Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
New for 2024 from Holosun is the SCS Carry (Solar Charging Sight). It is a direct attachment optic for slim, carry-sized sub-compact handguns. It is designed to attach directly to HOLOSUN-K slide cuts or to RMSc cut slides with the included adapter plate. The SCS Carry uses their innovative solar charging system with multi-directional light sensors to automatically adjust brightness in dynamic lighting situations. The SCS can potentially operate indefinitely with its internal, rechargeable 20,000-hour battery.
Holosun SCS Carry Specifications:
- Reticle: 2 MOA Dot & 32 MOA Circle
- Power Source: Solar
- Battery Type: Internal Rechargeable Battery
- Battery Life: Unlimited
- Brightness Settings: Automatic or High
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Magnification: 1x
- Adjustment: 1.5 MOA (60 MOA Windage & Elevation)
- Footprint: RMSc
- Parallax: “Parallax Free”
- Size: 1.6×0.98×0.95″
- Window Size: 0.58×0.77″
- Weight (with battery): 1.05 oz
- Durability: IPX8 Waterproof rating
Out of the Box
The Holosun SCS Carry arrives with an RMSc plate, three sets of fasteners, a custom tool, a lens cloth, and an owner’s manual. Notably, no battery is included, given the non-replaceable internal rechargeable battery integrated into the red dot.
Housing
The Holosun SCS Carry is machined down from 7075 T6 aluminum and features an enclosed emitter. When it comes to red dots, the SCS Carry is built tough. It utilizes fairly thick sidewalls that avoid the feeling of tunnel vision. The front and back sealed glass windows protect the laser emitter for continued use in wet and dirty conditions. Rated IPX8, it surpasses the typical IPX7 rating, indicating resistance to continuous water immersion under specified conditions. Additionally, the 7075 prevents corrosion from saltwater, making it suitable for maritime environments.
This red dot is designed to attach directly to HOLOSUN-K slide cuts or to RMSc cut slides with the included adapter plate. This ensures compatibility with a wide array of mounts and slide cuts. For my review, I mounted the SCS Cary onto the 12 gauge Mossberg 940 JM Pro. This shotgun had a low optic cut, resulting in seamless functionality and the ability to use the front fiber optic sight still.
Multiple Reticle System
Holosun utilizes a Multi-reticle System (MRS) which allows you to determine the type of aiming point you want to use when you want to use it. With the SCS Carry model, you can choose between a basic 2 MOA dot, a 32 MOA circle, or a combination of both—a 32 MOA circle-dot. This variety ensures versatility for diverse shooting scenarios.
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It is worth noting that the different reticles pull different amounts of power affecting how often the SCS Carry needs to be charged. From what. I can gather from the owner’s manual, that using the circle-dot reticle pulls about 3 times more power than just the single 2 MOA dot.
Controls / Brightness
To toggle between these different reticles, or power the optic on, simply press and hold the single button on the left side of the housing. A long press cycles through power on -> dot-circle -> dot -> circle -> power off. While the brightness is automatically adjusted due to ambient lighting conditions, a short button press will override this and set the SCS Carry to the maximum brightness setting.
The automatic brightness adjustments are fast. Testing this I would cover the solar cell with my finger and then remove it and the dot adjusted seemingly instantaneously. Using the automatic setting in various lighting conditions worked well for me, and I never needed to use the brightness override. However, It doesn’t get quite as bright as a Trijicon RMR and I would have preferred a red dot as green blends in more with green backdrops.
Also, the SCS Carry’s lowest brightness is still brighter than most NV settings on other red dots. This doesn’t mean it isn’t useable, but rather it just blooms more and may not be the ideal option for those who will be shooting with night vision.
Solar Charging for the SCS Carry
The SCS Carry operates via an internally rechargeable battery that cannot be removed. Holosun explains that this built-in battery bolsters the system’s power when ambient lighting conditions are inadequate. While different reticles consume varying amounts of power, Holosun asserts that the single dot can operate for up to 200,000 hours indoors. However, when utilizing the maximum brightness override with the circle and dot reticle, the battery discharge time diminishes to 1,000 hours. Despite the decrease in runtime at higher brightness settings, integrating features like auto-shutoff and motion activation ensures remarkable longevity.
Holosun specifies that in the most extreme scenario, “12μA of power will be consumed when the circle-dot mode is used for 10 hours. However, the SCS Carry can charge 100μAh when in direct sunlight for 1 hour.” This translates to a maximum drainage of 1.2μA per hour and a charging rate nearly 100 times greater than consumption—a noteworthy feat. Combined with auto-off and shake-awake functionalities, the red dot should theoretically endure almost indefinitely. According to the owner’s manual, the circle-dot reticle draws 15μAh of power when used with the brightness override setting, which is more than ten times the consumption they stated in the quote above. Nonetheless, the overall runtime remains impressive in either scenario.
Turrets
For zero adjustments on this optic, Holosun utilizes an elevation turret situated on the top of the housing and a windage turret positioned on the right side. Adjusting the bullet’s point of impact is a matter of twisting these turrets accordingly. For instance, if the initial impact is high and to the right, adjustments are made by dialing down and to the left. Each click on the turrets corresponds to a 1.5 MOA movement in the bullet’s point of impact, meaning it takes 10 clicks at 10 yards to shift the point of impact by one 1.5 inches.
The adjustments offer audible and tactile feedback. While there is a slight “mush” sensation between clicks, both turrets securely lock into place. These low-profile turrets help prevent accidental adjustments and can be easily adjusted using a flathead tool. However, it would have been beneficial if Holosun had provided etchings on the turrets for visual tracking of adjustments, requiring users to manually count clicks when sighting in the SCS Carry.
Glass
Compared to other red dots available on the market, the clarity of the glass is quite clear. While many optics often display strong tints, the SCS Carry exhibits only a minimal purple hue. This remains consistent throughout the window. To illustrate its clarity in comparison to other optics, I have included an image below. Please note that any discrepancies in size among the optics in the image should be disregarded. The primary focus is on highlighting clarity.
Testing the SCS Carry
I wanted to thoroughly examine whether the Holosun SCS Carry lived up to its “parallax-free” claim. This is a crucial factor for a red dot’s functionality. Ideally, the reticle should remain fixed regardless of where it’s viewed within the window. While I found it tracked well horizontally, it didn’t fare as well vertically. To test this, I set up a tape measure at 10 yards. I then and observed the SCS Carry through the bottom versus the top of the window. There was a noticeable 1.75″ shift, translating to a vertical point of impact change. In terms of MOA, this represented a 17.5 MOA shift vertically and no shift horizontally. I’ve shared a video on my Instagram page to better illustrate as seen below:
This is problematic as it is difficult to only shoot with the reticle in the same spot every time. To mitigate this, I would sight in the SCS Carry with the dot in the middle of the window. Then there will only be an 8.75 MOA shift vertically in either direction. When it comes to pistol shooting a maximum of 1.75″ shift at 10 yards would hardly be noticeable to most people. Yet, it is something critical to note.
Another weird thing I noticed with the SCS carry is a strange double image. At first, I thought it was just astigmatism, and my eyes playing tricks on me. However, when I took pictures through the optic, my camera picked it up as well. I don’t have this issue with my Trijicon RMR, Vortex Defenders, or Eotech either. In person, it looks slightly more fuzzy than it should, but it is still totally useable.
Durability of the SCS Carry
Machined from 7075 T6 Aluminum, the SCS Carry looks and feels rugged. The glass is recessed back from the housing to shield it. This helps when getting bumped around or used to rack the slide on a pistol. Throughout my testing and firing hundreds of either 12 gauge birdshot or slugs while mounted to the Mossberg 940 JM Pro, this optic never worked loose and held up great.
The clarity of the glass improved the target focus. The window also provided a clear field of view avoiding the feeling of tunnel vision many enclosed emitter optics create. I encountered no difficulties achieving a rapid sight picture during draws and transitions. Additionally, the small 2-MOA dot provides a fine aiming point. I used it to shoot slugs out to 100 yards, as well as burn down steel up close. I also used it for shooting clay pigeons which was a first for me!
Summary
With an MSRP of $470 and a street price of around $400, Holosuns SCS Carry offers some unique features. This Solar Charging Sight offers unlimited runtime as long as it sees the sun occasionally. The size is perfect for concealed carrying, and utilizing the RMSc footprint allows the SCS Carry to be mounted to many current platforms. However, due to the parallax issue and fuzzy reticle, I think the sticker price seems steep. It’s built tough and held up well, but having a couple-inch parallax shift at 10 yards makes it a tough buy for me.
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