If you’re looking at Magnifiers for your AR or other Picatinny-mounted platform, then you probably came across the Holosun Magnifiers. These 3X magnifiers pack a lot of punch for an affordable price. What you may realize is that there are two versions: an aluminum and a titanium version. What you might not understand is what’s different and what’s the same on both of them. What often gets overlooked is that the differences between them matter more than they might first appear.
In this article, we are going to give you a side-by-side photo comparison and a write-up explaining the features and benefits of each and their differences.
- Holosun HM3X Aluminum 3X Magnifier: Holosun 3X Aluminum Magnifier HM3X - Buy the Holosun 3X Aluminum Magnifier HM3X At The Best Price
- Holosun HM3XT Titanium 3X Magnifier: Holosun Titanium 3X Magnifier HM3XT - Buy the Holosun 3X Titanium Magnifier HM3XT At The Best Price
What’s great about the Holosun Magnifiers vs other brands?
First, we’ll start with why we like Holosun Magnifiers compared to other options like Bushnell, Vortex, Burris, or even EOtech.
- First, they have Quick Disconnect mounts. To me, having a quick disconnect mount on a magnifier makes it that much more convenient. This means you don’t need to keep it on all the time. Doing something CQB? Take it off. Planning on doing something longer range? Pop it back on. Having a QD mount on a magnifier is an absolute must, and the Holosun Magnifiers have it.
- Second best thing about the Holosun 3X magnifiers is their flip-to-side design. It’s dead simple to engage and disengage: flip it to the side by pushing it, flip it to the other side by pushing it. There are no buttons to push to engage or disengage. It’s all tension (which is adjustable). To me, this is another CRITICAL feature for a magnifier. Who has time to fumble with buttons to press to engage or disengage? I don’t, and that’s why I love the simple “flip” to the side for both engagement and disengagement. It doesn’t get any simpler.
- Third is their price point. The titanium magnifier is a little pricier, but the aluminum version at $199.99 is a very affordable magnifier for what it offers.
- Fourth is their glass quality. The glass on the Holosun Magnifiers is crystal clear, which matters most when you’re running the magnifier at speed behind a red dot.
- Fifth is their build quality and limited lifetime warranty. Holosun has a great track record for optics, and they didn’t take any shortcuts on their Magnifiers. They are both built like tanks with strong aluminum or titanium housings, precision machining, solid lock-up systems, and flip-to-side mount.
What are the benefits of running a red dot + magnifier setup?
We like the magnifier + red dot combo for a few reasons
Versatility
Being able to take a magnifier off when it’s not needed and put it on when it is needed is flexibility we really like. Compare this to an LPVO (low powered variable optic) or dedicated prism scope, and you’re basically “stuck” with that setup. Taking a magnifier off when it is not needed, and putting it back on when it is, offers flexibility that a low-powered variable optic or a dedicated prism scope simply cannot match.
Durability
Second is durability. Red dots are very durable, and magnifiers are very durable. Together, we would argue, they are more durable than an LPVO setup. Compared to a prism setup, they are probably about equal, and this combination holds up better than most LPVO setups over the long haul.
Weight Savings
An LPVO with its mount typically lands in the 25oz to 30oz range. If you have a prism optic, you are again close to that same range unless you have a Primary Arms Micro Prism Scope, which is around 8oz, but then you are at a fixed magnification.
With a magnifier + red dot combo, you are sitting at about 15-16 oz for a variable-powered setup, which is the lightest variable-powered setup you can have. A red dot weighs about 5oz and the magnifier about 10oz. If you want to get more specific, pairing the HM3X (which is listed at 10.9oz) with a red dot like the Holosun HS510C brings your total system weight to somewhere in the neighborhood of 16-19 oz.
We’re giving a range here on purpose. Holosun’s own published spec sheet lists the HS510C at 4.94oz, but several independent reviewers who’ve actually put it on a scale have measured it closer to 7.5- 9.5 oz, so it’s worth budgeting toward the heavier end of that range rather than assuming the lightest number you see online.
So compared to all the other options, this gives you the lightest-weight, variable-powered optic setup. Combine that with the fact you can take the magnifier off when you really don’t need it, and it makes even more sense.
Pre-Built Combo Options
If you’d rather skip the guesswork of matching a magnifier to a red dot yourself, Holosun and Freedom Gorilla offer several pre-paired combo packs that take care of the pairing for you:
- The Holosun 403C + HM3X Combo pairs an enclosed, budget-friendly 403C red dot with the aluminum HM3X magnifier - one of the most affordable ways to get into a red dot + magnifier setup.
- The Holosun HE510C Green Dot + HM3X Combo offers the same aluminum magnifier alongside a green dot open reflex sight, while the Holosun HS510C Red Dot + HM3X Combo gives you the red dot version of that same pairing.
- For a build centered entirely on the titanium magnifier, the Holosun 512T & HM3XT Titanium Combo pairs the HM3XT with a matching titanium red dot for a full titanium optic system.
- Shooters running enclosed emitter red dots also have options like the Holosun ARO-EVO-SPR-RD & HM3X Combo and the Holosun ARO-RD2 & HM3X Combo, both of which include a hard case alongside the paired optics.
What are the similarities of the Holosun Titanium & Aluminum 3X Magnifiers?
Both magnifiers have many similarities… here are some of them.
Same Features
- Flip-to-side design
- Crystal clear glass
- QD Mount + Spacer for 1/3 co-witness (absolute co-witness is also achievable without the spacer)
- Adjustment tool built in
- Strong durable housings
- Great build quality
- Same 2.42” height
- Same 1.7” width
Same Tech Specs
- Waterproof: IP67 (1M water depth/30min)
- FOV: 37 ft at 100 yards
- Eye Relief: 2.75 inches (70mm)
- Exit Pupil: 2.99 inches (7.6mm)
- Magnification: 3X
- Vibration: 1000G
- Working Temp: -20℃~51℃
- Storage Temp: -20℃~65℃
- Transmittance: 75%
- Diopter: ±3D
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
What are the differences between the Holosun Titanium & Aluminum 3X Magnifiers?
The main differences you will find are the length, weight, material, and price.
Length
The HM3XT (Titanium) version is 3” long while the HM3X (Aluminum) version is 4” long. So with the titanium version, you save 1” of rail space - which matters most on shorter handguards or when running a suppressor.
Weight
The HM3XT (Titanium) version weighs 10.5 oz while the HM3X (Aluminum) version weighs 10.9 ozz. So the titanium version saves .4oz - a modest but real difference for anyone counting every ounce on a build.
Material/Durability
The HM3XT (Titanium) version is made out of titanium, while the HM3X (Aluminum) version is made out of durable aluminum. Both are tough and rugged. However, the titanium version is stronger, with a higher strength-to-weight ratio that makes it more resistant to denting and deformation over time. The titanium version also has a titanium mount; the whole unit is made of titanium, not just the magnifier itself.
Price
The HM3XT (Titanium) version comes in at $299.99 while the HM3X (Aluminum) version comes in at $199.99 - the higher cost reflects the added expense of titanium construction and the shorter, lighter footprint it delivers.
Which is best for you?
As you can see, there are quite a few similarities and differences between the titanium and aluminum Holosun magnifiers. The titanium one is more expensive, shorter, and the most durable. The aluminum one is still durable, more affordable, and has some extra length.
Both are great. They have crystal-clear glass, awesome quick-disconnect mounts, a great warranty, and great build quality.
For most range and home defense builds, the HM3X aluminum version covers the bases without asking you to pay a premium. For a suppressed rifle, a shorter handguard, or a build where every ounce and every inch of rail space counts, the HM3XT titanium version is worth the added cost. Neither option is a wrong choice, since both share the same glass quality, the same mount system, and the same 3X magnification that makes this pairing so popular in the first place.
Also, both magnifier pairs well with a magnifier mount and a compatible red dot to round out a complete close-to-medium-range optic system. For those weighing red dot options to pair with either magnifier, the Holosun rifle optics lineup covers a wide range of footprints and features to match the build.
You can’t go wrong with either. We just recommend choosing what you feel best suits your needs.
A Few Questions Worth Asking Before You Buy
Still on the fence? A few practical questions can help narrow it down:
- Does your handguard have enough rail space for the longer HM3X, or is every inch already spoken for by a light, offset mount, or other accessory?
- Is your rifle already near a weight limit that makes half an ounce meaningful, or is that difference unlikely to be noticed in practice?
- Will the rifle see hard use in wet or rough conditions where the added durability of titanium construction earns its keep?
If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to us on chat.
Thanks for reading!
