SLX Archives

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.

Primary Arms, SLx, Prism, micro Prism, 3x, primary arms SLx, Desert Tech, Quattro 15,

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.

primary arms, slx, 3x, microprism, prism, acss raptor reticle,

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.

primary arms, slx, 3x, microprism, prism, acss raptor reticle, honeycomb, lens shade, 10/22, bro-22, back rain ordnance, — Here you can see the honeycomb lens shade threaded onto the front of the SLx 3X

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.

it was hard to get a good picture of the reticle, it is clearer and sharper than it appears here

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.

primary arms, slx, 3x, microprism, prism, acss raptor reticle, honeycomb, lens shade, desert tech, quattro 15, cmmg, dissent,

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.

primary arms, slx, 3x, microprism, prism, acss raptor reticle, honeycomb, 10/22, 22lr,

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.

-CBM

Introduction

The red dot optic market has become a whirlwind of options. Today we are looking at a few options to put on your carbine or rifle. Red dots make a handy sighting device for short and medium range firearms. Whether it be a rifle carbine, pistol caliber carbine, or even a shotgun. The rapid targeting advantage of red dots make quick shooting with accuracy a reality. There are plenty of articles discussing the best red dots, today I will be discussing my recommended best red dots for your rifle.

the **CMMG Banshee 9mm** with a **Romeo5 red dot** and **YHM R9 suppressor**

Vortex Strikefire II

There are plenty of decent red dots out there, and some of them are made in a country famous for its red flag and cheap manufacturing. The Vortex Strikefire II is one of those, and while it may not enjoy the legendary status and service record of other popular red dots, it is still a decent option for a carbine.

The Strikefire II has the added benefit of illuminating in either red or green, the dot itself is a 4MOA. It utilizes a 30mm main tube for a larger objective than many other comparable red dots. It also has an auto-off function should you forget to power it down, if you don’t, you should keep some extra CR2 batteries around. The included mount also gives it optimal height for most carbine rifles, it also comes with some handy flip-caps.

All this is included for the MSRP of $275.00, but if you hurry you can find it on Optics Planet for under $140. I’ve had a couple of these red dots for several years now, and while I wouldn’t consider my purposes abusive, they have stood up to everything. I really appreciate the ease of swapping them from one gun to another.

Primary Arms SLX

Primary Arms has stomped their way into the affordable optics market with an impressive host of options. Every PA optic I’ve had the good fortune to use has been more than adequate for everyday shooting purposes. The SLX also features a larger objective, for a broad field of view. It is available with different reticle options like the traditional 2MOA dot, as well as PA’s popular ACSS CQB reticle which feature a circle-dot style reticle with several holdover points. Its lightweight aluminum construction keeps it light, and the included mount makes it just the right height for most carbine rifles.

The SLX uses the very popular CR2023 battery, and using its auto-shutoff feature will greatly extend your useful life of the SLX red dot. It would be silly of me not to mention that PA makes a great companion magnifier for the SLX that renders the two of them a medium range duo.

Prices for the SLX start at $150 and go up if you want to add the better reticle or accessories. Again this presents a great value for everyday shooters, and when affixed to a good carbine we have greatly enjoyed medium to short range shooting fun.

the Vortex Strikefire II has been swapped between too many rifles to mention

US Optics TSR-1X

Another great little enclosed emitter red dot for carbines is the US Optics TSR-1x. The TSR-1x is a little more compact than the above mentioned red dots, which results in a slightly smaller objective and field of view. This may or may not be a big deal to some, you be the judge. The compact TSR-1x is made from aluminium, keeping its weight down. Like many others it uses the CR2023 coin battery, giving it an expected use of two to three years. The TSr-1x has 12 brightness settings you can adjust for ambient light or even night-vision. You can also have it in any color you want as long as it is red. regardless of brightness setting the 5MOA dot gives a great aimpoint for fast shooting. It also comes with a Zro Delta FRZ™ QD mount that allows you to quickly change between rifles without needing any tools.

The US Optics TSR-1X has an MSRP starting at $250, though it can be found for less in places like Optics Planet or Euro Optic. The price comes as no surprise as names like US Optics typically command a higher price point. I’ve used them now for several years, and have again swapped them between too many rifles to mention. After all these years, I’ve yet to change a battery. And the only thing I’ve ever had to do is retorque the mounting screws with a droplet of blue loctite.

The QD mount has made the TSR-1X one of my go-to red dot sights. Being able to quickly swap between guns in the field without tools is very handy. The various brightness settings also make it convenient for different shooting conditions.

the **CMMG Dissent 5.56** paired with a **US Optics TSR-1X**

Sig Sauer Romeo 5

Sig Sauer’s Romeo 5 is another affordable red dot for your carbine, particularly if you are a big fan of the brand like me. The Romeo 5 is a 1X red dot that uses a 20mm objective enclosing its emitter. The Romeo has ten brightness settings; eight for day use, and two additional ones for use with night vision. The five ounce Romeo features a 2MOA red dot powered by the same CR2023 battery for over 40K hours. The turrets, like several other mentioned here today are easily adjusted using the turret cap reversed to easily make adjustments in the field. True to the name, the Romeo is only available with a red emitter.

The Romeo 5 might win as the most affordable optic mentioned here today. You can buy it direct from Sig Sauer for $140, or you can find it for even less from Euro Optic. While I have perhaps a little less time behind the Romeo 5, I still find it be a great little red dot. Perhaps the fact that my wife bought it for me has influenced my judgement…

Sig also offers the Romeo 5 in combination with the Juliet 3 Magnifier, making the two units together a great medium range combination. The Romeo is perhaps a little more tedious to swap between firearms than other models, and the included bikin cover will likely be lost on the first trip to the range. But it is still a great little dot.

the **Sig Sauer Romeo 5** red dot mounted on the Keltec RDB

another shot of the US Optics TSR-1X on a carbine rifle

Trijicon MRO

If you thought the TSR-1X was a bit expensive, you might just skip this part. Because we are about to discuss the Trijicon MRO, perhaps the gold standard in enclosed emitter red dot sights. The Trijicon MRO is available in a variety of mounting configurations, designed to be able to use with other sight options such as magnifiers and co-witnessing with iron sights. The MRO also uses the same CR2023 battery to illuminate its red or green reticle. The reticle is available as either a red or green 2MOA dot, or as a circle-dot reticle. The control is situated a the top of the MRO for use with either hand, and gives the user 8 different brightness settings and two additional night vision options. The large objective gives a wide field of view, and is filled with Trijicons high quality glass and coatings.

Trijicon has a well known duty service with the MRO, so it should come as no surprise that it is priced well above the rest. With an MSRP starting around $600, it is probably not for the fair-weather shooter. But even with various mounting options available, the MRO can be had for well below the MSRP, with some options as low as under $400 from Optics Planet.

Like many of the other red dots mentioned here, I have been using the Trijicon MRO for years. I’ve never had to change the battery, nor do anything else to it. It usually finds itself mounted to my “Oh Sh*t ” carbine, and there it typically stays. The bright dot does well when used together with a light or Trijicon’s 3X magnifier.

an elevated Trijicon MRO mounted a little high on a Magnum Research MLR

Final Thoughts on Enclosed Emitters

This is certainly not meant to be a complete list of good red dots. These are just some great options that I have had a great deal of experience shooting. Whether you want an inexpensive sight to throw on a cheap AR for your kids to shoot, or if you have a serious defense shotgun in need of a sight. You will find some good options here. There certainly are other good options out there, and I intend to try them all. Let us know in the comment section what your favorite enclosed emitter red dot sight is.

-CBM