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Holosun HE509
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- Reticle
- Battery Life
- Brightness Setting
- Build Quality
- Price/Value
3.8/5Overall Score
Specs
- Weight: 2 oz
- Brightness Settings: 12
- Material: Aluminum - 7075-T6
- Battery Life: 10,001-25,000 Hours
Pros
- ACSS Reticle
- Quality Construction
Cons
- Mid Range Price
The Holosun HE509 is a compact and durable red dot sight designed for handguns and other firearms.
It is part of Holosun’s lineup of advanced optics that cater to both civilian and professional shooters.
What really sets the HE509 apart is it’s ACSS Vulcan reticle and circle that allow you to get your red dot on target faster.
First Impression
After pulling the HE509 out of the box the weight and boxiness of the optic hit you first.
It’s a really good feeling optic with solid feeling construction. The touch membranes offer a limited travel but tactile response when pressed.
My initial thoughts on the 509 is that if the durability is solid it’s going to be an awesome additional to any pistol.
Materials
The HE509 is built with a rugged and lightweight aluminum housing that is designed to withstand recoil and harsh environmental conditions.
It is IP67 certified for water and dust resistance, making it suitable for use in various weather conditions.
The sight also features a titanium housing option (HE509T) for enhanced durability.
Weight
The weight clocks in at a mere 2 ounces and adds almost no weight to your firearm, at least noticeable weight is virtually unnoticeable.
The “T” model clocks in at just 1.72 ounces, if shaving off every ounces is your goal I’d opt for the titanium model.
Reticle
The HE509 features a 2 MOA (minute of angle) dot reticle, which provides a crisp and clear aiming point.
The dot is powered by Holosun’s Advanced Solar Fail-safe (ASF) technology, allowing it to automatically adjust its brightness based on ambient lighting conditions.
Additionally, it has a shake-awake feature that activates the optic when it senses motion and puts it to sleep when it’s idle.
Along with the standard 2 MOA dot, the HE509 offers a circle-dot reticle variant (HE509-RD). This reticle combines a 2 MOA dot with a 32 MOA circle, allowing for fast
Dot Adjustment
Adjusting the red dot is very simple using the Holosun included tool and the top and side adjustment screws.
The right side adjustment screw adjusts the windage (left and right adjustment) and the top screw adjusts the elevation (up and down adjustment).
They are extremely easy to adjust as long as you use the included Holosun tool. Thankfully I have a few laying around from the multiple Holosun optics I’ve picked up over the years.
Power Source
The HE509 utilizes a CR2032 battery to power the reticle.
It boasts an impressive battery life, with the ability to operate for up to 50,000 hours on a single battery, thanks to its solar panel and energy-efficient electronics.
The sight also has a battery-saving feature that automatically adjusts the brightness to conserve power when the optic is not in use.
Durability
The titanium housing on the HE509T model will take a licking and keep on ticking.
The HE509-RD is made of 7075-T6 aluminum and it too seems like it will hold up well in all situations. I have often used the optic to rack the slide or release it from slide lock without any issues.
While I know that may not be recommended we all have likely done it a time or two.
Sight Picture
Sight picture on an enclosed red dot can sometimes be iffy but on this one it’s fairly seamless and I think that has a lot to do with the reticle design.
I’m a big fan of chevron reticles, in this case the ACSS Vulcan, but the fact they put a massive circle outside of the slight picture to assist with locating the reticle is outstanding.
This design feature alone will speed up your splits and and increase your draw to trigger time.
Operation of the Holosun HE509
Using the Holosun HE509 is easy and doesn’t require much learning. All of the operatonal controls of the red dot sight are on the left hand side of the optic.
The “+” and “-” and tactile and easy to press turning the optic on is as simple as pressing either of the buttons but with the Shake Awake you never really have to turn the dot off.
But to turn it off if you are a stickler about battery life or you are going to store your pistol away for some time, you can press the “+” and “-” simultaneously.
Mounts and Mounting Options
The HE509 comes with a multi-height mount system, providing flexibility for different firearm platforms.
It offers a low mount suitable for handguns and a high mount for use with AR-style rifles or shotguns.
The sight can be quickly and securely attached to a Picatinny rail using the mount.
Note: The 509 ACSS model does not share the same footprint as the 509T (non-ACSS models) and therefore is incompatible with aftermarket mounting solutions and custom cut slides for the 509T (non-ACSS models).
Primary Arms Product Page Holosun HE509
Holosun HE509 Final Thoughts
Overall, the Holosun HE509 is a versatile and feature-packed red dot sight that offers a reliable aiming solution for handguns and other firearms.
Its rugged construction, long battery life, and advanced reticle options make it a popular choice among shooters looking for a high-quality optic for their firearms.
What is the difference between Holosun HS and HE?
The “HS” stands for Holosun Standard and the “HE” stands for Holosun Elite.
The biggest difference in the two models is the color of the reticle. The standard model has a red reticle and the elite has a green or gold reticle depending on the optic.
What grade Titanium does Holosun use?
Holosun utilizes Grade 5 titanium in their optics.
What mount does a Holosun 509T use?
The Holosun 509T and 509-RD includes an adapter plate for compatibility with RMR footprints.
However, Holosun warns that 509T models include an adapter plate for RMR footprints. Please be aware that thier adapter plate is not compatible with alternative RMR footprints which use threaded bosses such as those from Zev or Brownells.
The only thing you didn’t cover, which I was looking for was how well is the automatic light adjustment feature on this sight? I know some of their open emitter sights wash out when going from dark to light as they do not adjust fast enough with the lighting change.