Holosun has always been a competing underdog against authoritative brands like Trijicon, Leupold, and Aimpoint who have consistently provided the market’s best red dot sights.
Lately, with the type of red dot quality and technologies that Holosun has delivered, they have more than earned their right to be a competing alternative without any reservation.
While their 507c was a great red dot, the new and improved 507c X2 is even better.
Quick Overview...
What We Like: Side battery access
What We Don’t Like: Small
Best Uses: Close Range, Night Vision Compatible, Handguns, Law Enforcement, Military
- Red Dot Type: Reflex open HUD
- Magnification: 1x
- Reticle Options: 3
- Reticle Color: Red
- Battery Type: Dual/CR1632 & Solar Cell
- NV Compatible: Yes/2 settings
- Dimensions: 1.78 x 1.15 x 1.15”/1.5 oz
- Waterproof: Yes
Our Verdict: New to the market and equipped with the latest technologies the red dot sight industry has to offer, the Holosun HS507C X2 has a low price point and is very affordable. With new features that provide practical convenience and performance in the field, the X2 model is well-deserving of praise.
Who is the Holosun HS507C-X2 Best Suited to?
If you liked the older model of the 507c, then you’ll love the newer X2 version. It has very specific upgrades such as Lock Mode and the side access battery compartment that makes it an improvement in every sense of the word from its predecessor.
It’s also priced lower than what most of its competitors from other brands would start the retail price at, so it’s a better buy for those on a budget without compromising on performance, features, and quality.
While small, it’s designed and best used on close-range firearms and platforms such as small arms. If you like the Holosun brand then you might want to take a look at the hands on field test and review of the HS510C red dot.
How Does the Holosun HS507C-X2 Perform?
The Holosun is one tough cookie. It’s made from CNC-machined aircraft 7075 T6 aluminum that is finished with a black anodized hard coat – lightweight and tough. Tested and designed to withstand military and law enforcement use, it’s durable and robust to last innumerable rounds throughout its lifetime of use.
Long-lasting battery life, small and lightweight size, and Shake Awake tech means that it’s ideally designed for the demands of law enforcement use.
If you simply want a red dot for your open or concealed carry firearm, you don’t have to worry about inadvertent button pressing that would change the settings – Lock Mode takes care of that.
Water and fogproof, multi-layered optical coatings, and an improved super LED sets in stone foundational quality.
Features & Benefits
Side Access Battery Tray
This is one of the most obvious upgrades of the X2 model – its side access battery tray. Its predecessor had, like most other red dot sights, the battery compartment on the bottom of the sight. This would mean the sight requires removal to change out that battery.
Even though the optic is designed with technologies to provide long-lasting battery life that means you won’t have to change it out very often, it’s still an excellent feature to see that Holosun moved the compartment to the side.
In this position, the CR1632 battery can be changed from the side position conveniently without having to remove the sight from the gun – ever.
Solar Failsafe
One of the most worrisome fears is the battery dying when you need it most. To ensure that you always have a reliable red dot, the 507c X2 features a dual-source power supply.
First off, you have a high-power lithium battery that provides up to 10,000 hours of performance with the dot and circle reticle or 50,000 hours of use with the dot reticle at setting 6.
In Auto Mode, the red dot sight toggles between using the solar cell and battery depending on the light conditions to conserve battery life. If conditions are bright, the solar cell provides the aiming point. If the battery is running low, it will be a backup source as long as there is ambient light to fuel the solar cell. However, it goes without saying that if the battery becomes low, replace it ASAP.
For those who are dedicated red dot users, the dual power supply and side battery access feature provides convenient in-field battery replacements and a “get you out of the woods” solution when needed.
Lock Mode
A much-anticipated feature is the Lock Mode. Button size has been redesigned to promote this feature as it prevents accidental changing of the settings. This is a key feature that is most often appreciated when the red dot sight is not in use but is also helpful when the firearm is deployed.
This is the key feature that separates the V2 model from the X2. Regardless of legal corrections that required Holosun to redesign button placement, the Lock Mode feature is a genius design move for those who have run into issues of inadvertent button pressing.
MRS
MRS is Holosun’s Multi-Reticle System technology that allows you to toggle between three reticle options: circle dot, 2 MOA dot, and 32 MOA circle.
They all use the same LED to provide the aiming point, so regardless of which reticle you use when you zero the red dot sight, all reticles will provide accurate performance – no re-zeroing required.
There are 12 brightness settings to toggle between for the conditions with two of those compatible with night vision. During Auto Mode, the sight will use both power supplies to appropriately provide the type of power and brightness needed for the conditions.
Shake Awake Technology
This is the motion detection tech that allows you to never have to power off your red dot sight. You can set the sleep timer to four different options: 10 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, and off. The default setting is 10 mins.
After say, 10 minutes of non-use, the red dot will power down into sleep mode. When you pull your gun out of the holster, the red dot sight senses this activity and automatically powers back on to the last saved settings.
Limitations
Small
The Holosun 507c X2 is on the small side with dimensions of 1.78 x 1.15 x 1.15” and a window size of 0.63 x 0.91”. It barely weighs anything at 1.5 oz.
While small, compact, and lightweight, it’s specifically designed for handguns. This means that it will be too low for use on AR rifles and will need a riser to co-witness. However, the picatinny rail included with the sight will fit an AR-15.
Its small dimensions are not a limitation in and of itself, but it is a very specific product aimed towards handgun owners.
Popular Questions
The HS507C X2 is often compared to the Trijicon RMR because it has the same footprint. Essentially, if a Trijicon RMR fit your gun, the X2 will fit. It’s designed to fit small arms often used for concealed carry. It comes with a Picatinny mount.
The 507c is commonly known as the V1 model and the V2 came in to provide a slew of feature upgrades such as the side battery compartment. The X2 is essentially the same model as the V2 but has resized buttons in a different location to provide the Lock Mode feature that prevents inadvertent button pushing and accidental setting changes.
Holosun provides a limited lifetime warranty on the 507c X2 red dot sight. Customer service has been said to be timely, responsive, and when repairs do not solve the issue, a replacement or upgrade is provided by the company.
However, the warranty is not owner transferable and so only applies to the original purchaser. Additionally, only the housing is warrantied for a lifetime whereas the optics are covered for five years and the illumination is covered for three years.
The CR1632 battery included with the Holosun 507C X2 is not rechargeable and is not built into the red dot sight. The battery is replaceable with another CR1632 battery.
Yes, you can have the red dot sight work only through the battery without any possible activation of the solar cell.
You must enter Manual Mode for this type of operation by a continued depression of the “+” button for four seconds. A blink from the sight confirms you have entered Manual Mode where you can manually make adjustments to brightness.
Conclusion
Holosun has provided an excellent red dot sight for both civilian and law enforcement markets.
It fits almost all guns and you can have your slide milled if necessary as this is a red dot sight worth doing it for. The X2 has modern features that caters to the demands of frequent handgun shooters, and so it’s every bit worthy to be considered not only an alternative but a first-rate option as a high-performing red dot sight.
Further Reading
I love my Holosun X2 site but I'm looking at the one that has the 32 moa circle and the 2 moa dot. I'm an older man and always looking for anything that might help me even a small improvement. Just looking for someone to say it's better.
I would recommend trying to get your hands on the one you are looking at. That way you can see for yourself if it is going to be the better option for you.