Holosun

Holosun red dot sights for pistols, rifles and shotguns

Founded in 2013, Holosun has quickly become one of the most widely used red dot brands in practical shooting. Its sights cost less than those of other quality manufacturers without compromising on quality, and Holosun has often led the way with new features.

Our most popular Holosun models are the open 507 Comp and the enclosed EPS Core for pistols, and the open 510C and the enclosed ARO EVO for rifles. Weapon lights and lasers are also a key part of our Holosun sales: the P.ID pistol lights and the RAID rifle light are among our best sellers, and the IRIS laser units have been very well received.

Which Holosun suits you?
Years of battery life

According to the manufacturer, up to 50,000 hours, and up to 100,000 hours on some models, on a single battery.

Solar Failsafe

A solar cell supports the battery and keeps the sight running even if the battery runs low.

Multiple reticles

On MRS models you switch between a dot, a circle or both with a single button press.

Shake Awake

The sight goes to sleep when the gun is still and wakes up instantly when it moves.

Early innovator

Holosun was early to bring titanium-housed sights and green dots to the market.

Jump to:By disciplineLights and lasersOpen or enclosedQuick guideFeaturesFAQ

Which Holosun suits your discipline?

Holosun's range is wide, but the choice becomes clear when you start from the gun and its use. For pistols, it is worth separating pure competition use from duty-style use, because they emphasise different things.

Pistol, practical shooting

Recommended: Holosun 507 Comp

The practical shooter's dream sight: a large window and versatile adjustments. By far the most popular Holosun for competition pistols.

Pistol, duty-style use

Recommended: Holosun EPS Core or 509T

In an enclosed sight the LED is protected inside the housing, so snow, rain and dirt cannot block the dot. The 509T also has a titanium housing. Both are popular.

Rifle and Finnish 3-Gun, open red dot

Recommended: Holosun 510C

Our most popular Holosun rifle sight of all time. A large window for fast close-range shooting, also available as a package with a 3x magnifier.

Rifle and Finnish 3-Gun, enclosed red dot

Recommended: Holosun ARO EVO, more affordably ARO Core

The ARO EVO is the most popular enclosed Holosun for rifles. The ARO Core is a very cost-effective option when the budget is tighter.

Shotgun

Recommended: Holosun AEMS Macro

An enclosed sight with the 509T footprint that sits low. Mounting it on a shotgun usually requires some fitting, but the result works well.

Magnifier behind the red dot

Recommended: Holosun HM3X, for longer distances HM6X

A flip-to-side magnifier gives your red dot more reach. The 3x has always been the more popular choice and is also sold as a package with the 510C.

Rifle IPSC: in competition, rifles are usually fitted with a scope starting at 1x rather than a red dot. See for example Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 and PLxC 1-8x24 or Kahles K16i and K18i. In Finnish 3-Gun and reservist training, on the other hand, a red dot is a popular choice.

Holosun weapon lights and lasers

Holosun is known for its red dots, but weapon lights and lasers are just as important a part of the range. Pistol and rifle lights are among our best-selling Holosun products.

Pistol light

Recommended: Holosun P.ID

A versatile, powerful and durable light (1000 lm, 23,000 cd) that mounts on a Picatinny rail. For more throw choose the P.ID HC, for a smaller pistol the P.ID-K, and for a built-in laser the P.ID Plus.

Rifle light

Recommended: Holosun RAID

A long gun light with 1000 lm output and 80,000 cd throw. It lights up targets at a distance well enough to identify them.

Laser and IR illuminator

Recommended: Holosun IRIS 3

IRIS 3 was the first in the series and is our best seller. It has a visible laser, an IR laser and an IR illuminator for use with night vision devices.

IRIS 1, 2, 3 and 4: what is the difference?

The IRIS model number tells how many lights or lasers the unit has. Each has its own purpose depending on how many features you need.

Model Functions
IRIS 1 Visible laser (red or green)
IRIS 2 Visible laser and IR laser
IRIS 3 Visible laser, IR laser and IR illuminator
IRIS 4 Visible laser, IR laser, IR illuminator and white light

"Some testing, no moon and pretty clear sky. Unit performed awesome. I believe the illuminator performed better than FP Mil Spec I used in the past. No joke. On high power both illum and laser were fine out to 1600m. The ease and speed which you can adjust the illum is really impressive."

User feedback from a field test of the IRIS 3 unit.

Holster for the P.ID light: Battle Gnome Solutions makes Kydex holsters with a P.ID light cutout for Glock and Canik pistols. With active retention Kane Glock and Kane Canik, with friction retention Malin Glock and Malin Canik. See all Battle Gnome Solutions holsters.

Open or enclosed red dot?

Holosun offers both designs. The difference is whether the dot's light is protected inside a housing or projected openly onto the lens.

  Open red dot Enclosed red dot
Design LED behind the lens in an open body LED and lenses in a sealed housing
Strength Light, low, wide view Snow, rain and dirt cannot block the dot
Typical use Practical pistol shooting, rifle Duty-style pistol, rifle, shotgun

Aawee quick guide: basic Holosun operation

We have gathered here the most common settings and questions our customers ask about Holosun sights. The button functions are the same on most models, but check your model's manual if a function does not match the description.

Buttons at a glance

  • + or −A short press adjusts the dot brightness in manual mode.
  • − 3 sSwitches the reticle: dot, circle or both (MRS models).
  • + 3-4 sSwitches the operating mode: automatic (solar models only), static and manual. The dot flashes when the mode changes.
  • + and − togetherTurns the sight off.
  • + over 5 sResets the sight to factory settings.

Automatic and manual mode

In automatic mode the dot brightness adjusts to the ambient light: brighter in sunshine, dimmer at dusk. Day and night vision modes are separate, and both work on their own. In manual mode you set the brightness yourself with the buttons, and the sight runs on the battery alone.

Holosun red dot sight on a pistol

Holosun red dot sight on a pistol slide.

Problem? Check these first

The dot won't turn on

Check the battery orientation. Two screws side by side: positive side down. Round, protruding compartment: positive side out.

The front lens is tilted

This is normal. The lens must be angled so that the dot reflects correctly into the shooter's eye.

Shake Awake doesn't wake the sight

Don't turn the sight off with both buttons. Leave it on and let it go to sleep by itself.

The dot looks blurry or odd

Look through the dot at the target, not at the dot. Lower the brightness. If the dot still looks odd, have your eyesight checked.

Reflections in the lens

A certain amount is normal. Reflections are most visible indoors and in low light when the sight is held in the hand. Test the sight on the gun in its real environment.

Holosun features and terms

Solar Failsafe

A solar cell on top of the sight generates power in daylight and supports the battery. The sight keeps working even if the battery runs low, and solar models also have automatic brightness control.

MRS, Multi Reticle System

One sight holds several reticles. A plain dot is precise at longer distances, a circle is fast up close, and the combination works for both. You switch the reticle with the minus button.

Shake Awake

A motion sensor turns the dot off when the gun is still and back on as soon as it moves. The feature saves battery without you having to remember to switch the sight off.

Dot size and colour

Dot size is given in minutes of angle (MOA). One MOA is about 2.9 cm (1.1") at 100 metres, so a 2 MOA dot covers about 6 cm (2.3") at 100 metres. For many eyes a green dot stands out better in bright daylight, while red is the traditional choice.

For a broader overview of Holosun models and terms, see our Holosun article and red dot selection guide.

Holosun 2025 product cataloguePDF, English, 13 MBOpen catalogue

Frequently asked questions about Holosun

What is the best Holosun for a competition pistol?

For practical shooting, the 507 Comp is by far our most popular Holosun. It has a large window and versatile adjustments, so the dot is quick to find even during fast transitions.

Which Holosun suits a duty-style pistol?

For duty-style use we recommend an enclosed sight, such as the EPS Core or the titanium-housed 509T. In an enclosed sight the LED is protected, so snow, rain or dirt cannot block the dot.

Which Holosun suits a rifle?

The most popular open sight is the 510C, which is also sold as a package with a 3x magnifier. The most popular enclosed sight is the ARO EVO, and the more affordable ARO Core is a very cost-effective option.

Does a Holosun red dot work on a shotgun?

Yes. For shotguns we recommend the enclosed AEMS Macro, which has the 509T footprint and sits low. Mounting it on a shotgun usually requires some fitting.

Which magnifier, 3x or 6x?

The 3x magnifier (HM3X) is clearly more popular, because it works well with a red dot and keeps a wide field of view. The 6x magnifier (HM6X) suits you if you want to identify and engage targets at longer distances.

Open or enclosed red dot for a pistol?

An open red dot is lighter and lower, which makes it popular in practical shooting. In an enclosed red dot the LED is protected inside the housing, so snow, rain, mud or dirt cannot block the dot. An enclosed sight is better suited to demanding conditions and duty-style use.

Will a Holosun red dot fit my pistol?

That depends on the slide cut, or the mounting footprint. Holosun pistol sights use different footprints depending on the model, and many pistols need an adapter plate. Tell our staff your pistol model and we will check the right sight and plate.

Which Holosun weapon light suits a pistol?

The most versatile choice is the Holosun P.ID: a powerful (1000 lm, 23,000 cd) and durable light that mounts on a Picatinny rail. The P.ID HC throws light further, the P.ID-K suits smaller pistols and the P.ID Plus includes a laser.

What is the difference between IRIS 1, 2, 3 and 4?

The number tells how many lights or lasers the unit has. IRIS 1 has a visible laser, IRIS 2 adds an IR laser, IRIS 3 has a green laser, an IR laser and an IR illuminator, and IRIS 4 adds a white light to these. IRIS 3 was the first in the series and is our best seller, and its illuminator has also earned praise in field testing.

Is there a holster for the Holosun P.ID light?

Yes. Battle Gnome Solutions makes Kydex holsters with a P.ID light cutout for Glock and Canik pistols, with both active retention (Kane) and friction retention (Malin).

How long does a Holosun battery last?

According to the manufacturer, most Holosun models run up to 50,000 hours and some up to 100,000 hours on a single battery. The actual life depends on the brightness setting: high brightness drains the battery faster. Shake Awake extends battery life because the sight goes to sleep when the gun is still.

Why won't my Holosun red dot turn on?

First check the battery orientation. If the battery compartment has two screws side by side, the positive side faces down. If the compartment is round and protruding, the positive side faces outwards. If the dot still does not turn on, try a new battery and contact our staff.

Where are Holosun sights made?

Holosun sights are made in China under strict quality control. The company was founded in 2013 and, despite its young age, is one of the most widely used red dot brands in practical shooting.

Need help choosing a Holosun? Tell us about your gun and how you use it, and we will help you find the right model and mount. See contact details and opening hours or send us a question by email. Manufacturer's website: holosun.com.