Is the Holosun HS503GU a "military grade optic without military grade price"

[Phaedrus/69]

I have two PA/Holosun sights and consider them to be good for the money. But they're certainly not Aimpoint killers. My cheapest PA sight has been very good but the auto-shutoff is not defeatable; that makes it a non-starter for me as a duty/HD optic. My Holosun has been mostly great but not without flaws. It has a non-defeatable auto-off, too, but a motion sensor to wake it upon the slightest movement. It worked like a charm for almost six months, then got wonky. For about a day the motion sensor worked intermittently, then the next day it failed completely. The sight still turns on reliably when you hit any key/button but that's not how it's supposed to work.

I would like the get a PA Advanced Micro Dot since it's supposed to be always-on. It's a lot cheaper than an Aimpoint but you get less too. I'm conflicted as to whether it's a great value for $170 or a too much to spend since you're not getting a duty-level optic.

 

[chopinbloc]

I've heard other people report problems with the auto on feature. I don't suppose a fresh battery helped?

 

[9mmepiphany]

My Holosun has been mostly great but not without flaws. It has a non-defeatable auto-off, too, but a motion sensor to wake it upon the slightest movement. It worked like a charm for almost six months, then got wonky. For about a day the motion sensor worked intermittently, then the next day it failed completely. The sight still turns on reliably when you hit any key/button but that's not how it's supposed to work

That is one of the reasons they left it off the latest model

 

[azrocks]

That is one of the reasons they left it off the latest model

So now the count is up to two features that don't work as they should - auto-on and water resistance - and the company's response to the first failure is to nix the feature entirely (while adding new unproven tech that's just as likely to fail in some other way)?

Color me unimpressed.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I have been shooting a HOLOSUN HS403G for about 4 months now in multigun competition. Its gets shot a lot and dumped in barrels.

So far so good. Seems to hold zero and hasn't picked up serious any damage that I can see. Some scratches and what not but nothing to affect performance... So far...

Primary arms has their own model out now that has BDC and is getting some decent reviews.

Its a Chinese aimpoint for half the cost. I am good with that. I don't use my rifles for 'serious business' anyway and have back up irons should that become a problem.

 

[Jackal]

The Primary Arms Advanced Micro is a little different. It doesnt have the auto shutoff, its always on. Primary Arms also is an extra level of QC and CS. While I admittedly have not hammered on either or used them as tent stake mallets, I sold my Aimpoint H1 after using the Primary Arms AMD for a while. The dot is clearer and the emitter is lower profile, giving the shooter a better sight picture. Then again, I'm not kicking down doors in Fallujah either. Steel plates, paper targets and varmints sure cant tell its not an Aimpoint...

 

[edknn]

The TRS 25 has been redesigned. The new ones lose the dot in the upper 1/3 of the sight, I called Bushnell, they are getting a lot of complaints but will not be going back to the old design. They said consumers will have to learn to live with it.