The most anticipated release of Discovery 2025 is here—the PLx Compact Long-Range Rifle Scopes! Designed for those demanding the best in long-range performance, these optics combine award-winning features with next-level precision Lx Compact 4.5-36x56: Engineered for extreme long-range shooting with reticle options like the ACSS DEKA G2 and ACSS Neptune. PLx Compact 2.5-20x48: Perfect for versatile long-range performance with the ACSS DEKA G2 and ACSS Athena G2 reticles.Both scopes feature premium glass, precision turrets, and cutting-edge MIL reticles, giving you the ultimate tools to dominate at distance.
Primary Arms Optics - Discovery 2025: PLx Compact Long Range Scopes Unveiled
- Thread starter Realwar
- Start date
The most anticipated release of Discovery 2025 is here—the PLx Compact Long-Range Rifle Scopes! Designed for those demanding the best in long-range performance, these optics combine award-winning features with next-level precision Lx Compact 4.5-36x56: Engineered for extreme long-range shooting with reticle options like the ACSS DEKA G2 and ACSS Neptune. PLx Compact 2.5-20x48: Perfect for versatile long-range performance with the ACSS DEKA G2 and ACSS Athena G2 reticles.Both scopes feature premium glass, precision turrets, and cutting-edge MIL reticles, giving you the ultimate tools to dominate at distance.
I’m was very intrigued by the 2.5-20, but according to their 2025 release PDF, it is 32oz. Somehow only 2oz lighter than the good deal larger 4.5-36.
Their video very intentionally gave the weight of the 4.5-36, but said “about 30oz” for the 2.5-20.
Their video very intentionally gave the weight of the 4.5-36, but said “about 30oz” for the 2.5-20.
More short 8x erector scopes? 2.5-20 is going to have to be quite a bit cheaper than NX8 to compete, if priced right could be interesting but short scopes with 8x erectors tend to be pretty finicky so will have to wait and see...
I'm at least happy they're getting rid of the damn chevron for a precision optic. Turret design is intriguing being that it's customizable but that could be also a point of failure in the realm of reliability.
Weight is a bummer, cost will drive it's success, if it's anywhere near the NX8 it's destined to fail.
Weight is a bummer, cost will drive it's success, if it's anywhere near the NX8 it's destined to fail.
100% Dropping the chevron is fantastic. I applaud PA for that. I think in addition to price in relation to the NX8, how forgiving its eyebox is and how easy the reticles are to see at 2.5x will also determine how it does vs the NX8. Might be worth dealing with the extra quarter pound.
Never thought I’d live long enough to witness PA dropping their beloved chevron for an open dot.
The 2.5-20 is intriguing but at 32oz you’re in SnB ultra short and NF 4-16 territory
The 2.5-20 is intriguing but at 32oz you’re in SnB ultra short and NF 4-16 territory
Friendship ended with Horus H27 reticle. Now PA is my best friend
I think the reticle for for 2.5-20 is better, still prefer something as mil-xt or ebr7c/d
Entirely too much information to digest, aside from obstructed view of target or trace.
@koshkin or anyone else at Shot who could run by Primary Arms and weigh in on the reticles on both of the PLX long range scopes. Those of us who have shown interest have spoken our unsupported opinions without having stuck our face up to the lens for a real view. Trying to remain optimistic, and would like some knowledgeable commentary before committing more of my time to the concept.
The simpler DEKA reticle is looking very good.
I am going to try to do a livestream tonight, but it might be pretty late.
ILya
Am of the opinion that the Deka or Athena may be the more useful for my applications, and I do like the Griffin in GLX 1-6 and PLXC 1-8, though the Neptune ‘appears’ very busy-maybe too much so to be applicable for gas gun usage. Decent field of view, turret quality and solid IQ throughout mag range are my concerns. Very interested to hear more learned opinions from the assembled wisdom here.
ILya mentioned he was really impressed with the PLXc 2.5-20x48 optically and said he felt it was ATACR glass at NX at NX8 price and thinks the DEKA reticle is usable.
After seeing a bit more of the PLxC 2.5-20x48 I am more hopeful. @marsh1 once you get back and get rested from SHOT I was hoping you might be able to share more about the new and unique turret design you've put into this scope.
Did I miss an estimated release date on the 2.5-20x ?
I assume price will come with that, but would be nice to know if I'm holding out till April or October.
If it's NX8 price point, I'll probably wait for a used one, but if they can get it to the $1500 range (like their current 6-30 PLx), they probably won't be able to make them fast enough.
I assume price will come with that, but would be nice to know if I'm holding out till April or October.
If it's NX8 price point, I'll probably wait for a used one, but if they can get it to the $1500 range (like their current 6-30 PLx), they probably won't be able to make them fast enough.
The Neptune looks crazy, but both the Deka and Athena G2 seem quite reasonable.
My bigger issue is the 2.5-20 weighs 32oz.
The Athena looks like it'll be "okay" for the 4.5x, glad they got rid of the silly tiny chevron. I really wish they brought the thick horizontal bars in to 6mils and brought the vertical bar up to maybe 10 mils.
None of the reticles interest me for the 2.5x which is really a shame as a mil-tree 2.5-20 usable throughout the mag range is something I would be very willing to pay for.
From what I gathered this will likely be a Q3 release, Q4 may be a safer assumption.
None of the reticles interest me for the 2.5x which is really a shame as a mil-tree 2.5-20 usable throughout the mag range is something I would be very willing to pay for.
From what I gathered this will likely be a Q3 release, Q4 may be a safer assumption.
The deka looks like a crosshair. Which is a fail. Floating dot is superior. And the Athena g2 looks so damn busy everywhere. It’s awful. No one wants a busier mill Xt reticle. And no one wants a grid reticle. They failed on the choices.
The Deka I saw was like a mildot with subtensions but it has a chevron as the center aiming point which I don't really like. A crosshair or floating dot would be better.
Hmm, it appears they have updated their 2025 catalog to show the 2.5-20 weighing 30.05oz now.
Ugh just saw the Athena is available in the 2.5 but not the 4.5. I had that reticle in their 3-18 and 4-16 GlX. can confirm it was useless at 3x... and not great at 4x either... and that was with the little chevron. I hope they change that, maybe just get rid of the Neptune.
Also just noticed these scopes are 34mm. I think they could have saved a lot of weight by going with a 30mm tube. Personally I would happily sacrifice adjustment range to get a more versatile optic.
Also just noticed these scopes are 34mm. I think they could have saved a lot of weight by going with a 30mm tube. Personally I would happily sacrifice adjustment range to get a more versatile optic.
Not sure if anyone has posted this but here is their full catalog for 2025, I wasn't aware of the R-SPEC Autolive (shake awake) battery cap for Vortex RG2/RG3 1-10 scopes
30.05 oz is more appealing than 32oz but here are my thoughts as compared to the Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50 which has been on the market for 7 years now with pretty competitive resale pricing of late
- PA made a choice to go with 48mm objective (just to differentiate themselves from NF?)
- PA went with 34mm tube (this could be good or bad depending on your perspective)
- PA's scope is heavier by just over 2oz (sure many would like sub 25oz scopes but the 30oz class has been sustainable for a crossover type scope for a while now)
- PA turrets are likely better (NX8 turrets are pretty meh, but get the job done, certainly not ATACR feel)
- PA PLx glass "may be" better than NX8 (remains to be seen)
- PA put tiny numbers on their turrets (apparently no one over 45 works at PA)
- PA made their scope shorter than NX8 (potentially more finicky)
- PA FOV at 2.5x listed at quite a bit more than NX8 - 46.7' @ 100y vs 41.8' @ 100y for NX8
- PA FOV at 20x listed at quite a bit less than NX8 - 5.8' @ 100y vs 7.0' @ 100y for NX8 (however, some have claimed that NF's numbers for FOV are incorrect, if true NX8 has class leading 26.73° AFOV at 20x...)
- PA has lower profile turrets vs NX8
- PA made some interesting choices for reticles out of the gate
- PA claims their illumination is daylight visible (not aimpoint bright, but visible during the day with sun...) NX8 also has an extremely bright illumination module
I wish they made something that competed with the 4.5-22 LHT, that scope has been out long enough to make a gen2. I want lighter not heavier scopes!!
This 1000%
- PA made a choice to go with 48mm objective (just to differentiate themselves from NF?)
Seems like a reasonable compromise between 40 and 50. I don't hate it.
- PA went with 34mm tube (this could be good or bad depending on your perspective)
I prefer the 34mm tube, It's probably the 2nd thing about the NX8 that I don't like.
- PA turrets are likely better (NX8 turrets are pretty meh, but get the job done, certainly not ATACR feel)
I've never really been impressed with any NF turret feels...but the NX8 are especially shitty for a $2000 optic.
- PA put tiny numbers on their turrets (apparently no one over 45 works at PA)
I'm only 43 so that doesn't really bother me, there's enough potential for someone to make a white tape ring, or even just a silver sharpy dot at the full mil marks.
- PA made their scope shorter than NX8 (potentially more finicky)
I don't remember the Eotech 5-25 being unusably finicky so I don't expect that to be a legitimate issue. yet to be seen I guess.
- PA has lower profile turrets vs NX8
Anything could be better than the NX8 turret. Sad when Arken feels better.
- PA made some interesting choices for reticles out of the gate
I don't hate what I saw, but as with anything...it'll probably take some time love/hate it. The Neptune isn't perfect, but it looks as good or better than the old H59...and I still have scopes today that have it.
PA has a new turret design that essentially works like a cartridge. I looked at how it works on the inside and it is quite clever. It is easy to have different version to swap out, so that getting bigger numbering for the blind is not going to be an issue.
I was not super happy with the tree reticles, but DAKA G2 looked pretty good. I'll be getting one relatively soon.
I do not know how finicky the parallax is going to be, but eyebox seemed quite good.
To comment on FOV comparison above: we know NF NX8 FOV specs are not accurate. When I get my hands on the PA, I'll measure it.
ILya
I was not super happy with the tree reticles, but DAKA G2 looked pretty good. I'll be getting one relatively soon.
I do not know how finicky the parallax is going to be, but eyebox seemed quite good.
To comment on FOV comparison above: we know NF NX8 FOV specs are not accurate. When I get my hands on the PA, I'll measure it.
ILya
Yes, a while back. I think AFOV was right around 23 degrees above 3x and it tunneled below 3x. Those are very respectable numbers, so I am not sure why their website specs are exaggerated. My best guess it is a typo that noone bothered to correct. Marketing people are often special in that sort of way.
ILya
That is a considerable difference. Does “truth in advertising” not apply to the sport optics world? I don’t see Ford getting away with saying the Ford Focus has a 600hp engine???
Oh I know, marketing people are “special”, almost as “special” as sales people
