So, I was looking for a good optic for my Glock 17 SBR setup, and decided to try something different:
http://www.holosun.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=77
The Holosun HS403A (auto-turn-on-and-off) has gotten reasonably good reviews on ARFCOM and the like, so I was curious to see how their new solar-powered version performed. Something with SRS-like capability in a Micro form factor sounded very good to me. Price was $250, with free shipping.
First: build quality is real good. Buttons feel nice and clicky, finish is excellent, and the glass is very clear. (Note: I own an ACOG, an Eotech, and an Aimpoint, so I am passingly acquainted with good glass.) Even came with a bikini cover, which was a nice touch. I don't know how durable it is for the long term, but it seems promising off the bat.
Second: the solar power feature worked as expected. You can't be in the shadows, but even a room with a moderate light source will work. I took it out into a dark overcast day, and the dot was lit up really well.
I had to swap mounts (comes with "low" and "1/3" mounts, not Aimpoint-mount compatible), so I took the opportunity to pop the battery out to see how the sight would perform without it. Just as advertised, the sight worked fine without the battery.
Obviously, the dot also works fine in battery power mode. Battery mode supposedly has 50k hours of battery life. It goes very bright at the upper end (with some tube glare, alas), and they start you with a good default brightness level. Powering it off is just hitting the two brightness adjustment buttons simultaneously, much like other reflex sights.
Key difference between this power system and the SRS' power system: the SRS uses battery and solar simultaneously, whereas the HS403C uses them separately (you're in one mode or the other). The SRS is therefore a lot more resilient when you're running from light-to-dark-to-light - the dot doesn't change at all. OTOH, if your SRS battery dies, you're screwed completely. I don't think one is better than the other, per se.
I was able to get co-witness with my Troy Micros using the low mount and a half inch YHM riser. Haven't had a chance to take it to the range yet, maybe next week. Pictures after Shabbos when I can get my wife to dig out the camera.
http://www.holosun.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=77
The Holosun HS403A (auto-turn-on-and-off) has gotten reasonably good reviews on ARFCOM and the like, so I was curious to see how their new solar-powered version performed. Something with SRS-like capability in a Micro form factor sounded very good to me. Price was $250, with free shipping.
First: build quality is real good. Buttons feel nice and clicky, finish is excellent, and the glass is very clear. (Note: I own an ACOG, an Eotech, and an Aimpoint, so I am passingly acquainted with good glass.) Even came with a bikini cover, which was a nice touch. I don't know how durable it is for the long term, but it seems promising off the bat.
Second: the solar power feature worked as expected. You can't be in the shadows, but even a room with a moderate light source will work. I took it out into a dark overcast day, and the dot was lit up really well.
I had to swap mounts (comes with "low" and "1/3" mounts, not Aimpoint-mount compatible), so I took the opportunity to pop the battery out to see how the sight would perform without it. Just as advertised, the sight worked fine without the battery.
Obviously, the dot also works fine in battery power mode. Battery mode supposedly has 50k hours of battery life. It goes very bright at the upper end (with some tube glare, alas), and they start you with a good default brightness level. Powering it off is just hitting the two brightness adjustment buttons simultaneously, much like other reflex sights.
Key difference between this power system and the SRS' power system: the SRS uses battery and solar simultaneously, whereas the HS403C uses them separately (you're in one mode or the other). The SRS is therefore a lot more resilient when you're running from light-to-dark-to-light - the dot doesn't change at all. OTOH, if your SRS battery dies, you're screwed completely. I don't think one is better than the other, per se.
I was able to get co-witness with my Troy Micros using the low mount and a half inch YHM riser. Haven't had a chance to take it to the range yet, maybe next week. Pictures after Shabbos when I can get my wife to dig out the camera.