the company was a nightmare.
Trijicon had installed the wrong reticle in the optic, and refused to even consider a return or an exchange, even though I was the original owner. When I countered that anyone dropping $1,300 on an optic deserved better, they said my best option was to sell it used and take the loss.
A friend of mine (I’d rather not divulge his name) is a high-level optics engineer for a well-known company in the firearms industry and he offered to take a look at it for me, and he confirmed my suspicion that Trijicon was at fault. So, I sold it and never looked back… but since then I have boycotted Trijicon and its products.
I’d rather patronize companies that treat their customers well and stand behind their products.
My experiences may not be typical, granted, but that’s my story and I am sticking to it.
On April 8, 2022 at 2:20 am, Georgiaboy61 said:
@ James
One other point: EOTech, Aimpoint, Trijicon,and other companies that do a lot of business with the U.S. armed forces are not immune to problems. You may recall the difficulty EOTech had some years ago when an embarrassing disclosure was made that their flagship 553 model was suffering failures and shifts in zero at certain extreme of temperature. I don’t know their products well-enough to remember how or if the issue was resolved, but I know it happened.
And failures like those are just the ones we’ve heard about – there may be more that have not become public knowledge.
Optics of all kinds have made enormous strides in durability, but if that is important to you, have back-up iron sights. No optic can take abuse in the field indefinitely without mal’fing.
On April 8, 2022 at 9:37 am, Matt said:
@James: I also have Aimpoint red dots and they are very good as well. I agree with Georgiaboy61’s assessment that field abuse is going to eventually lead to an optic having a malfunction. Like any other piece of equipment wear and tear does catch up. And of course any product manufactured in large quantities are going to have some that are flat out duds.
On April 9, 2022 at 6:38 am, James said:
Georgia and Matt,thanks for your input/thoughts,and no worries,they all start with BUIS!The glass ect. is just the final topping!