There are a couple of very big benefits of microprisms over standard red dot sights. The first one most people think of is that shooters with astigmatism can see a prism’s etched reticle without the halo or flare they get with the reflected dot of reflex sights. The other big checkmark on the microprism side of the ledger is you can see that etched reticle whether it’s illuminated or not.
Yes, reflex sights are generally lighter by a couple of ounces (or more, depending on their size), but microprisms can be magnified where a red dot is strictly a 1X optic. Oh, and microprisms also have diopter adjustments that let you fine tune their focus to your particular eyesight.
The Primary Arms SLx 1X Gen II MicroPrism gives you all of the benefits of a prism sight in a compact package that works well on any long gun. And Primary Arms packs it with a range of mounting options so that it works for virtually any shooter.
Ammunition for this and all TTAG reviews is sponsored by Ammo To Go. You can support TTAG by shopping at Ammo To Go for ammunition and more.
The SLx 1X MicroPrism is available in two models, illuminating its ACSS CYCLOPS reticle in either red or green. If you’re a fan of red reticles, go for it. But green light is about six times more visible to the human eye and given that Primary Arms prices both versions the same ($269) you don’t pay a premium for that better visibility.
The ACSS CYCLOPS G2 reticle has the characteristic chevron aiming point surrounded by a semicircle.
Primary Arms provides this handy online cheat sheet for using the ACSS chevron at various ranges for the most common calibers and barrel lengths.
Below the chevron are ranging stadia. In short, if you take the time to learn to use the ACSS reticle fully, you can be extremely accurate and effective at distances out to and beyond 300 yards with a very affordable 1X sight.
For me, on an AR or a 10/22, the highest (ACOG compatible) spacer mount worked best.
But Primary Arms gives you options. Lots of them. They include three additional cantilevered mounting shoes of different heights that you can mix and match to fit virtually any gun/shooter combination.
Dial in the diopter adjustment for your eye to make the reticle tack-sharp and you’ll probably never have to do it again.
If you read the forums, some have complained about some prism sights not being bright enough in daylight. That isn’t a problem for the SLx MicroPrism. It has thirteen brightness setting including three for night vision. Its brightest settings have more than enough illumination power for full sunlight.
Again, one of the biggest benefits of an etched reticle is that you can see it clearly (as long as there’s almost any amount of light short of a black target in total darkness) with the power on or off. See above.
One advantage reflex sights have over prisms is they have an infinite eye box. But the PA SLx MicroPrism’s eye box is very generous. It’s a good foot deep and I had to try to find a distance at which I started to lose the target picture.
Battery life is excellent, too. It’s rated at between 25,000 and 50,000 hours on a 2032 battery. The SLx 1X MicroPrism also has a shake-awake (Primary Arms calls it AutoLive) feature to stretch that to the maximum.
The SLx 1X MicroPrism is durable, too. I froze it and dunked it in water for a half hour. It was no worse for the wear.
Windage and elevation adjustments are 1 MOA per click. Some gripe about that, claiming it isn’t fine enough, but on a 1X sight, it’s simply not an issue. Primary Arms also makes 3X and 5X microprisms. Both have ¼ MOA per click adjustments which makes a lot more sense in those magnified optics.
I don’t have an astigmatism problem and I’ve used both red dots and prisms. In a 1X sight, I think the pluses and minuses favor prisms. But that’s me.
In short, if you’ve always dreamed of an ACOG, but could never get up the scratch for one, the Primary Arms SLX 1X Gen II is a great way to get all of the benefits of a microprism sight at a tiny fraction (about 25%) of the price. With the ACSS reticle (which some ACOGs use as well) they’re incredibly adaptable, well-made and damn-near bomb-proof. If you’re looking for one SHTF, post-apocalyptic world sight that will work from here to eternity at a price you can afford, this is it.
Well damn now I need to look more closely at what is available.
Their 3x costs just a bit more and is less than an ounce heavier. I loved one enough to buy another for a second Form 1 stocked pistol.
Will look into that, trying to have a shopping list for AR stuff ready to go the next time we have a favorable court decision.
I love it for its extreme lightness and compactness in that particular application, but (keeping in mind I’m a bit obsessive about tradeoffs and “envelope”) it wouldn’t necessarily be my first choice for an AR.
Have an ACOG from years ago and would more be looking for a range blaster that I can see as easily for non magnified and above bargain budget chinesium but below SIG pricing.
Ah, good thinking!
LOL, no go in California? FFS, really? We can’t buy f-ing optics now? What a joke.
Wait new law or company shipping policy?
No idea, that link is a no go however. I’ve bought plenty of stuff from PSA in the past.
PA I mean.
In CA if you plant your optic in vineyard soil a ghost gun will sprout like rooting a cutting.
Science!
This is probably Prop 65 BS, be my guess.
These optics are OUTSTANDING! I have two- one mounted on an SAI Scout Squad with a Cogburn MicroPrism Mount, and the other on an Adams Arms P1 MOE Small Frame .308 piston AR.
These two PA SLx 1× Green ACSS microprisms are hands-down my favorite optic for my intended application- I have found NOTHING else that comes close to being as useful.
I can HIGHLY recommend this product.
Any thoughts on etched reticle vs red dot when it comes to paralax?
Parallax is an issue with prism scopes, but not a big one. It’s easily compensated for.
I got one when the gen2 first came out, with red reticle. You can see a lot of red on the front lens, from the front, when it’s turned on. Wondering if anyone else experienced this or did I just get a bad one?
All Primary Arms optics come with a comprehensive lifetime warranty… if you got a “bad one”- they’ll fix it or replace it.
Yes, I know. I’m just curious if anyone else has experienced or heard of this issue.
Out of curiosity, I just “shook-awake” both of my SLx-equipped rifles to see if there was any light visible on the front lens when viewed from the front.
One was in an unlighted safe in an unlighted closet, and the other was zipped up in a rifle case in an unlighted room.
I could see no illumination in either optic from the front- the lens was completely black. The only visible light I could find was a nice bright green reticle visible through the eyepiece at the user end.
I have an astigmatism and love how clear these reticles are. I prefer a simple dot for my HD optics though. If they ever made that, it would be my new go-to.
The whole point of the prism is magnification . . . . . which this doesn’t have.
Umm, that’s wholly incorrect.
Plus, P.A.’s MicroPrisms (as well as others) come in a range of magnifications- 1x, 3x, 5x, and more…
My last pay check was $12000 working 12 hours a week online. my sisters friend has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. i can’t believe how easy it was once i tried it out. this is what i do. https://www.richepay.com/
Ok, you CAN get these in Ca., just not directly from Primary Arms. I have a pretty bad astigmatism and usually just live with the bloom, since it hardly matters at CQB distances. However, I looked through this 1X at the store, and bought both the 1x and the 3x on the spot. I mean, the reticle is crystal clear and well defined. Thinking hard about a 5x as well.