For years, Holosun has been a major player in the optics market, especially for those looking for quality that doesn’t break the bank. Recently, Holosun decided to streamline its lineup, replacing the popular 403/503 series with the new ARO, which stands for Advanced Rifle Optic. The question is, does it live up to the legacy of its predecessors and continue to set the standard for budget-friendly red dots?
Holosun ARO Specs:
- Reticle: 2 MOA Red Dot / MRS (2 MOA dot with 65 MOA circle)
- Lens Size: 22mm
- Magnification: 1x
- Battery Life: Up to 50,000 hours (CR2032)
- Illumination: 10 daylight + 2 NV settings
- Brightness Control: Manual buttons + Shake Awake
- Housing: 6061 Aluminum
- Weight: 3.3 oz (optic only), 5.5 oz with lower 1/3rd mount
- Mount Type: Picatinny (low and lower 1/3 included)
- Waterproof: IP67
First Impressions
The ARO rifle sight keeps the same T2 footprint, so all your existing mounts will work. But that’s where the similarities end. The dial-style brightness control that doubled as the battery compartment is gone – instead, you get two buttons on top for brightness adjustment and a bottom-loading battery tray.
I know, I know – many people hate those Holosun battery trays. They’re a pain to access and the screws are tiny. Holosun knows this too, which is why they include a spare tray in the box. Still, it’s not ideal compared to the old system. Personally, I prefer the tactile feel of a dial, especially with gloves on, but the buttons do make for a cleaner, slimmer profile with fewer protrusions that can snag on gear.
The biggest upgrade is the stock mount. It’s a sturdier, pillar-style design with a thick clamp bolt that takes up most of the rail slot and large recoil lugs that fit a Picatinny slot snugly, giving me a lot more confidence that it will hold zero, even with rough use. The old 403 mount felt cheap, but this new one is solid enough that I don’t see a need to replace it unless you absolutely need a QD system.
You get two mounts in the box: a 1.63″ (a lower 1/3 co-witness) for standard AR setups and a 1.05″ low mount for shotguns or other applications.
HOLOSUN ARO 2 MOA and HM3X Magnifier Combo
$276.99
Price accurate at time of writing
Specs:
- Reticle: 2 MOA Red Dot
- Brightness Settings: 12 (10 Daylight + 2 NV)
- Power Source: CR2032 Battery
- Battery Life: Up to 50,000 hrs
- Housing Material: 6061 Aluminum
- Weight: 3.3 oz (optic only)
- Mounting: Aimpoint Micro Mount Interface
- Included 1.63" lower 1/3 co-witness mount
- Features: Shake Awake
- Waterproof Rating: IP67
- Multiple layers of antireflective coating on all optics ensure bright and clear views through the sight window
Performance
I mounted the ARO on my AR-15 and headed to the range. Zeroing was straightforward. The windage and elevation turrets are flush but can be easily adjusted with a coin or casing rim. The clicks are tactile and audible.
The glass clarity is a noticeable improvement over the 403 series. The old models had a slight blue tint, which wasn’t a huge deal but was more apparent when using a magnifier. The ARO’s glass is clearer, with only a very faint tint that’s hard to notice during regular shooting. I paired it with the Holosun magnifier, and the 2 MOA dot remained crisp and clear without any smearing or distortion.
The dot itself is bright enough at its highest settings but I still felt like I could always use an extra level or two of brightness for extreme conditions. With sunglasses on, however, I easily picked it up against a sand berm.
The ARO also has two NV compatible settings. While budget optics used to struggle with NV performance, the ARO holds its own. For most scenarios, it performs just as well as optics costing much more.
The shake-awake feature works as advertised – the optic powers down after 10 minutes of no movement and instantly comes back to life when you pick up the gun.
The optic took the hits without any issue, and the mount held solid. The impacts were on non-critical parts of the housing, which highlights the benefit of its sleeker, less protrusive design compared to the old 403, which would often land on its turret or battery housing.
With the HM3X Magnifier
The ARO really shines when paired with the HM3X magnifier. The HM3X is a solid magnifier for $200. The glass is impressively clear, offering a sharp image with very little distortion. I compared it to a Juliet 3 Micro and the image through the Holosun felt brighter.
The mount is a simple flip-to-side design with a quick-detach system. It’s robust and locks up solidly in both positions. The windage and elevation adjustments for centering the dot in the magnifier are very tight.
What’s also great about the HM3X is comfortable eye relief of 2.75″. However, there’s a slight issue. The mount has two recoil lugs, which is good for stability, but it can limit how far back you can mount it on your top rail. This might force you to lean in more than you’d like to get a full sight picture. Some people have solved this by simply removing the rear recoil lug.
Holosun ARO vs. ARO EVO
It’s worth noting that Holosun also released the ARO-EVO alongside the base ARO. The “EVO” is the more feature-rich version. The main differences are:
- Window Size: The ARO has a 22mm tube, while the EVO has a larger 26mm tube.
- Reticle Options: The ARO comes with either a 2 MOA dot or the MRS (Multi-Reticle System), which is a 2 MOA dot inside a 65 MOA circle. The EVO offers a 2 MOA dot or a new SPR (Special Purpose Reticle) with BDC markings.
- Solar Failsafe: The EVO has a solar panel, which the standard ARO lacks. This gives it the Solar Failsafe feature and auto-brightness modes.
- Housing: The EVO uses a more durable 7075 T6 aluminum compared to the ARO’s 6061 aluminum.
Final Thoughts
So, is the Holosun ARO worth it? Absolutely. Compared to its predecessor, the 403, the ARO offers a much better stock mount and a sleeker design. Against something like the Aimpoint T2, the T2 is obviously tougher and battle-proven, but it’s also four or five times the price. For home defense, range use, or even duty use, the Holosun ARO offers performance that’s hard to beat for the money.
Pros
- A great budget red dot with all the basic features and good glass quality.
- Has Shake Awake and includes both a low mount and a 1.63″ mount in the box.
- The new SPR bullet-drop compensating circle-dot reticle on the ARO EVO is a valuable upgrade, especially for AR platforms.
- The ARO uses larger T10 screws for the battery tray, addressing a common issue where screws on previous Holosun models would strip or shear off.
- Slimmer housing, a slightly larger window, and comes in red, green, and gold dot options. It is also compatible with T2-style aftermarket mounts.
Cons
- Some users prefer the side-mounted battery and rotary dial of older models.
- The ARO’s body is slightly taller, which could affect co-witnessing and alignment with magnifiers on certain height mounts.
