Holosun optics is renowned for providing affordable, high-quality red dot optics. The Holosun 507c and 508t are two of their flagship products. They both have exceptional features, yet little actual difference exists between them. Still, there is enough to make you contemplate which optic is the right optic for you. So, which red dot sight is the best?
Which Is Best: Holosun 507 vs 508?
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HuntersHalt: #1 Choice
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Pros:
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Pros:
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- High Durability - Anodized Titanium
- Fantastic Battery Life
- Versatility - Multiple Reticle Options
- Super Fast Target Acquisition
- Superior From Close Range
- Crystal Clear Sight Lens
Although costing slightly more, the 508t is the best. In my opinion, it is made of a stronger material (titanium) and has a lower profile, allowing for a more user-friendly experience. The added durability is a much-needed comfort for me in terms of the longevity of your red dot sight.
The following categories will highlight and explain these two sights’ similarities and differences in detail.
What Is The Holosun 507c?
- Super Fast Target Acquisition
- Superior From Close Range
- Crystal Clear Sight Lens
- Less Adjustability Than 508t
The Holosun 507c is a pistol red dot sight designed for faster target acquisition and enhanced precision. It features a multiple reticle system, solar power, and a side-mounted battery compartment. This optic is highly durable and made for close-quarters combat! I have even compared the HS 507c and Vortex Venom amongst other popular optics!
What Is The Holosun 508t?
- High Durability - Anodized Titanium
- Fantastic Battery Life
- Versatility - Multiple Reticle Options
- Does Not Come With A Mount
The Holosun 508t is a great red dot sight for use on a handgun. It has a clear 2 MOA dot, 12 brightness settings, and a solar cell for extended battery life. The durable aluminum housing is waterproof and shockproof, making it a great choice for any outdoor activity. The 508t also features Holosun’s Shake Awake technology, which automatically turns the sight on and off when it detects motion.
Main Differences: 507c vs 508t
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Optic Size
Holosun 507c: The 507c has a width of 1.24 inches and a height of 1.54 inches, with an overall length of 1.78 inches. It has an overall weight of 1.5 ounces. It makes a great P365 Optic amongst others!
Holosun 508t: The 508t’s width measures 1.21 inches, and its length is 1.21 inches. The main differences are in height, the 508t is only 1.08 inches giving it a lower profile than the 507c. The Holosun 508t is heavier than the 507c, weighing 2 ounces. This is one of the main reasons that I rated Holosun one of the Best Red Dots For Canik TP9SF that I tested!
The Holosun 508t is the winner for optic size because its lower profile makes it more user-friendly. I have always preferred a more compact optic so that was an easy decision.
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Durability Comparison
Holosun 507c: Holosun is notorious for building tough, rugged optics and the Holosun 507c is no different. In fact, that’s why I rated the 507c as one of the Best Red Dots For 300 Blackout that I’ve tried. Manufactured out of 7075 T6 Aluminum, this red dot sight handled the most brutal of poundings I could throw at it.
- In terms of design, the Holosun 507c has an anodized finish, ensuring the optic is protected from the elements. The elevation and windage adjustments are recessed perfectly in the sight to prevent possible collision damage.
- The Holosun 507c is rated to be waterproof for up to 1 meter for roughly 30 minutes. This red dot sight is shockproof, so the recoil from mounting it on your pistol slide won’t be a problem.
All in all, the Holosun 507c is a durable scope.
Holosun 508t: Holosun went even further with the Holosun 508t. With a titanium finish, you can rest assured that you have one of the most durable red dot sights available.
- Constructed out of titanium, it enables the Holosun 508t to be incredibly durable yet still impressively light. Weight was also am important factor when I compared the HS 507c vs 507k red dots. I was amazed at how easy it was to maneuver my Glock when the red dot sight was fitted.
- The Holosun 508t also has the same anodized finish as the Holosun 507c, with the same level of protection for windage and elevation adjustments. It is also waterproof for 1 meter and up to 30 minutes.
- The Holosun 508t is shockproof, mounting it with a pistol slide won’t be a problem in terms of recoil.
The Holosun 508t has durability written all over it. Made out of titanium as opposed to the Holosun 507c – the Holosun 508t wins in the durability category. I always find picking a more durable optic is the way to go.
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Reticle & Optic Lens Quality
Both: These sights have multi-coated lenses that produce a remarkably clear and clean sight picture. It competes with the likes of Leupold and Trijicon, and their red dot sights the DeltaPoint and RMR.
They offer parallax-free views and unlimited eye relief.
They are both equipped with a feature, “Multiple Reticle System.” This means you can toggle between 3 different reticles on your Holosun 507c or Holosun 508t.
- Circle Dot Reticle – 2 MOA dot surrounded by a 32 MOA ring
- 2 MOA dot
- 32 MOA Ring Reticle – 32 MOA ring with no center dot
The Circle dot reticle allows for both speed and exceptional accuracy, after all, “fast is fine, but accuracy is everything” – Wyatt Earp. That’s one of my favorite quotes! The large 32 MOA circle enables your eye to quickly register the picture, while the 2 MOA dot will allow for accuracy.
Then you have the two other options, which isolate each extreme. The 2 MOA dot for accuracy and the 32 MOA ring reticle for speed. Making this sight an extremely versatile option in terms of use case. Versatility was also the deciding factor for me when comparing the SRO vs RMR red dots in the past.
A green reticle is also available, although on average, $30 more expensive.
Both these sights are equally matched with reticle and optical lens quality. Providing exemplary optical lens quality with a clear picture and three reticle options to choose from that will best match your shooting style.
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Adjustability
Both: These sights have ten daylight brightness settings and two night vision settings.
The daylight settings cater to both extremes of extremely brightly lit areas and low ambient lighting conditions. The night vision settings aid with night vision compatibility, although not the best, it is still effective. I personally though that the Aimpoint T2 & Comp M5 have better NV compatability.
Both these sights have a brightness lock mode, meaning you can lock the preferred brightness setting on your optic, which is great if you need to use your gun in a life-or-death situation.
In the adjustability category, these two sights settle for a tie.
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Battery Life
Both: These two sights have incredible battery life. Holosun boasts that they can last up to 50,000 hours on setting 6. Holosun specifically designed their optics to be some of the most reliable red dot sights in terms of battery life, some of the batter optimization features are:
- Use of one CR1632 lithium battery – Quickly replaced as it is in a side battery compartment.
- Shake Awake Feature – A great battery-saving feature, the sight will switch off after a period of non-use and automatically switch back on when motion is detected.
- Built-in Solar Panel – Both these sights have a built-in solar panel. The solar panel helps you save battery life and allows use without a battery in sunlight conditions in case your battery dies.
The Holosun 507c and 508t are equally efficient in terms of battery life. Most Holosun products like the HS 407k and HS 507k have a great battery life that competes with any optic on the market.
Note: Older versions of the 507c have a battery compartment that sits underneath the optic, similar to the Trijicon RMR. Replacing the battery meant you would have to detach the optic and would need to re-zero it when attaching it again. Which really frustrated me and felt like a complete flaw in the design – luckily, Holosun improved the original design.
Look for the newer V2 and X2 versions, as the battery compartment is located on the side, meaning there is no need to detach the scope.
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Accessory Comparison
Holosun optics went the extra mile with value for their optics, which impressed me. Both these red dots have the same accessories included in your purchase. The EOTech EXPS and EOTech XPS were the only other red dots I tested with more accessories.
These two red dot sights have the Trijicon RMR footprint. This means that your 507c or 508t can be mounted on a wide selection of handguns with the matching pre-cut slide or an included mounting plate. The footprint extends its use beyond handguns, with numerous mounts available for shotguns and rifles.
A lens cloth and one CR1632 lithium battery are also included in your purchase of either the 507c or the 508t.
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Price
The Holosun 507c is the cheaper option. The 508t is more expensive, but not by much. For me, the price is not enough of a game changer to sway me one way or another.
Which Should You Pick?
Both these sights are excellent, but the Holosun 507cis the cheaper option, it is also lighter, weighing only 1.5 ounces – so definitely the budget-conservative choice.
However, if you are okay with paying a few extra bucks more for the 508t. In that case, you will get an optic made from a stronger material (titanium) and an optic with a lower profile. I would recommend the HS 508t for any serious gun owner!
How We Rate Pistol Sights Like This
The best red-dot pistol sights need to be reliable, you should be able to count on them at any given moment. This is why when we rate a pistol sight, it should adhere to the following criteria:
- Vision – The quality of vision the sight provides is the first thing we look at. After all, you buy a sight to enhance your accuracy. We look at the reticle, type of glass, tint on glass, the field of view, eye relief, and how well it works in bright and ambient light conditions.
- Value – What features does the pistol sight have to justify its market price? Does it have a warranty or additional accessories included in the purchase?
- Battery Life – How long is the battery life, and will it fail you when you need it most? How easy is it to replace the battery, and what additional features have the manufacturer introduced to allow for battery saving?
- Quality – Durability is critical, the housing of the sight needs to be constructed from quality material, able to survive the toughest conditions, such as severe weather conditions or collision with a hard surface.The electronic features and the glass should be protected. An important feature is a recoil countering system, is it shockproof, or does it have a rubber lining?
- Mounting Ease – How easy is it to mount on a pistol slide, and does it have a popular footprint such as the RMR footprint?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 508t better than the 507c?
Does the 507c and 508t have the same footprint?
Does Holosun 508t have the same footprint as RMR?
Is the Holosun 508t waterproof?
The Bottom Line
Both these sights are a good choice, providing excellent value for money. However, my personal preference is the 508t as the enhanced durability, and lower profile really fit my rugged outdoor hobbies like a glove. Whichever you choose, you will be undoubtedly satisfied.
- High Durability - Anodized Titanium
- Fantastic Battery Life
- Versatility - Multiple Reticle Options
- Does Not Come With A Mount
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