Holosun is one of the top mid-price optic companies in the world. They offer quality red dots, reflex sights, laser illuminators, weapon lights, and magnifiers. And you don’t have to go on a Ramen noodle and tap water diet to afford them. I recently picked up an HS407K X2 reflex sight for my Taurus Defender 605 TORO revolver. I’ve been running it on that gun and my Sig Sauer P365XL for the last couple of months. This is my first Holosun reflex sight, so I was curious to see how it would perform. We’ll get to that, but let’s start with the specifications.
Holosun HS407K X2 Specifications
- Reticle: 6 MOA Red or Green Dot
- Parallax Free
- Unlimited Eye Relief
- Magnification: 1x
- Multi-Coated Lens
- Battery: 1 CR1632 (Included)
- Battery Life: Up to 50,000 Hours
- Brightness Settings: 10 Daylight and 2 Night Vision
- Dimensions: 1.6 x 0.98 x 0.95 Inches
- Window Dimensions: 0.58 x 0.77 Inches
- Weight: 1 Ounce
- Housing: Anodized 7075 T6 Aluminum
- Direct Mount for Sig Sauer P365X and P365XL Pistols
- Directly Compatible with Taurus Defender 605 and 856 TORO Revolvers
- Available Glock MOS and Trijicon RMR Adapter Plates
- Available Plates for Numerous Pistols
Features
The Holosun HS407K X2, which I will call the “407K” from here on out, is an open-emitter reflex sight specifically designed for subcompact pistols. The low, slim profile is perfect for small carry guns, and the 1-ounce weight isn’t noticeable.
The 407K has Holosun’s “Shake-Awake,” a feature I love. Other companies’ optics have similar capabilities, but I like the 407 K’s Shake Awake better than the other brands I run. Some of them stay on for hours before powering down. The 407 K’s default shutdown time is 10 minutes, though you can adjust it to as long as 12 hours. I keep my 407K set for 10 minutes. I see no reason not to since the Shake Awake function has worked every single time.
My optic is the “X2” version, which improves on the original 407K by including Holosun’s Lock Mode. Lock Mode is user-enabled and locks the setting buttons, so the brightness level is never changed inadvertently.
I also like the side-mounted battery tray. Few things irritate me more than having to remove an optic to swap the battery. Optic companies are admittedly changing that situation, and the side trays are my favorite approach to battery access. Holosun includes a multitool for installation and adjustment. The same tool opens the battery tray. But a small screwdriver will also do the job.
The reticle offers plenty of brightness options, with 10 daylight and 2 night vision-compatible settings. The glass is remarkably clear for an inexpensive optic, though the emitter is open to the elements. I ran it in the rain once but had no issues that time. Open-emitter optics are more susceptible to water or debris blocking the emitter or blurring the reticle. But a concealed carry optic will presumably be mostly protected from rain, though you should regularly clean off the dirt and lint. If your carry guns are like mine, they get filthy from that stuff. I’ve found that canned air does a pretty good job blowing it out of the emitter.
Running the Holosun 407K
The Holosun 407K is designed for subcompact pistols. So, it’s obviously smaller than some other optics. Some may disagree, thanks to the smaller window, but I see that compactness as a positive. I tested a Sig RomeoZero on my P365XL, and it was bigger than I wanted. The 407K is shorter and slimmer, and I think it’s the perfect size for my Sig. Sure, the window is smaller, but I had no problems picking up the dot, either with the Sig or the Taurus revolver.
The size just works on the Taurus. An optic-equipped revolver is weird, no doubt, but it’s grown on me. FYI, the Taurus Defender 605 and 856 TORO (Taurus Optic Ready Option) revolvers come standard with the Holosun K footprint. The 407K will reside permanently on the Taurus now that this review is written. But I’m seriously considering buying another for my P365XL.
The 407K is pre-zeroed for 25 yards, requiring only minor adjustments by the end user. I soon dialed it in on the Taurus. The optic held zero, and the mounts remained solid through 450 rounds, 150 of which were .357 Magnum loads. I obviously had to re-zero for the P365XL, but the 407K was once again 100 percent reliable through 200 rounds of 124-grain 9mm.
Again, the dot was easily acquired, even though I’m a latecomer to pistol-mounted optics, and my technique isn’t what it will eventually be. Front sight co-witnessing is all but impossible on the revolver since the optic sits so high. The front sight post would have to be ridiculously tall. But I like the 407 K’s rear notch that allows me to use my Sig’s irons if necessary. That was made even easier by the aftermarket Meprolight XT-Bullseye front sight. But it will work fine with stock sights, too.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, I like the 407K better than I thought I would. I got it specifically for the Taurus since that’s the compatible footprint. I fully expected to return the revolver to iron sights once I reviewed it. But I liked the Holosun immediately. I loved its compact light weight, and it was clearly well-made. I love the adjustable Shake Awake feature. And after running it, I love it on the revolver.
Switching over to my P365XL didn’t change my mind. I’m still on the fence about pistol-mounted optics, but I think my aging eyes are making that decision for me. I don’t shoot irons as well as I used to, though I’m confident in my Meprolight sight in a fluid encounter. But I can see another 407K on my Sig before too much longer. I like the single dot reticle for the small window. I’ve run bullseye reticles with larger-windowed optics, and I like those, too. But I think I prefer the dot with this one.
And the value is there. The 407K is priced very competitively, and you get a lot for your money. It’s not a budget optic but rather a quality optic at an attractive price. Holosun’s reputation has grown over the years, and they’ve moved way beyond the “budget” tag. If that sounds like something that interests you, you’re in luck. GunMag Warehouse has Holosun 407K red and green dots in stock right now. Check ’em out.
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