Holosun HS507COMP Handgun Reflex Sight for Competition Shooters

A decade ago, it was relatively rare to see a reflex optic on a pistol. Today, however, optics are almost standard issue on most semiauto handguns. There are very few new pistols offered that don’t come with a slide cut for optics, even micro-compact carry guns.

This growing market for optics has created an uptick in the number of reflex sight manufacturers, but one company that has always been at the top of the reflex optic game is Holosun. Their robust, feature-rich sights have set the standard in the market for years, and the company is continuously creating new products that suit the needs of every type of shooter.

Holosun’s new HS507COMP optic is, as the name suggests, designed for competition. Competition shooters were among the first handgun owners to adopt reflex sights and begin machining the slides of their semiauto match guns to add optics. Originally, optics meant that you had to compete in the USPSA Open class with hot-rodded pistols built from the ground up to be competition machines. More recently, USPSA has added a Carry Optics division using production guns, and it is currently the fastest-growing class of competition pistol shooting.

Holosun reflex sights have always been a popular option with match shooters, but their new 507 Competition might be their best option yet. But, as we’ll see, it isn’t just competition shooters who will love the way this optic performs.

The Reflex Sight Advantage

As we begin to discuss what makes the Holosun HS507COMP such a worthwhile addition to your pistol (competition gun or otherwise) we must first examine why reflex sights are so popular. Some trends in pistol design are more cosmetic than practical, but reflex sights offer measurable advantages that improve shooter performance. First, when shooting a reflex sight you remain target centered rather than focusing on your front sight. This speeds up transitions between targets, which is a benefit both in the world of competitive shooting and for personal defense. With proper technique a shooter can fire more quickly and more accurately with a reflex sight on your pistol, which is why guns with optics have their own class in USPSA.

Speed and precision are not the only advantages to shooting a reflex sight. As we age our eyesight becomes less acute, and that can make it difficult to clearly see iron sights. Reflex sights are an effective option for shooters that don’t see as clearly as they used to. I know of a few good shooters that feel they can no longer compete in stock pistol classes, but a reflex sight puts them back in the game thanks to the growing popularity of new competitive divisions that allow the use of reflex optics.

Odds-On Favorite

Holosun created their HS507COMP with a list of features that make it the ideal match optic. For starters, it features a generous 1.1” x .87” sight window that allows a clear field of view when shooting targets. The 7075 aluminum window housing is extremely durable yet it doesn’t interfere with target acquisition. The multi-coated glass lenses offer a clear view of the target regardless of light conditions and there’s minimal color distortion so the shooter has an unobstructed, distraction-free sight system. This aids speeds target acquisition and allows faster target transitions because the shooter doesn’t have to search for the dot after recoil and between shots. The Holosun is also parallax-free and offers unlimited eye relief.

Another impressive feature of the HS507COMP is the addition of Holosun’s Competition Reticle System (CRS). Instead of a fixed dot the HS507COMP allows you to toggle among four presets—2 MOA dot, 8 MOA circle, 20 MOA circle, and 32 MOA circle—depending upon target presentation and your personal tastes. Changing reticle settings is simply a matter of holding the rear button on the left side of the housing (intensity down, or “-“) for three seconds. The sight will then change reticle layout so you can match your aiming point to the target.

The HS507COMP is available with your choice of red or green reticles (designated “RD” or “GR” on the website). Both red and green versions are powered by a single CR1632 battery which rides in a battery compartment that is neatly tucked on the bottom of the right side of the optic. Removing a single screw allows you to slide the battery tray out of the optic and switch batteries without removing the Holosun from the firearm.

You likely won’t have to switch batteries very often, though, since the included CR1632 battery will power the optic for up to 50,000 hours. There’s no need to power down the optic because it enters a battery-saving sleep mode that deactivates the LED after a period of 10 minutes (factory setting—you can adjust sleep mode to deactivate the LED after 10 minutes to 12 hours of inactivity). Holosun’s Shake Awake technology incorporates sensors that activate the LED automatically when motion is detected.

Easy Operation

I love reflex optics, but too much technology can be burdensome. Having to toggle through an entire menu of settings to get the reticle and intensity you need quickly becomes a real pain. Thankfully, Holosun engineered the HS507COMP so that it’s intuitive to operate, and even the most tech-challenged shooter will feel comfortable operating the controls after a single range session.

As mentioned, there are two buttons on the left side of the unit, a “+” that increases intensity and a “-“ that decreases intensity. A total of 8 brightness settings (6 day, 2 NV) make it easy to match the intensity of ambient light, and the “-“ button allows you to switch reticles as described.

Adjusting point of impact is equally simple and straightforward. Using the supplied T10 L key, simply turn the elevation knob located on the upper rear body of the sight counterclockwise to adjust point of impact up. The windage knob is located on the right side of the sight body, and turning it counterclockwise moves POI to the right. The included key allows you to adjust POI and remove the screw that holds the battery tray in place and it also serves to tighten the included screws, all of which come with a blue locking compound to ensure that they do not back out.

Despite its oversized viewing window, the Holosun HS507COMP measures just 1.8” x 1.3” x 1.3” and weighs a mere 1.7 ounces. MSRP for the HS507COMP-RD is set at $435 while MSRP for the HS507COMP-GR is set at $470.

On the Range

I mounted the HS507COMP-GR on a Shadow Systems Foundation Series DR920 9mm semiauto pistol for testing and immediately found that the Holosun’s large objective lens and sight window made it very fast to get on target. As carry pistols have gotten smaller so have reflex sights, and today’s micro red dots require practice to locate the dot quickly. The Holosun is far more forgiving. When I pressed the Shadow Systems pistol away from my body the dot was immediately visible every time. Rapid dot acquisition is a benefit for competition, defensive, and target shooting, and I don’t know of any reflex sight that makes finding the aiming point simpler than the Holosun. Competitive shooters will find they can stay target-focused and run through transitions very rapidly with this optic.

I chose the green LED reticle because green light is easier for the human eye to detect. Without getting too far in the weeds, our eyes are made of cones and rods, and the cones recognize light. Green light in the 540 nM wavelength range is easier for our eyes to detect because we have more cones that are sensitive to light in that wavelength range. Red dot sights work fine, but my carry guns and my competition guns all wear green sights. I like that Holosun offers the option, and I think it’s worth the extra money to purchase the HS507COMP-GR. In low light you likely won’t notice a difference between green and red reticles, but in bright midday sun the green reticle is easier to detect. I tested the pistol in full midmorning sun at the range and never had issues.

Large competition optics are more likely to get bounced off holsters, loading benches, barriers, and a variety of other objects. The Holosun’s 7075 aluminum body is rugged and durable, perfect for serious match shooters. The battery compartment secures the battery and is easy to access without removing the optic, which is a must for target shooters. The Shake Awake feature powered the optic each time I drew the gun to shoot, even when it had been lying on a table for 20 minutes while I was testing another firearm.

The CRS reticle system is probably my favorite feature on this sight because I can quickly customize the reticle to match the shot presentation. With the 2 MOA dot you could shoot for benchrest accuracy, and as the reticles increase in size, they become easier to see and more appropriate for fast shots at close range. Ultimately, though, you’ll have to toggle through the settings to find the right reticle for you, and thanks to the CRS setup you have lots of options. That’s great for competition shooters, but it also allows every Holosun owner to find a reticle that suits their tastes.

More and more of the handguns that come across my desk wear reflex optics, but not all reflex sights are created equal. I’m consistently impressed with the quality of Holosun optics, so it’s no surprise that I recommend the HS507COMP. Whether you shoot matches every weekend or punch paper and steel targets at the local range when your schedule allows this is a reflex sight that is well designed, rugged, and versatile.

Holosun HS507COMP-GR

• Reticle Type: LED
• Color: Green (as tested)
• Power Source: Single CR1632 battery
• Battery Life: 50,000 hours
• Window Size: 1.1” x .87”
• Length x Width x Height: 1.8” x 1.3” x 1.3”
• Weight: 1.7 Oz
• Brightness Settings: 8 (6 day, 2 NV)
• Auto Off: Yes
• Housing Material: 7075 Aluminum
• Finish: Matte black
• Reticle: CRS selectable reticle with 2 MOA dot/8 MOA circle/20 MOA circle/32 MOA circle
• MSRP: $470 (as tested)

For more information on the HS507COMP, visit Holosun.com