Let's get one thing straight, when it come's to optics and pricing, red dot sights have come a long way in just a few years. There are solid offerings at almost all price points so how can any brand justify being on the upper echelon? Well, let me tell you.
Just getting into the firearms and shooting realm, I wanted the most bang for my buck. Like many of you I scrolled through pages and pages of different offerings on Amazon looking for the best reviewed optic at the best price point. I found a few winners in different budget ranges, optics I'd recommend to new and old shooters alike. I couldn't justify spending $200-$350 on an optic when that much ammo is enough for many trips to the range. That was until just recently when I acquired my first 2011.
A high quality gun demands a high quality optic. That's the gospel truth. I couldn't quite get myself to pull the trigger on the almighty Trijicon but I went with one of the most recognizable and trusted names in the red dot game: Holosun. I've used a few on friends guns and never thought much of it. But something about getting your own, from purchase to play, just felt so good. The fit and finish right out of the box made me feel like all of the $150 red sights were glorified airsoft accouterments. The Holosun comes in a hard box with a black translucent top. When you open it you feel like your tax rate is in danger of going up. Packaging is one thing though, how does the damn thing shoot?
Great. That's the answer to that question. The first feature to impress was that I don't have 3, 4, or even 5 brightness settings. I have 12! That's 12 different light conditions that I could absolutely kick ass in! I probably don't need all 12 but who the hell does? I have em' and I'm not giving them up.
Secondly, the dot is so crisp. I instantly knew that the clarity and crispiness of the dot was the main detriment to using lower budget optics. For example, I have a Zulisys on my lever gun because of the massive window. It's perfect for a gun that sets the dot further forward. It worked so well that I got a second for my M&P. The large window is prone to getting smoked by casings in the pistol and occasionally, emphasis on occasionally, it will go out for a split second before the dot reappears. This is an issue I've yet to encounter with the Holosun. It works when you want it to and when you don't it's resting peacefully on your nightstand, ready at a moments notice.
I know, I know. Some of you are reading this like "Holosun makes nice optics, no shit." I never doubted the quality of their offering, I only ever doubted if it was worth spending the extra coin on an optic rather than ammo or hell, even a whole other gun. Like many other shooters I am not made of money. This is an expensive hobby and choosing the finest of everything can leave you homeless and heartbroken real f*ckin fast. You've got to make compromises along the way or you won't have funds to keep shooting at the rate you'd like.
I would like to keep this review short and sweet but there's so much good I can say about this optic. I got the 407k as it was the perfect fit for my RMSc cut but will gladly be purchasing another, larger Holosun for my M&P Competitor. Perhaps the closed emitter would be a nice addition. (look at me, not taking my own financial advice)
There has been some chatter online questioning the reliability of Holosun's dots but I've not experienced anything that would make me question it. I have back up irons, sure, but I bought a dot so I wouldn't need those. Maybe I'm just lucky. But you know what they say. "I'd rather be lucky than good any day."
If you're like me, trying to save some money while also having nice shit, get a Holosun. It's not all that much more expensive but the quality is a night and day difference from the lower budget red dots. You will be glad you did.