For shooters looking for a feature-packed red dot sight that won’t break the bank, the Holosun HE503CU has become a go-to option. I recently took the plunge and mounted one on my AR-15, and let me tell you, I’m impressed.
Specs and Features:
- 2 MOA dot with a 65 MOA circle reticle (useful for quick acquisition and ranging)
- Shake Awake technology – automatically activates the reticle with movement
- Solar backup – extends battery life significantly (reportedly up to 50,000 hours!)
- IPX8 waterproof rating – takes a beating and keeps on ticking
- Lightweight and compact – perfect for AR pistols and lightweight builds
What Shines:
The 2 MOA dot is a great balance between precision and quick target acquisition. The 65 MOA circle helps you find the dot quickly and offers a rough aiming reference for close quarters. The Shake Awake is a game-changer – no more fumbling for buttons when the adrenaline kicks in. But the real star of the show is the solar backup. Paired with the excellent battery life, it practically eliminates the worry of a dead red dot when you need it most.
The Good, the Not-So-Good:
There’s not much to complain about here. The reticle can be a little large for some shooters who prefer a super precise dot, but the circle helps mitigate that. The only other minor gripe is some users report a slight reflection off the back of the emitter housing at certain angles. It’s not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of.
Putting it to the Test:
Since mounting the HE503CU, I’ve put it through its paces at the range and even on a carbine course. The sight performed flawlessly. The dot is crisp and clear, even in bright sunlight. The Shake Awake worked perfectly, and the solar backup gives me peace of mind. Overall, it’s a massive improvement over iron sights, allowing for faster target acquisition and more accurate shooting.
What Others Are Saying:
Customer reviews online largely echo my experience. Praises go to the long battery life, the intuitive controls, and the overall ruggedness of the sight. Some users recommend the green dot option for better visibility in low light conditions, but the red dot has worked well for me so far.
The Verdict:
The Holosun HE503CU is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a feature-rich, reliable red dot sight. It offers excellent value for the price and competes with sights costing significantly more. Whether you’re a casual range shooter or looking for a sight for a serious carbine build, the HE503CU is definitely worth considering.
New Smartpen Fan –
Took a while to debate between a red dot or a green dot, and was waiting for a gold dot. After several weeks, finally decided to just go for the Red version. I’m installing it on a CZ Scorpion EVO3 S1.
Installation and setup is rather easy and many reviewers have already mentioned. I just want to mention a few things here.
(1) Brightness. If you are shooting outdoor, the automatic mode works just great. However, if indoor range, then the automatic mode is disfunction, if not a nightmare at all. Since the target is often well-lited yet the shooting bay tend to be dark;
(2) Parallax. Okay if you are shooting an AR over 100 yards, parallax can still be an issue. If SBR or sub machine gun, and the range is around 20 – 50 yards, that impact isn’t that much;
(3) 2MOA and 65MOA. This is really interesting. I’m using the default tall mounting bracket. If you zero at 25 yards (its a Scorpion, not AR 15, so I don’t think 100 yard or beyond will be that useful). You can roughly use the lower tick of 65MOA if shooting at target at 12 yard, and the higher tick if target at 50 yard and so on.
(4) If you have myopia and don’t wear correction lens, then you will have trouble seeing the reticles clearly. I wish HOLOSUN can have adjustment lens like those in SLR viewfinder.
I have decided to set the sight in MANUAL mode, and set the brightness around 8, which works in most of the time. Sight zeroing is a long process, mine took two separate tests, and still have room to adjust. I guess if you change the ammo, i.e., 147gr instead of 115gr, the marking can be different (just guess, have yet confirm).
All in all, a great sight. Sufficient function and really easy to shoot.
Amazon Customer –
I was keen to test this sight out after great reviews and testing it mounted for function of use buttons etc. Then I shot with it….
Mounted on a 9mm carbine I thought nothing of it being able to handle recoil.
First shot …I saw it close to aim..2nd to 5th hey I better move point to right. 6 clicks another 5…another 4 clicks…point of impact still way off.
I didn’t have paper up and continued to shoot,noticing sight was way to the right still.
Total of 40 rounds I thought I’d better do sight in proper with paper targets and a rest. I was putting the gun back in case when I noticed the front lense was slanted to the right and the lense edges looked flecked like broken glass. The lense had popped out of the retaining ring on one side and slanted to shooter right. I’d say almost 1/8th ! This is a lense smaller than an inch!
I’ll leave it in current state and see about a replacement.
Love the look the solar backup ,long bat life,adjustability, weight everything else but the lense posing out so 2 stars but if this was on a 12 guage it would’ve been a possible shattered glass.
Stephen Turman –
I just built a mid-range AR a couple of months ago that, to my surprise, is capable of 1 moa accuracy with quality ammo and, assuming, I do my part. I have primarily been using a Vortex Strikefire and TRS-25 on my earlier builds, which were fine. This cupcake (I named her Hillary) deserves better since she is going to be my gtg, shtf, wrol weapon. I originally was looking into getting an eotech–since I really love the circle dot reticle. However, I don’t love the bulkiness or battery life of the eotechs and prefer the form factor and ridiculous battery life of the Aimpoint Micro H-1. You can’t get an aimpoint with a circle dot reticle though and, frankly, my wallet really couldn’t handle either an eotech or aimpoint. So, hours of research later, I decided to go for the Holosun 503CU.
This Holosun 503CU sight is fantastic. It’s like Aimpoint and Eotech got drunk one night, screwed the crap out of each other and had a baby!!! You get the Eotech’s circle dot reticle (actually the Holosun’s reticle is sharper/better than eotech’s) in the form factor of an aimpoint H-2/T-2, except Holosun ditches the bulky side battery compartment for a slide in drawer style (better form factor, but function isn’t awesome). You also get aimpoint levels of battery life (20,000 in circle dot or 50,000 hours in 2moa red dot on auto brightness). Actually, these specs are a little misleading because they are only based on running the sight using battery power, the CU has a solar cell that will power the sight in virtually any kind of lighting and will automatically switch to the battery backup when needed. Using this system, I have no idea how long the battery will last since I haven’t found anyone (or read of anyone) that has killed the included CR2032 battery yet. In theory, this should last 5 years without a battery change in a base model without the solar cell. Holosun hasn’t been around long enough to test the limits of its battery life in the real world. This model also has an auto off feature that will turn the sight off if it senses that it hasn’t been moved in 10 minutes and will automatically turn it on if senses even the slightest movement. There is no need to ever turn this sight off manually (unless you just want to train with iron sights if you’re co-witnessing).
Frankly, this is the ultimate GTG, WROL, SHTF sight. In terms of build quality, I can’t really tell a difference between the build quality on this holosun and the aimpoints I have handled. I am not saying that it’s the same quality as an aimpoint (I am sure there are things I can’t see or feel), but it doesn’t feel any different to me. It’s made using the same materials and, frankly, the glass quality on the holosun is really fantastic. It’s very clear… I don’t see difference when compared to the aimpoint–again, maybe there is a difference but I can’t see it. What I do see though is the reticle is extremely crisp and sharp. As much as I like eotech’s reticle, it is a little fuzzy. The Holosun is actually sharper and the auto brightness function is really terrific. It seems to always select the correct brightness–unlike other sights I have used (Lucid HD7 for example). In the past month, I have not felt the need to touch the buttons to adjust anything on the rifle. In fact, other than zeroing the sight, I have not had to make a single adjustment to it. Oh, and yes, it holds zero perfectly even when I have taken the sight off the rifle and put it back on few days later.
I do have a couple of criticisms. I really don’t love the battery drawer. It’s difficult to get on and off and the screws they provide are a little soft and strip easily. They provide two of these drawers for a reason apparently. Since will only be changing the battery every 5 or so years (just to be safe), this is not a big deal. The included high rise mount does give you a perfect 1/3 co-witness on an AR. I purchased the 1.4″ riser because I prefer an absolute co-witness (I am glad the offer the option). I do wish that Holosun made their mounts with QD attachments. On the other hand, the will fit on any aimpoint micro patterned mount, so finding a qd riser isn’t a problem (but you’ll have to pay for it).
For $275 (I bought it as an amazon warehouse deal for a lot less), the Holosun 503CU is a great deal. For this price, it’s definitely not in the cheap-o category (although you get a 403 in various configurations for $130-180). For the features you get with the 503CU, you are getting a bona fide bargain. If I were actually going to fight in Afghanistan, would I trust my life to the Holosun…. maybe!! I would probably still go for the aimpoint or eotech because they have been battle tested, but I don’t see a reason why the Holosun wouldn’t stand up just as well. For home defense use and prepper purposes, would I trust this sight–hell yes!!! Seriously, before you drop $500 plus on an aimpoint or eotech, give this a try. Buy it on Amazon for the awesome return policy. This sight is so good that I think you’ll find hard (impossible for me) to justify spending the extra $$$ for the aimpoint or eotech. Even if you do go for an aimpoint or eotech, you’ll probably still keep this sight for another one of your babies.
Update 1/5/2017:
My love for the Holosun has NOT diminished over time. This remains a very solid optic and continues to function flawlessly. I have since added a Primary Arms 3x magnifier (gen IV) with a tms flip to the side mount. It’s a great combo with the holosun and lines up perfectly. It’s really helped me tighten up my groups even further. The reticle looks crisp even under magnification.
Update: 12/19/2017
I have had the Holosun HS503CU for well over a year now and it’s still my go to sight. For the past year, it’s been riding on top of my AR, which is usually locked in the trunk of my car–waiting for a free moment to hit the range. So, it’s been there during 95 degree summer days and -5 degree winter days. I never give it a moments thought because everytime I take that rifle out to shoot, the reticle is waiting for me at the perfect brightness setting and I haven’t had to adjust zero since I first got it locked in a year ago. I am still using the original battery that came with the sight and see no change in performance since the day I unboxed the sight for the first time.
I have also moved this sight around and had it on several different rifles during the past year. As long as I put it on the same position of any given AR (between the 10-12 mark on the standard flat top AR receiver), I don’t have to adjust for zero on any of my weapons (assuming I am using the same bulk Federal 55gr FMJ ammo). I have it set up now with a primary arms 3x magnifier with a flip to the side mount. The combo works great and I am able to consistently shoot 1.5 moa groups at 100 yards, not counting the occasional flier or my own jerking of the trigger. I am getting this performance using this site, the primary arms magnifier, cheap federal bulk ammo out of a PSA Freedom upper, with 16″ melonite treated barrel. (It’s a respectable, reliable upper, but nothing to write home about.)
With this holosun and primary arms combo, I am getting essentially the same accuracy at 100 yards that I get using my Bushnell 1-4x FFP scope.
Bushnell Optics FFP Illuminated BTR-1 BDC Reticle-223 Riflescope with Target Turrets and Throw Down PCL, Matte Black, 1-4x/24mm
The difference is that I can get much faster target acquisition using the Holosun (with or without the PA magnifier). Beyond 100 yards, the advantage goes to the Bushnell or any other quality magnified scope with a BDC reticle. Since I live in an area where it’s rare that I even get a chance to get to a range with 100 yards or greater distance (have to drive 60 miles to get there), I am more often shooting at 50 yards or less for practice. I also intend for my AR’s to be used for home defense. So, for me, the holosun makes for the perfect companion for any half-way decent AR and is an amazon for the guy that’s been wanting an aimpoint or Eotech for a years, but doesn’t have $500+ to burn. I still believe this sight is every bit as good as those, but without the fancy brand name and price tag.
AttaboyAdley –
I’ve been so pleased with my experience with my Holosun 503CU that I wanted to take the time to leave a review for shooters that have Astigmatism.
If you’ve used a red dot sight (RDS) before and the dot appears blurry, smeared, or in a starburst – then you probably have Astigmatism. A quick way to check to see if the RDS is working fine is to take a picture through the optic with you camera phone and see if the dot is clear. If it is, then you’ll know it’s your vision.
I wear contact that treat my Astigmatism, but they do not completely nullify the effects. I typically see a small starburst – it looks a lot like a dot would appear if the RDS brightness was turned too high (dot gets fat aka “blooms”).
So, why do I recommend the Holosun 503CU a great, budget-friendly RDS? I’ve tried a Vortex Spitfire AR, Sig Romeo5, and the Vortex Sparc II AR. For just about $40 more, you can get a solar failsafe feature, Shake Awake, and the option of switching to a 2 MOA dot and or a 2 MOA Dot/65 MOA circle. That alone was worth it. The Spitefire was supposed to help people with Astigmatism since it overlays on a reticle (red dot and MOA circle options), but it has restrictive eye relief and it’s heavy. The Sparc II has a pretty bad bloom after the 6th setting and doesn’t have a shake ‘n wake feature. The Romeo5 feels the “cheapest” out of all – a RDS for casual shooting.
The 12 brightness settings on the Holosun 503CU means each step up or down is more incremental so you can find an in between setting for your eyes. If my Astigmatism is acting up a bit, I can turn the RDS brightness down some to help. The dot is super clear with a 3X magnifier. The Shake Awake feature means you don’t have to press any buttons but you might as well leave it on with 50,000 hours on a CR2032 batter (wow). Works great with mil-spec sights at 1/3 co-witness AND you can see through the riser if the glass gets damaged. It’s also got 2 NV settings, but I can’t try it.
Anything I’d like to have for a future option? Would be nice to have more of a ledge to install flip caps. Would also like to have a QD mounting system.
For about $250 – it’s a nice step up versus other RDS options in the $200 range. I think I saw Garand Thumb and Travis Haley testing it as a budget-Aimpoint option.
Would I trust if for years of service in a home defense capacity? It’s only been 4 months, but I’d have to say yes it’ll fit the bill. Can you be rough with it? Not sure. I don’t know how Holosun has been rated in military/LE environments. For home defense and indoor/outdoor target shooting, it offers a ton of value and is amassing a nice customer base.