Would you buy a red dot that is powered by nothing more than a solar panel? No user-replaceable battery, just an internal battery powered by nothing more than a solar panel? It seems like an odd ask, but Holosun thinks you’ll buy it so much that they produced the SCRS RD, a red dot powered purely by the power of the sun!
I was skeptical, so I had to give one a try. I did more than that; I tortured the absolute hell out of the SCRS RD. I could do the lame thing and make you wait until the end, but I’ll be nice. It works, it works well, it doesn’t break, and there are a few applications where it can exceed. Ultimately, it’s not as useful as their SCS model for handguns, but it has its place.
Dissecting the Holosun SCRS RD
The Holosun SCRS RD is a miniature rifle optic with an old-school tube format. It’s just way smaller than any other tube-style optic. Even compared to optics like the Aimpoint Micro series, the SCRS is smaller and lighter. The SCRS weighs 2.45 ounces and is only 1.7 inches long. Let me also stress that this is a rifle optic.
I mention that because the SCRS uses the 509T footprint. It will fit on a handgun, but the manual clearly states that you shouldn’t do that. The SCRS isn’t rated for the reciprocating effect of the slide moving back and forth. The 509T footprint does open you up for a few different mountings, and the optic comes with a lower 1/3rd mount. That mount has a nice big nut that makes it secure to your platform.
Holosun makes the SCRS in multiple varieties. There is a multi-reticle system option as well as the standard 2 MOA dot design. I have the 2 MOA dot for review. The reticle has twelve brightness settings and the option for an automatic mode if you don’t want to control the brightness level. I prefer a manual mode.
Up top is the solar panel that charges the optic and keeps it running. The battery reportedly lasts 50,000 hours from full. What setting that is isn’t apparent, but even if it’s half that at a usable setting, it’s plenty for most shooters.
Going Bang with the SCRS
The Holosun SCRS zeroed without a problem. The 1 MOA adjustments are broad and easy to use. The turrets provide excellent feedback and offer both audible and tactile feedback. I zeroed it on my Bear Creek Armory BC-9 and lit it up while testing the little PDW.
The BC-9 is a really big handgun. I think the preferred term is large-format pistol. That describes the BC-9 well. Since it’s stockless, the recoil means the gun is moving up and down and backward. As such, you could watch the dot and tell it doesn’t lag or have emitter issues. The refresh rate is tight. You can swing the gun left and right; the dot doesn’t lag behind.
The dot itself is quite crisp and round. It’s almost a perfect 2 MOA with a little bloom to it. There is nothing noticeable or detracting from the SCRS and its overall potential. The dot’s crisp enough to blend in with a magnifier and not be a hassle.
The optic has a slight blue notch filter, but it’s not bad by any means. It’s lighter than I typically see with Holosun optics. They might be lightening up a bit on their darker-than-average notch filter. The view through the optic is nice and clear, and the dot looks fantastic.
Beyond Shooting
I had heard somewhere that solar panels can be a weak point. Notably, when broken, they allow water to enter the optic. With that in mind and a keen eye to torturing the optic, I beat the hell out of the SCRS. I dropped it, I hammered things against it, soaked it with water, and even heated it up.
I thoroughly broke the glass cover on the solar panel. I dropped it against concrete, I used a Colt SMG magazine as a hammer to the glass, and then dropped it into a Tupperware container full of water and went to bed. The next morning, there was absolutely zero water ingress. I sprayed it with a hose for a more pressurized effect, but nothing happened.
The optic took plenty of abuse, but it still works just as well as it did on day one. Even with the broken solar panel, the automatic mode works without a problem. The SCRS can take some abuse and keep on ticking.
Where the SCRS Fits
Ultimately, I don’t like the solar panel-only power system for defensive or duty use. I wouldn’t want to grab it out of the corner to find that I didn’t charge the dot. I’d much rather replace the battery once a year than forget to put my optic in the sunshine. Where the SCRS will fit is in roles like competition.
It would be a stellar PCC or Steel Challenge optic. It would be great for plinking or even hunting. You’ll be outside and in the sun, so the battery is never an issue. The SCRS fits perfectly in those roles, and with its low price point, it’s easy to see its place in some of the less serious firearm roles.
The SCRS is a solid little optic, and it’s impressively small, while remaining durable and affordable. Heck, it might encourage you to go outside and touch grass.
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