Do purple dots want batteries? Properly, extra particularly, do they want exterior batteries? Do they want chargers? Holosun thinks they don’t. They’ve now produced two purple dots designed to work with nothing greater than solar energy. They began with the pistol-designed SCS however have just lately moved to an extended gun design often called the SCRS RD 2. Photo voltaic-powered stuff is nothing new for Holosun, however optics powered completely by photo voltaic vitality are. (Are these Inexperienced New Deal permitted?)
Reside Stock Worth Checker
In actual fact, it’s solely designed for lengthy weapons. Holosun comes proper out and says, ‘Hey, don’t put this optic on a handgun. It is going to break it.” Handgun optics endure extra G-Forces on a handgun slide than on another weapon, together with your 12 gauge shotgun. Optics for handguns should be as powerful as nails. Holosun makes positive to let you know that the optic will not be for handguns properly as a result of the optic makes use of the 509 T’s footprint. It might be very straightforward to mount the SCRS RD 2 on a pistol.
The SCRS RD 2 appears extra interesting than the lengthy gun and handgun-ready 509T as a result of it prices about half the value of the 509T and doesn’t require an exterior battery. This purple dot retails for round 230 {dollars} for the two MOA reticle, and the multi-reticle mannequin goes for about 270.
Holosun SCRS RD 2 – Dwelling the Photo voltaic Life
The SCRS RD 2 nonetheless has a battery. It’s simply contained in the optic and non-removable. That integral battery can maintain as much as 20,000 hours of energy! Crimson dots don’t want a lot energy to work, so photo voltaic can run one with out a lot of an issue. The additional battery ensures you should utilize the optic when the solar goes down or when indoors in a dimly lit atmosphere.
Proper off the bat, that is going to present folks the willies. Can we actually belief the battery to be charged once we want it? If somebody kicks down the door and I seize my rifle, is the SCRS RD 2 going to work after I really want it to? Will I put it within the solar lengthy sufficient to ensure it’s charged? How do I do know whether it is absolutely charged? Will the inner battery fail?
Yeah, I get it; it provides me the willies. There isn’t a strategy to know if the unit is absolutely charged or in a charged state. All batteries can fail, and this one isn’t user-replaceable. You’d should ship it to Holosun to get replaced or warrantied if it fails. In keeping with the guide, it takes 50 to 60 hours of direct daylight to cost.
After I begin wanting on the optic and the general design, I wouldn’t depend on the SCRS RD 2 for defensive use and couldn’t recommend you do the identical.
That doesn’t imply I couldn’t see a function for the SCRS RD 2. I like taking pictures varied competitions, together with Metal Problem, Motion Metal, and varied PCC competitions. The SCRS RD 2 matches that position completely effective. It’s effective for plinking, looking, and different duties the place your life isn’t on the road.
Specs and Options
The SCRS RD 2 matches the position of micro-sized optics. It’s tiny, mainly, pistol-sized. The optic comes with the 509T footprint and features a decrease 1/third mount. The mount comes with a stout cross bolt that’s good and huge for a strong lockup in your rifle.
Goal Lens Diameter – 20 mms
Reticle – 2 MOA Crimson Dot
Brightness Ranges – 12
Changes – 1 MOA
Weight – 2.45 ounces
Size – 1.85 inches
Width – 1.3 inches
The SCRS RD 2 options three adjustment modes. We have now an automated setting that makes use of the photo voltaic panel to detect the brightness and regulate it robotically. These by no means work that nicely, particularly in dynamic environments. It turns into a difficulty in case you’re in a dim space aiming right into a shiny space, and vice versa. Weapon lights are an issue, too. It’s effective, nevertheless it isn’t my most popular mode.
Our guide setting means that you can regulate the brightness through the aspect controls. It’s like each different purple dot. The SCRS RD 2 has buttons on the left aspect for fast and straightforward changes. The buttons are huge, straightforward to make use of, and supply respectable suggestions with each press.
Lastly, we’ve got the lockout mode. This locks you into one brightness stage of your alternative. It’s not my favourite mode, and I don’t actually know why it’s an choice. Possibly it’s for the NVG guys. It’s definitely not for me.
The SCRS RD 2 On The Vary
I all the time respect a light-weight, low-impact, low-profile optic. If I simply need a purple dot, one thing small is often my go-to. Why use a lot purple dot when little purple dot work? Admittedly, bigger fields of view are higher suited to new shooters and for odd, bizarre positions. The little SCRS RD 2 works nice on micro-sized weapons, particularly AR-type pistols, subguns, and different designs.
It additionally works effective with full-sized rifles and may very well be a good selection for shotguns in case you ditch the excessive mount for a decrease mount. I tossed it on a PCC and hit the vary. Zeroing proved to be straightforward and fast.
The clicks are 1 MOA, and that makes your changes broad, fast, and many exact at 25 to 100 yards—the vary I’d use a PCC at anyway. Every click on offers glorious suggestions, and you’ll really feel and listen to the actions.
The SCRS RD 2’s readability isn’t spectacular in comparison with higher-end optics, however for a sub-250-dollar optic, it’s clear sufficient. A slight blue tint is all the time current, nevertheless it’s not distracting or tough to deal with. It received’t make it powerful to see your goal in any gentle situations.
The dot additionally comes off fairly clear. It’s not Aimpoint excellent, nevertheless it’s removed from splintered or star-shaped. For the cash, it’s a formidable purple dot reticle. The brightness ranges differ from NVG-worthy to holy crap, that’s shiny as hell!
Throwing Lead
The dot holds zero with out criticism. I can spray spherical after spherical downrange as shortly as I can, and there received’t be any issues. The dot has a seemingly strong refresh price, and the dot tracks simply throughout recoil. On the sound of a BEEP, I might drive the gun to my shoulder and to my goal right away.
Driving the gun from goal to focus on doesn’t trigger the dot to lag or fail. It merely sweeps with the gun and maintains an easy-to-track standing. The SCRS RD 2 works fairly nicely and delivers the short, instinctive taking pictures functionality a purple dot is thought for.
I’ve used the optic within the rain, within the what, and within the chilly with out a downside. It’s banged round in my trunk at varied temperatures. I’ve even dropped the gun and optic from chest top, and it’s not misplaced zero. The SCRS RD 2 proved to be sturdy and able to sustaining a superb zero total.
Is it For You?
I can’t advise an optic designed to be powered solely by the solar for self-defense. It’s doubtless that it’ll work completely effective, however I’m not prepared to threat it. I’d somewhat simply swap batteries every year or so for my defensive use of weapons. Nevertheless, the SCRS RD 2 works very nicely, particularly for the low worth level. I believe there’s a great spot for the Holosun on plinkers, looking weapons, and competitors weapons, and it received’t break the financial institution.
About Travis Pike
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms fanatic, and now a daily man who likes to shoot, write, and discover methods to mix the 2. He holds an NRA certification as a Primary Pistol Teacher and is the world’s Okayest firearm’s teacher.
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