Preface

I wanted to start with Holosun Optics as a company to kick off this curating process. Why? Because they have now become one of, if not the largest, optics companies that the US market is buying. If we aim to provide our customers (you!) with relevant information, starting with the most prominent in the industry is a no-brainer.

Why should you trust what I say?

With that, why should you trust what I say? You shouldn't. Or at least you shouldn't depend on me solely! But I do hope you thoughtfully consider the information I will convey! Remember, I am just another data point in a sea of information. However, I believe I have something valuable to offer due to my background in quality control and science and exposure as a long-term consumer of the firearm industry.

Additionally, I strive to be as honest and transparent as possible, purposefully disclosing all information that may induce bias. I only want what is best for my customers, and I am genuinely concerned about people being taken advantage of by big retailers who will sell them anything regardless of quality, utility, or durability, among others. With all that said, I hope you can trust me and will read what I have researched and learned, whether you agree or disagree!

What are my Biases or inclinations?

Before diving into the nitty-gritty, I'll disclose that I have no relationship with Holosun. They have no idea I exist! I did reach out to them before writing this to see if they wanted to give me any detailed background information - but as of the time of writing this, they have yet to reply. I have used and currently have a few Holosun optics - good and bad (I'll get into that in just a bit). Okay, let's get into it!

Who is Holosun, and what do they do?

When people hear Holosun, a few things immediately come to mind. They are usually modestly priced, have a good value or price-to-performance ratio, and are consumer-oriented. Inherently, these are good things. But before I dive into that, we must first address the elephant in the room - Holosun is an American company that manufactures its products in China. While they do most of the R&D in the states, it is a known quantity that they outsource their manufacturing to China.

The Question: Should we, as Americans, purchase optics from a place like China, or should we support Americans and only American-made ones?

Caveat - I will give my opinion on this, but at the end of the day, it comes down to the individual making the purchasing decision. I am relaying all the relevant information so you can make your own decisions.

The Short Answer is: We can begrudgingly buy from Chinese manufactured companies. I ideally believe that our purchasing decisions should be American-made only. Still, due to the nature of our society, these may be more like an American preference if everything else (price, value, durability, among others) is the same.

The Long Answer is: So what do I think? On a fundamental moral level, I do have an issue with supporting a country like China financially due to its crimes against humanity, poverty, wages, and worker exploitation. It would be very ignorant of me to specifically not purchase Holosun optics. Why? As Americans, we walk around daily with an iPhone or Android made in China, clothes, shoes, tools, equipment, computers, and TVs. I could go on ad nauseam. If I wanted to be ethically consistent, not only would it be highly inconvenient not to use Chinese-manufactured products, but I would also suppose it's nigh on impossible due to how integral Chinese-made products are in our daily lives. Because of this unsettling reality, I can't find it rational to specifically not purchase Holosun's offerings. So, begrudgingly, it is all right to buy their products. But again, this is just my opinion.

Quality or Chinesium?

Chinesium Optics like this are found all over Amazon

China has a dubious reputation. On one hand, its manufacturing capabilities are extensive, and it can and does make quality products. On the other hand - as I would assume almost anyone here reading has experienced - it is known for its inferior mass production, commonly called "Chinesium" products. In essence, Chinese products range from straight-up trash to high quality. So, where do Holosun's products fall?

Materials and Durability

Holosun has a reputation for making some pretty durable products. This reputation stems primarily from their design and materials. You can easily search YouTube for torture testing their products, and they do well. (Sage Dynamics does a great job at beating the piss out of stuff-check out his video below!) Holosun uses two main types of materials - Aluminum and Titanium. The former is their cheaper line, and the latter is their premium line.

While there might be older products I'm unaware of that could have had durability issues, their current lineup is good. At the end of the day, everything except their lowest priced options (403 dots, for instance) Holosun made from 7075 Aluminum or Titanium, which are excellent options, using the same materials that other big companies like Trijicon or Aimpoint use.

Overall, Holosun does a great job choosing durable materials and designs, and we can be reasonably confident in their ability to take a beating and keep functioning correctly.

Quality Control

At this point - what sets Holosun apart from other optics manufacturers of good renown, such as the previously mentioned Aimpoint or Trijicon? Quality control. Some companies (try to) only allow products out the door of their best quality and will, in turn, throw out many products to get their desired quality. For instance (these are arbitrary numbers to illustrate a point), let's say Aimpoint implements a production quality control policy where they discard all defects and faulty optics. For every 100 optics they produce, they discard 25 due to quality issues. Then, Aimpoint passes on this cost to the end-user.

What is Holosun's policy? For every 100 of their optics, they may only reject 5 of the same 25 that had issues, only getting rid of the most egregious items. This quality control policy means that, although they can offer items at a lower cost to the end-user, more products out there have quality issues compared to other brands.

I have experienced this first-hand; seeing the same thing takes a little searching. My Holosun LS321 G laser unit had reversed zeroing turrets. Was it serviceable? Yes, and I used it just fine—but something like that would never happen at Aimpoint. Sometimes, the problem could be more complex; it could be a dud, or it could stop working soon after starting to use it.

Same Model of LS321G I had issues with.

It is a fact that Holosun will have more products out in the wild with quality issues. Holosun has a pretty good warranty and RMA process, and they aren't usually hanging you out to dry with a lemon optic. When looking at this all together, their philosophy revolves around a lower standard for quality control, but when a customer has a complaint or issue, they will help them. Just be aware that you can run into problems more often.

Usability and Utility

Holosun products usually perform above their weight in performance, usability, and utility. This performance is a product of three things: 

1. Chinese manufacturing reduces costs

2. Their philosophy on quality control 

3. Their products work

It is this third point, which sets Holosun apart from the "Chinesium" optics currently flooding the US. Not only do their optics work, they work well, which is a lot more than your 40-dollar Amazon red dot can do. Holosun red dots are easily bright enough to overpower the sun on sunny days; battery life is excellent, usually lasting at least a year to several years, depending on the model. There isn't much else to say. Red dots are just that; so long as they are bright, adjustable and have good battery life, there isn't much else to want. However, if you want more, this leads me to the last main topic of innovation.

Innovation

Another thing that Holosun does is constantly innovate, iterate, and try to improve its products. Usually, in terms of technology, they are always trying to be on the cutting edge and outpace the older big dogs who rest on their laurels. While this isn't usually the most essential thing in deciding if you will purchase an item, getting the latest and greatest thing can be very enticing, especially when everything else on the market has been around for 5+ years. At a minimum, I appreciate this about Holosun. It drives competition, which means better products, more selection and lower prices, whether or not you buy Holosun optics.

Conclusion

In conclusion, exploring Holosun Optics has been enlightening, shedding light on their American-designed, Chinese-manufactured products. We've discussed their reputation for durability, usability, and innovation, juxtaposed with their lackluster quality control policy. As I've shared my insights and experiences, I hope this overview has provided valuable information to help you make informed decisions.

Ultimately, you, the consumer, decide whether to invest in Holosun optics. While they offer compelling features and performance, they must remain mindful of their country of origin, treatment of workers, and quality control standards.

Transparency and awareness are paramount as we navigate the complex landscape of firearm accessories. Whether you embrace Holosun's offerings or explore alternatives, I encourage you to prioritize informed decision-making.

Thank you for joining me on this exposé, and I hope this overview has been enlightening or, at the very least, thought-provoking. Your support and engagement are greatly appreciated!

If you have any questions, comments or concerns please email me at: Team@cornfirearsenal.com 

Patrick