This in effect makes the optic itself more compact. YSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages. I also have astigmatism and am sick of guessing which part of the red dot fuzz ball is actually the center, plus I like the etched reticle so I am switching to 1x prisms. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Now if we could only get cheap imports of 5.45mm ammunition. I see an exaggerated comma, but it doesn't seem to affect anything. All work on firearms should be carried out by a licensed individual and all state and federal rules apply to such. The combo was on sale for $300. I totally agree with your take on 1 power scopes and would include even 2 power, being a die hard Peep sight fan. About Us|Contact Us|Privacy Policy|Amazon Affiliate Disclosure, Copyright 2022 Gunloading.com All Rights Reserved, Specific Advantages of the Primary Arms 5x Prism Scope, Disadvantages of the Primary Arms 5x Prism Scope. The only thing I don't like about my PA 1-6 ACSS reticle is the small 24mm objective lense, narrow FOV. Would you put this on your rifle? If the prism helps you do that, stick with it. I was in a similar boat and actually went for the 1-6x--you get a little more magnification on the long shots and can go to 1x for short distance. Throughout all this, the scope kept its zero and didnt show any drastic marring of the anodizing. They just work like any other scope. I have a Burris 5x with a red dot offset and its the best of all worlds. Its easy to install on any rifle and comes ready to mount right from the box. However, another problem I have with primary arms is that they are elitists who believe that unless you accept what they offer, in other words a red dot instead of a Green Dot, you are being unreasonable. I bought the PA SLx 3x32mm Gen III and experienced a clear, single reticle for the first time. This means if you have astigmatism or other eyesight deficits, you can dial in a prism scope to meet your personal eyesight needs. The new scope I received came with a nice engineering test sheet as well as some notes to explain how the scope was tested before it was shipped out to me. Easier to switch between magnifications and the RDS on top of the prism is a much more heads up position anyway(and even better for NV). Red Dot? And if a shooter wants to buy a quality, compact prismatic optic that wont fail them or destroy their bank account, the Primary Arms 5x Prism is an excellent choice. Let me expand on your "grain of salt" I am 70+ and have astigmatism. LOLbe careful or you'll discover how nice premium optic can be compare to budget stuff and start buying Night Force and Razor Gen II.. We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos from the firearms industry. I don't like the idea of "the bad guy" being able to see the red or green doughnut from the business end. But this article needs an update for 2021: The Vortex Spitfire 2 5x is a game changer in the prism scope world, about half the size and weight of some of the beasts on this list. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. However, I will have to admit that this particular prism scope is well built. Where the 5X suffers is the restrictive eye box and the large adjustments for a 5X optic. One such optic is their SLX 5X Compact Prismatic scope. I've tried to use multiple red dots with my astigmatism but all I see are Starbursts. Thanks! I bought the Bravo 3 based off of your review and I love it. https://www.instagram.com/pewpewtactical/ Level Up Your Gun Knowledge! The SLx provides the same medium-range, both-eyes-open functionality as the ACOG for a fraction of the cost and youre still getting a well-built optic with an awesome lifetime warranty. Prisms are pretty clear anyhow. I have the 2.5X and 1-6. I have tries all kinds of red dots I can take a sub MOA rifle and get 4-5 inch groups because even on the lowest intensity the "dot" is a smear. Select what level shooter you are! Flat dark earth is not even available in the 5x. Want to ball it out with one of the nicest views/glass weve witnessed? From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm. Our Videos Don't link to any websites that sell firearms or firearms accessories. Still usable. One thing missed here is comparing a red dot mounted on top of a magnified prism sight VS. a LPVO. Inquiring minds want to know. Primary Arms 3x Magnifier with Vortex AMG UH-1 Magnifiers do help quite a bit for extended range shooting, but the simple red dot reticle is nowhere near as diverse as a proper optic reticle. Despite its entry-level price, the SLx Gen III 5X Prism Scope does the job well. Quantserve sets the mc cookie to anonymously track user behaviour on the website. We'll only use the information provided according to our privacy policy. Ive found that a few successful *dings* on a steel plate hooks many first-time shooters for life. The ocular lens magnifies the light, bringing the image of the target into focus. How would you rate the Burris offerings in regards to your list? To get the eye relief right you might need a cantilevered mount that points rearward, which might interfere with some charging handle configurations. I love my Sig Bravo4, wish they still made it. I guess they get some advertising money. Oh, there's also some sub $100 cheap-o prismatics in there too.Interested in becoming a Patreon contributor? . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. One new winner* is announced every week! For instance, the illuminated horseshoe at the top functions as a two-eye red dot crosshair for rapid, close-quarters shooting while simultaneously providing quick, useful holdovers. This video also doesnt contain any discount codes, nor does this video promote the sale of firearms, bumpstocks, gatiling triggers, binary triggers, auto sears, magazines with a capacity greater than 30 rounds, or any other item on YouTubes list of prohibited items listed in their Community Guidelines. This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, well receive a small commission. The Vortex Spitfire 2 5x is a game changer in the prism scope world, about half the size and weight of some of the beasts on this list. And while offerings from Trijicon is very nice, theyre often outside the financial means of many shooters. And while we wont get into the nitty gritty of what all the ACSS does from a features standpoint, we do quite enjoy the fact that its got BDC calculations out to 600 meters and includes hold marks for both wind and engaging moving targets. In terms of size and price, you wont find a better prism scope on the market. SCSA Competitor . Here are some of our pros and cons. The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net to collect statistical data such as the number of visits, average time spent on site, and what pages have been loaded, for targeted advertising. If you have it in your budget, an ACOG is probably the better option, especially if youre looking for durability and convenience. The glass was pleasantly clear enough in normal conditions. Yes, a prismatic optic is a godsend for my astigmatic eye. The first number on the ACOG type represents the magnification strength (1.5x or 6x) and the second number represents the diameter of the objective lens (16 mm or 48mm). I wasn't positive if I would have liked it but I wanted something that could take a beating and put the fastfire on a pistol. This means I moved the turrets 10 clicks right, down, left, again left, up 10 clicks, and finally right ten clicks in order to see if the scope will track and remain accurate throughout adjustment. Love these prism optics. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Primary Arms SLx 3x Micro Prism Sight Illuminated Green ACSS Raptor 5.56 . Shop Primary Arms SLx 5x36mm Gen III Prism Scope | 4.6 Star Rating on 62 Reviews for Primary Arms SLx 5x36mm Gen III Prism Scope Best Rated + Free Shipping over $49. And nothing really drives home how much glass quality matters like using optics that arent quite as clear before moving on to one that is. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These cookies do not store any personal information. He escaped that statist paradise at a young age, married a sixth-generation Texan, and currently lives in Tyler. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Even the 1x Vortex Spitfire is technically a scope. My Vortex spitfire 3x or any other prism scope, can be used as a red dot sight by closing the front lens cover and shooting with both eyes open. What do you think about the crimson trace cts 1100 vs the bravo 5. I do not think I ever traded or sold another gun since. One little rail is fine for mounting an RMR (like on the Primary arms 3x and 5x). I'd say the Primary Arms has 80% of the performance that an ACOG has. Subtracting any inaccuracies on my part I was able to get less than a 1/2 MOA difference at 50 yards when shooting from a stabilized position (sandbags) after the box test. Its useful for quick both-eyes-open close range CQB-style stages, all the way to stabilized shots reaching steel out to 450 yards. My lovely bride is delighted to take over my Lucid 1-6 LPVO because her eyes see only a single reticle through its refractive lenses. Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. The slightly higher profile of the mount means youre not going to struggle with accessing your charging handle as I did on the larger ACOG. The functionality of the fixed-power prism scope isnt ideal for every application, but its great for most of them. We DO NOT sell parts, magazines, or firearms. Great article, thanks! Poor articulation and execution. https://www.facebook.com/pptactical/Follow us on Instagram! The reticles on an ACOG are illuminated by internal phosphor, which is the byproduct of the radioactive decay of tritium. Clearly, the Primary Arms Prismatic optics take inspiration from the ACOG, but what some shooters dont know is that they can use many ACOG components. Battery life is reasonable, clocking in at about 250 hours on the highest power and 3k on the lowest setting but like I said, the illumination isnt really a selling point for me here in sun land. I think this demonstrates that the scope will in fact track and is at least quality enough to be relied upon for accurate windage and elevation adjustments. I think its more important that your able to acquire the combatant as fast as possible and place well aimed rounds in his vitals. Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. The primary disadvantage of an ACOG is the price. Pretty sure this optic was made for this gun. gear review, Yes, the ACSS is a relatively inexpensive optic, but it is by no means a cheap scope. U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- When it comes to combat optics, there is a misconception that shooters need to spend big money to get a quality scope. While it comes down to preference between a prism scope and an ACOG, the main disadvantage of the Primary Arms 5x Prism Scope is that it doesnt feel as well made as the ACOG. Their SLx line features prism optics in 3x and 5x varieties that come with all the necessary features for making hits in hunting and self-defense applications. In my experience, this setup makes hitting targets out to 400 meters with my Arsenal SGL-31 an absolute breeze. Check out our previous ACOG review here! I can honestly say I prefer it over any scope on this list. That's who this sight is for. Although we dont currently have the means to test this, were assuming that the bravo 5 should sit at the perfect height on your rifle to peer through something like a PVS14 if youve got it mounted to the gun itself. you a link to reset your password. Copyright 2023 Pew Pew Media, Inc. All rights reserved. I don't realistically see my self shooting beyond 300m so I went with it. As a final test, after I did my shooting with it, I tossed the scope (and the rifle) into the shower to simulate the scope being exposed to rain. I was able to do 500 yard shots with a 4x without too much trouble but it was a pretty large target. how does the vortex compare to the PA? The SLx 3 is also the first prism out of those we tested with actual, functional illumination. While 3,000-hour battery life isnt mind-blowing, at least Primary Arms is holding up to its claims thus far. Obviously, if price is no concern for you, we have no issues with giving it our full recommendation over all of the other optics on this list. 3x prism is also lighter than 1-6. At first glance, it seems like your basic BDC crosshair with subtensions marking the proper holdovers out to 800 meters but its much more than that. Imitation or the use of any acts depicted in these videos is solely AT YOUR OWN RISK. Don't get either! I know this is probably starting to sound like an ad for the Bravo 5, but this is just me legitimately being stoked on an optic that I cant really find a lot of negatives for, outside of perhaps its slightly chunky weight of about 23oz. For me personally, I dont particularly see the point in running a magnified optic below 3x, so the Spitfire is just about the minimum that makes sense for utilizing on a rifle if youre specifically looking for prism optics. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The best repeating shotgun I ever owned . The bottom line is that, depending on your individual needs and ability to spend cash on gun glass, were positive youll find something in here that works for you even if I think the idea of a 1x sight that isnt a red dot is fundamentally stupid. Type your new password and hit button below to confirm it. What are your thoughts on Prism optics? For me the eye relief was way to short. That moment when you receive your brand new red dot, turn it on and see nothing but a starburst is exactly the moment when you wished you ordered the 1 x Prism instead. I'd like to have a setup where it could reliably make long shots out to 400-500 yards but also hit closer targets, so in that regard maybe the higher magnification is worth it? These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. We are not a gun store and DO NOT sell or deal in firearms. Or are you like us and prefer Low Power Variable Optics? For instance, underneath the scope, the 5x ACSS Prism uses the same mounting screws as an ACOG. A proper 3x prism optic that boasts 5 levels of red and green illumination, a reticle with built in BDC hashmarks out to 500 meters, and slanted picatinny rail segments set at 45 degrees to either side of the optic for the addition of micro red dots. I found that by doing a box test. Both optics look modern with a minimalist flair that certainly keeps the weight down. Did anyone else notice that? The illumination on the Bravo 5, for once, is bright like really bright, and good lord do we appreciate that. This is one reason the military uses these scopes instead of other alternatives. With prism scopes, you get the benefit of always having a reticle and not needing any backup sights. That being said, Im going to say that the Primary Arms SLx slightly edges out the Vortex Spitfire, for a few reasons. I chose to mount it on a basic AR-15 with a flat top receiver. I have a holosun 510 with a magnifier and used a buddys Trijicon ACOG. Whats a prism scope and do you need one? TFB REVIEW: Primary Arms SLx Gen III 5X Prism Scope. Would you have an opinion on Sightmarks Wolfhound 3x24 prism scope? When I say that these two prisms are similar, I really mean it. Featured Articles, Its a part of his bias Lol! Anyone know what the field of view difference is between them? My astigmatism totally blurrs out the reticle on the 510 and knew it but didnt realize how bad until using his setup. anything extra and your The SLx5 ditches the CQB reticle and gives you the straight forward ACSS horseshoe you might be familiar with if youve used a PA optic before or watched our review of their 1-6x low power variable optic. Eye relief v. critical on the 5x; so much so I swapped it out for a PA 1-6x. They have no Idea the trail that Eotech, Leupold, Nightforce, and Trijicon blazed for red dot optics without grovelling at the feet of the Chinese communists (yes they are our enemy) just to save a buck (or Yuan). Hand-Picked Daily GUN DEALS, and Exclusive Coupons Codes >>>, Usually smaller package compared to a traditional scope, Increased durability due to no moving optical parts, Dont need batteries like a red dot since the reticle is etched into the glass, Not as forgiving parallax and eye relief compared to red dots, Illuminated reticles arent all daylight bright, Price point of nice ones are around $250 and in the ballpark of. The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. But if prismatic scopes are heavy despite their smaller size, whats the point? I'm trying to decide the same thing with my AUG. How big of a target are you going to be aiming at at 4-500, and what sort of precision do you expect on it? The one other thing that should be emphasized is eye relief. This means you can use a prism scope without corrective lenses (glasses), which provides a more precise view of your target and improves your aim. Yes, its really that good! I was happy to find that the scope is actually waterproof and didnt take on any water or any rust or corrosion due to being exposed to water. I got the 3x have not taken it to the range. Our Videos Don't include any instructions on manufacturing firearms, assembling parts, or installing prohibited accessories like bumpstocks, gatling triggers, auto sears or any accessory that allows a firearms to simulate full auto fire. At least that's what my eyes tell me. All this to say: youll want to do plenty of testing to determine which BDC marks to use depending on your ammunition. A good example of the MPVO is the Primary Arms GLx 2.5-10x 44mm rifle scope. Plus, they can be had with one Primary Arms innovative reticles tailor-made for your caliber of choice. Thats why I was stoked to get my hands on their new prism optics. Jay shows and compares the Primary Arms Compact Prism scope series (using the PAC-3X as the example) and the Trijicon TA-31F and TA-01NSN. The SLx 5x prism scope is great. , Primary Arms 1x Cyclops Prism Scope FDE About the author: I'm amazed their isn't a prism 1 power that is any good, just cause I don't know many people who struggle with red dot optics. That said, the virtues Primary Arms SL X 5X are not simply limited to those of any old prism optic. Required fields are marked *. Also featured on the Spitfire is more wire cable tetherings for the turret adjustment caps. I will be moving my red dots to my back up & practice guns. Its just the right amount of magnification with a nice reticle, daylight bright illumination, and a decent price. Check out our previous ACOG review here! Would love to see how you rate it against the ACOG and against some newer prisms. Click below for a FREE LESSON! Its not the best glass Ive looked through but for a price point of less than $350, I cant really complain. At a current street price of $399, the Bravo 5 certainly isnt inexpensive, but in our opinions, it definitely punches above its weight for the price point and is easily one of the nicest optics weve ever had the pleasure of toying around with. We cover the Pros & Cons plus hands-on pictures and view-through video for a few of the most popular models out right now. I'll gladly pay as much as the cost of my rifle to get an optic that I know was made In the United States under strict quality standards with a lifetime warranty. The reticle is illuminated with a CR2032 3V Lithium Coin battery, which is a step down from ACOGs innovative tritium/fiber optic reticle. All Rights Reserved. Remember, hire the handicappedwe're fun to watch . The SLx features the ACSS reticle thats standard on a lot of Primary Arms offerings, this time in a CQB configuration with an outer ring that surrounds the familiar horse shoe in thecenter. The image quality is clean, the clarity is good, the light transmission is nice and bright, and the 5x magnification is enough to get out to 200 yards depending on the size of target you're aiming at. When hes not reviewing guns or shooting for fun and competition, Jim can be found hiking and hunting with his wife Kimberly, and their dog Peanut in the South Carolina low country. Trijicons Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight has been adopted by military and law enforcement agencies around the world for its toughness, versatility, and brilliant design. As a guy with the stigmatism the only 1X sight I've been able to use has been the vortex 1X prism for ARs. Of the very few Amazon reviews for the Sig, several are reporting the reticle being crooked. YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video.