A Review Of The Best Holographic Sights: Things You Need To Know

Best Holographic Sights

Are you a novice hunter? Are you tired of coming close to your target but always missing it? Sights are a popular choice for many gun owners because they are smaller and easier to use. Check out some of the best holographic sights to consider when shopping around for a sight.

Best Holographic Sights

Many gun owners choose to purchase a sight for their gun to make hitting the target a little easier. While you can try to hit the mark without a sight, using one can save ammo and make hunting or target shooting a little more fun.

If you’re shopping around for a new sight, you may have a hard time deciding which one to buy as there are many choices available. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best holographic sights around and given you all of the information you need, so you can feel confident about purchasing one.

What’s The Difference Between Holographic and Red Dot Sights?

You might be wondering what makes a holographic sight different from a red dot sight. Before we talk about the some of our top choices for holographic sights, let’s take the time to briefly explain the difference between a red dot and holographic sight.

As the name suggests, a red dot (which is also known as a reflex sight) has a LED that produces the reticle (or the target). A holographic sight relies on a laser that produces a holograph of the reticle. While types of sights to a great job at helping you find your target, there is more room for error with the holographic sight (which often makes it ideal for novice hunters).

Many people prefer a holographic sight because it’s often easier and quicker to lock in the target without being completely accurate and the holograph is not affected by any light that comes in; you can still see the reticle clearly, regardless of the amount of light outside.

If you want to work on your target accuracy as a hunter (and not necessarily rely on a sight), then a red dot sight may be better suited for you. If you’re just learning how to shoot or you want a little room for error, a holographic sight may be just what you need.

Comparison Table

Product

Image

Our Rating

Price

EOTECH 552.A65
EOTech 552.A65
EOTECH 512.A65
EOTech 552.A65
Holosun HS510C
HOLOSUN HS510C
The Razor AMG UH-1
Vortex Optics Razor AMG UH-1

How We Choose Our Ratings

If you’ve already started to shop around for a holographic sight, you may be overwhelmed by your options. A holographic sight is a financial investment, and you want to feel confident about your purchase; that’s why we’ve compiled a “best of” list for you to look at before finalizing your decision.

 With all the holographic sights on the market, you might be wondering how we were able to narrow down our choices and come up with some top picks. We start out by reading dozens of customer reviews and testimonials online, weighing out the positive and negative feedback.

Even if a sight has overwhelmingly positive feedback, we don’t overlook what the dissatisfied users have to say. We believe that a well-rounded review must take a look at both sides, not just the positive.

We use a five-star rating system to rate our sights. A holographic sight with a five-star rating has exceeded our expectations and has overwhelmingly positive feedback from other users. Even if we don’t give one of our best picks a five-star rating, it doesn’t mean that it’s not a good sight (it might just mean that it has more mixed reviews).

Our goal, when creating our rating system, is that you can confidently select a holographic sight and be happy with your purchase.

Our Top 4 Picks For The Best Holographic Sights

Now that you have a better understanding of how our rating system works, it’s time to take an in-depth look at our top picks for a holographic sight. We will start out our list with our “best” choice and then give you some other options. Remember, even if some of the sights don’t have a five-star rating, it doesn’t mean it’s not a great choice.

[amazon box=”B001C0PUDY” template=”horizontal”]

EOTech is well-known for making high-quality holographic sights, and the Model 512 is a popular pick for close-range shooting without night vision capabilities. The sight is easy to use and is a great choice for beginners. The holographic reticle is designed to boost accuracy (regardless of the shooter’s experience) and have better control overall.

The 512 has a durable aluminum hood and tool-free mounting bolt. This sight is compatible with one-inch Picatinny or Weaver rails. While there are no night vision capabilities with this sight, there are 20 brightness settings. Other standout features of this sight include, but are not limited to:

  •  Waterproof up to ten feet and fogproof
  • Adjustment (per click): 0.5 MOA (1/2 inch at 100 yards)
  • Adjustment range: +/- 40 MOA travel
  • Field of view: 30 yards at 100 yards
  • Magnification: 1x
  • Power source: Two 1.5-volt AA batteries (supports lithium, alkaline, or rechargeables)
  • Battery life: 1,000 continuous hours (lithium) at nominal setting; 600 continuous hours (alkaline)
  • Dimensions: 5.4 by 2.25 by 2 inches (W x H x D)
  • Weight: 10.9 ounces

 The EOTech has overwhelmingly positive reviews from people who have purchased or used the sight. Users of the 512 sight like its durability and accuracy. While some were hesitant about its lack of night vision capabilities, the 20 brightness settings offer enough versatility in all types of lighting environments.

 Many users comment that the Model 512 is the most accurate sight they’ve ever used and for many, it’s the first time trying out a holographic sight.

 Most of the negative comments were regarding shipping issues, a damaged sight, and other issues with the company. Upon contacting the manufacturer, most users who gave the sight a negative review were happy with the sight in the end.

[amazon box=”B000KKFVRC” template=”horizontal”]

Although EOTech’s 512 Model is one of the manufacturer’s best-sellers, the 552 is also a solid option if you’re looking for a high-quality holographic sight that’s easy to use. The 552 Model is standardized by the DEA, ATF, and the FBI SWAT team and is ideal for close-range targets that need accuracy.

The 552 has night vision capabilities in addition to 30 brightness settings. Like the 512, the 552 is compatible with one-inch Picatinny and Weaver rails. Made from the same durable aluminum as the 512, it can withstand a lot of use in a variety of environments. Other standout features of this sight include, but are not limited to:

  • Waterproof up to 33 feet and fogproof
  • Adjustment (per click): 0.5 MOA (1/2 inch at 100 yards)
  • Adjustment range: +/- 40 MOA travel
  • Field of view: 30 yards at 100 yards
  • Magnification: 1x
  • Power source: Two 1.5-volt AA batteries (supports lithium, alkaline, or rechargeables)
  • Battery life: 1,000 continuous hours (lithium) at nominal setting; 600 continuous hours (alkaline)
  • Dimensions: 5.4 by 2.25 by 2 inches (W x H x D)
  • Weight: 10.9 ounces

Similar to the 512, most users of the 522 were impressed by the accuracy of the reticle and how easy it was to use. Many users didn’t have to worry about making any adjustments, and first-time users of this holographic sight were instant fans of the sight. Users also liked the night vision capabilities and extra brightness settings.

The users who experienced the most issues with the 512 had either purchased a fake online or received a product that was damaged. Other complaints were regarding the battery life and having to change out batteries. A few users complained about the reticle looking “fuzzy,” but it’s not uncommon for the reticle to appear that way; it shouldn’t affect the accuracy of the target.

[amazon box=”B01MT5RJLD” template=”horizontal”]

For holographic sight users, who don’t want to worry about a short battery life or the inconvenience of changing out batteries, the HOLOSUN HS510C might be an ideal option. The holographic sight has a battery life of up to five years (or 50,000 hours) and is powered by solar technology (with a battery backup).

The sight is made of durable titanium and is designed for speed and accuracy when honing in on a target. This sight has two-night vision options and ten brightness settings. Other standout features of this sight include, but are not limited to:

  • Waterproof up to about three feet and shockproof
  • Field of view: Unlimited
  • Magnification: 1x
  • Power source: CR2032
  • Battery life: Up to 50,000 Hours
  • Dimensions: 3.3 x 1.6 x 1.8 inches (W x H x D)
  • Weight: 8.3 ounces

Users of the HOLOSUN sight love the affordability, durability, and the accuracy. It’s smaller size, and lighter weight makes it even easier to tote around. A majority of reviewers raved about the dual power options (solar and backup battery). Many commented on how clear the reticle was and how easy the sight was to use.

Most complaints were in regards to a sight that arrived damaged; most issues were resolved through the manufacturer or with the seller.

[amazon box=”B01NCULTJL” template=”horizontal”]

The Razor AMG UH-1 by Vortex Optics is a comparable holographic sight to the EOTech sights. It has a durable aluminum base and is shatterproof, fogproof, and waterproof. The integrated, quick-release mount makes it compatible with Weaver and Picatinny bases.

Not only does the sight have a longer battery life but there is also a micro USB port for easy and fast charging options. This sight has 15 brightness settings. Other standout features of this sight include, but are not limited to:

  • Waterproof up to 10 feet
  • Field of view: Unlimited
  • Magnification: 1x
  • Power source: CR123A Battery
  • Battery life: 1,500 hours
  • Dimensions: 3.5 inches in length
  • Weight: 11.8 ounces

Users of this sight like the option to plug it in and recharge the battery. Most users were happy with the clarity of the reticle, but noticed that it got blurry at the brightest settings. The majority of users who gave the Razor high ratings were happy with the ease of use, durability, and accuracy.

Some users didn’t like that the control buttons were on the same side where you view the target (some buttons were easier to bump by accident). Other complaints were in regards to damaged sights and other issues due to shipping problems.

Some Final Thoughts About Holographic Sights

The sights that made out “best picks” are all designed for handguns and smaller firearms. If you are looking for a holographic scope for a rifle and larger firearms, we recommend the Aipa AR15 Tactical Rifle Scope or check out some of EOTech’s other scope options.

As you might notice, there are a variety of sights made by EOTech and many of them have high-ratings. Rather than mentioning each holographic sight made by the company, we focused on two; if you’re impressed with the company, you can browse through their catalog to read up on more features.

When you’re shopping around for holographic sights, you will notice that the price varies greatly. Cheapest isn’t always the best option, but you can find a high-quality sight within your budget (it just may be lacking certain features).

It’s more important to look for a holographic sight that is durable and is easy to use. Keep in mind that a holographic sight is meant to make hitting your target fast and easy; if you have to make constant adjustments to the sight, it may not be worth your time and money.

If you’re able to test out a sight in-person before buying that will be the best way to determine if it’s the best sight for you. If you don’t have the option to try one out in a store, make sure that there is a return or full-refund policy in place just in case it’s not the right sight for you.

3 Top Rated Nightforce Rifle Scopes

Nightforce is one of the US optics companies that have a major presence in the military optics and sniping field. They are extremely well known as high end scope maker and have been used in many competitions, including extremely demanding shooting competition styles, such as benchrest shooting. They have also been torture tested by Nightforce. They beat it on the ground, and even threw it on concrete, and it still retained it’s original point of impact. That can be seen here. The main downside to this fact is the price you have to pay. The cheapest scope we are giving an overview of has an MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) of 1,345.00. So to get this world class product, you’re going to need to pay a world class price, unfortunately. However, not many people will regret this purchase if they deem they need a scope of this caliber. Enjoy!

[Read more…]

Top 3 Rated Vortex Rifle Scopes

Vortex is a  a great choice of optic. This company offers scopes in a wide variety of product lines in many different price ranges. The tree scopes we’re discussing are from three different price tiers. The first scope is from the high end price range, and offers many premium features that justify that price, including a first focal plane precision etched reticle. The second scope’s price is a middle to high price scope and has many features to it that make it great for tactical shooting, and has a first focal plane optic, which makes it great for long range shooting and range finding. The final scope is a great entry level scope by vortex that still offers many great features that make it an amazing choice for the first time hunter and is well worth your look if you have a limited budget. All of these amazing scopes also feature illuminated reticles, making them great for shooting at targets that have less than optimal contrast compared to their background, and compared to a non-illuminated reticle.

[Read more…]

Top 3 Rated Leupold Rifle Scopes

Leupold is a well known maker of scopes, and offers a wide variety of products. The three we have chosen to give you an overview of come from three of the different price ranges that Leupold offers, though all are lower power scopes which makes them very useful for close range shooting. The first scope is from one of their more affordable lines of centerfire scopes, and is a fixed 4 power magnification. The second scope is from one the more middle of the road price range, and is also a low power scope, with a variable zoom that’s from 1.25 to 4 times. The final scope is from the higher end of Leupold’s scopes, and has a 1-6 times magnification, making extremely valuable for close to medium range shooting. This should hopefully help get you pointed in the right direction as you look for a great scope for your rifle.
[Read more…]

Top 3 Rated Nikon Rifle Scopes

If you’re searching for a good rifle scope, Nikon has some great ones to choose from. We’ve reviewed all of the popular Nikon rifles scopes and put together a list of the top 3 best-rated ones, so you can cut your research time in half. Check out our detailed overviews below, and enjoy the research time we have saved you. Enjoy!
[Read more…]

Nikon ProStaff Rimfire 3-9 x 40 Black Matte Riflescope (BDC 150)

After a long tiring week, you would want a hobby that will relieve stress but you can still enjoy the great outdoors. Hunting has been a sport many take pleasure in all over the world. It could be in shooting ranges animal hunting or playing airsoft. The problem here is when it comes to the long range shooting, how will you improve your accuracy and precision to aim the target when you can’t even see the mark? What you need is a rifle scope to improve your shooting. There are different kinds of rifle scope. One of the top selling companies is Nikon; it released Nikon Pro Staff Rim fire 3-9 x 40 Black Matte Riflescope (BDC 150) which is now available in Amazon an affordable price. It is the improved version of past rifle scopes made also by Nikon for additional features. [Read more…]

Nikon P-223 4-12×40 BDC 600 Riflescope with Rapid Action Turret

Having trouble shooting in a long range? Can’t accurately shoot target with your riffle? Do you have a riffle scope that is difficult to handle and is not accurate enough for your liking? If you think that what you need is a riffle scope that is expensive to make sure you get the right product, then you are absolutely wrong. Introducing, the Nikon P-223 4-12x BDC 600 Riflescope with Rapid Action Turret. It is designed to meet the needs of the consumers. This riffle scope is made by a well known brand that has the best quality cameras; hence it will guarantee that the riffle scope would also be a high quality product.

[Read more…]

Best Tactical Rifle Scope Review: Millett 4-16×50 Illuminated Tactical Riflescope

This scout rifle scope from Millet Industries is the perfect choice for serious hunters, tactical operators and target shooters because it comprises nothing and only demands the best. It is a serious scope for serious shooters and spells serious business as it gives precision shooting under the most demanding conditions and [Read more…]

Bushnell AR Optics FFP Illuminated BTR-1 BDC Reticle Review

There are a lot of reasons why people become accustomed to guns and firearms; it maybe because of your culture, past time hobby or even sports preference that you are well acquainted with rifle guns and its parts. For products with high sensitivity as this, I’m sure you won’t settle for anything less. You may spend hours of the day looking for the top brands and invest on quality products that will optimize your effective performance through its function.

If you think that rifle gun parts are just a piece of display, you are being misled. Supporting parts of any product is equal to the value of the product itself, in some cases, it can be much more than the product’s value because the main product cannot function well without those supporting pieces. In the case of rifle guns, your excellence in using your favorite rifle gun doesn’t just depend on the brand of the rifle but also on the quality of the rifle parts such as a rifle scope. Continue Reading

EOTech 512.A65 Tactical HOLOgraphic AA Batteries Weapon Sight

Eotech 512 model boasts a sighting system of a very advance holographic technology. This is something that makes the brand famous and sought after. It uses a laser light to create a red holographic pattern whose brightness can be adjusted from the brightest to the lowest. This gadget is made durable by an assembled rugged aluminumhood, that is knobbed and has a mounting bolt that needs no tool for adjustment. 

Further features shows off a 65 MOA round reticle that has a 1 MOA dot for aim, a 1.5 AA lithium or alkaline batteries support, zero eyesore and 20 settings for brightness. This model works well with a Weaver rails or an inch Picatinny. It has an battery indicator, an automatic 8-hour shutdown that can be programmed to 4 hours and a waterproof capacity so it can be submerge up to ten feet water.

Features And Benefits of the EO Tech 512.A65 Continue Reading