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Rifle Scopes Budget prism scope

Not really the thing most of us use.

I have 8 scopes. Only have 1 basic red dot for a blackout pistol. It works, but I along with many others have went the lpvo traditional scope route.

Thing is, most times you won't get an answer here unless someone actually has experience.

I know I've looked through a few prisms, wasnt impressed enough to change, and decided when my current 1-6 dies I'll just go back to an eotech.
 
Although I’ve never tried one I plan to purchase a couple primary arms 3x blems at $219.99 for my two centurion carbines. Reviews seem very favorable and as everyone knows the ACSS is a phenomenal reticle.

Plus it won’t have that shitty eye relief of the TA31 it’s replacing.
 
I have tested a bunch of prism scopes. What do you mean by budget?

The lowest I would probably go is Crimson Trace's 3.5x Battlesight. I've been beating one up for a few months now and it has not skipped a beat.

Going up in price, Sig Bravo4 has that crazy FOV. I have one and like it.

My go to prismatic scope is Elcan Specter 4x, but that really comes down to budget.

ILya
 
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+1 I have a Vortex Spitfire 1x on my AR and I love it. Red dots starburst on me and this one is crisp.

Spitfire 1x is quite good. I am not as impressed with the magnified version, but it works.

There should be some higher end 1x prism scopes coming to market that are just a touch more expensive, but I am not sure what the timeline is.

Ilya
 
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There should be some higher end 1x prism scopes coming to market that are just a touch more expensive, but I am not sure what the timeline is.

That's interesting news. I have two rifles set up for home defense that have 1x Spitfires on them due to my astigmatism. They are perfectly fine in the role except there is no available ARD. I've been hoping that a higher end 1x would be released...I'd love to see Vortex make a 1x Prism AMG.
 
Spitfire 1x is quite good. I am not as impressed with the magnified version, but it works.

There should be some higher end 1x prism scopes coming to market that are just a touch more expensive, but I am not sure what the timeline is.

Ilya


Excellent news! I like the 1x Spitfire but the illumination went out a while back and I haven't bothered to send it in. It's something I rarely use anyways. Overall I much prefer a 1x prism to a RDS.
 
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I'm not sure if there's a reason the Burris AR-332 hasn't been mentioned. I have two. It's super clear with a generous field of view. If you practice a little, it becomes two optics in one. 3x with one eye closed and holographic-like floating reticle with both eyes open. I'm still on the fence between these and the Nikon 1-4x, but the AR-332 can be a great system if you use it right.
 
I have one of the Primary Arms 3x gen 2 scopes. It’s got the reticle for 7.62x39/300BO. I like it well enough for what it is.

I have the same complaint about it as I do damn near every prism scope. I hate they have BDC reticles. I picked mine up for my dedicated deer carbine.

I would love to have a 3x, 4x, or 5x prism scope with good FOV, a course aiming point for up close, and a mil scale for hold overs and windage. Something that would work on anything.

Unfortunately I don’t think there’s enough market for one that isn’t BDC.
 
I have one of the Primary Arms 3x gen 2 scopes. It’s got the reticle for 7.62x39/300BO. I like it well enough for what it is.

I have the same complaint about it as I do damn near every prism scope. I hate they have BDC reticles. I picked mine up for my dedicated deer carbine.

I would love to have a 3x, 4x, or 5x prism scope with good FOV, a course aiming point for up close, and a mil scale for hold overs and windage. Something that would work on anything.

Unfortunately I don’t think there’s enough market for one that isn’t BDC.

I think there is a market. All it will take is one company to stop with the herd mentality and make the plunge.

This is a niche that they can own for at least one or two product cycles.

ILya
 
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I just purchased a pc carbine and my aging eyes need a little magnification so I’ve been looking at the prism scopes because they have etched reticule low magnification small package still useable after I forget to turn off the illumination and battery goes dead. Been really looking at the athalon Midas btr pr31 kind of liking its reticule. And thanks for the replies every one I kind of know this sight is more geared for 1000 yards and beyond but I also like to plink and shoot gophers and such!
 
I have one of the Primary Arms 3x gen 2 scopes. It’s got the reticle for 7.62x39/300BO. I like it well enough for what it is.

I have the same complaint about it as I do damn near every prism scope. I hate they have BDC reticles. I picked mine up for my dedicated deer carbine.

I would love to have a 3x, 4x, or 5x prism scope with good FOV, a course aiming point for up close, and a mil scale for hold overs and windage. Something that would work on anything.

Unfortunately I don’t think there’s enough market for one that isn’t BDC.
I don’t mind BDC reticles for the type of rifle these scopes go on. Play with your zero a bit and the BDC reticle will line up plenty good to make good hits to reasonable distances. Precision scopes they are not. But more options are never bad.
 
I don’t mind BDC reticles for the type of rifle these scopes go on. Play with your zero a bit and the BDC reticle will line up plenty good to make good hits to reasonable distances. Precision scopes they are not.

The PA 3x works great on my 300BO. It’s close enough out to 300 that I was hitting steel just using the holds. That’s the farthest I’ve tried it.

The scope is stuck where it is. I would rather a reticle that’s generic. I could slap it on anything and make a drop chart and done. Then when I’m tired of that rifle or caliber I could swap it around.
 
I find BDC reticles quick and easy to use. More so than a mil reticle.

Having used them extensively in 3 Gun I think they are faster to sort out where you need to be than the mil reticle. I've used them with 5.56, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 7.62. Just match the reticle to my dope.

For what they are made to do they are perfect for the task.
I agree. In low power scopes if it has a mil reticle, which I do like, i like just whole mil markers and nothing else. Old school. Vortex does it well in their 1-6 optics. Less clutter and easy enough to bracket and fire.

I have used 1-6 with half mil marks and they are not quick or easy to use to get off quick shots. It is too easy to get lost in the tiny reticle.
 
I find BDC reticles quick and easy to use. More so than a mil reticle.

Having used them extensively in 3 Gun I think they are faster to sort out where you need to be than the mil reticle. I've used them with 5.56, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 7.62. Just match the reticle to my dope.

For what they are made to do they are perfect for the task.


I also agree. BDC prism scope work great for their intended purpose.

BDC’s suck when trying to adapt them outside of their intended cartridge.

I bought a cheap prism scope for my 300BO because I didn’t want to tie up ACOG money for an optic that sits on a rifle that stays in the safe 48+ weeks a year.

If there were an option for a straight up MIL (or maybe even MOA) scale fixed power prism scope I would be all over it. I could slap one on a 5.56, .308, 300BO, .458 socom, .450BM, or 6.5 Grendel and it would work just like the optic on my precision rifle.
 
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Another option not mentioned yet is the Steiner M536 or, M332 (I have the M536) and it's fantastic. Not sure if this model is still in production? However, I've been more than impressed with mine...purchased when they first came out a few years ago.

AvsFan(y)


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I think there is a market. All it will take is one company to stop with the herd mentality and make the plunge.

This is a niche that they can own for at least one or two product cycles.

ILya
Have you heard of Swampfox optics? Supposedly owned by by a larger known company and they own one of the better factories in China according to their marketing manager Mike (formerly from primary arms)


He was just discussing the above idea on TOS. Something 3 to 4x with large fov. BDC and MOA or mil grid.

I have heard decent things but haven't seen in person. Did you plan on checking any of.these out?
 
Have you heard of Swampfox optics? Supposedly owned by by a larger known company and they own one of the better factories in China according to their marketing manager Mike (formerly from primary arms)


He was just discussing the above idea on TOS. Something 3 to 4x with large fov. BDC and MOA or mil grid.

I have heard decent things but haven't seen in person. Did you plan on checking any of.these out?

I have never seen anything from SwampFox. I do not currently have plans to look at them, but if there is interest I will.

ILya
 
I have never seen anything from SwampFox. I do not currently have plans to look at them, but if there is interest I will.

ILya
I know you post on TOS as well. They seem to be gaining a bit of a presence over there. A couple multi page threads. I would have interest in your thoughts of it is something you could make happen.

if you reach out to.Mike he might be able.to send you some.stuff. They have a 1x10 coming as well I believe
 
I know you post on TOS as well. They seem to be gaining a bit of a presence over there. A couple multi page threads. I would have interest in your thoughts of it is something you could make happen.

if you reach out to.Mike he might be able.to send you some.stuff. They have a 1x10 coming as well I believe

Do you have his contact info?

PM it to me if you do.

ILya
 
That's interesting news. I have two rifles set up for home defense that have 1x Spitfires on them due to my astigmatism. They are perfectly fine in the role except there is no available ARD. I've been hoping that a higher end 1x would be released...I'd love to see Vortex make a 1x Prism AMG.

Just as a follow up, I discovered that the Primary Arms PAC1X ARD works great on the Spitfire 1x (Model SPR-1301). Vortex really should have offered one of these originally.
 
was looking at the primary arms prism and a 6x's mag price is nice at under or at 400 just have not pulled the trigger on buying it yet . keep thinking I'll find something better for less or it will go on sale .