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As an experienced IPSC competitor, trying to specialize in the rifle and pistol caliber carbine (PCC) divisions, I’ve put countless optics through the test over the years, both for reviews and my own training. I’ve competed in numerous national and international events, including the first IPSC PCC 2025 World Shoot in the Czech Republic, where precision, speed, and reliability are non-negotiable. About three years ago, I purchased the Holosun HS510C from an authorized dealer at full list price (close to $550 at the time), mounting it on my competition PCC. A friend had the same optical setup, and I copied it. He has since moved forward to several other solutions and brands, but I kept my PCC the same.
One modification we did immediately was to remove the titanium hood. Why? Because it obscured some of the field of view. Not in a major way, but we removed it and never looked back. We’re not really in need of the extra protection it gives; your needs may be different. We’re in it to win it, for the race, with less care for protecting the optic with an extra layer of metal.
Now I don’t shoot an insane amount of rounds, but over the years, this open reflex red dot sight has logged thousands of rounds across training sessions, local matches, and championships. Other competitors seem to use it as well.
The sight comes tightly packaged with a quick-detach (QD) Picatinny mount, a lens cover, a CR2032 battery, and tools for zeroing. Mounting it on my PCC was straightforward. The QD lever locked securely without tools, and if I remember correctly, I never removed the optic during these years. It’s supposed to provide an absolute co-witness with iron sights, which I don’t have.
The aluminum housing with a titanium alloy hood gives it a robust feel right out of the box, weighing in at about 4.94 ounces and measuring 3.3 inches long by 1.68 inches wide by 1.78 inches tall. Even without the titanium hood, the feeling is still there. The viewing window (0.91 x 1.26 inches) is generously sized for quick target acquisition, which is one of the main reasons why I chose it.
Rapid transitions between targets at varying distances are key in competitions, and in my opinion, a large window helps. Is it super important? No, but it’s what I normally prefer. One drawback is more parallax shift, but I rarely or never shoot unless my aim is more or less centered anyway. I just find the dot faster, at least in theory, but I don’t know how to prove it.
The market is flooded with choices for PCC optics, and here are some alternatives from Aimpoint and SIG Sauer. When we compete with each other, we don’t really notice any difference, but I think we all know that red dots are most likely the most sensitive part of our setups (that’s, until my cam pin disintegrated).
Some people run side optics on their PCCs, and I’ll probably regret not doing so some day. The one with the 3D-printed red grip runs the new Vortex Defender XL and a Trijicon SRO. Smoke Composites made a fortune here, it seems.
This Holosun has a Multi-Reticle System (MRS), offering three options: a precise 2 MOA dot, a 65 MOA circle for faster close-range work, or a combination of both. I only run the dot.
The Quarter Circle 10 QC-5 and QC-10 Pistol Caliber Carbines. The QC-5 (MP5 magazine) has the Trijicon MRO.
Another potential combination, Trijicon SRO and Aimpoint ACRO.
Zeroing was super-simple with the windage and elevation turrets (with 0.5 MOA clicks). The total travel is ±50 MOA, and I’ve never run out of adjustment space. It has held its zero flawlessly from the start, but I did re-zero it due to ammunition and a change of preference over the years. The clicks aren’t super distinct like on a Schmidt & Bender long-range scope, but tactile enough for everyone’s needs. Huge plus for having just an ordinary slot for a normal flat head screwdriver, so that if you forget your special magical key at home, you can still find something in your bag and adjust the sights.
Over the past three years, the HS510C has seen action in over a dozen national IPSC events and several international ones, culminating in the World Shoot in the Czech Republic in May of this year. The sight worked great, and the first two days of shooting went smoothly. Then my PCC started falling apart, with all sorts of internal issues. I zeroed a long course due to a firing pin retention pin that broke with just a few shots left, and the issues just kept on going. In these high-pressure environments, where stages demand fast splits and flawless gear, the sight still worked. In fact, now it feels like it was the only thing that really worked. I rarely adjust the brightness settings, other than one up or down depending on the sun and the shade. During World Shoot, there were a lot of different light conditions.
Sometimes when I’m about to start a stage, and given the Load & Make Ready from the Range Officer, I notice a lot of glare (and other dirt and dust on the lens), and I think, “Is this really going to work?” But once the starting beep goes, I don’t think about it at all, and the dot is small and clear enough for fast precision shots. If I enter a stage with a lot of targets close by, I usually decrease the length of my stock and increase the intensity of the red dot a click or two – then I’m ready to rock ‘n roll. The World Shoot had a lot of stages with fairly long range and targets up to 80 meters (or thereabouts), and the Nordic Championships have been similar, and I’m still able to get good hits.
The slight blue-red tint on the lens isn’t too bad, and not something I really think about. Images like these always “lie” due to the exposure of the camera. But I hope you get the idea. Below is a zoomed-in part of the image above, to clarify.
Distance to target is 28 yards. I am trying to hit black patches to re-zero the rifle where a lot of micro targets will be at this distance, and you can see my hits below. The top right is free-handed and relatively fast, the others are with a shooting bag as support, and some adjustments (clicks) done per patch. I’ve done better, but I blame the mosquitoes attacking my face and this is good enough for PCC.
Last year, I repeatedly put 5 rounds in one patch, and for the sake of this review and these images, I tried to repeat it. I only did so-so this time.
And some data from the Garmin Xero.
I don’t recall shooting in full rain, but the diode is at least a bit protected from H₂O from above. Open red dots that stop working have, for me, been more of a fear than reality.
Battery life has been exceptional; I’ve never replaced the CR2032 battery! Perhaps the solar backup kicked in during extended outdoor sessions, extending the runtime? It’s not like I noticed.
For the record, I’ll repeat that I bought this Holosun from a local dealer, at list price. I have no contacts at Holosun, and no one asked me to write this long-term review other than my own growing need to share my experience.
To summarize, I don’t really have any negative to say about this sight, nothing negative enough to make me switch at least. This is the only Holosun I own, and I have quite a few other red dots on or off other firearms (15+ I think). Some may say that the Holosun is bulky, and while it’s larger than the other ones pictured above for comparison, it has never been an issue for me.
The battery life has been impressive – if it’s due to the solar backup or not, I’ll never know. To me the solar panel was more of a gimmick. All open-emitter red dots can and will attract dust or moisture, but I try to use the rubber cover when it’s not in use, but I’m not overly cautious. If you prefer a green dot/circle, look out for the HE510C-GR model.
I’ll be frank and say that I don’t like supporting Chinese optics and suppliers, but here I am using a Holosun and I’m pretty happy with its performance. In fact, I have little or no complaints. I would not put it on my duty gun (if I had one), but for competition, it’s been great.
I didn’t think of it, but I just realized that I’m in good companionship with Keith Garcia. He seems to have kept the titanium hood and made it to the World Shoot Shoot Off. ( Keith Garcia in Shoot Off – MEAN Arms Bearing Delay PCC). He also runs another Holosun as a secondary.
Today, the MSRP is $364.69 in the US; a lot less than I paid once upon a time, but also in another market, so not totally comparable.
Holosun HS510C Red Dot Sight
For more information: https://holosun.com/products/rifle-sights/510/hs510c.html
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