Choosing a Reticle Thats Best For You!
Choosing between Red or Green Reticles
Information attained from Freedom Gorilla.com
You may wonder if you should get a red or green dot reticle. We get this question a lot so I will list a few bullet points for you to consider.
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Green reticles are less straining for the eye to see.
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Green reticles can help with astigmatism. If you have astigmatism you will see a blurry dot, we have been told by a few customers that Green dots help with their astigmatism, making the dot look more crisp than the red version.
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Green will not washout on backdrops like green grass, foliage, or green colors.
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In theory Green dots can have a longer battery life because Green is brighter, so for example a green dot on brightness setting 6 may be the same brightness as a red dot on setting 7 - which would save battery life.
Choosing between Open vs Closed Emitters
The simplest way we can break down open vs closed emitters is to look at how you plan on carrying the pistol.
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If you plan on being outdoors in the elements with rain, snow, or sleet, then a closed emitter will be beneficial.
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If you plan on carrying OWB most of the time and plan on being outside then a closed emitter would be beneficial.
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If you plan on carrying IWB or don't plan on being outside using your red dot in the pouring rain or heavy snow then an open reflex is fine.
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Open reflexes will still work in the rain or snow but the closed emitter will give you extra peace of mind.
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An open reflex can collect dust and debris on the inside of the reticle over time, so you'll want to clean it out from time to time. An enclosed emitter is easier to clean in this aspect.
How to decide which reticle style is best for you
In this guide we covered a few different reticle options. If you need some help deciding which is best for you here are some of our thoughts on each.
The simplest way we can break down open vs closed emitters is to look at how you plan on carrying the pistol.
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If you plan on being outdoors in the elements with rain, snow, or sleet, then a closed emitter will be beneficial.
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If you plan on carrying OWB most of the time and plan on being outside then a closed emitter would be beneficial.
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If you plan on carrying IWB or don't plan on being outside using your red dot in the pouring rain or heavy snow then an open reflex is fine.
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Open reflexes will still work in the rain or snow but the closed emitter will give you extra peace of mind.
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An open reflex can collect dust and debris on the inside of the reticle over time, so you'll want to clean it out from time to time. An enclosed emitter is easier to clean in this aspect.
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2 MOA only (407C, EPS 2 MOA, EPS Carry 2 MOA): This dot is quite small which makes it precise. The downside is that it can be hard to “pick up” upon drawing the weapon. If you are experienced shooting red dot sights on pistols then this may not be an issue for you. If you are new, we recommend you practice “finding the dot” at home to become proficient. If you can train your muscle memory to find the dot then 2 MOA is a great choice.
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6 MOA only (407K, EPS 6 MOA, EPS Carry 6 MOA): This dot is decently larger than the 2 MOA dot. We classify this as more user friendly than the 2 MOA dot as it’s a bit easier to pick up upon drawing. The 6 MOA dot will not be as precise as the 2 MOA dot at long distances (50+ yards) but it is still plenty accurate at all distance ranges. The 6 MOA dot is a nice size and it gives you a less cluttered reticle. Some people prefer it over the MRS.
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MRS Reticle (32 MOA Ring + 2 MOA Dot) (507K, 507C, 508T, 509T, EPS MRS, EPS Carry MRS: This reticle is a good combination of both large and small. You have the 2 MOA dot to be precise with, and the 32 MOA Ring to help “find the dot”. The 32 MOA Circle is quite hard to miss. The nice thing about this reticle is the flexibility. You can use the 32 MOA Ring only or the 2 MOA dot only or both together. This way you can find what you prefer and stick to it.
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ACSS Vulcan with 10 MOA Chevron and 250 MOA Outer Ring (507C ACSS Vulcan, 509 ACSS Vulcan): This reticle is going to be the most precise out of all the other options because of it’s Chevron. The tip of the chevron is the most precise aiming point in any red dot reticle. The 250 MOA outer ring is not visible when the chevron is centered, it’s only visible when you need to adjust your aim. This way “finding the dot” becomes quicker. The chevron also gives you range finding capabilities which none of the other optics do. The only shorter battery life compared to other options.
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ACSS Vulcan with 3 MOA Dot and 230 MOA Dotted Outer Ring (507K ACSS Vulcan): This reticle is going to have a 3 moa dot and the 230 MOA dotted outer ring. The outer ring is only visible when the dot is not centered. The purpose is to help you find the dot quicker upon drawing the weapon. The 3 MOA dot give you a slightly larger dot than the 2 MOA dot, but it’s not that noticeable. The real value to this reticle is the outer ring and it’s assistance with helping you get on target faster by quickly adjusting your grip to “find the dot”
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CRS Reticle (32 MOA Ring, 20 MOA Ring, 8 MOA Ring, 2 MOA Center Dot) (507 Comp): The CRS reticle is 7 different reticles in one. It comes with a 32 MOA circle, 20 MOA circle, 8 MOA Circle, and 2 MOA Dot. Holding down the "-" button for 3 seconds lets you toggle through all the reticle options to decide which you like best. You can use The 2 MOA Dot only, one of the circles only, or both the dot and a circle combo together.
The main difference between the Holosun 407c and 507c is the reticle and battery life:
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Reticle: The 407c has a 2 MOA dot reticle, while the 507c has an MRS reticle with a 2 MOA center dot and a 32 MOA outer ring. The 32 MOA circle can be used alone or in combination with the dot.
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Battery life: The 507c has half the battery life of the 407c when using the MRS reticle.
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Price: The 507c is more expensive than the 407c.
The 407c and 507c are both part of Holosun's C series of red dots and have the same dimensions.