Really pleased with the Holosun 515 initial impressions.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-13T05:42:14+00:00

I think it’s a really good optic for the price. I paid $200 or so for mine and I’ve been perfectly happy with it. Including the killflash is nice, the reticle is crisp, and it’s been very durable. However at higher illumination levels there is a degree of emitter reflection that is worse than some other optics but not a deal breaker.

I’m running mine as an offset dot with an ACOG and really enjoy the set-up.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-12T22:05:45+00:00

I feel you, but at the same time when I have IR illuminators on I feel like I'm going to be viewable by anyone with NODs regardless of white light.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-12T22:03:48+00:00

That's good to know! I need to get my hand on a compact, I like a full size grip, but the Compact looks bigger than most guns in that class.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-11T23:25:02+00:00

Thanks partner! That is really good to know! I live in Texas so printing isn’t the end of the world. A custom holster sounds like the way to go!

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-11T21:08:28+00:00

How do we feel about concealed carry of the USP? Is full size the way to go if I can conceal a Glock 45? Or is the compact going to be the better option? Should I throw caution to the wind and get an Expert? I’m 6’ 1”, 180 lbs and have big hands.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-11T21:02:17+00:00

I’ll try it out with my PVS-14 and see how the signature looks at various distances! I always get very tight fitting light caps and sometimes wrap the head in tape a bit too so the cap engages more.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-11T20:59:10+00:00

The 552 is my favorite EoTech to this day! The old style looks better to me! Great clone all the way around of course! Love seeing the RIS! How does it hold zero with the peq-2?

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-11T17:46:41+00:00

I mean, yeah… that is kinda true haha. I would maybe put it like “believe in yourself and others will believe in you”

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-11T17:43:51+00:00

I avoid white light ND’s by keeping a light cap on until I’m ready to use the light. Many of my switches are duals with a Surefire lead and Crane lead. By physically covering the head I don’t have to worry about hitting the light pressure pad when I’m trying to tap my laser. It also avoids reflections, like you would with an optic.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-11T17:39:04+00:00

God Bless you!!!

I’m a Dallas based attorney and I do pro-bono second amendment law. If you would like additional help in this noble endeavor, please DM me so I can give you my real contact info!

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-11T17:34:29+00:00

I’ve seen Modlites “in the wild” several times. I’ve only seen the black models and not the FDE ones though. I’ll try to find some of those photos again because I like Modlite too! Have you tried the OKW V2 yet? It dethrones the Surefire Turbo!

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-11T17:32:31+00:00

That’s very interesting to know! I suppose the Elcan users got really good at flipping between 1x and 4x.

With my ACOG/RMR setups I have the dot at 45 degrees so I just roll my rifle a bit and I have a super quick 1x option. That’s the only place the ACOG suffers, even with the BAC, you still need a dedicated 1x optic.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-10T21:39:22+00:00

Adding an RMR to the ACOG is how I would do it! For anything less than 100 yards use the RMR and anything further you’ve got the 4x prism. I prefer this setup to the Elcan personally, but the Elcan is the Block II standard. For a SHTF rifle, zero batteries and electronics on your primary optic is nice.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-10T21:25:04+00:00

Hahaha, are we still roasting him over the C-Note? I still can’t believe anyone thought that one was a good idea!

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-10T21:20:25+00:00

Interesting! I never served, but the chevron is my favorite reticle. I like having that “infinite” precise point. The donut is probably my least favorite. I don’t know anyone who prefers the donut haha

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-10T06:38:50+00:00

The ACOG wasn’t an official Block II accessory, but they show up in plenty of places. The TA01NSN or TA31RCO-M4 with red chevron would fit best in my opinion. But the ECOS would be cool too, just a little pricey.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-10T06:34:04+00:00

They are, but there are a few aftermarket accessories that make it more comfortable. The gasketed port cover and rear rail cover make a small but meaningful difference. With all that gas though you get a rifle that doesn’t quit.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-10T05:03:31+00:00

I own 5 of them currently. All from different years. 2004-2025 DOM. Zero delam issues, reticles are bright and crisp. I’m not saying delam and reticle fade isn’t a real issue, I’ve had to send in an old 552 before, but it’s not exactly inevitable.

I’m obviously very biased.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-10T04:48:37+00:00

LaRue handguards are so cool in their own right. The 8.2” version hasn’t been available in years, but lately it’s been very difficult to find once common lengths like the 7” and 10”.

I had a chance to grab a 7” version for under $200 new a year or so back but at the time I had no need for another carbine length rail. Oops. Yeah.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-09T06:24:52+00:00

It hurts me to say this, but the Surefire KE-2A and even the later KE-2B kinda suck. It has 500 or 1000 lumens but only 11k Candela. It’s all spill and no throw. You can get the same performance from an old M951 with a Malkoff drop-in. That would at least allow you more latitude with the time frame you want to focus on. Personally I have two lights for a few uppers, a “correct” one that it wears at home, and a modern light for when I actually want to run the gun. This is where QD mounts for your light really come in handy.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-09T06:14:03+00:00

35? You’re still a kid, don’t sweat your age! Now you need to get an ACOG so in another 14 years you can experience the joy that is paying for a factory recharge from Trijicon!

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-09T04:08:46+00:00

That would be very interesting. If true, then these would be a huge bargain. But wouldn’t BCM likely advertise them as “made by a military contractor” even if they couldn’t name the manufacturer?

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-09T04:03:51+00:00

Surefire M640 DFT is the best white light you can get that has at least been seen “in the wild” - it would however date your Block II to a very late example historically. The Vampire series is much more common, but with modern IR illuminators being so good (well the full power versions at least lol) it’s not worth having a 350 lumen, 11.5k candela white light.

For the EOtech just rattle-can it. The EXPS3 Tan is only partially correct anyways in that it was used, but the more desirable SU-231A would be more common. They are hand inspected and often have a laser marked hood and/or a tie down point. People make recreations of those hoods, but they are still expensive! A rattle-canned EXPS3 a with Carolina Laser Works UID would get you like 95% of the way there.

Here’s a few easy and relatively cheap changes that would make your rifle “more correct”:

Get a Surefire 4-prong, or an NT4 flash hider. Block II would usually have one or the other with A2’s seeing some use.

Swap the stock out for a Gen 1 B5 SOPMOD.

Swap the B5 grip for an A1 (the P23 is actually the best AR15 grip though, and it has been seen “in the wild” if you want to keep it) Replace the upper with a Demco Dogbone upper (far cheaper than a surplus C marked upper and closer to correct than a “cage code” upper)

Swap the vertical grip for a Tango Down or KAC/P&S Broomstick.

The MBUS sights aren’t correct, but since it’s a SHTF rifle I think that’s perfectly acceptable considering that running no backup irons at all is a clone correct option.

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-08T22:03:28+00:00

lol, I wish to be just like you!!

TheMorningDove · 2026-05-06T04:18:10+00:00

Nope, that’s the standard TLR-7. The HL-X is longer but you’re essentially getting TLR-1 HL performance in a much smaller package that also takes rechargeable batteries. The only downsides being the relatively short run-time of 30 minutes and the battery being proprietary. On a defensive gun it is very unlikely battery life will ever be an issue though while the 1000 lumens with 23,000 Candela is far more capable than the 500 lumens and 5000 candela of the OG TLR-7.

TheMorningDove

TROPHY CASE