Holosun - solar or not?

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Rittmeister

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I am debating between two Holosun red-dots:

HS515GM - circle/dot, backordered
HS515CM - same unit as above with an added solar panel, currently available

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with both, and which you prefer, and why. The main difference from where I sit is that the GM has the controls on top (thus easier to access with either hand) and the CM has the solar panel on top so they moved the controls to the side.

For me, I guess the extended battery life would be nice but I don't think I can't live without it. I'm trying to decide if I'd really mind the side-mounted controls; I really like the top-mounted ones on my current unit and I suspect I'd be happiest with the same setup on the new one. And yes, TBH, I'm only considering the solar-equipped unit because I could buy one now, and the one I originally wanted is unavailable.

Any thoughts appreciated.
 
The solar feature allows the red dot to continue to function in well lit areas when the battery dies. It doesn't really extend battery life. The Holosun solar feature changes the dot intensity to adjust to ambient light conditions as you move from darkness to full sunlight. Thats nice.
 
I like the solar on my Holosun’s. They will run without a battery with not much light hitting the array.
 
Is the solar unit at all a weak point? I always fear making a system more complicated, it makes for more opportunities for possible breakage/failure.
 
Rittmeister said:
Is the solar unit at all a weak point? I always fear making a system more complicated, it makes for more opportunities for possible breakage/failure.
Click to expand...

There has been some "torture tests" done on the holosun's on youtube, I haven't seen any that created a cause for concern, they all seem to hold up well to abuse.

I bought a Holosun 508t. The youtube video by Sage Dynamics shows some pretty good abuse of the optic and it keeps working, it has solar on it.

Go to 5:48, where he uses the optic for one handed slide manipulation on a post, multiple times.
 
I have a 507C (with solar panel) on my carry pistol. I turned it on, found a brightness I liked and haven't messed with the settings since. That was about 16 months ago. The solar is a great addition to red dots. We have come so far in technology where a red dot needed batteries bigger than the optic to run a few hours. Now we have optics that run for years on batteries the size of dimes. With solar backups.
 
Can't speak to the model you're interested in, it appears to come with both green and red capabilities. Went with the HS510C for mine, has the larger screen and greater viewing area, but just comes in red. Prefer it because it sits lower to the receiver. The solar panel is pure genius, someone should have done that years ago. It's also a couple hundred less that the 515 models.

Bought my first red dot when Aimpoint first introduced them....they've come a long way since then. Holosun's are some of the best I've seen for the price point.Good reviews and durable.

EA77C498-9DD8-4F4A-A197-249CCA629320.JPG
 
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Nice CZ.

Package received and mounted. The only drawback I'm finding is that this 515CM seems to be "taller" between the mounting surface and the tube than the sight it's replacing. I wanted to use it with a Scalarworks lower 1/3 mount that I'd also used previously, but when using that mount the tube is too high off the top of the rifle and I can barely see my irons through it. I'm using the supplied mount at least for now, though I do have to say it seems well-made and quite solid. I wonder how well it would return to zero when removed... Anyway, I still need to zero it to my gun but so far I'm pleased.
 
Rittmeister said:
Nice CZ.

Package received and mounted. The only drawback I'm finding is that this 515CM seems to be "taller" between the mounting surface and the tube than the sight it's replacing. I wanted to use it with a Scalarworks lower 1/3 mount that I'd also used previously, but when using that mount the tube is too high off the top of the rifle and I can barely see my irons through it. I'm using the supplied mount at least for now, though I do have to say it seems well-made and quite solid. I wonder how well it would return to zero when removed... Anyway, I still need to zero it to my gun but so far I'm pleased.
Click to expand...

If it's too tall. take the riser off that comes on the sight.

I took it off mine before mounting it on my CZ Scorpion I posted above.

i-KGBgtDD-XL.jpg
 
Jack Flash said:
If it's too tall. take the riser off that comes on the sight.

I took it off mine before mounting it on my CZ Scorpion I posted above.

View attachment 1003168
Click to expand...

I thought about that, but I use the RDS on an AR with a magnifier. I think it'd be too low to work with the magnifier, if I used it without that riser.

I'm wondering if an absolute cowitness mount would work as a lower 1/3 with this thing - but right now I'm gonna run the included mount/riser and see how things go. I suspect for my use it'll be just fine.
 
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