Whether you are a hunter or participating in a shooting competition, your primary goal is to have the best holographic sight to enhance your success rate. Better scope plays a significant role in achieving efficiency.
In other words, individuals wielding the best scopes have the edge over their competitors or colleagues in a hunting expedition. Mainly, they have a faster target acquisition, and their chances of hitting the target are higher.
Without a doubt, shopping for the best holographic sight is not a walk in the park. There are numerous products in the market with different features.
Always, the goal is getting the best quality holographic sights at the best price. Fortunately for you, the following review will help you in your search for the best holographic sight for the money and may ultimately make the right decision.
Editor’s Choice 6 Best Holographic Sight
There are various holographic optics in the markets that have almost similar characteristics. However, they are not similar. A good holographic sight allows the shooter to make the shot from at least 100 yards.
The optics you choose should not be too heavy, and mounting them should not be too hard either. They should also be gentle on the eye. The following review examines some of the best holographic sights.
Best Holographic Sight For The Money
Trijicon RMR 6.5 MOA
Trijicon has made a name for themselves in aiming optics. The firm is widely known for manufacturing the most advanced gun scopes. Both in the shooting range and field, Trijicon products are proven in terms of reliability and accuracy. Trijicon boasts as among its customers to include the Marine Corps, The US Army and state law enforcement as among its clients. Trijicon RMR 6.5 MOA is one of the products that bear witness to their ability.
Features
- The brightness is adjustable.
- Its buttons are easy to push.
- The shape of the housing is unique and patented.
- Has multicoated lens.
- The elevation or windage is adjustable.
- Has no parallax.
- Durable and a strong frame.
Pros
- Works wonderfully in bad weather conditions.
- Has an innovative auto brightness feature.
- The elevation is easy to adjust.
- Well designed to withstand impact forces.
- An eight-level brightness setting.
- Includes two modes for night vision especially for those that love hunting after sunset.
Cons
- Its price is quite steep.
- Changing the battery is a challenge as you will need to re-sight it.
- The red dot may grow bigger than the bullet size.
Best Holographic Sight Under 200
Burris 300234 Fastfire III
The first thing that you notice when you unpack the device is how compact it is. You can best use the optics with a handgun. Burris is top company when it comes to outdoor optics. Among the company’s award-winning products include binoculars and spotting scopes.
Features
- Made using high-quality materials.
- Tested for reliability and quality.
- Easy to use adjustment and windage tools.
- Three-level brightness and auto brightness.
- Has a warning indicator in case of low battery.
- Is very light and compact.
- Clear bright vision.
- Durable and very strong frame.
- Comes with added accessories such as the screwdriver, Torx wrench and protecting cap among others.
Pros
- One of the best holographic sight under 200.
- Takes a few seconds for auto clarity to set in.
- Can fit on any firearm meaning it is very versatile.
- The field of view is quite large provided that it has a low magnification.
- Easy to operate.
- Good value for money.
Cons
- Low magnification.
- Oversized shade.
- The power switch needs time for one to get used to.
Burris FastFire Red-Dot Reflex Sight
Burris features again with this Burris FastFire Red-Dot. With this product, the company proves why they are among the best in outdoor optics. This product is high quality, and Burris makes sure that buyers get the value for their money.
Features
- Waterproof.
- Comes with 20000 hours of battery life.
- Multi-coated optics.
- Fog-proof, waterproof and shockproof.
- A field view that is unlimited.
Pros
- Has a lifetime warranty which guarantees the quality of the product.
- Tested for reliability and quality.
- Enhances your accuracy and shooting speed.
- Has Picatinny mount meaning that you can install it on most guns.
- Durable as its construction is steel.
- The optic holds zero well.
- It is quite easy to install.
- An attractive ON/ OFF switch.
Cons
- Some buyers have complained about the switches working randomly.
- Furthermore, replacing the battery can be a pain. In other words, you may need to put it apart just to change the battery.
>Best Holographic Sight Under 100
Sightmark SM26008
Sightmark utilizes law enforcement and military technology to produce the best quality products. The organization manufactures a top of the range products for competition, tactical and hunting. Some of the products include reflex sights, riflescopes, laser light and night vision among others. Mostly, Sightmark has established themselves in the area of optics.
Features
- Digital controls.
- Has multiple reticles.
- One hour shutoff to save battery.
- A red/ green illuminated reticle.
- Housing made of cast aluminum alloy.
- Reduced power consumption.
- Infinite eye relief.
- A 4-pattern reticle.
- 5-level brightness setting.
- Waterproof, shockproof and fog proof.
- Has a quick detach mount.
Pros
- One of the best holographic sight under 100.
- Best for close range and swiftly moving targets.
- Has a quick detach mount for easier removal.
- Has an eye relief that is unlimited.
- It is both weatherproof and shockproof.
- Limited lifetime warranty.
Cons
- Has no night vision.
- The batteries are not long lasting.
- The batteries are hard to find and pricey.
- It is not entirely waterproof.
Sightmark Ultra Shot Sight
Sightmark returns with another product that demonstrates their ability to maintain quality. The Sightmark Ultra Shot Sight is nice to look at and has some of the best qualities in the market. With this product, the company that prides itself in utilizing military technology scores big.
Features
- Infinite eye relief
- 1x magnification
- Four pattern reticles
- 5 level brightness.
- Field of view is 1000 yards.
- The product is about 3.7 inches.
- It is water resistant.
Pros
- It is easy to mount.
- Its price is reasonable considering the quality.
- Aluminum shield hood for durability and protection.
- Matte black finish gets rid of any reflection.
- A mount that is easily detachable.
- Has a side button to quickly change the brightness according to the current lighting.
- Has a beautiful sleek design.
Cons
- Has a poor battery life. It is also hard to find the kind of batteries that the product uses.
- In comparison to others, the product is slightly heavier.
- The holographic sight also uses a considerable rail space.
- Some reviewers have pointed out that the zero varies with every reticle.
Best Budget Holographic Sight
Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot
For more than half century, Bushnell has made a name for themselves in sports optics. Bushnell prides itself in reliable, high-quality sports optics. In a real sense, the company’s products are leading in most of the outdoor activities. In that context, you are sure that the Bushnell Trophy is among the best in the market.
Features
- Durable product.
- Beautiful design.
- Fast target acquisition.
- CR2032 battery.
- Has Picatinny mount meaning that you can install it on most guns.
Pros
- Multi-coated optics.
- Fog-proof, waterproof and shockproof.
- A field view that is unlimited.
- It is reliable.
- The eye relief is unlimited and can use it with both eyes. Additionally, the product supports a swift target acquisition.
- The design is free of parallax.
- Considering the quality, the pricing is actually on the low side.
- Has a long battery life of about 125 days.
- It is light.
- Durable and quality sight.
Cons
- Reticle brightness could do with some improvement.
- For some people, it is too little to act as AR 15 holographic sight and magnifier or something of the sort. In other words, it is best suited for pistols.
Our recommendation
If you are looking to save a buck and also obtain quality, then Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 is the best budget holographic sight. The product’s glass quality and red dot are on par with other top producers in the market. Furthermore, Trophy TRS-25 has a good range that will make gun enthusiasts happy. The best thing about this product is that it is under $100.
Where Did The Holographic Sight Come From?
A holographic sight is one of the most important tools that a marksman or a hunter can have. In general terms, the holographic sights help the shooter in acquiring the target swiftly and effortlessly.
This revolutionary technology first came from EOTech in 1998. It is different in a way to the red dot sights which many may confuse them with. The holographic sight is incomparable to the red dot sights. In particular, holographic sights are much more superior in terms of performance. This EOTech invention has a better target acquisition, and the field of view is better.
The use of this type of technology is nothing new. The US military has been using it since the 1970s. The first product to resemble the holographic sight was Armson OEG. This device allowed the weapon users to keep both their eyes open when shooting. There was no tunnel vision, and so the soldiers could easily find the target and take it down. This product allowed the soldiers to maintain their awareness.
Bushnell entered the scene to make a product called Holosight. This product utilized inexpensive AAA batteries as opposed to the more expensive lithium batteries used nowadays. Holosight came out in the 1990s and started appearing in the majority of weapons because of eye relief and better target acquisition.
Bushnell sold the rights to EOTech in 1998. It was EOTech that enhanced the overall design and included a strong aluminum body taking into account the rigors associated with outdoor activities.
EOTech also incorporated a swift release mount. In actual sense, this mount is compatible with the rail system of most guns. In that regard, EOTech has set the standards in holographic sight manufacture.
How Holographic Sight Works
What to Look for While Buying Holographic Sight
The Reticle
Reticles help you aim. They are a small projection or engraving on your field of view to help you hit the target. They can be in the frame of crosshairs, simple dot or circle to help you aim.
When shopping for a holographic sight, it is best to make sure that the reticles are working as they should. In some cases, you may not have all the necessary information to determine if the reticles are okay. If that is the situation, you can always ask for assistance from the vendor. They will check it for you and make sure it is working as it should.
Parallax and Eye Relief
The best thing about holographic sights is that they have in most cases eliminated parallax. However, it is always good to check. You never know, the device may be faulty.
Furthermore, holographic sights have infinite eye relief. That means your eye can be at any distance and still aim with both eyes open. Make sure that eye relief is also working correctly to avoid the unnecessary hustle of running up and down.
The Adjustment
The optics that you mount on your weapon usually come with various knobs and buttons for adjustments. On acquiring the holographic sight, you should zero it.
In other words, you should set the sight in such a way that the bullet will hit where the reticle is sitting. The main adjustments are for elevation and windage. When making the changes, you should do it in clicks. In technical terms, the little the clicks the better it is.
So, when shopping, make sure that all these controls are working correctly to avoid unnecessary headaches.
Purpose and Durability
When shopping for a holographic sight, it is best to choose the one that has the perfect design for your purpose. For example, you cannot go picking military holo sights and expect to have the best shooting experience. Select those that are hardest to break and aid the shooter make the most accurate shots.
Being out in the field means that you need the sights that are corrosion resistant. The product needs to be able to overcome rapid wear and tear received while out in the open weather.
All Weather Scopes
Before making the decision to purchase, you should test the scope to see which works the best for you. Make sure that it produces the best image whether it is raining or not. A snowy evening should not stand in your way of enjoying your hunting expedition. Additionally, go for the scopes that are weatherproof among other qualities.
Clear Vision Scopes
The best holographic sights come with better scopes that eliminate any blind spots. The scopes should not have any hindrance and should be able to see everything that surrounds you.
Awareness is critical especially for hunters as it will help you quickly acquire the target and make the shot. Tunnel vision can make acquiring a target an uphill task. Therefore, go for the best vision scopes to make your hunting enjoyable.
Battery life
Battery life is one important quality that you need to look at when purchasing a holographic sight. A holographic sight that goes off when you are in the middle of your hunting will not do you any good. It is, therefore, best to select the sights that use easily available and cheap batteries.
For example, using holographic sights that make use of AA batteries would allow you to carry extra batteries in your bag when going on your hunting trip.
Weatherproof and Shockproof
Some additional qualities such as shockproof and weatherproof extend the life of holographic sight substantially. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that you require keeping mishandling it.>
Additional Features
There are other features such as a microprocessor that can enhance your hunting experience. For example, programming your reticle to auto shutdown or minimizing the light is mouthwatering.
It is also good that the holographic sights have a battery indicator to keep you abreast with the amount of juice that you have and be prepared for any eventuality. Without a doubt, these additional features will ensure you enjoy your hunting experience to the maximum.
After Sunset Hunting
For those that hunting after sunset is their thing, then investing in holographic sights with the night vision is the most appropriate thing to do.
If you chose this type of sight, then make sure that the mode is working perfectly with the intensifier tube. Mostly, the best night vision mode should allow you to modify the reticle light. Furthermore, it should be easy for you to get rid of the halo effect and help you achieve effective aiming even when the lighting conditions are quite poor.
Price
Another critical consideration is the price. Holographic sights are generally not that expensive.
However, don’t go for the cheapest in the market. The maxim, “cheap is expensive” should hold true for you. In other words, rushing for the cheapest may make you end up with a holographic sight that will easily break under pressure.
Furthermore, the very cheap tool will be lacking in most of the features discussed above. A little research in addition to paying attention to the price tag goes a long way. Don’t end up with a tool that you will stop setting aside just because you opted to choose the cheapest.
Regardless, that does not also mean that you should go for the most expensive to benefit from all the stated features. Expensive does not always translate to quality. When doing your shopping, it will pay to balance between the price and the features that come with the holographic sight.
FAQ
Conclusion
Every shooter has the qualities they would want on their rifle at the back of their head. In the context of holographic sights, versatility, brightness, fast target acquisition and reliability among others are some of the elements you should be looking for.
Fortunately for you, you can get them in a compact Bushnell TRS-25. However, that does not mean you cannot pick more expensive products with a little bit of more qualities. For example, Trijicon RMR will offer you more. The only drawback is that you will have to fork out a substantial sum to acquire it.
Let your needs and purpose guide you to pick the right best holographic sight for you.
