I pre-ordered the HS503C today on the Holosun website. They are shipping on May 15th on a first come first serve basis. May 15th cannot get here soon enough. Luis thank you for your informative videos, they were a major factor in my selection of the HS503C over other red dot sights. Keep up the good work !
ldc1129 imajkrsl That is too bad if it's a typo. They should include the QD mount for anyone who has pre-ordered it PRIOR to them fixing the typo. It only costs them like $20 more at most, so it wouldn't cut into their profits much BUT it would keep their brand looking good (when they're just now trying to get established in a mid-price market dominated by Primary Arms (who seems to get their optics FROM Holosun), Bushnell, Vortex, and Burris). I know I'll be reviewing it for ar15.com and a few other places as soon as I get mine. --Joe F. (Jax, FL)
I bought the ACSS micro and the quality is amazing! Shot it on my 16" AR at 300-400-500 and the BDC was spot on with M-193! I ended up getting 3 of them!
I bought the 503c and the 515c and I like the 503c better. The grid DOES effect view a little and in most cases is not needed because the 503c without the grid works fine in almost all cases. I also like the rubber caps you completely take off when in use verses the flip/rotate caps. I have been very happy with the sights. They have a crisp red dot and a nice unobstructed view (especially the 503c).
This video just won me over to holosun over truglo for my KSG. Been using Aimpoint and Elcans on my rifle, but wanted to saved some money on my shotgun optic. The circle dot is the way to go for shotgun reticles,
This is a very good video but I still have a question, If I go into manual mode so that I can control the brightness will the sight still use the solar cell or is it an all or nothing where you only get the ability to leverage solar energy if you give control of the reticle to the sight? This is a real concern as I could be moving from dark areas to the bright area and would prefer to not have the sight messing with the brightness while I am transitioning but as soon as I get into the bright sunlight I would want to use the solar cell to power the sight especially if my battery is running low. So is it that flexible or not?
okay I thought mine was messed up.I'll have to check my other red dots I don't remember them being that way.thank you for the reply good video by the way.
Thanks for making the video. Very intrigued by all the features of these Holosun optics. I need clarification on the reticles though. Is the dot reticle only available in manual mode? Or is it only switching between reticles that requires manual mode?
Great video! I have a HOLOSUN that I really like but I will probably upgrade to one of these- the ring reticle looks awesome! But May 15th has come and gone...when will they be out?
+Idc1129 let me start off by saying how professional and informative you are. I work at a gun store in Cali and we just got this optic in stock and let me tell you your video is very helpful! This video just convinced me to buy one. Take it easy! Subbed!
This is January 2018 and I have a HS515CM scheduled for delivery today. I am excited to see if it is all I expect it to be. It is my first Holosun Red Dot. The only problem is will likely I be yelled at for buying another Red Dot Sight. Oh well, all Men must have their challenges he must overcome. May as well come from Family and Friends. Right? Can your imagine what HOLOSUN will have available for us in another 20-25 years. I hope hope I'm still around and doing well at that time. since I'm 68 and know my days on Earth are coming closer to an end. Oh well, I'll still see it all from above.
I want to apologize to everyone who commented!! I was managing my account and thought I was deleting messages only to discover I was deleting your comments!! Again, I apologize!!
Thanks for the video, it's great to have a ton of the info you have here, sadly these sights are tough to find this kind of hands-on information. THANK YOU! :) If I have this in my gun safe or closet, I'm guessing this won't have enough ambient light to run it with solar, so I'm thinking that the 403B might be better in that way, because it shuts off. I'm not sure, while I know the 5 year battery life is awesome, having it constantly on in the gun safe makes me nervous about LED burnout (which is also rare), etc. Am I crazy for worrying about these things?
I was looking at the Holosun due to its dual power system but I have read that it doesn't hold zero as well. That may have been the older versions having that issue. Was wondering if you had a chance to shoot with these new line of optics to see if they are holding zero or if there are any issues that you may have come across from shooting?
UPDATE (4/26/15): The parallax error of my sight is significant too. It is far from "Parallax free" as advertised, and the error is definitely not "1MOA" as stated in the instruction manual. I was willing to live with the "Manual" mode not performing properly, but the parallax error is not acceptable. I will probably be contacting the manufacturer soon to take advantage of the limited warranty.//update I received my HS503C yesterday. It was ordered from an online store based in Hong Kong, WGCshop.com (they sell airsoft stuff, but I ordered this for my real AR). My version of the sight has three differences from the one shown in this video, and mine might be the final version to be sold in America, so people considering getting this might want to wait for further reviews instead of ordering one immediately when they become available: 1) "Auto" mode has 6 settings, not **4**(EDIT: I meant to state "3" instead of "4" here.) 2) "Manual" mode has 11 settings, not 12 (I tested it in darkness to be certain that I did not miss one) 3) "Manual" mode does NOT stop the solar programming from adjusting the brightness. This is what GREATLY disappointed me! If the sight is used while exposed to sunlight, the reticle will be too bright to not cause glare when viewed and will distract the shooter or obstruct the shooter's view of a target that is not both brightly colored and well lit. The included manual states the same information as is stated in the video. Perhaps they changed the programming but left the manual the same? To those of you who might suspect that I got a "knock-off": -the packaging is the same as in the video -the sight materials are high quality and well assembled -the sight otherwise does everything that is shown in the video (it also includes all necessary tools and an extra battery tray, but no battery like the manual claims is included) -WGCshop.com seems to have a very good reputation
xrichxlen I asked them about the "solar" overriding the manual, and they stated only that "Solar can be turned off by manual." He went on, "it can switch from solar mode to battery mode automatically. If lighting is low enough,the sight will automatically switch to the battery." So it appears when on Solar, it will switch to battery when the light gets too dim--and I'm guessing it auto-adjusts (or goes to a DIM setting). What's confusing is the rest of the text: "While running on battery, you can adjust the reticle brightness using the "+"and "-"buttons to switch between 3,4 or 5.It all depends on the ambient lighting level." I don't know what "3,4 or 5" means--since battery sounds like "manual" which would have like 11-12 settings. I think something got lost in translation, but this video shows a great product as long as it holds zero and holds up to everyday type use (from hot to cold to rain and recoil).
xrichxlen Hello. Thank you for posting this info. I saw your post and have been able to get clarification on the issues you described as well as some info on my testing with the units I was given to show as I was told there is no difference programming wise to the release version so............ 1) I assume you mean "auto" as in the limited brightness adjustment when in this mode. If so, it is only 3 settings as I have confirmed. 2) Yes, "manual" mode does have a total of 11 brightness settings as I have also confirmed. 3) Yes, you are correct. I have tested this and confirmed that in "manual" mode the user has full adjustability of the brightness settings BUT if the solar system determines the brightness setting is too low based on the ambient light, it will automatically compensate. Now.....with that said, I tested all types of scenarios and found no issues with the way the system worked. In fact, the only way I was able to replicate the scenario you described as "will be too bright" was only when I placed my 200 lumen tactical light directly on the solar panel and looking to into almost total darkness!! My info in this video was based on my quick overview of the product and info given to me at the time. I take responsibility for that and am correcting it at this time. Also, I am sure the "translation" of the manual could use some work as well.... Now, the final issue you stated is about "parallax free". Based on my knowledge, there are many factors to judge parallax free so I will make my case as easy as possible. Aimpoint's website states their sight is parallax free as well. I just saw a video (which you can find on your own if interested) showing how the T1 is parallax free. It is clear in the video that the red dot moves as you move your line of sight when looking at close objects. I replicated the example and saw the same variance as in the video....and this is a $680 sight!! So in short, either we don't know what parallax free truly is OR the term parallax free is used just like the government allows fast food chains to publicly say 100% chicken as long as 30% of it is real chicken....... you decide!!
ldc1129 Thanks for responding! I am about to go to bed, so I will have to wait to respond properly to you at some other time during this week. But I will leave you with this for now: I have seen an Aimpoint parallax test (I don't know whether it is the same one that you mentioned) previously, and, if the parallax error of my unit were anywhere near as good as that of the Aimpoint sight in the video, I would GLADLY keep my HS503C. :) Also: You seem to have a good connection with the manufacturers. Can you inquire as to whether an EARLY version(s) of this sight model was released for early sale in China? That could possibly explain any differences that exist between my unit (which I got early from Hong Kong) and the ones that you reviewed (which, as you stated, are representative of the ones to be released for sale in the US).
ldc1129 "if the solar system determines the brightness setting is too low based on the ambient light, it will automatically compensate." -- Indoors I don't see this as a problem, BUT this could be a problem outside in full sunshine. Often the LOWEST setting possible that is still clearly visible is the MOST accurate. For anything past 75Y you want a fairly dim reticle. If the solar-override brightens your sight, it may bloom out the reticle. We'll see. Can't wait until 5/15!
xrichxlen Yeah, Aimpoints will shift 4-5 inches depending on placement of the dot inside the circle (Pat MacNamara likes to demonstrate this). That's at 100Y, so I imagine it would be worse parallax but less noticeable closer in--like 3" at 50Y and 2" at 10-25Y. Only way to know is to shoot it at 50Y-100Y with your eyes in four "corners" of the circle and see how much it's off. ALL optics have parallax, so it's best to keep the dot as centered as possible.
Great review! R u sure the Red dot works without battery? I've heard u say so just asking cuz the holosun manual says it wouldn't work without battery. Thx and keep on doing reviews
I have the HS503FL, the dot and circle will disappear when I pressed the + and - at the same time simultaneously, is that the night vision setting? Also I received mine with a low mount, I was expecting a high mount as shown in the holosun website. Do you happen to know where to purchase a high mount for HS503FL model. Thanks
The 503FL is a newer model which is a battery only model. By pressing both buttons, the unit will turn off. As far as a mount, any standard micro mount will work.
Doesn't it shut off after 8 hours of not moving, and come back on if it moves? (motion sensitive) Also, with the 515, can you get magnifiers that can go in place of the Kill Flash? (From what I've heard those do exist)
Hey, good info, but confirm to me please, if you have this on solar, in low light does it switch over to battery power? I got mine today, and it will NOT switch over so IM curious is it is supposed to, or Is mine defective? Thank you, Thumbs up!~~John
Thanks. I noticed that there are threads on the front of the sight for the kill flash, but on the rear of the sight too...What's up with that? It looks different than the 515C I think.
Questions not answered by this video, if you please: (1) How do you turn it on and off in manual mode? (2) Are there now 2 screws that hold the battery trap door in place? (3) Does the reticle stay the same as it was when you last turned it off? In other words, if you have it on circle-dot mode, then turn it off then back on, does it stay in circle-dot mode, or default back to the 2MOA dot? (4) Is there any warranty? Thanks.
This system does not turn off. It is always on. Manual mode allows you to have full control of brightness settings through the battery. Warranty is the same with all their products.
ldc1129 Have had my 503C for a few months has worked great. Was released in China a few months ago. i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/phlawedgaming/IMG_1842_zps1ayiebwv.jpg
pretty sure it would but havnt tried it. I can say it has without question the best auto brightness adjustment I have ever used. Works perfect every time you look through it day or night without ever touching a single button on it. Myself and every person that has tried it, there has not been a single dislike or even remotely neg comment made towards it. $ for $ and even in features alone, its the best micro red dot on the market.
+WreckingCrewResurgen I just bought the 515C and I was hoping it would work without the battery but it does not. I was just trying to figure out if I should send it back or not.. as far as the Auto brightness goes I think it is completely worthless because if you are standing inside your house (or anywhere else where the lights are dimmer than the place you are aiming) where the light is dim and you are trying to aim outside the red dot Will wash out and you will not be able to see it ..so I would suggest not using that... they also claim it to be parallex free but it is not it has some parallax at close range... I'm assuming that you have to have the battery in to complete the circuit so the red dot Can function .so what I'm going to do now is drain a battery and put it in dead and see if the red dot works.... I seen one video where a guy showed it working without the battery but then i seen another video where a guy showed it not working without the battery but.. I can't find the video right now with the guy showing it working with the battery.. also on mine it seems a little blurry but that could be my eyesight but I can clearly see about 5 tiny dots Spread out that are supposed to make the red dot so that is definitely a negative... also my front lens cap falls apart every time I open it but probably could be fixed with a little dab of glue
Modern gun guy have had no such problems with mine. Hit a jack rabbit running away from me at 25-30 yards at night with a spotlight. If it does wash, all you do is press the + a few times just as you would any other. All red dot tube sights have some degree of parallax at close ranges (
Only thing that sux is these caps flip downward and not upwards. This can interfere with tight platforms like ak's with fixed sights on the dust cover.
@@geektarded Pretty sure the solar version doesn't have a total shut off, only the none solar one. There for sure nothing in the manual about it but there is for the none solar one, I have both.
@@doomfathertm8771 I have the HS515CM and I believe pushing both buttons turns it off. Not 100% sure though. Will check and post back. I realize that is a different model and I wrongfully assumed they all worked the same,
+Oliver Buenaflor I have the HS503C and it will not work without a battery inserted. The battery I have isn't dead so I can't tell if it will work with a completely discharged battery.
Ok , Thanks ! Its my 1st RED DOT on my 1st AR-15. I can't believe you answered my questions so fast !!! lol Thank you so much. I really like this 503C and waited a long time to finally find it on sale at a great price ($160.50 total). You make Primo sights at low prices.
JAY WAYNE any aimpoint micro mount will work. The best mount on the market imo is the scalarworks low drag mount. However.... If you want true co-witness you can't achieve that with the 503c model. The problem is the battery tray is under the sight making it a smidge taller. The 503gu and a few others hold the battery on the side making it sit just where it should be. So get a model with the battery on the side, not the tray underneath. I haven't bought one yet so this info is all from what I have read through some personal research.
myantispambox Any version with a "U" at then end of the model means it's an upgraded version that does allow the user to change position and/or remove the caps altogether.
Can anyone tell me how the HS503C dot looks through a magnifier? Is it crisp like the T2 or does it have some emitter distortion like the T1? Also, has anyone else had the problems that "xrichxlen" has? XRICHXLEN: did you get yours fixed/replaced??
Joe Flowers Not yet. I might not do that for a few weeks***. I am frantically studying for my first CPA exam (for which I already paid, so I have a deadline) as I am behind schedule, and I will be working more hours than usual at my job soon (our company audit is about to start). I would like to make a video of my sight to show how its functions differ from the one in this video and the description in the instruction manual, and I would also like to make a section to show the significant parallax error, which is my main issue with it (the issue with "Manual" mode being influenced by the solar cells is also significant, but that can possibly be remedied with a piece of cloth attached to the sight - nothing can be done for parallax error!). My main reason for this is to show proof of my sight's issues to the manufacturers and get a response from them before I undergo the hassle of shipping it for replacement. But I might post it to UA-cam too. If I do so, it will be my first UA-cam video. :) I just need time to make it, ......and I need access to someone's video camera. ***By the time that I get this resolved and/or make the video, the sight will probably be released in America and more people will be reviewing it on UA-cam, so you can probably just send a video request to someone who regularly reviews red dot sights at that time (I think that a few people review new sights from lower-cost companies like Holosun). I am always surprised by the lack of parallax-error videos. Very few people think to make them in spite of parallax error being one of the most important aspects of a sight.
ldc1129 Yeah, it helps with anything at 100Y and beyond (even just finding small targets at 150Y). The PA micros tended to do as good as the T1, so I assume this one will be like that. Can't wait to see though.
Just got my hs503c today and am using a primary arm 3x magnifier. I must say I am pleasantly surprised. The dot and 75 moa circle are really crisp through the magnifier. Much better than my other PA red dots.
Holosun = shit, tried the 515c battery/solar innoperable after less than 6 months out of the box new. yes that's right, new, out of box, battery failed, AND solar failed.... nuff said
Thank you for quickly answering questions that are next to impossible to answer using even the Holosun website and/or latest catalog alone.
David Brown No problem!!
I pre-ordered the HS503C today on the Holosun website. They are shipping on May 15th on a first come first serve basis. May 15th cannot get here soon enough. Luis thank you for your informative videos, they were a major factor in my selection of the HS503C over other red dot sights. Keep up the good work !
I preordered as well. It says it comes with a QD mount! I hope that's correct. I also hope it magnifies well. Can't wait though--two more weeks.
evi1joe Wow it does say QD mount ! I wonder if that is a typo ? At one point it said it came with flip caps. They removed that from the description.
imajkrsl I believe that is a typo..... To my understanding, only the 515C will have QD mount.
ldc1129 imajkrsl
That is too bad if it's a typo.
They should include the QD mount for anyone who has pre-ordered it PRIOR to them fixing the typo. It only costs them like $20 more at most, so it wouldn't cut into their profits much BUT it would keep their brand looking good (when they're just now trying to get established in a mid-price market dominated by Primary Arms (who seems to get their optics FROM Holosun), Bushnell, Vortex, and Burris). I know I'll be reviewing it for ar15.com and a few other places as soon as I get mine. --Joe F. (Jax, FL)
I bought the ACSS micro and the quality is amazing! Shot it on my 16" AR at 300-400-500 and the BDC was spot on with M-193! I ended up getting 3 of them!
Very thorough and very helpful. Thanks for the vid.
Very helpful video that answers exactly the questions I had, thanks.
I bought the 503c and the 515c and I like the 503c better. The grid DOES effect view a little and in most cases is not needed because the 503c without the grid works fine in almost all cases. I also like the rubber caps you completely take off when in use verses the flip/rotate caps. I have been very happy with the sights. They have a crisp red dot and a nice unobstructed view (especially the 503c).
This video just won me over to holosun over truglo for my KSG. Been using Aimpoint and Elcans on my rifle, but wanted to saved some money on my shotgun optic. The circle dot is the way to go for shotgun reticles,
Just bought the 503c, cheers, should be great on my evo 3
Fantastic review! Thank you for your efforts
Dam, Aimpoint needs to step their game up. They no longer hold the monopoly on red dot sights; they became complacent.
Now that was thorough. Thank you!
I really, really do not understand to thumbs down. This completely convinced me to buy the Holosun HS515c Optic!
I have yet to see a review of the solar Holosun's that demonstrates the auto brightness feature, going for example from a dark room to a bright one.
Thanks for the video. Just got the 515CU and the instructions say to hold the + down for 3 seconds to enter Manual mode but it wasnt working.
can the kill flash be added to the 503?
This is a very good video but I still have a question, If I go into manual mode so that I can control the brightness will the sight still use the solar cell or is it an all or nothing where you only get the ability to leverage solar energy if you give control of the reticle to the sight? This is a real concern as I could be moving from dark areas to the bright area and would prefer to not have the sight messing with the brightness while I am transitioning but as soon as I get into the bright sunlight I would want to use the solar cell to power the sight especially if my battery is running low. So is it that flexible or not?
Do you have any information about what caliber rated for this both, sir?
thank u for this review 😊
Just curious when you will know your booth # for SS 2016? I'd like to stop by
Same as SS2015.
does this ha e the same problem with the red reflection in the glass like the earlier models?
what would be the heigh of the mount for absolute cowitness on ar15?
okay I thought mine was messed up.I'll have to check my other red dots I don't remember them being that way.thank you for the reply good video by the way.
How does the 503c compare to the 403g as far as glass and red dot? any other improvements?
Thanks for making the video. Very intrigued by all the features of these Holosun optics. I need clarification on the reticles though. Is the dot reticle only available in manual mode? Or is it only switching between reticles that requires manual mode?
+echang86 ... Both...dot is only available in Manual mode and can only be accessed in Manual mode.
Great video! I have a HOLOSUN that I really like but I will probably upgrade to one of these- the ring reticle looks awesome! But May 15th has come and gone...when will they be out?
+Idc1129 let me start off by saying how professional and informative you are. I work at a gun store in Cali and we just got this optic in stock and let me tell you your video is very helpful! This video just convinced me to buy one. Take it easy! Subbed!
Thank you.
It says I have zero parallax but my dot moves all ove the place . U think it's broken ?
This is January 2018 and I have a HS515CM scheduled for delivery today. I am excited to see if it is all I expect it to be. It is my first Holosun Red Dot. The only problem is will likely I be yelled at for buying another Red Dot Sight. Oh well, all Men must have their challenges he must overcome. May as well come from Family and Friends. Right?
Can your imagine what HOLOSUN will have available for us in another 20-25 years. I hope hope I'm still around and doing well at that time. since I'm 68 and know my days on Earth are coming closer to an end. Oh well, I'll still see it all from above.
Vigilante Driver how do you like the holosun hs515cm? I'm breaking my head on getting the same one or PA 1-8 scope
I want to apologize to everyone who commented!! I was managing my account and thought I was deleting messages only to discover I was deleting your comments!! Again, I apologize!!
Superb review. 👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks for the video, it's great to have a ton of the info you have here, sadly these sights are tough to find this kind of hands-on information. THANK YOU! :)
If I have this in my gun safe or closet, I'm guessing this won't have enough ambient light to run it with solar, so I'm thinking that the 403B might be better in that way, because it shuts off. I'm not sure, while I know the 5 year battery life is awesome, having it constantly on in the gun safe makes me nervous about LED burnout (which is also rare), etc.
Am I crazy for worrying about these things?
I have the same comment and concerns.
How can i locate that mount on the 515c?
Can the mount from the 503c be put on the 515c?
Have you had to change the battery in the 503c?
I was looking at the Holosun due to its dual power system but I have read that it doesn't hold zero as well. That may have been the older versions having that issue. Was wondering if you had a chance to shoot with these new line of optics to see if they are holding zero or if there are any issues that you may have come across from shooting?
No problems with holding zero that I have heard of...
What's the difference between the hs503c and the hs503fl?
Can you not change the reticle in auto mode?
So you can't turn off the solar models?
how would this do with a magnifier?
Very informative video, thanks. You answered the questions I had that were keeping me from getting one. My 9mm AR thanks you.
👍👍
I love my 515 c holosun.
Can you run the 2 moa dot on solar mode (always on)? I personally don’t like the 65 moa circle reticle.
Unfortunately you can’t, only on battery mode.
UPDATE (4/26/15): The parallax error of my sight is significant too. It is far from "Parallax free" as advertised, and the error is definitely not "1MOA" as stated in the instruction manual. I was willing to live with the "Manual" mode not performing properly, but the parallax error is not acceptable. I will probably be contacting the manufacturer soon to take advantage of the limited warranty.//update
I received my HS503C yesterday. It was ordered from an online store based in Hong Kong, WGCshop.com (they sell airsoft stuff, but I ordered this for my real AR).
My version of the sight has three differences from the one shown in this video, and mine might be the final version to be sold in America, so people considering getting this might want to wait for further reviews instead of ordering one immediately when they become available:
1) "Auto" mode has 6 settings, not **4**(EDIT: I meant to state "3" instead of "4" here.)
2) "Manual" mode has 11 settings, not 12 (I tested it in darkness to be certain that I did not miss one)
3) "Manual" mode does NOT stop the solar programming from adjusting the brightness. This is what GREATLY disappointed me! If the sight is used while exposed to sunlight, the reticle will be too bright to not cause glare when viewed and will distract the shooter or obstruct the shooter's view of a target that is not both brightly colored and well lit.
The included manual states the same information as is stated in the video. Perhaps they changed the programming but left the manual the same?
To those of you who might suspect that I got a "knock-off":
-the packaging is the same as in the video
-the sight materials are high quality and well assembled
-the sight otherwise does everything that is shown in the video (it also includes all necessary tools and an extra battery tray, but no battery like the manual claims is included)
-WGCshop.com seems to have a very good reputation
xrichxlen I asked them about the "solar" overriding the manual, and they stated only that "Solar can be turned off by manual." He went on, "it can switch from solar mode to battery mode automatically. If lighting is low enough,the sight will automatically switch to the battery." So it appears when on Solar, it will switch to battery when the light gets too dim--and I'm guessing it auto-adjusts (or goes to a DIM setting). What's confusing is the rest of the text: "While running on battery, you can adjust the reticle brightness using the "+"and "-"buttons to switch between 3,4 or 5.It all depends on the ambient lighting level."
I don't know what "3,4 or 5" means--since battery sounds like "manual" which would have like 11-12 settings. I think something got lost in translation, but this video shows a great product as long as it holds zero and holds up to everyday type use (from hot to cold to rain and recoil).
xrichxlen Hello. Thank you for posting this info. I saw your post and have been able to get clarification on the issues you described as well as some info on my testing with the units I was given to show as I was told there is no difference programming wise to the release version so............
1) I assume you mean "auto" as in the limited brightness adjustment when in this mode. If so, it is only 3 settings as I have confirmed.
2) Yes, "manual" mode does have a total of 11 brightness settings as I have also confirmed.
3) Yes, you are correct. I have tested this and confirmed that in "manual" mode the user has full adjustability of the brightness settings BUT if the solar system determines the brightness setting is too low based on the ambient light, it will automatically compensate. Now.....with that said, I tested all types of scenarios and found no issues with the way the system worked. In fact, the only way I was able to replicate the scenario you described as "will be too bright" was only when I placed my 200 lumen tactical light directly on the solar panel and looking to into almost total darkness!!
My info in this video was based on my quick overview of the product and info given to me at the time. I take responsibility for that and am correcting it at this time. Also, I am sure the "translation" of the manual could use some work as well....
Now, the final issue you stated is about "parallax free". Based on my knowledge, there are many factors to judge parallax free so I will make my case as easy as possible. Aimpoint's website states their sight is parallax free as well. I just saw a video (which you can find on your own if interested) showing how the T1 is parallax free. It is clear in the video that the red dot moves as you move your line of sight when looking at close objects. I replicated the example and saw the same variance as in the video....and this is a $680 sight!! So in short, either we don't know what parallax free truly is OR the term parallax free is used just like the government allows fast food chains to publicly say 100% chicken as long as 30% of it is real chicken....... you decide!!
ldc1129
Thanks for responding!
I am about to go to bed, so I will have to wait to respond properly to you at some other time during this week. But I will leave you with this for now: I have seen an Aimpoint parallax test (I don't know whether it is the same one that you mentioned) previously, and, if the parallax error of my unit were anywhere near as good as that of the Aimpoint sight in the video, I would GLADLY keep my HS503C. :)
Also: You seem to have a good connection with the manufacturers. Can you inquire as to whether an EARLY version(s) of this sight model was released for early sale in China? That could possibly explain any differences that exist between my unit (which I got early from Hong Kong) and the ones that you reviewed (which, as you stated, are representative of the ones to be released for sale in the US).
ldc1129 "if the solar system determines the brightness setting is too low based on the ambient light, it will automatically compensate."
-- Indoors I don't see this as a problem, BUT this could be a problem outside in full sunshine. Often the LOWEST setting possible that is still clearly visible is the MOST accurate. For anything past 75Y you want a fairly dim reticle. If the solar-override brightens your sight, it may bloom out the reticle. We'll see. Can't wait until 5/15!
xrichxlen Yeah, Aimpoints will shift 4-5 inches depending on placement of the dot inside the circle (Pat MacNamara likes to demonstrate this). That's at 100Y, so I imagine it would be worse parallax but less noticeable closer in--like 3" at 50Y and 2" at 10-25Y. Only way to know is to shoot it at 50Y-100Y with your eyes in four "corners" of the circle and see how much it's off. ALL optics have parallax, so it's best to keep the dot as centered as possible.
Can u put the killflash on the 503?
are those two the same tube diameter?
Can the 515c be set up for absolute co-witness on an AR-15 with a fixed front sight?
+Axxman03 Yes!
Great review! R u sure the Red dot works without battery? I've heard u say so just asking cuz the holosun manual says it wouldn't work without battery. Thx and keep on doing reviews
Skinni P Yes.... provided you have enough light
I have the HS503FL, the dot and circle will disappear when I pressed the + and - at the same time simultaneously, is that the night vision setting? Also I received mine with a low mount, I was expecting a high mount as shown in the holosun website. Do you happen to know where to purchase a high mount for HS503FL model. Thanks
The 503FL is a newer model which is a battery only model. By pressing both buttons, the unit will turn off. As far as a mount, any standard micro mount will work.
is there a way to change the direction the flip caps open or are they fixed. My 515c rear cap makes it hard to run a magnifier
The newer 515CU has the option to rotate or remove the flip caps
How big is parallax?
any word on the 503g release date.
I wish HOLOSUN would make available the ACSS Reticle for all their Redots.
Doesn't it shut off after 8 hours of not moving, and come back on if it moves? (motion sensitive) Also, with the 515, can you get magnifiers that can go in place of the Kill Flash? (From what I've heard those do exist)
The auto on when moved is on the battery only models, not the solar/battery models. You can use any rear mounted magnifier.
The caps are not removable? Are you kidding? And what happens if you break them?
Hey, good info, but confirm to me please, if you have this on solar, in low light does it switch over to battery power? I got mine today, and it will NOT switch over so IM curious is it is supposed to, or Is mine defective? Thank you, Thumbs up!~~John
Hold down both buttons to switch over to solar
it would've been nice to show the battery out and still have the site working
I would like a 515c green dot in FDE.
What are the features of the 503FL? I know it doesn't have solar panels, but what else is different? Does the 503FL have the 65MOA circle?
To my understanding, it is the same as a 403G but with the ring reticle and removable flip caps and kill flash.
Thanks. I noticed that there are threads on the front of the sight for the kill flash, but on the rear of the sight too...What's up with that? It looks different than the 515C I think.
So lets say I never put batteries in it, It'll be usable unless it's in a dark room?
yes
Both sights do have motion sensors. This means auto on when the sight detects movement. I Kno I own them.
Wow, your cool
my ar has a a2 front sight post. would the 503 c work with my ar? good video
yes.
I guess the HS503C with the lower mount would be the one to get for a Ruger Mark IV .22, to use in Steel Challenge?
Castleknight All of the micros come with a low mount included.
Good. I thought you said the HS515C only came in a high mount. But if comes in both, that's even better.
Questions not answered by this video, if you please: (1) How do you turn it on and off in manual mode? (2) Are there now 2 screws that hold the battery trap door in place? (3) Does the reticle stay the same as it was when you last turned it off? In other words, if you have it on circle-dot mode, then turn it off then back on, does it stay in circle-dot mode, or default back to the 2MOA dot? (4) Is there any warranty? Thanks.
This system does not turn off. It is always on. Manual mode allows you to have full control of brightness settings through the battery. Warranty is the same with all their products.
Pre-orders are being taken on the Holosun site for the 503C. Will be released May 15th!!
ldc1129 Have had my 503C for a few months has worked great. Was released in China a few months ago. i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/phlawedgaming/IMG_1842_zps1ayiebwv.jpg
does the site work without the battery in full sunlight
pretty sure it would but havnt tried it. I can say it has without question the best auto brightness adjustment I have ever used. Works perfect every time you look through it day or night without ever touching a single button on it. Myself and every person that has tried it, there has not been a single dislike or even remotely neg comment made towards it. $ for $ and even in features alone, its the best micro red dot on the market.
+WreckingCrewResurgen I just bought the 515C and I was hoping it would work without the battery but it does not. I was just trying to figure out if I should send it back or not.. as far as the Auto brightness goes I think it is completely worthless because if you are standing inside your house (or anywhere else where the lights are dimmer than the place you are aiming) where the light is dim and you are trying to aim outside the red dot Will wash out and you will not be able to see it ..so I would suggest not using that... they also claim it to be parallex free but it is not it has some parallax at close range... I'm assuming that you have to have the battery in to complete the circuit so the red dot Can function .so what I'm going to do now is drain a battery and put it in dead and see if the red dot works.... I seen one video where a guy showed it working without the battery but then i seen another video where a guy showed it not working without the battery but.. I can't find the video right now with the guy showing it working with the battery.. also on mine it seems a little blurry but that could be my eyesight but I can clearly see about 5 tiny dots Spread out that are supposed to make the red dot so that is definitely a negative... also my front lens cap falls apart every time I open it but probably could be fixed with a little dab of glue
Modern gun guy
have had no such problems with mine. Hit a jack rabbit running away from me at 25-30 yards at night with a spotlight. If it does wash, all you do is press the + a few times just as you would any other.
All red dot tube sights have some degree of parallax at close ranges (
any updates on when the 515C will be released? Can I get flip covers for the 503C?
515C is planned to be released around July
Just in time. Thank you!
+ldc1129 can you tell me the range for shooting 100 200 or 300 yards do you know thanks very much
The flip caps are removable. Just fyi
is your front lense slightly tilted?on the 503c
Yes, all red dots are like that to be able to reflect the reticle on the glass.
Thanks for The informative video.
Only thing that sux is these caps flip downward and not upwards. This can interfere with tight platforms like ak's with fixed sights on the dust cover.
I know this is an old comment but in case you'd want to know the caps are removable and adjustable to which position you want them in.
will they ever offer the ring reticle on the 403G style red dot?
Yes.....coming very soon
+ldc1129 any time line on that? This year maybe?
+TexasPrepper most likely
You can remove the lens caps....
To add, if you leave it on battery mode, after 12 hours of not detecting any movement, it will automatically switch back to solar mode
You can adjust the shut off timer on these
@@geektarded Pretty sure the solar version doesn't have a total shut off, only the none solar one. There for sure nothing in the manual about it but there is for the none solar one, I have both.
@@doomfathertm8771 I have the HS515CM and I believe pushing both buttons turns it off. Not 100% sure though. Will check and post back. I realize that is a different model and I wrongfully assumed they all worked the same,
what's the difference between the 503c and 503cu?
any model with a "u" at the end stands for upgrade. The housing has been changed and has added bosses to help protect the adjustment turrets.
Is the Holosun High Mount for 403G compatible with HS503FL?
Yes it is.
thanks! I am planning to get one HS503FL and high mount~!
can it really work w/o a battery or just with a dead battery?
yes...
+Oliver Buenaflor I have the HS503C and it will not work without a battery inserted. The battery I have isn't dead so I can't tell if it will work with a completely discharged battery.
thanks for the reply. I guess it will be a matter of time till we find out. a perfect excuse to run something empty :-)
The flip caps are not permanent. You can take them off
Is there any special thing you have to do to clean the Solar Cells?
fpav Why do you need to clean them??
I don't yet, but eventually dust/dirt/ carbon will settle on the cells....so I'm just asking. Mine re brand new. Looking ahead.
fpav In the years I've been running them, never seen that as an issue.
Ok , Thanks ! Its my 1st RED DOT on my 1st AR-15. I can't believe you answered my questions so fast !!! lol Thank you so much. I really like this 503C and waited a long time to finally find it on sale at a great price ($160.50 total). You make Primo sights at low prices.
What happened to the hs510?
kalel01a The HUD is coming but later in the year...
My flip mounts detach
What you call "hi, medium, and low" I call "Double D, C, and B". Night vision is A cup, aka mosquitoe bites/tic tac bitties.
Hey, it seems like a great Dot; but honestly. The battery compartments just don't do it for me.
Can I co-witness my magpul mbus back up sights through the shortest mount on the 503c?
Holosun Technologies thank you. Do you recommend any mounts to achieve that
JAY WAYNE any aimpoint micro mount will work. The best mount on the market imo is the scalarworks low drag mount. However.... If you want true co-witness you can't achieve that with the 503c model. The problem is the battery tray is under the sight making it a smidge taller. The 503gu and a few others hold the battery on the side making it sit just where it should be. So get a model with the battery on the side, not the tray underneath. I haven't bought one yet so this info is all from what I have read through some personal research.
Do the flip caps rotate?
+nemisans13 i have the 515c, yes they rotate.
If you mean rotate like changing them to open to the top or side, only the newer 515CU has that option. The 515C only flips down...
If they rotate does that mean they are removable?
myantispambox Any version with a "U" at then end of the model means it's an upgraded version that does allow the user to change position and/or remove the caps altogether.
Waterproof?????
Everything we make is at least IP67 certified. That means it passes at least 30 minutes continuous underwater at 1 meter.
Is the 503c out yet?
May
hey i just got my 503c but the front glass is tilted left ward instead of down. are they all like that?
Yes, it is part of new technology. The new T2 from Aimpoint also shares the same tech. No issues with the sight.
503 can work with a magnifier and iron sights
How do I become distributor?
contact luis@holosun.com
Can anyone tell me how the HS503C dot looks through a magnifier? Is it crisp like the T2 or does it have some emitter distortion like the T1? Also, has anyone else had the problems that "xrichxlen" has? XRICHXLEN: did you get yours fixed/replaced??
Joe Flowers
Not yet. I might not do that for a few weeks***. I am frantically studying for my first CPA exam (for which I already paid, so I have a deadline) as I am behind schedule, and I will be working more hours than usual at my job soon (our company audit is about to start).
I would like to make a video of my sight to show how its functions differ from the one in this video and the description in the instruction manual, and I would also like to make a section to show the significant parallax error, which is my main issue with it (the issue with "Manual" mode being influenced by the solar cells is also significant, but that can possibly be remedied with a piece of cloth attached to the sight - nothing can be done for parallax error!). My main reason for this is to show proof of my sight's issues to the manufacturers and get a response from them before I undergo the hassle of shipping it for replacement. But I might post it to UA-cam too. If I do so, it will be my first UA-cam video. :) I just need time to make it, ......and I need access to someone's video camera.
***By the time that I get this resolved and/or make the video, the sight will probably be released in America and more people will be reviewing it on UA-cam, so you can probably just send a video request to someone who regularly reviews red dot sights at that time (I think that a few people review new sights from lower-cost companies like Holosun). I am always surprised by the lack of parallax-error videos. Very few people think to make them in spite of parallax error being one of the most important aspects of a sight.
Joe Flowers Sorry....I don't use magnifiers.
ldc1129 Yeah, it helps with anything at 100Y and beyond (even just finding small targets at 150Y). The PA micros tended to do as good as the T1, so I assume this one will be like that. Can't wait to see though.
Just got my hs503c today and am using a primary arm 3x magnifier. I must say I am pleasantly surprised. The dot and 75 moa circle are really crisp through the magnifier. Much better than my other PA red dots.
Shawn Ricmond That's awesome to hear!! I don't use magnifiers and I get that question asked all the time. Thanks for sharing!
Hey Louis, where are ya man!?!??! I just left the NRA convention and you aren't here with a booth??? Bummer!
Sorry.....we weren't able to secure a booth this year in time.
Holosun: The very best Airsoft accessory money can buy (ie., dont even think of putting it on a 22lr or AR-anything)....
I have one on a 300 blackout AR. 500+ rounds and still holds zero.
I detect a hispanic accent.
Holosun = shit, tried the 515c battery/solar innoperable after less than 6 months out of the box new. yes that's right, new, out of box, battery failed, AND solar failed.... nuff said