Introduction
I have been very happy with the direction Primary Arms has taken since I picked up on their brand. The folks at Primary seem to keep their finger on the pulse of what the American shooting public want. Using this information they either source or make their own products to fit what shooters want. Today I am taking a look at one of their own branded products that seems to have a very close following; the Primary Arms SLx 3X Microprism sight.
I was first turned onto microprism sights by a friend. The reticles within them offer more options than a red dot by comparison. One of the advantages of this product is its 3X magnification, which can give you an edge when shooting certain distances. But does this advantage outweigh the benefits of the 1X version of the SLx?
Unboxing the SLx Microprism
I had ordered the SLx together with the SLx Anti Reflexion device. I like these not necessarily because I’m afraid of being picked out by a sniper, but mainly because they prevent fingers and other things from touching my lens.
In the box with the Microprism came various mounting options. Like other PA Microprisms it came with the Trijicon ACOG compatible footprint. This would come in handy for those looking for that kind of interface. I was surprised to find that Primary also threw various cantilever options in the box. This allows you to select your mounting location by having shorter or longer cantilever distances.
Additionally it came with a battery and all the tools needed to mount and adjust the optic. All this in a handsome box padded with foam to keep it all intact. I wasted no time in lifting it from the foam to see the image through the three-power magnification, and inspect the ACss raptor reticle.
Specifications
Battery Type CR2032 3V Lithium Coin
Click Value 1/4 MOA
Color Black
Exit Pupil Diameter 7.4mm
Eye Relief 2.70 in
Field View 100 38.00 ft
Focal Plane Prism Scope (fixed magnification)
Illuminated Illuminated
Magnification 3X
Mount Compatibility Trijicon Mini-ACOG, Primary Arms MicroPrism
Night Vision Compatible Night Vision Compatible
Reticle ACSS Raptor
Reticle Color Red
Total Elevation Adjustment 80 MOA
Total Windage Adjustment 80 MOA
Turret Features Exposed Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable
Weight 7.95 Oz.
Mounting Options
The Primary Arms SLx prizm came with three different mounting stems. This allows the user to adjust the cantilever effect of the mount, as well as the sight height over the picatinny rail. There are also other mounting options you can use, but I found this one to be perfectly adequate. The picatinny foot is attached by three robust screws, offering a very stout connection. The foot itself also uses large fasteners with good gripping power.
Shooting the SLx 3X Microprism
The 3x SLx does give a nice clean image of your target, and the ACSS reticle gives you a few tools for holding and measuring on targets. I do think I might prefer the 1X microprism after using the 3x for a while. This is because its a very small aperture you are looking through, and when you magnify it three times it can be a little harder to pick up in a hurry.
That said, it’s a great image, and allows accurate placement of shots. Making more precise shots at somewhat further distances is definitely better with 3X vs. 1x. The reticle of the SLx gives several different hold-over options, as well as wind holds. This comes in very handy when shooting beyond your zero distance. Having a low profile sight like this with three-power magnification and the ability to use it to accurately engage targets as far away as six hundred yards is very handy.
The Raptor BDC reticle gives you hold points for every hundred yards out to six-hundred. As well as windage holds for the four, five and six-hundred distances. These of course can be used as needed for other purposes as well. The model I tested here has the 7.62×39 BDC reticle, but obviously can be used for other calibers with slightly different results.
We used the SLx on various firearms, but mostly .223 carbines. But it was also very useful on .22Lr and other short to medium range firearms. My SLx also came with a honeycomb style lens shade, which slightly conceals the lens from everything like fingers to sticks and brush when hiking. These types of shades often darken the image slightly, but I found it to be barely noticeable.
Pros and Cons
First off, this thing is very compact. Other than a red dot, you’d be hard pressed to find a more compact optical sight. And the SLx has 3X power, allowing much better definition of the target and target area. Also, the image is very bright and clean. I suppose it’s easier to make clear optics when they are fixed power, and low magnification as well. And the Raptor reticle is very handy for making on the fly adjustments while you are shooting. The various mounting solutions included with the SLx are also very convenient.
On the down side, I did mention the 3X magnification can occasionally be a little much at close range. I will admit that after more use, it bothers me very little, to the point that indoors it is quite useful. This might sound a bit petty but the rheostat control for the reticle feels a touch squishy, but perfectly functional. I’d also say I’d like off settings between brightness settings. But because the SLx has the AutoLive feature that shuts it off when motionless for 3 minutes, it is not really a concern. The only other thing I would say, and it’s purely subjective to my taste; I don’t like how far back on the gun these need to be mounted. I just think it looks weird, there isn’t any functional problem with it, but I can’t unsee it. It might seem like 335-dollars is a touch steep for something so small, but I think the SLx is well worth it. I am not aware of many other compact comparable sights with magnification and reticle options like this.
Conclusion
As it turns out, the Primary Arms SLx 3x Micro Prism is an outstanding little weapon sight. For a small carbine or similar firearm I think its fantastic. It gives a great deal of dexterity in shooting, allowing you excellent aiming abilities at both close and medium ranges. It does so with excellent clarity as well as with illumination should you need it. All this in a very professional package, that won’t clutter up your rifle. I expect to use this little sight for years to come.