Primary Arms Scope First Impressions
So as it currently stands, I have 2 PA scopes. The fixed 4x prism in 7.62x39 and the 1-6x in 5.56.
These are still very new to me, so be sure to check back later this summer as I get more use out of them.
I have only put rounds through the fixed 4x (approximately 100 and only out to 50 and 100 yards) and no rounds through the 1-6x.
I have found (so far) that both scopes roughly share the same pros and cons. Please bear in mind that I am not an expert shooter or even a good shooter at that. While I can say what glass I like/don't like based on what I've tried, I don't know even about the subject to give you a technical assessment. So take everything I say with a grain of salt.
With regards to the scopes, I am seriously impressed with the glass clarity given their price point. I had no trouble seeing my spent shotgun shells at 50 yards and they appears VERY crisp. I had no issue pegging the shells at that range or getting clover groups. Siting in was pretty easy. While I did not shoot the 4x at 100 yards, I did look down the line and everything stood out really nicely.
That glass is better than the vortex Diamondback line and equal to, or possibly better than, the vortex strike eagle. It is rumoured that the strike eagle is made in the same factory as the PA 1-6x. I have not been able to do any true side by sides as of yet because of the weather here.
Both scopes have an amazing reticle and I am hoping to test it out at my range later this year once construction starts on expanding the range from 200 to 600 yards.
Also, both scopes seem to have comparable glass, which is nice.
This is the only positive I can offer at this point in time as I don't know about durability or longevity. That being said, all the reviews I have watched/read (and it has been a lot) have said nothing but good things about it. AKOperators Union (check their YouTube) literally bashed the 4x prism scope out of a block of ice and then mounted it to a gun and based it again and it still held true. Sootch has the 1-6x and loves it. He has a good review as well.
In terms of negatives, they both have the same as I can tell so far.
I really dislike the eye box.
If you don't have a perfect cheek weld it is very easy to lose the the sight picture and black out the reticle. Compared to the Accupoint, this was a surprise to me and definitely something that I don't like. That being said, it is fixed easily through training and learning to maintain a good/proper cheek weld.
Given the price point, I can't complain too much and it makes up for this with nice glass and an awesome (albeit useless for Civillian application) reticle. I was also not of the eye relief on each scope, but I was admittedly spoiled given the constant 3.2" on my Accupoint. Spec-wise, both scopes have good eye relief.
I also am not a fan of the illumination.
While technically daylight bright in that I can see the illumination, I don't find that it really is all that bright and does wash out on bright days. Granted, the etched reticle will serve you better during day shooting and the illumination is more (emphasis on more) than ideal for low light and CQB applications.
The Accupoint has the opposite problem, being great for outdoor use, but poor for indoor. It also has the secondary issue of reticle bloom, whereby one might NOT want to have the reticle illuminated and just focus on the etched triangle tip for ultra precise shots; so it cuts both ways in my honest opinion.
The other negative are the scope adjustments.
They do feel mushy and cheap but given the BDC, they are more of a set it and forget it. I did not have any issues sighting the reticle in and getting it to print clover groups at 50 yards (the 7.62 scope requires a 50-yard zero).
Lastly, I don't like the mount that came with the 4x prism. Fortunately I replaced it with a sweet Bobro mount (my preferred mount brand) as the prism scope uses ACOG bases. In this case, it's more of a positive to me as I think that was a smart choice for PA to make them compatible with th ACOG mounts.
Side note here: I don't like the fact that I can't get a metal throw lever for the 1-6. It does have a mini-cat tail that are so popular now, but I do wish it had a metal option. Perhaps in the future their will be one. Once I get that scope mounted on my custom RECCE (still waiting for the receiver to come in before I finish that build), I'll be curious to see how easy it is to adjust the magnification.
I wouldn't trust any of these yet as a "go-to-war option" and I can fully admit that Trijcon and other such brands still remain king, but something about the quality and features and price point of these optics make me smile.
So to recap, I like their glass clarity and reticle. Realistically, these two carry more weight than their negatives (depending on your point of view):
Poor eye box (though recently, I have noticed that once you get used to proper head placement, it's basically a non-issue)
Sub-par daylight bright illumination (check out sootch's video of the scope on YouTube)
Mushy adjustments
Please don't take this review as a negative. I am a huge PA fan and have 3 of their optics and plan to buy more for future projects. I'm just of the opinion that to truly get a feel for a product through Internet review, to be open and honest about the negatives.
As it stands the third scope I bought from them was their 4-14 .308 model and I must say its a fantastic scope for the money.
, what scope mount is best for a M&P10? I am thinking of the Buris Pepr.
