Overall Score 8.9
Tested With Scoring System 2.0
⭐️ Verdict: Best Budget Red Dot (8.9)
As a shooter who’s tested the Holosun HS407C X2, I’ve got to say, it’s quite the sight. This open reflex sight is tailored for full-sized pistols, offering a broad field of view and quick target acquisition. Its standout features include a 50k hour Red Super LED, Shake Awake technology, and a handy Solar Failsafe.
During my testing, I found the HS407C X2’s performance impressive. The 2MOA red dot was crisp and clear, enhancing accuracy even at longer ranges. The Shake Awake technology worked flawlessly, powering down when not in use and springing to life with the slightest movement. The Solar Failsafe was a bonus, ensuring the sight was operational even in varied lighting conditions.
Pros
Large field of view
50k hour battery life with Red Super LED
Solar Failsafe provides backup power
Shake Awake technology saves battery
Durable 7075 Aluminum housing
Clear 2MOA red dot
Cons
Solar panel may affect sight picture in certain conditions
What Comes In The Box?
What you expect when you open the box may vary depending on the retailer you purchased from or the specific package you have ordered. Typically, the Holosun 407C comes in a white foam-lined box. It includes the red dot sight, an instruction manual, a cloth for cleaning the lens, a battery, a quick-release mount, and a Torx wrench for mounting it.
The Holosun 407C does not come with a rail adapter aiding attachment. However, the sight is flat-bottomed, which makes its use unnecessary.
How Does Holosun 407C X2 Work?
If you’re confused after unpacking your red dot sight on how to use it and its internal workings, look no further. Mentioned below are the general steps for installing and using a Holosun 407C.
- Install the sight on your weapon: The Holosun 407C can be placed on the majority of weapons using the quick-release mount that comes with it. Make sure the mount is firmly fastened to the weapon when mounting the sight.
- The Holosun 407C requires a CR2032 battery, which you should insert. Remove the battery tray from the side of the sight, insert the battery, and make sure the positive side is facing up. Replace the battery tray after that.
- Sight activation: Press and hold the “+” button at the top of the sight to turn it on. The sight will activate at the most recent brightness level selected.
- Brightness adjustment: Use the “+” or “-” buttons on the sight’s top to change the brightness of the dot. Depending on the lighting, the brightness can be increased or decreased.
- Simply align the red dot with your target and discharge the weapon after you have turned the sight and adjusted the brightness.
- Press and hold the “-” button at the top of the sight until the dot vanishes to switch off the sight.
- Maintain the sight: It’s crucial to maintain the sight clear of debris and clean after use. Clean the lens and housing of the sight with a soft cloth, then store it somewhere secure and dry.
For more detailed instructions on how to use the sight, refer to the manual that must have come with your Holosun 407C.
While you are fiddling with your sight, internally the red dot reticle with the use of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) is projected onto a lens in front of the shooter’s vision. When the shooter looks through the lens, the dot appears to be superimposed on the target they are aiming at regardless of the shooter’s head or eye movements, thanks to its parallax-free design. All these factors contribute to the Holosun 407C offering a quick and precise shooting solution.
Specifications Of Holosun 407c
- Product: Holosun 407C
- Preview: *add picture*
- Weight: 1.5 oz (0.09 lb)
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 5 in x 4 in x 3 in
- Reticle: 2 MOA dot
- Shockproof: Yes
- Window size: 0.63 in x 0.91 in (16mm x 23mm)
- Unlimited Eye Relief: Yes
- Multi-Coatings: Yes
- Battery type: CR1632 (Life up to 50,000 hours)
Features Of Holosun 407c x2
1. Shake Awake Technology
If you’re someone who uses their optic infrequently or you forget to turn it off, then this technology is especially useful for you since Shake Awake automatically puts the sight into a sleep state when it’s not in use to conserve battery life.
It can be programmed to turn off or “sleep” after specific time periods of inactivity. These four settings are 10 minutes, 1 hour, 12 hours and Shake Awake Disabled, where the sight will not turn off on inactivity regardless of the time that has passed. These settings can be accessed through the “+” and “-” buttons on the side of the optic. Press and hold the “+” button for 10 seconds to enter time adjustment mode. Press either of these buttons to adjust the time setting. Press 1 time to set it to 10 minutes, 2 times for 1 hour, 3 times for 12 hours and 4 times to disable it. The LED will blink indicating the times it has been pressed.
The sight then becomes active again when it detects movement. Although this technology is a headlining feature, it is not unique to the Holosun 407C.
By minimizing the amount of time the sight is powered on while not in use, Shake Awake additionally contributes to the protection of the optic from unneeded wear and tear. This can help the optic last longer overall, making it a more dependable and affordable investment for shooters.
A negative side to this technology is that it is rather sensitive and turns on even when the firearm has just been picked up.
2. Auto Brightness Adjustment
Whether you are shooting in bright daylight or in the middle of the night, your Holosun 407C light sensor will detect this and adjust the brightness of the reticle accordingly.
In bright light conditions, the sight will also brighten to ensure that it is visible and easy to see, while in conditions where light is not ample, the sight will dim out so that it is bright enough to see but not bright enough to overpower the target.
Apart from this automatic brightness adjustment, your red dot sight will also possess a manual brightness adjustment in case your automatic adjustment doesn’t work or isn’t up to mark for your preferences.
The 407C possesses many brightness settings, in total 12, depending on the kind of environment you are in. The lowest two levels are also suitable for Night Vision.
If you want to disable the brightness adjustment buttons, this is possible by holding down the “+” button for three seconds to activate the lockout feature. This can be reversed by repeating this action which will bring the optic back to battery mode.
3. Durability
The 407C consists of many characteristics that make it a durable option for every day and long-time use. These characteristics include:
Housing
Its 7075-T6 machined aluminum housing offers a strong and robust body combatting everyday wear and tear. There is also a serial number etched into the left-hand side of the optic, which is helpful in case of theft or warranty concerns.
IP67 rating
IP67 is a rating for electrical enclosures indicating how well they guard against the damaging effects of dust and water on the equipment they contain. This rating means the Holosun 407C is shockproof to 5000G and waterproof up to 1 meter. It can also work efficiently under extreme temperatures ranging from -22oF to 140oF.
Multi-Layer Coating
The lens also features multi-layer coating protecting from ghosting, blurring, abrasions and other optical issues without compromising on the picture quality and ease of use.
A review did say that the lens coating caused the sight to darken slightly; however, this is normal for all red dot sights.
4. Quick Release Mount
Your Holosun 407C comes with a quick-release mount which has the purpose of making it easy for you to install and remove the sight from your firearm. You’ll realize its usefulness once you need to switch to iron sights or any other optics quickly or even when you need to remove it for storage and transportation.
Other advantages of this feature are that it ensures that your sight is securely attached to the firearm despite the amount of shaking or strength of the recoil. This is aided by the high-strength aluminum it is made out of which contributes to its lightweight and durability. Moreover, this has been made easy to use by employing a simple lever mechanism to attach or detach the optic quickly.
The quick-release mount is also attachable with a wide variety of firearms since it can attach to any standard Picatinny or Weaver rail.
5. Solar Failsafe Photovoltaic Back Up
On top of the sight’s bridge, there is a photovoltaic cell that acts as a Failsafe battery power by converting the light available, whether it is direct sunlight or artificial light, into electricity. This is useful to keep the sight functioning even if the battery is removed or fails to perform. The brightness of the red dot primarily depends on the brightness of the light falling on the cell, and you can also use this option as the primary power source if you want to extend your battery life. There is an automatic function within the optic that allows it to switch between the solar failsafe backup and the battery power.
So if you’re someone who uses their firearms in an environment exposed to ambient lighting, you can use this feature to extend and conserve your battery life and power.
6. Multi-Reticle System
The Holosun 407C features a multi-reticle system with four reticle options: a 2 MOA dot, a 32 MOA circle, a 2 MOA dot with a 32 MOA circle, and a crosshair with a 32 MOA circle. The standard dot used is the 2 MOA red dot; however, Holosun also offers a model, the HS407C-GR X2, with a green reticle.
7. Convenient Battery Change
The Holosun 407C allows you to change the battery without removing the sight from the firearm. On the right of the sight, there is a battery tray, usually covered by a small, circular cap. This can be opened using a flathead screwdriver or the included tool in the package. Hold the battery cap in place and turn the sight so that the battery compartment faces down. Then, use a small tool to push the battery out and replace the same model of battery with the positive (+) side up. Then close the battery cap again and test it to make sure it’s working properly.
Apart from the convenience this brings, it is also helpful since you won’t have to re-zero the optic every time you change the cell.
8. Long Battery Life
The CR1632 batteries that are usually used in the Holosun 407C can last up to 50,000 hours on a single charge, so they can always stay in your use without frequent battery replacements. This battery life approximate that has been given has been estimated on a brightness setting of 6 with a single cell.
It has been recommended by reviews to change out the batteries before this maximum lifespan number of hours has been used since batteries typically deteriorate before this approximate.
9. Night Vision
Although the Holosun 407C operates well even in low brightness conditions owing to its various brightness settings and the auto brightness adjustment feature, it was not specifically designed for night vision use which is why, for use at night, it is usually paired with Night Vision Devices (NVDs/NODs).
However, some NVDs may require Infra Red (IR) illumination or IR aiming devices such as Crimson Trace grips or LAMs to ensure that the dot is visible; however, the 407C comes with the instruction not to be used with night vision devices that emit IR light since it may damage the sight. Therefore, it’s necessary that you check the specifications and details for the reflex sight and the NVD before usage.
10. Memory Function
If you prefer a brightness setting in any specific lighting conditions, you can save that setting, and the sight will remember the last saved brightness setting when you turn it on again.
To use this function, set your brightness according to your preferences using the “+”/”-” buttons on sight and then turn the sight off. When you turn it on again, it will be set to the same brightness setting. You can also readjust the brightness in the same way.
11. No Parallax
When we say that the 407C has no parallax, this means to say that the reticle will always appear to be on the same plane as the target so you can rest assured that the dot won’t stray from the target even if you change your shooting stance or move your head. This feature in the 407C helps the shooter achieve an even greater amount of precision and accuracy during its use.
Although, according to the user manual, there is minimal parallax in the optic, there is always a chance of error; hence there may be a small inaccuracy.
12. Holographic Sight Design
More traditional red dot sights use a reflective lens to project the dot onto the plane of the target, while more contemporary sights, including the Holosun 407C, use a hologram to project the reticle onto the viewing window.
A laser is used to split a beam of light and recombine it to create an interference pattern which is then recorded on a holographic film in front of the reticle projector.
This holographic sight feature means that regardless of how far you place your eye from the sight or how precise you are with it, you can see a clear and accurate reticle providing you unlimited eye relief.
What is it used for?
1. Fast-Paced Shooting Scenarios
If you are in a situation where you need to defend yourself, or you have entered into any competitive shooting event, the Holosun 407C is a sight well-suited to these situations. Owing to its holographic sight, it can help you aim accurately and quickly regardless of the eye-to-sight distance. This is because the holographic sight leads to unlimited eye relief and a wider field of view, which can help you track your target as soon as you pick up your firearm.
Furthermore, the 407C’s tough aluminum housing and IP67 rating, with its lightweight, making it an extremely durable and reliable choice for situations with harsh and fast-paced outdoor situations.
It can also be automatically and manually adjusted to a wide range of brightness conditions, so whether you’re out in the wilderness hunting or in a self-defense situation, the Holosun 407C is there for you.
2. Casual Target Shooting
The multi-layer coating on the lenses provides a clear glass view from the optic. The multiple brightness adjustments that can be made will also help you despite the kind of lighting conditions you are in, from bright sunlight to low-light conditions, even with its night vision settings.
The 407C is also extremely lightweight and compact, making it an easy choice to carry to the range for your casual shooting session. Furthermore, it has such a long battery life that you don’t have to worry about conserving energy or power while using it.
Alternatives
Holosun 507C
Designed and produced by the same manufacturer, the 407C and 507C have many similarities but also have some key differences that must be considered when making a decision to purchase.
The main difference between them is that the 507C has more reticle options and accuracy as opposed to the simple 407C, which has the traditional 2 MOA red dot. The 507C has the 2 MOA red dot sight, a red dot surrounded by a 32 MOA ring, and a 32 MOA ring with no red dot in the center.
Trijicon RMR
Even the top Holosun models are cheaper than the cheapest models of the RMR, i.e., Trijicon RMR is much more expensive than the Holosun 407C. This price difference is not unreasonable, though, since the RMR does come with an even wider variety of features than the 407C. It has options for a 1, 3.25, and 6.5 MOA reticle and a limited lifetime warranty. It also has a patented design to increase durability as opposed to the 407C and is also waterproof up to 20 meters as compared to the 407C’s 1 meter.
However, in the RMR there may be a bluish tint to the glass and the lens may fisheye on the edges. Furthermore, the battery is located on the bottom of the optic, which needs to be removed to be replaced.
What You Might Not Like About It
Some reviews have mentioned that the auto mode doesn’t shut off as it should and that the buttons to change the dot are too difficult to adjust. They are sometimes stiff and hence, more difficult to press while wearing gloves. Further, it has also been reported that the buttons are too close to each other. Lastly, some users also complain about the screw for the battery compartment becoming loose and falling off.
EndNote
To wrap up, I think we can say that while the Holosun 407C may not be a trailblazer in the optic sight world but it is making its own waves in its own ways.
With its unique selling points in the form of its Solar Failsafe photovoltaic cell that provides an alternative battery input and its holographic sight design that gives you a wide view and accurate and quick tracking of the target, the Holosun 407C is a good option for a red dot sight that comes packed with features at an affordable price as compared to its peers so much so that many reviews prefer it over its competition mainly due to its durability, accessories, and lack of problems that they have faced with it.
That concludes this Holosun 407C review. Happy shooting!
FAQs
How can I switch to the solar failsafe mode?
If your sight is in automatic mode, it will use the solar photovoltaic cell unless there is insufficient light available. In manual mode, the solar mode can be turned on by holding down the “+” button for 3 seconds.
Will the Holosun 407C work on a Glock MOS?
yes!
Why is Holosun so popular?
The Holosun brand has gained much attention mostly due to the combination of its sleek design and modern technology at an affordable price.
Why do I see the glare from my optic?
Glare might be visible in specific angles because of light reflecting from the reflective coating of the lenses. This is more apparent in low light, indoors with overhead lighting, and when it is handled by hand rather than mounted.
My Shake Awake is not working. What can I check?
Shake Awake will not function if the optic is not in sleep mode and has been turned off.