There have been a lot of new optics coming out lately, and even though they have small differences here and there…
…it’s hard to find features that really set them apart from one another. You can’t really say that about the Holosun HS510C because it’s just too unique.
It’s design… it’s look… and it’s features are all very different from other red dot sights on the market, and it’s exciting to see something that stands out so cleary.
Now if you’re in a hurry, here’s my super quick review:
The HS510C gives you a HUGE viewing area, it has an awesome reticle, it has insane battery life (and solar power), and it comes with a high-quality QD mount. It’s a great red dot sight.
Check The Holosun HS510C Price On Amazon (Over 250 Reviews!) – Click Here
If you’re looking for more information than that then keep reading because this review is going to cover (in-depth) the following information:
- Reticle And Clarity Of The HS510C…
- Battery Life And Solar Power…
- Durability Of The Sight…
- Extra Accessories Included With The Sight…
- Pros And Cons Of The Optic…
In the end, I’ll give my final thoughts about the HS510C, and you should be able to determine whether or not it’s an optic that will work for you…
Let’s get into it!
Reticle And Clarity Of The HS510C…
The reticle and clarity of the Holosun HS510c are both fantastic. To start off, the lens on this reflex sight is crystal clear.
In fact, it’s some of the clearest glass I’ve seen on this type of optic, and that includes some of its competitors that cost a lot more money.
The reticle is also extremely clear and precise. It doesn’t blur out or give the star effect the way reticles on some other red dot sights do, and it allows you to get a very clean sight picture.
Now the reticle on the 510C can be changed between three different options.
- A 2 MOA (minute of angle) dot
- A 65 MOA ring
- A 2 MOA dot with a 65 MOA ring around it (the Holosun Circle Dot Reticle)
Holosun calls this the Multiple Reticle System or M.R.S. and it allows you to really tailor the optic to fit your needs and/or personal preference.
Personally, I’m a big fan of the Holosun Circle Dot reticle. The reason why is because the 65 MOA ring is super fast to pick up when you take aim at large targets up close…
…but at the same time, the small 2 MOA dot in the center gives you a precise sight picture when you’re aiming at small targets in the distance.
Basically, it’s really fast up close but still precise when you have to reach out a little bit, and after using it for a while now, it’s become my favorite reticle on a red dot sight.
Now some shooters just want to keep it simple, and if that’s the case with you, you can easily change the reticle to a 2 MOA dot, which is also a great reticle for a red dot optic.
Last you can set reticle to be a 65 MOA ring without a 2 MOA dot in the center…
Personally, I don’t really understand why you’d want to use this option because the Holosun Circle Dot reticle will accomplish the same thing, but it’s there if you find a use for it.
Again, I think it’s smart that Holosun includes the Multiple Reticle System in this sight because you can set it up however you prefer.
And it’s really easy to switch between the reticles as well because all you have to do is hold down the minus (brightness) button on the side for a few seconds…
…and you can cycle through the three options.
The MASSIVE Viewing Area…
Now one of the most unique features the 510C has to offer is the huge viewing area that it gives you.
The way this sight is designed allows it to have a big advantage over a micro red dot sight when it comes to field of view.
You can simply see a lot more through it (and around it), and having the ability to see more of your target (and what’s around it) is always a good thing when it comes to shooting…
And because it has unlimited eye relief you can really acquire a sight picture quickly from pretty much any shooting position.
Battery Life And Solar Power…
The battery life on the Holosun 510c is amazing. It can run for about 50,000 hours on one CR2032 battery.
I think that super-long battery life like this is an absolute must-have on a red dot sight…
I’ve had red dots fail on me because the batteries ran dry very quickly, and that’s not something you want happening if you ever have to use your rifle in self-defense.
In addition to the super-long battery life, the 510c also automatically turns off when it’s not being used and will automatically turn on when it senses motion.
Holosun calls this the “Shake Awake” feature, and I think it was really smart of them to include it because it means your optic is always ready to go.
So again, if you have to use your rifle in an emergency home defense situation, you won’t have to fiddle around with the buttons on your optic before dealing with the threat.
You can just pick up your rifle and be ready to defend yourself and your family. So I really am a big fan of the Shake Awake feature included on this sight because…
- It’s going to help save your battery life
- And it means your optic is always ready for duty
Now in addition to the ultra-long battery life and shake awake feature, Holosun also includes a solar panel on this optic…
The solar panel allows you to run the sight even if your battery runs dry (or to save battery life)… as long as you have some sunlight.
I’ve used this feature quite a bit, and even in the sunny desert where I live, you get a bright reticle that gives you a great sight picture.
Now with the HS510C you get 10 brightness settings for daylight conditions and 2 night vision settings…
I found the high daylight settings to be extremely bright…
In fact, they seemed to be brighter than the brightness settings on many other red dot sights I’ve used, which I think is an indication of the quality that Holosun puts into their optics.
Durability Of The Holosun 510C…
The Holosun 510C is extremely durable. To start off, the sight housing is made of high-strength aluminum and the lens is protected by a titanium hood.
In addition to that, the windage and elevation turrets are recessed into the sight housing…
They can easily be adjusted with the use of a screwdriver or the rim of a spent cartridge, and there is no way for them to snap off if your sight gets knocked or bumped around a little bit.
The 510C is also fully waterproof and can handle rainy or wet conditions without any problems at all.
Now I do have to mention that the one disadvantage to the 510c is that you can’t put flip-open lens covers on it.
The way it’s designed doesn’t really allow for it, but just remember that the trade-off is that huge viewing area you get…
Personally, I don’t think this is too big of a problem because the sight is built to be durable and should hold up to any type of normal civilian use.
Holosun HS510C VS HE510C Elite…
Now just to be clear, the Holosun HS510C comes with a red-colored reticle… The similarly named Holosun HE510C Elite comes with a green colored reticle.
I have always preferred red over green when it comes to sights and optics because my eyes are just able to pick up the red a little bit quicker…
But if you prefer an optic with a green reticle, you’ll want to check out the HE510C Elite because it has all of the same features as the HS510C, but the color of the reticle is green.
Extra Accessories Included With The Sight…
There are many cool accessories that come included with the Holosun HS510C. To begin, you get an extra battery tray just in case the one you’re using gets damaged in any way.
In addition to that, you get a tool that allows you to easily remove the battery tray, which is how you change out the battery when the time comes to swap it out.
All those things are good, but really the most exciting accessory that comes with this optic is the included QD mount.
The mount that you get is actually pretty high-quality. It’s designed specifically for the 510C, and as I mentioned before…
…it is a QD or quick detach mount which allows you to remove it quickly if it gets damaged or becomes unusable in any way.
The QD mount also positions the 510C for an absolute co-witness with backup iron sights if you’re mounting it on an AR-15.
To me, that’s the perfect height because I always like to run back up iron sights when I’m using optics that require battery power.
All in all, the goodies that you get with the 510C are high-quality, useful, and add to the value you’re getting from Holosun.
Pros And Cons Of The Holosun HS510C…
Pros…
- Huge Viewing Window
- 3 Reticle Choices (including the Holosun Circle Dot!)
- Crystal Clear Lens
- Ultra Long Battery Life
- Motion Activated “Shake Awake” Feature
- Solar Power Technology
- Waterproof
- Included High-Quality QD Mount
Cons…
- It’s a little larger and heavier than some other red dots (If this is a problem for you I recommend you check out this sight)
- It has a mid-range price tag (it’s actually got a pretty decent price tag, but if you’re looking for something less expensive, I recommend you check out this sight)
Holosun HS510C Review – Final Thoughts…
In the end, I think the Holosun HS510C is a very unique addition to the market for red dot sights…
- It’s got that huge sight window
- Its battery lasts forever
- And it’s got that AWESOME circle dot reticle!
Add to that, the reasonable price tag it carries and I think Holosun knocked it out of the park with this optic!