The Holosun EPS is the full-size enclosed pistol sight. The EPS Carry is the narrow version for slim slides. The EPS CORE is the value model that mounts directly to a Shield RMSc cut. All three are sealed, run on a CR1620 rated at 50,000 hours at setting 6, and offer a circle-dot reticle. They differ in width, window, footprint and housing alloy.
In short: the EPS suits double-stack slides, the EPS Carry suits genuinely narrow ones, and the EPS CORE suits RMSc-cut slides where you want an enclosed sight without an adapter plate and can live with a wider body.
Key takeaways
- The EPS and EPS Carry both use Holosun's K footprint. The EPS comes with an RMR-to-K plate and the EPS Carry with an RMSc-to-K plate.
- The EPS CORE mounts directly to the Shield RMSc footprint and needs no plate.
- The EPS Carry is the narrowest at 1.07 in (27 mm). The EPS CORE is 1.18 in (30 mm), almost as wide as the full-size EPS at 1.19 in.
- The EPS and EPS CORE share a 0.90 × 0.63 in window. The EPS Carry's is 0.77 × 0.58 in.
- The EPS CORE's multi-reticle option uses a 3 MOA dot inside the 32 MOA circle, where the others use 2 MOA, and its housing is 6061 aluminium rather than 7075-T6.
The three lines side by side
| EPS | EPS Carry | EPS CORE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Footprint | Holosun K (RMR-to-K plate included) | Holosun K (RMSc-to-K plate included) | Shield RMSc, direct mount |
| Body (L × W × H) | 1.63 × 1.19 × 0.99 in (41 × 30 × 25 mm) | 1.63 × 1.07 × 0.95 in (41 × 27 × 24 mm) | 1.61 × 1.18 × 0.97 in (41 × 30 × 25 mm) |
| Window | 0.90 × 0.63 in (23 × 16 mm) | 0.77 × 0.58 in (20 × 15 mm) | 0.90 × 0.63 in (23 × 16 mm) |
| Weight | 1.4 oz (40 g) | 1.23 oz (35 g) | 1.4 oz (40 g) |
| Housing | 7075-T6 aluminium | 7075-T6 aluminium | 6061 aluminium |
| Reticles we stock | 2 MOA, 6 MOA, or 2 MOA dot + 32 MOA circle | 2 MOA, 6 MOA, or 2 MOA dot + 32 MOA circle | 3 MOA, or 3 MOA dot + 32 MOA circle |
| Colours | Red, green, gold | Red, green, gold | Red, green, gold |
| Battery | CR1620, side tray, 50,000 h at setting 6 | CR1620, side tray, 50,000 h at setting 6 | CR1620, side tray, 50,000 h at setting 6 |
| Waterproofing | IPX8 | IPX8 | IPX8 |
All figures come from Holosun's product pages, with metric conversions rounded by us. Holosun lists Shake Awake motion activation on all three.
EPS: the full-size option
The Holosun EPS has the larger 0.90 × 0.63 in window, about the same as an open 507C (0.91 × 0.63 in), but in a sealed body. It weighs 1.4 oz, slightly less than the 507C X2's 1.5 oz on Holosun's figures. So on a full-size slide, going enclosed costs you almost nothing in weight.
It uses Holosun's K footprint and comes with an RMR-to-K plate, so it goes onto RMR-pattern cuts and plates, including the RMR plates used on many full-size optics-ready pistols. If your pistol is a G17 or G19-sized gun on an RMR plate, this is the one.
EPS Carry: for slim slides
The Holosun EPS Carry trims the body to 1.07 in wide so it doesn't overhang a narrow single-stack slide. The window shrinks to 0.77 × 0.58 in to match, the same as the open 507K. It mounts to the K footprint directly and comes with an RMSc-to-K plate for RMSc-cut slides, including many airsoft replicas cut to that pattern.
The RONIN EPS Carry was developed with Ronin Tactics. Holosun publishes the same footprint, weight, window and battery figures for it as for the standard EPS Carry.
EPS CORE: the value option
The Holosun EPS CORE is the one most often misunderstood. It mounts directly to the Shield RMSc footprint with no plate, which makes it look like a cheaper EPS Carry. On Holosun's own dimensions, though, it is 1.18 in wide with the larger 0.90 × 0.63 in window, which makes it much closer to a full-size EPS in size.
The savings come from a 6061 aluminium housing in place of 7075-T6. The dot is also 3 MOA, both as a single dot and inside the 32 MOA circle. For an RMSc-cut slide with enough width, that's a sensible trade. On a very narrow slide, the EPS Carry with its plate will sit neater.
Expert tip
Measure your slide's width at the optic cut before choosing between the EPS Carry and EPS CORE. If the slide is under about 27 mm, the CORE will overhang noticeably on each side. The Carry's plate is a small price for a flush fit.
Red, green or gold?
All three lines come in red, green and gold. Holosun quotes the same 50,000-hour rating for the red and green EPS Carry, so battery life isn't really a reason to choose one colour over another. Pick the one your eye finds crispest. Many people prefer green or gold in bright daylight, and some astigmatic shooters find one colour cleaner than the others. See green vs red dot sights and the astigmatism guide.
Which one should you buy?
- Double-stack or full-size slide on an RMR plate: EPS, with MRS if you want the circle.
- Narrow single-stack or micro-compact slide: EPS Carry, or the RONIN EPS Carry.
- RMSc-cut slide, want no plate, width not critical: EPS CORE.
Check your slide cut against our footprint compatibility chart. For the wider slim-slide field, including the open 507K and SIG ROMEO-X Compact, see the compact pistol red dot guide.
UK note
In England, Wales and Scotland most handguns are prohibited under section 5(1)(aba) of the Firearms Act 1968, which covers any firearm with a barrel under 30 cm or an overall length under 60 cm. In Britain, EPS-class sights are mainly bought for airsoft replicas, long-barrelled pistols and pistol-calibre gallery rifles, and by holders of Section 5 authority. Northern Ireland has its own law, the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004, without an equivalent general ban on short firearms. Confirm your own position with your firearms licensing department.
Frequently asked questions
Is the EPS CORE the same size as the EPS Carry?
No. Holosun lists the EPS CORE at 1.18 in wide with a 0.90 × 0.63 in window, against 1.07 in and 0.77 × 0.58 in for the EPS Carry. It mounts to RMSc without a plate but is closer to the full-size EPS in size.
Will the EPS Carry fit an RMSc-cut slide?
Yes, using the RMSc-to-K adapter plate Holosun includes in the box. On a K-cut slide it mounts directly.
What battery do the EPS sights use?
All three use a CR1620, loaded from a side tray so the optic stays on the slide. Holosun rates each at 50,000 hours at setting 6.
Can I put a full-size EPS on a Glock MOS?
The EPS comes with an RMR-to-K plate, so it will go on an RMR-pattern MOS plate or cut. Check the plate in your kit is the RMR pattern before ordering.
Shop this guide
- Holosun EPS Carry MRS — the narrow sealed sight for slim slides
- Holosun EPS MRS — full-size window, RMR-to-K plate included
- Enclosed Red Dot Sights — every sealed optic we stock
- Holosun Pistol Red Dot Sights — the full Holosun pistol range
