Tag Archives: holosun

Enclosed Micro Comparison: Vortex Defender CCW VS. Holosun SCS Carry

April 3, 2026Optics, Product reviewcompact, enclosed, enclosed emitter, holosun, micro, Red dot, rmsc, vortex opticscoldboremiracle

Presentation

Red dot sights have become extremely popular, and I consider myself an enthusiast on the topic. You might have read my last comparison between theVortex Defender XL VS. the Holosun 507 Comp, two large windowed XL red dots. Today we are looking at two micro red dots in the same way. We are reviewing the Vortex Defender CCW VS. Holosun SCS Carry, both of these red dots are RMSc footprint compatible, and they both feature an enclosed emitter.

vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, reticle, holosun, scs, carry, holosun red dot, Bersa M2XI, EAA Girsan Witness 2311, 9mm, — comparing the two red dots on two similar pistols, the **Bersa M2XI** and the **Girsan Witness 2311**

They are very comparable and I expect very popular candidates for folks looking to put a red dot on their CCW pistol. I’ve put quite a few rounds through both of them, and today I’ll give you my opinion on their comparison.

vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, reticle, holosun, scs, carry, holosun red dot,

Specifications

On paper these two sights are pretty similar, the main difference in construction being that the Defender uses a dual power source. A removable CR2023 battery whereas the Holosun uses its solar panel as a source, keeping an internal battery (non-serviceable) battery charged.

vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, battery, cr2023, — the easily removable CR2023 battery of the Defender

Both of these are small and ideal for a CCW pistol, but because they are enclosed emitters that means they are slightly bigger than traditional open emitter red dots. The Vortex defender is a little bigger than the SCS Carry, though I’m not sure if thats because of the battery housing or because they wanted to make a bigger window.

holosun, red dot, scs, carry, solar, solar panel, holosun red dot,

Configurable reticles are becoming more the norm, and I like that. Both of these can be configured with a dot, circle, or circle-dot reticle.

Specification Comparison
Feature	Vortex Defender CCW Solar	Holosun SCS Carry
Footprint Compatibility	Shield RMSc	Holosun K & RMSc
Reticle Description	3 MOA Dot + 32 MOA circle	2 MOA dot + 32 MOA circle
Reticle Color	Red	Green
Magnification	1X	1X
Weight	1.30 Ounces	1.05 Ounces
Power Source	Solar + CR2023	Solar + internal battery
Parallax Setting	Parallax Free	Parallax Free
Eye Relief	Unlimited	Unlimited
Adjustment Graduation	1.0 MOA	1.5 MOA
Dimensions	1.1”T x 1.6”L x 1.2” W	.98”T x 1.6”L x .95”W
Material	7075 Aluminum	7075 T6 Aluminum

Bersa, Bersa usa, m2xi, 9mm, 2011, 1911, holosun, SCS Carry, red dot, surefire X300, — The Holosun SCS Carry made a great option for the **Bersa M2XI 9mm pistol**

On the Range

I’ve spent a lot of time shooting with both of these sights, but in fairness I have more time using the Holosun. I have run the SCS Carry on several different pistols, both 9mm and .22LR. The Defender CWW Solar Micro has lived on my Girsan 2311 since I got it. Realistically though, you can get to know a pistol sight well enough without having to go through a bunch of pistols. Though I did run both sighs on the same pistol for a while to get a solid comparison.

GPS, pistolero, backpack, rangebag, pistol, handgun, eaa, girsan, witness, 2311, 9mm, 2011, ammunition, — the Holosun SCS Carry mounted to the Girsan 2311, read more about the Pistolero Backpack here

Mounting and Zeroing

The Holosun SCS Carry uses a K footprint, that can also be dropped onto an RMSc footprint. The Defender is an RMSc footprint, so either of these can fit in most of the same mounting situations. I had not issue mounting them on several different similar pistols.

holosun, scs, carry, red dot, holosun red dot, — unboxing the Holosun SCS Carry

When mounting red dots, I usually try and line them up as close to the iron sights as possible before torquing them down. This usually makes for minimal adjustments to zero the sight. The Vortex model has 110 MOA of adjustment available, while the Holosun is plus or minus 30 MOA. That might make the Vortex a little better for certain host weapons, but in general you probably don’t need that much.

Vortex, vortex optics, defender, CCW, red dot, solar, micro, packaging, — The Vortex Defender and its accessories

The Vortex also gets extra points since it came with a plethora of mounting screws and accessories for mounting on different hosts.

Brightness

One very convenient thing about the SCS Carry is its auto-brightness correction. The solar panel uses ambient light to adjust the reticle brightness. I really like this feature though every so often I wouldn’t, let me explain. Typically in dark areas, I occasionally found that the SCS Carry was a touch dimmer than I would have liked in such a scenario. Outside in daylight I never had an issue.

holosun, scs, carry, holosun red dot, reticle, green, — Holosun’s SCS Carry reticle (seen through magnifier)

The Vortex Defender has a manual brightness adjustment, which can be both good or bad. You can set it where you want it, and know what to expect everytime you present the pistol. But you also might have it set a little bright, or a little dim for any particular scenario. I am still unsure which way I prefer, but I kind of default to the manual setting, because I like control.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, reticle, — Looking through the Vortex Defender CCW Solar Micro

Sight Picture

Both of these optics are compact, though the Defender is a touch bigger as I mentioned. But the Defender also has a noticeably bigger window, and a little bit means a lot with sights this small. The bigger window definitely gives more room for target acquisition and aiming. Both of them gave precise aiming, but I think I have to give the Defender an edge here.

One thing worth mentioning here, the Holosun SCS Carry does incorporate a notch rear sight as part of its housing. Which is one thing I wish the Defender had, in case the electronics were to fail.

holosun, scs, carry, holosun red dot, solar, Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, — the **Girsan Witness 2311** made an excellent host for testing both optics, seen here with a **Surefire X300 light**

Parallax and Clarity

One thing I noticed with the SCS carry from the very first time I mounted it, was a touch of fuzz when focusing on it. I never worried too much about it as I would look past the sight at the target, and hold the reticle over it. Doing this I never had any issue sharply seeing the reticle.

vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, reticle, holosun, scs, carry, holosun red dot, reticle, illumination, — not a great pic of the reticles, but here you can see some comparison, as well as the window size

On one of my test guns, I removed the SCS to install the Defender and immediately noticed the Vortex did not have that issue. Regardless of where I focus the Vortex Defender is sharp and clean, whereas the Holsun SCS Carry did have a little fuzziness depending on how you looked through it.

holosun SCS Carry rds, taurus tx22, YHM Phantom 22 — my **Taurus TX22 Toro** made a great host for the Holosun and the YHM Phantom 22 suppressor

Accuracy and Zero

With 3 and 2 MOA dots, both of these optics give you a fine aim point. And with an accurate firearm I found them both to be very useful. When zeroing the optics I found they were smooth, and moved evenly. I can’t stand a sight that doesn’t show any change when you adjust it, and both of these were great in that aspect. The quality of these two sights also show in that neither of them needed to be re-zeroed at any point, they held zero nicely, and after hundreds of rounds they hadn’t moved.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, zeroing, adjustment, — both dots were easily adjusted with tools provided

Value

I have no doubt that both of these optics are manufactured overseas, it’s hard to find a red dot that isn’t these days. To be honest I was a bit surprised that the Holosun tends to cost more at popular online retailers. At publishing, it seems the SCS Carry is usually around $400 like here at Primary Arms. While the Vortex Defender CCW Solar Micro is typically priced around $300 like here at Optics Planet. With prices like that, the Vortex seems to offer a significant advantage.

Report Card

You may have gathered, I like both of these sights. But it didn’t surprise me that the Vortex won me over, after a short while shooting it I could tell I was going to like it more than the Holosun SCS Carry. That is certainly not to say the SCS Carry is not a good option as well. Though I like them both I would have to pick the Defender CCW Solar Micro if I had to pick only one. Luckily I don’t, and I can have both of them for different purposes.

	Vortex Defender CCW Solar	Holosun SCS Carry
Mounting & Zeroing	A+	A
Brightness	A	A
Sight Picture	A	B+
Parallax & Clarity	A	B
Accuracy and Zero	A	A
Value	A	B+
Cumulative Score	96%	92%

Last Words

Hopefully this has helped you decide which of the two options might best fit you. Both are certainly good choices for your concealed carry pistol, but it would be a good idea to look at them in person as well to help close the deal for you. Both of these dots will continue to be used in my collection, and I look forward to what’s new from both of these great companies.

-CBM

Like Vortex and Holosun? Here is another comparison

Holosun SCS Carry Red Dot

October 17, 2024Optics, Product reviewholosun, Red dot, rmsc, scs, scs carrycoldboremiracle

Preface

I’ve jumped into the red dot world with both feet at this point, and fully embraced optics ready handguns. This has resulted in a wide variety of red dots making their way into my collection, and today I am bringing another one to you. Today’s subject is the new Holosun SCS Carry red dot.

The SCS Carry Red Dot is a compact RMS-C sized red dot that will fit onto compatible footprints. Like other Holosun K optics, this red dot is ideal for compact carry guns. But this little unit has some additional features you’re going to like, as did I.

taurus TX 22, Holosun SCS carry red dot — the Holosun SCS Carry mounted to my Taurus TX 22 Toro

The Holosun SCS Carry Red Dot

The SCS (Solar Charging Sight) uses solar energy to power itself for an indefinite period of time. Perhaps in the dystopian future, in the fight against the machines, someone will find one of my old pistols discovering a curious green glow.

The SCS Carry has an internal rechargeable battery good for over 20,000 hours. And since it is constantly recharged by the solar cell on top of the unit, you can count on it outlasting your ammo supply. In addition to the power cell, the SCS uses multi-directional light sensors to adjust reticle brightness depending on ambient light.

holosun scs carry red dot — unboxing the SCS Carry, note tools and other fasteners included

Holosun is very popular for their reticle options, and this one is no different. The SCS comes with a 2 MOA dot and a 32 MOA circle around it. I like this pattern and have used it extensively in my Holosun 507 Comp red dot on another gun. This model also features an enclosed emitter for reliability, as well as a notched base to stand-in as a rear sight.

Other traditional Holosun red dot features are also incorporated, things like the 1X magnification, lens coatings, unlimited eye relief, and parallax free viewing.

Holosun SCS Specifications

OPTICAL SPECS

Reticle	2 MOA Dot & 32 MOA Circle
Light Wavelength	540nm
Reticle Color	Green
Parallax Free	Yes
Unlimited Eye Relief	Yes
Magnification	1x
Multi-Coatings	Yes

PHYSICAL SPECS

Window Size	0.90×0.63
Dimension (in)	1.6×0.98×0.95
Weight (oz)	1.05

MECHANICAL SPECS

Housing Material	7075 T6 Aluminum
Surface Finish	Anodize
Adjustment per Click	1.5 MOA
W&E Travel Range	±30 MOA

ENVIRONMENT SPECS

Storage Temperature	-40℃~70℃
Working Temperature	-30℃~60℃
Submersion	IPX8
Vibration	5000G

Assorted Models

Aside from the model shown here today, there are also other models of the SCS Carry. There is a non-enclosed emitter version that is less obtrusive and surely lighter. And there are also firearms specific models as well, with SCS Carry dots made to fit: Smith & Wesson, Walther, Sig Sauer, H&K, and CZ pistols respectively. These custom fitting sights likely reduce your need to use adaptor plates, and other mounting hardware. Both simplifying the install, as well as reducing the weight of your CCW handgun. The SCS family also incorporates Holosun’s Super LED technology, matching visual wavelengths of light best seen by most eyes.

Mounting the Holosun SCS Carry

Mounting the SCS Carry was easy using the provided tools and fasteners. I chose my Taurus TX 22 Toro as a host for the SCS, mainly because it was available and needed a red dot. In addition to that situation, the TX 22 is an incredibly fun gun to shoot, you can read more about it here.

I lined up the reticle as best I could while torqueing down the mounting screws. This would help reduce the adjustment needed to zero the optic, and with a few clicks it co-witnessed perfectly with the iron sights. I could adjust it a little more once on the range. I also appreciated that they kept the base thin enough to still be able to see my iron sights through the optic.

After mounting, I took a moment to go through the operating instructions. Its convenient to not worry about brightness settings, and I was amazed at the instant adjustment of the auto-brightness controls.

Shooting the Holosun SCS Carry red dot

Once in my shooting spot, I started loading magazines to pour a fresh layer of lead on my targets. The bright green reticle of the SCS was easy to see even in the bright mid-day sun. After a couple adjustments, it was dead on. We spent the afternoon burning through ammo, and drawing down on targets.

holosun SCS caryy red dot, Taurus TX22 Toro, YHM Phantom 22 suppressor — the SCS Carry made a great companion to the TX22, as does the **YHM Phantom 22 suppressor**

I also keep that pistol close during hunting season. Its always nice to have a suppressed 22 handy for quietly dispatching pests without scaring away the elk and deer. It also gave me something to do around camp, plugging mice in the dark with a Surefire X300 weapon light attached to the pistol.

Shootability

I like the big-windowed red dots, so it was a little bit more restrictive using the smaller window of the SCS. That is of course to be expected with a smaller optic, it also requires you to be a little bit more judicious when presenting the pistol, making sure it’s lined up. The SCS Carry is ideal for a carry sized pistol, its width is similar to many compact guns, and its edges aren’t snaggy.

The enclosed emitter is nice, as it keeps debris from getting between the lens and the LED. I did notice a tiny bit of blur when shooting, though I’m not sure if it was due to looking through two pieces of glass or something else. I know most of these optics are supposed to be parallax free, but occasionally it feels like maybe they aren’t. Or perhaps my eyes are starting to go…

Either way, the SCS Carry was great for shooting. Always ready, always on.

Reliability

Which brings us to our next point, in all my shooting the SCS was fixed in its place. Never did I have the need to re-zero or adjust anything. Nor did I have any issues with the controls. Its simple, which I have on good authority is good for stupid’s like me.

Being exposed to freezing temps, vibrating for miles and miles on ATV’s didn’t slow down the SCS Carry. The only maintenance needed was to clean the front lens occasionally due to suppressed shooting.

holosun SCS Carry — the single button control of the Holosun SCS Carry

Accuracy

As I mentioned already, I never had to readjust the SCS Carry. It maintained zero throughout all this. While the recoil of the TX22 is not as significant as some of your spicy CCW 9mm pistols, it still endured lots of shooting. Maintaining zero is very important for all sights, but particularly for CCW sights.

Also I mentioned window size and my preferences. Training with what you are going to carry and shoot is probably more important than preferences. And shooting accurately with the Holosun SCS Carry was perfectly attainable with proper practice. The reticle details also gives you a few advantages as well.

The MRS from Holosun is a nice customizable feature, the Multiple Reticle System gives you options. You can select just the 2 MOA dot for more precise shooting, or you can use just the circle to bracket targets. Or a combination of the two if you choose.

holosun SCS Carry RDS, taurus tx22 — the enclosed emitter is nice in the weather

Value

There are untold hordes of red dot sights on the market now, making it very competitive. I can appreciate that Holosun’s Optics have maintained a great position of authority in that market. They continually push the boundaries, innovating and bringing new features and options. Basically they seem to be the ones to beat. The Holosun SCS Carry line of red dots are not the most affordable red dots made by Holosun, but I wouldn’t expect a dedicated CCW sight to be so. Sure you can get cheaper red dots, even from Holosun. But the feature-rich and maintenance-free SCS Carry is well worth the extra cheddar in my opinion. If you’re looking for a good sight for your CCW pistol, the street price between $350 and $400 for these is a great choice. It’s no surprise they have a “best rated” tag on Optics Planet.

holosun SCS Carry red dot, Taurus TX22, Yankee hill machine Phantom 22 suppressor

Pros and Cons

There was very little I could come up with that I didn’t like about the Holosun SCS Carry red dot. I’d mentioned earlier some possible blurriness, though I’m not sure if its me, dirty lenses, or something else. It was certainly not enough for me to worry about.

Everything else about the SCS Carry was great for me. I love the simple operation, never needing to worry if it’s on, or having to adjust the brightness when I go indoors or out. It fits a wide variety of guns, it’s emitter is enclosed for less cleaning and maintenance, and I like the bigger reticle. And it comes with most everything you need to mount and adjust it, adding to my collection of red dot mounting hardware and tools.

taurus tx 22 toro, holosun scs carry rds

Conclusion

If you haven’t gathered by now, I think Holosun has hit the target with this little optic. It gives great performance with no complications. It adds just enough to your CCW pistol to be beneficial and give you the upper hand when aiming. While shopping for your next pistol sight, consider the Holosun SCS Carry as a solid option. I’m not sure if this one will stay on my 22, or if I’ll move it over to my CZ P-10S.

-CBM

Holosun 507 Comp Red Dot

September 19, 2024Optics, Product review507 comp, holosun, Red dot, staccatocoldboremiracle

Introduction

My recent descent into the joy of hand-gunning has given me many opportunities to try new things. One of them is checking out many new red dot options, and it has been a great journey. Today’s topic is a result of my search for a good red dot to put on my Staccato XC pistol. One of the many options I tried during that process is the very popular Holosun 507 Comp red dot.

staccato XC 9mm, Holosun 507 Comp — not a bad looking setup with the **Surefire X300 Turbo**

The 507 Comp is a big windowed beauty, it seems to share some feature with other 507 models but its obviously larger. These types of red dots are optimized for competitive style shooting which I find to be very fun. Lets get into this neat little optic.

The Holosun 507 Comp Red Dot

Specifications:

Window Size: 1.1×0.87
Dimension (in): 1.8×1.3×1.3
Weight (oz): 1.7
Reticle: 2 MOA Dot & 8/20/32 MOA Circle
Reticle Color: Red or Green model
Parallax Free: Yes
Battery Type: CR1632
Battery Life: 50000 hours
Brightness Setting: 6 Day Light & 2 Night Vision
Housing Material: 7075 T6 Aluminum
Surface Finish: Anodize
Adj. per Click: 1 MOA

Included in the Box

T10 L Key
User Manual
CR1632 Battery
Lens Cloth
Mounting screw assortment

As I cracked open the box from Holosun, I was greeted by the typical accessories. I was happy to see that the Comp had come with a few different screw sets for different mounting situations. Though my Staccato had come with a specific 507 Comp screw set. The included tool was very handy for installing and adjusting the optic.

The 507 Comp also uses Holosun’s shake awake technology, which you can set to turn the unit on with movement. It will also power down after a set time of inactivity. Adjusting this feature and the brightness levels can all be done using the two + and – buttons on the left side. On the opposing side you’ll find the typical Holosun screw affixed battery door. I also notice that compared to other XL sized red dots the 507 Comp footprint was more universal than some others.

Using the appropriate optics mounting plate and screws, the 507 Comp dropped perfectly onto the XC’s slide. The back end of the red dot’s housing is thin enough that I can still see both front and rear sights through the window of the 507, which was also a nice addition. I adjusted the reticle to match the sights before heading to the range.

Rangetime

Initially my adjustments were pretty close, but I decided to refine it slightly to make sure I was hitting my point of aim. I spent a while going through the various reticle options to see what I liked. It’s really quite interesting how the different options present themselves. I like the dot with the largest ring, it seems to help in target bracketing and still gives the precise shot placement of the fine dot. That said I could see somebody using the circles instead for fast shooting up close.

Another reason I couldn’t have anticipated liking the large circle dot reticle was it’s utility at distance. Shooting the Staccato XC at distances like 100 yards is doable, and the bottom edge of the circle made a perfect holdover point for such distances.

I did notice, as did others who picked it up, that the reticle of the 507 Comp seemed a bit fuzzy. But after some comparison I think it was simply because we were looking at things up close. For example, looking across my desk at the wall the reticle seemed fuzzy. But when looking at a wall 20-feet away it was perfectly clear. And the same was true outside on the range, so I think perhaps there might be a slight parallax issue.

holosun 507 comp, staccato XC, safariland ALS — the **Staccato XC** and Holosun 507 Comp fit perfectly into the **Safariland ALS Holster**

The various brightness setting were very visible even in the high heat of full noon sun out in this desert. I like being able to adjust the intensity of the reticle, and keep it low at night when its dark.

Pros and Cons

With such a large window, red dots like the 507 comp give you a huge field of view. This makes it very quick to find the target in the window. Additionally the larger reticle of the Comp gives you more to see, something to pick up on visually if you don’t immediately see the dot when presenting the pistol. This can of course be changed to fit your needs as your skill level varies.

The ability to change the reticle to fit your preference is a huge advantage in itself. Something I expect we’ll see quite a few other optics manufacturers adopting soon. The fact that this unit can be ordered in either red or green is also a nice option for those shopping.

According to the manual, the 507 Comp only has 30 MOA of travel for both windage and elevation. I didn’t find this to be a problem, and I had no issues zeroing the optic.

There are those out there who think it’s a shame to put a Chinese made red dot on such a fine pistol as the 2011. I will admit that I also second guessed the proposition, but followed through my plan based on a few good points made by fellow shooters. I was initially thinking of putting something like a Trijicon SRO or RMR HD red dot on the gun, despite having a significantly higher price and wait time. But many friends and associates pointed out that many of the popular domestic manufacturers don’t seem to innovate their dots like Holosun does. I was also told that its not if I’ll break an SRO but when. I guess I’ll continue to shoot with this one, while looking for additional good options to outfit my guns.

Shop all Holosun products here

As far as problems with the 507 Comp, I could only say a few things. The aforementioned fuzzy reticle turned out to be a very small issue, and one I don’t even notice or care about now. I also had the battery cover screw come out and get lost. But to their credit Holosun CS was quick to respond and sent me a replacement as fast as I could have hoped.

Last Words

Having spent some time with this optic, and shot a great many rounds with it I am quite happy with my purchase. I wouldn’t say that its the greatest option out there, but it certainly fits my modest purposes very well. Due to the popularity of this red dot, I’d say that I am not the only one who thinks its a good option.

In the world of big window red dot’s, there are lots of great options. The 507 Comp offers nearly everything the competition models do and more. It provides adaptability in a robust and proven design. And it cost’s less than half of what some comparable units. That doesn’t mean I wont be trying those models out though, so stay tuned for more. In fact, if you like the Holosun 507 Comp, check out my comparison against the Vortex Defender XL.

-CBM

holosun, vortex, staccato, shadow system

Holosun 507 Comp VS. Vortex Defender XL

August 31, 2024Optics, Product reviewholosun, holosun 507 comp, Vortex, vortex defender xlcoldboremiracle

Purpose

I love me some good red dots for my pistols, and I’m always looking for more and better ones. In a quest to find a good dot for my Staccato XC 9mm pistol, I tried both the Holosun 507 Comp and the Vortex Defender XL. I figured while evaluating them individually, I might as well compare them head to head. So in today’s versus, I bring you the Holosun 507 Comp VS. Vortex Defender XL.

These two red dots fall into the “large category”, like many others they are ideal for competition shooting. The oversized window allows a larger field of view, making it easier to find and aim at your target.

Footprints

Initially I had hoped these two optics would have the same footprint, but as it turns out the Defender XL is an Deltapoint footprint and the Holosun is an RMR. The Defender XL wouldn’t go on my Staccato without an adaptor plate unfortunately, so instead I mounted it to another pistol I have shot extensively: the Shadow Systems DR920. Conversely, the 507 Comp would fit on the Staccato using the provided mounting plate and screws.

Vortex Optics Defender XL red dot — the Defender XL comes with an impressive host of accessories

Having the two optics mounted on separate pistols would also allow me to shoot through both of them in succession. So I figured for purposes of comparing the two I’d keep them that way.

I definitely have to give Vortex points for their presentation. The Holosun did come with a tool and a couple different screw sets, but the Defender XL came with quite an inventory. It seemed like at least a dozen different screw sets of differing length and thread pitches and the tools to install them. As well as a picatinny rail mount that allowed me to mount it to my Panzer M4 shotgun. It also included a Glock MOS mounting plate. These little extras are incredibly convenient to have, and an incredible value ad for the Vortex Defender XL.

vortex defender xl, panzer m4 — the Defender XL came with a picatinny rail mount which made it very adaptable for different uses

Comparisons

vortex defender XL vs. holosun 507 comp dimensions

Both of these optics offer some advantages, and only you can evaluate which of the two will fit your needs. For example, I wanted the big window option from both of them, but that increases the weight. There are plenty of things you could do to go back and forth between them, I like the CR2023 battery mainly because I have so many optics that already use it. But I also wanted the reticle variation of the Holosun which uses the CR1632 cell.

note: battery compartment of the Defender XL

You too will have to battle out in your mind which of the two feature set’s you’d like to play with. Both designs use a battery compartment that doesn’t require removing the sight from the pistol, so they are already ahead of the very popular Trijicon RMR. In fact, while were on the subject; Both of these use a great battery containment system.

The Defender uses a hatch that looks like something off a tiny scale submarine. The hatch is opened by first pushing in a tiny detent pin, followed by pressing a textured button on the right side. This took a second to figure out, as you must add a touch of down pressure on the hatch while pushing the release button for it to open.

The Holosun uses the tried and true Holosun design with a screw holding the battery compartment shut. A fine design no doubt, but requiring thread-locker as I found out. My screw came out while shooting, requiring the dreaded call to customer service. They were however very prompt, and got me a replacement as fast as I could have expected.

Reticle

Let’s face it, you’re here for the same reason I am. How bout them reticle’s you might say? I wanted the Holosun because I wanted to experience the reticle options. This is the one feature where the Holosun leaves the Defender behind. The Defender has two dot options in two colors as long as they are both the same shade of red. The Holosun can be bought as a red unit, or green. In addition the Holosun reticle can be user changed with the hold of a button. Holding down the – button for a second or two causes the reticle to jump from one configuration to another. Allowing you to select a 2 MOA dot with either an 8 MOA, 24 MOA, or 32 MOA circle around it. You can also select the circles without the dot, allowing you to circle the target while shooting.

While shooting between the two optics, I asked a friend which of the two options he liked. He said he kind of preferred the single dot of the Defender, as the circles obscured the target. But once I shew him the unfettered dot of the 507 Comp, he quickly changed his mind to that option.

The Defender offers significantly more movement in the reticle, with as much as 120 MOA in elevation. This would make it ideal for weapons you are trying to co-witness with other optics like a riflescope. In my experience most RDS cut handguns don’t need much movement to line up with iron sights. That said I had zero issues zeroing both sights.

Clarity

I’ve heard others complain about Vortex red dots and the dot dispersing on the glass. I think I know what they are talking about, as sometimes I see the dot flare up. Particularly when on a brighter setting. I have noticed this effect on both of my Vortex defender red dots, but I will also say it really hasn’t bothered me that much. Perhaps others have experienced worse.

Upon first looking through the Holosun, both myself and others noticed a little bit of a blurry reticle as well. But upon closer inspection, it seems to be like a parallax issue. We saw this when trying to focus on something very close, like within a meter or two. But once we got outside, and started looking at targets that were a little further away it was significantly clearer to the eye.

I guess I will say this about the reticle clarity of both units, I found them both to be very serviceable. And if they both had the same reticle options it would be much harder to chose.

Controls

Modern controls are available for both units. The Defender incorporates a smart system that you can configure to auto shut down after inactivity for a certain time. You can also configure it to stay on, and you can even lockout the buttons to avoid accidental changes to your settings.

adjusting the brightness of the Vortex Defender XL

The 507 Comp’s system is perhaps a little more simple. Using Holosun red dot’s popular shake awake system makes it easy to configure the dot to be always ready. And the simple adjustment of the reticle is also an easy feature.

While both systems have their good points I think I prefer the Holosun. It’s a little easier to understand and operate, which is good if you too were one of the kids who ate glue as a child.

Shooting the Vortex Defender XL vs. Holosun 507 Comp

Shooting with these two dots I was kind of surprised how much they were alike. What I mean is that despite their many differences, once you are pointing them at targets the differences seem to fade. For shooting at longer distances, I found the smaller 2 MOA dot of the Holosun to be easier to pinpoint the target. But to be fair, the larger dot of the Defender was faster to get on target. And for comparison the circle-dot reticle options of the 507 are just as fast.

The large windows of both units were great for finding the targets, and adjusting the reticle for conditions made them both very useful for putting hits down.

the Staccato with its 507 Comp and **Surefire X300 Turbo**

My Opinion

These two optics are competitively priced, often within 20-30 dollars of each other. Evaluating the two of them has led me to draw the following conclusion; If you like circle dot reticles, or the ability to adjust the reticle configuration. Then the Holosun 507 Comp is for you. If you like a simple dot then it becomes a more challenging decision. I think the Defender XL is a great value, especially with all the extras. And if it had a varied reticle option like the 507 it would win this competition. As much as I like both of them though, I think the 507 Comp will stay on the Staccato for now. And the Defender XL will stay right where it is too, as these two pistols get the most use at my house. If I was mounting them on a carbine, the Defender XL seems to have a better feature set.

Hopefully we’ve helped you see the value in choosing either of these two red dots. Let us know what you think of them, and what you’d like to see next.