Best 3X Prism Sight?

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Poppa9

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Hello everyone,

I am looking at purchasing a 3X Prism sight that can be used on a 9mm Short Barreled Rifle and on a .223 battle rifle. Three that I have been considering include:

- Vortex Spitfire 3X (a little heavier? a little more expensive)

- Primary Arms SLx 3X (lightest, less expensive)

- Swampfox Trihawk (great FoV at 100 yds, heaviest but least expensive)

Just wondering if my fellow shooters had any comments on these 3 or any recommendations on something I have not considered?

Thanks!

Poppa9
 
The Primary Arms micro 3x is a sweet little optic, some people complain about eye relief on the prisms but I've found the newer primary arms to be pretty good in that departement and even if you stretch out the length past the point where you have a full view through the lens it's still usable.

Comes with different reticles for hold overs 9mm , .223/308 and 7.62X39 and also has a bunch of mounts for different heights and cantilevers to get the optic closer to your eyes if needed.

The only negative I can think of is that I would prefer if PA sold these with some thread on flip up caps instead of the rubber bikini covers.
 
Michael94 said:
Not to derail this thread, but would any of these be suitable for a semi auto shotgun like a 1301? Or is a red dot better?
Click to expand...

For a shotgun, the older vortex 1x prism with the circle dot reticle is pretty nice..... "it's got a good spread...." :)
You'd want to find the original version though that had the different height options so you could mount it low on your rail. There are also a bunch of options for micro pistol reflex sights that would work well with your gun and have circle dot reticles.

The older vortex looks like this,

eng_pl_Vortex-Optics-Spitfire-AR-1x-Prism-Scope-SPR-200-15695_2.jpg


Most people like the chevron aiming point that Primary Arms likes to use, I'm sort of on the fence with the chevron aim point.
Their newer micro 1x prism's have a chevron and hold over points that are a bit to small for my eyes to make good use of the different aim points.

Their 3X micro prism has a larger reticle and works much better for my eyes. I look forward to checking out their 5X model when it comes out.
 
Actually, I have a Vortex 1x prism scope that I will be selling....just have not listed it yet. Yes, the scope picture looks as shown below.

If you are interested, just let me know.
 
Crusader said:
Vector Optics Paragon. Primary arms have crap eye relief
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I hear people complaining about eye relief, they are not red dots that's for sure.
The thing is it's not like the optic goes black when your eye get's outside of the full view, it slowly starts closing in and you loose field of view but can still see the aiming points.

I have not noticed any issues with my PA micro 3x or 1x as far as eye releif, but I have no doubt that there is a gun out there that would not allow the eye releif needed for 100% of the field of view. It is what it is.

What's the Vector's numbers compared to the Primary Arms? I can't recall the PA numbers but as I said, it's usable way past what they claim in my experience.


Edit, looks like the 1x vector claims • 3.0in 76mm Long Eye Relief, 14.5° F.O.V Wider Than Most Other Similar Prism Scope,
and Primary Arms SLx 1x MicroPrism claims to have a 3.6″ eye relief and a 38 feet field of view at 100 yards.

For the 3x Vector it's2.65in 67.5mm Long Eye Relief, 7.4° F.O.V Wider Than Most Other Similar Prism Scopes,

and the PA 3x The field of view is 68.4 feet at 100 yards. The eye relief is 2.7″.

That seems about right from my experience with the PA 1 X and 3X that I have, I have not seen the Vector in person so can't confirm if their claimed eye relief is close, but given that it's about the same as the PA I have no reason to doubt them.
 
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I might be in the market for a 3x prism. Several look like they can only be used on a high mount though.

What options can I use on a low mount for use on a traditional layout hunting rifle?
 
Crusader said:
Vector Optics Paragon. Primary arms have crap eye relief
Click to expand...

Tell me more please, I was looking at their 1x model.

I’ve owned and sold a couple PA 1x models as I love absolutely everything about them except the eye relief. While they are useable at less than idea distances from your eye, the image shrinks the further away you move it from your face and the only way to get a true 1x is to have it right up close. On many gun platforms that requires the cantilever mount hanging way off the back, whereas a similarly sized red dot you could place far forward.
 
I have been researching this topic for many many hours in recent years and the itching keeps coming back. This pewpewtactical.com is pretty good, the guy is reviewing a decent amount of glass in many different conditions.
Currently shopping again ... uhm, can't decide between a prism or the red dot.
The tactical reticle on prism sights is attempting I could have a good use for holdovers at shorter distances, but the short eye relief, also the parallax error at shorter distances.
In contrast the red dots have more forgiving parallax and pretty much unlimited for eye relief, but I hate to drop my money for a 1x glass, adding a magnifier again brings back a dilemma with eye relief.
I have found recently couple red dots mimicking the tactical reticle (Sig Romeo4, Holosun503 and I guess the Eotech's), I may go that route, but need a sleepover with that.
Oh and yes, Victoptics, I had one prism last year but trade it, the glass clarity was amazing.
 
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