SLx

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Primary Arms SLx 3-18x50 Gen 2

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  Quality optics have become affordable for most shooters in the last few years. One no longer needs to spend $1000, or more, to get a clear quality optic. Primary Arms has been aiding us shooters with these types of optics. Their new Gen 2 SLx 3-18x50 FFP is one of those. This optic has features that should make it cost twice the price. 

  The Gen 2 SLx 3-18 is packed with features. Coming in first is its First Focal Plane (FFP) reticle. Yes, this $500 optic has a FFP Christmas tree style reticle. So when you zoom in, all the reticle’s MIL marks stay the same. This allows you to hold over for bullet drops, or wind, at any reticle setting. This particular optic uses Primary Arms’ ACSS Athena BPR Mil reticle. I won’t go much into the reticle’s design as it uses MIL’s in a very useful pattern. But, the reticle is illuminated to help one see better in low light. It’s pretty bright for this size of optic. This ACSS reticle also uses a small center chevron, think triangle, for aiming. Most optics like this just use a small dot. The top point of the chevron can be used for very precise shots, more so than if one were to use an optic with a small center dot. The other nice aspect to this reticle is its built in ranging ladder. The ladder is in the upper right hand portion of the optic. This puts it out in the part of the reticle that is seldom used. I really like how Primary Arms designed the ACSS Athena reticle. It is easy to use, even for someone like me that is used to using a MOA reticle. I even mentioned to Primary Arms that they were starting to convert me to MIL reticle scopes. Part of that comment was due to the SLx 3-18x50.

At 18x, Tower Light is approximately 350 yds away. Light is also 15” wide for ranging purposes.

  Since I was talking about the reticle, let's go into the optics themselves. This SLx 3-18 gen 2 is exceptionally clear. This is why I say it far exceeds its class. I had zero problems with the clarity, even at its full magnification of 18x. I could easily make out 17 HMR holes in targets at 100yds. The crispness of the glass is also really good, though I did find it to drop off a little at longer ranges and at higher magnification, but it never caused any problems. I did find the parallax adjustment to be a little touchy. At least when focusing the parallax adjustment on targets between 200-400 yards. They were the hardest to get focused. Other ranges didn’t seem to be as touchy, even the lower ranges like 15-100 yds. I will give the SLx credit for having a parallax adjustment that goes from 10 yds to infinity. Other than those minor issues, the SLx 3-18 gen 2 has great glass for the money.

  The function of the SLx 3-18x50 gen 2 has some outstanding features also. My absolute favorite is that this optic has a true zero stop on the elevation turret. Once you find out where your zero is, just set the stop and you will never have problems finding your zero again. No matter where you adjust to, just turn the back down until it stops, you are now at your zero setting. The turrets have been upgraded over the first gen SLx 3-18. They are larger so you can get a better feel on them. This also makes them easier to turn. These turrets also have fairly good clicks to them. You can feel and hear them. The elevation turret is a target style and not capped. The windage turret is capped….unless you want it to be a target style turret. Primary Arms includes a target style turret that you can replace the capped one with. So essentially you have the best of both worlds. I typically don’t dial for windage, so I left the turret in the capped version. One other feature, that Primary Arms added to the SLx 3-18 gen 2, is their changeable throw lever for the magnification ring. Instead of being stuck with whatever the optic company gives you, Primary Arms gives you options. The throw lever, that comes installed, is fairly tall and makes it easy to adjust magnification. But, if it’s not your thing, just take it off, or get one of the other throw lever options.

  I installed the SLx 3-18x50 gen 2 on my semi-precision 243. Being that the 243 is not your standard 1000 yd cartridge, more of a 800 yd one, I thought this magnification range would be a perfect fit for it. All I can say is that it worked out great on this rifle. Don’t get me wrong, the SLx 3-18 gen 2 is perfectly capable of going out to 1000 yds clearly. My eyes are old and like a little more magnification when reaching out farther. A while back, 10x was adequate for 1000 yds. I view a 3-18 as more of a mid to long range optic. If I was looking for something in the longer range category, I’d look into the Primary Arms 5-25x56.

  Primary Arms did a great job designing the SLx 3-18x50 FFP gen 2. Basically it reaches above its pay grade and into the realm of optics that cost twice its price. It has good optical clarity and a top notch reticle. The SLx 3-18 gen 2 also functions extremely well with those large turrets and zero stop. It is a little on the heavy side, but for $500 you can’t go wrong. So if you think you might need a top notch, value priced optic, in the 3-18 power range, do yourself a favor and check out the SLx 3-18x50 gen 2 from Primary Arms

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

First Focal Plane mid-power optic with a great feature set

Target Market:

Precision shooters and hunters

Features & Benefits of this product:

  • CR2032 3V Lithium Battery

  • Eye Relief: Low: 3.5in. / High: 3.9in.

  • Field View at 100: Low: 35ft. / High: 5.9ft.

  • First Focal Plane

  • Red Illuminated Reticle with 6 brightness levels

  • Length: 13.6 in.

  • Magnification: 3X - 18X

  • ACSS ATHENA BPR MIL Reticle

  • 0.1 Mil Click Adjustment Value

  • Total Elevation Adjustment: 100 MOA

  • Total Windage Adjustment: 64 MOA

  • 30mm Tube Diameter

  • Weight: 32.04 oz

  • Zero Stop Elevation Adjustment

  • Lifetime Warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Apollo 6.5cr/224v and 308/6.5g reticles     

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Hunt Fish Shoot on YouTube  

Price point:

MSRP = $499.99

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Clear Glass

  • Price

  • Zero Stop

  • Larger Turrets

  • Extra Dial Turret for Windage

Cons:

  • Parallax adjustment is touchy

  • Heavy

Score:  8.00 Great

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Primary Arms SLx 3x MicroPrism

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  Many years back, fixed power optics were very common. They tended to be larger in size when compared to say, a standard tube style red dot. Fixed power optics have come back around thanks to the small magnified prism optics like the Primary Arms SLx 3x MicroPrism. The SLx is so much lighter and smaller than the fixed power scopes of the old days. The SLx 3 power prism also gives you plenty of new benefits that just weren’t available back in the day. So let’s welcome in the small, fixed 3 power optic of the future. Now offered in FDE to match all your tactical needs.

  Primary Arms set the bar high when they released the 1x MicroPrism, then they raised it with 3x and 5x models. They sent me out the 3x version in FDE. Fixed power optics have their place in the shooting world. With the SLx 3x you get a super small package size plus some magnification to see targets at mid range distances. Since the magnification isn't super overpowering, you can still use this optic up close. It also doesn’t weigh much, tipping the scales at just about 8 ounces. For being in Primary Arms’ SLx line of products, you get an exceptional value with super clear glass. 

  One of the great aspects of the Primary Arms 3x MicroPrism is its reticle. Primary Arms uses one of their ACSS reticles, or “Advanced Combined Sighting System”, in the SLx 3x. In particular, this is the Raptor ACSS reticle. The ACSS Raptor gives you ranging, bullet drop compensation, wind holds, and moving target leads, all in a simple to use red colored reticle. The reticle has an illuminated horseshoe around a center chevron (think triangle instead of dot). The ranging, wind and bullet drop then take up the reticle below the center chevron, these compensations are not illuminated. The illuminated section has 13 intensity settings, 3 of which can be used with night vision. Using the ACSS Raptor is really easy. The large horseshoe lets you shoot up close targets quickly, even though the SLx is a 3 power optic. The chevron and stadia then give you precision shots out farther. I found the reticle to be a good compromise between close and far range targets. Being a 3 power prism sight, I am a little slower at shooting an array of close in targets, but I am more accurate when out at farther distances. Primary Arms did a good job with the reticle on the SLx 3x MicroPrism. The illuminated part of the reticle is “daylight” bright, even in direct sunlight. If, for some reason, it does wash out a tiny bit, the reticle is etched into the glass, so you get your typical non illuminated black reticle anytime, even if the battery goes dead. 

  If you are worried that the SLx 3x MicroPrism won’t work for your firearm, don’t fret. Primary Arms gave the MicroPrism plenty of mounting options, and they all come with the optic. The SLx manual states 8 different mounting heights. This is from essentially rail height (1.1” to center of prism) to 2.075” to center of optic. There is also one other option. If you have a carry handle AR, fixed or removable, the SLx MicroPrism will mount directly to the carry handle. If you want to use a different mount than the ones supplied, The SLx MicroPrisms use an industry standard “Mini Prism” footprint. 

  One aspect of the Primary Arms MicroPrisms is their exceptional clarity. For the price you pay for one of these, you get extraordinary clear glass. I’ve also found that even though the eye relief is stated at 2.7”, it is very forgiving. Since the MicroPrisms have an etched reticle, they also don’t have the clarity problems for people with astigmatisms. Making the ACSS reticle super clear. Being that this SLx MicroPrism is 3 power, it also has a decent field of view at 100 yds, which is 38 ft. So you will see a 38 foot wide circle, when looking through the prism sight, at 100 yards. 

  The SLx 3x MicroPrism also has a few other features that need mentioning. First off, it uses Primary Arms’ “AutoLive” motion sensing on and off. So when you pick up the SLx prism, the reticle turns on at whatever brightness the knob is set to. After not sensing any movement for a few minutes, the optic goes back into a hibernate mode, where the reticle is off. Once you move the optic, the on cycle starts again. I absolutely love the AutoLive technology and it works fantastic on the Primary Arms’ MicroPrisms. This AutoLive also gives the 3x MicroPrism a battery life of around 29,000 hours. Which is fantastic for any magnified optic. The windage and elevation adjustments are also protected from being hit or accidentally turned. You can even adjust them using the rim of a cartridge. I’ve done it, it’s easier than looking through the range bag for a tool. 

  The Primary Arms SLx 3x MicroPrism fits in well for a fixed mid range optic. It allows close range work too. Everytime I look through one of the Primary Arms MicroPrisms, I am surprised by the optic clarity. Add in the AutoLive function and you have a great combo of features. So if you are looking for a small fixed 3 power optic, check out Primary Arms’ line of SLx MicroPrisms.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Small, lightweight fixed 3 power prism scope

Target Market:

Those wanting a small profile, fixed 3x sight

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • FDE finish

  • 13 total illumination settings, 3 are NightVision compatible

  • Daylight Bright

  • AutoLive motion-sensing on/off battery saving technology 

  • Length: 2.95”  

  • Weight: 7.95 oz.

  • Illuminated and etched ACSS bullet drop reticle

  • Field of View: 38.0 ft @ 100 yds

  • 80 MOA Adjustment

  •  0.25 MOA Click Value

  • 8 Mounting Height Options

  • One CR2032 Battery (Included)

  • Up to 29,000 Hours on medium setting

  • Industry Standard Mini Prism Mount Footprint

  • Eye Relief: 2.7"

  • Lens Covers 

  • Lifetime Warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Black anodized, Griffin MIL reticle

What others are saying?:

5 out 5 stars - Devin at PrimaryArms.com

WOW, PRIMARY ARMS REALLY GOT IT RIGHT WITH THIS ONE!

This is Primary Arms Optic number 3 for me, but will definitely not be the last!

I got this optic for a lighter weight, simplified build. Got tired of dealing with heavy rifles and playing around with LPVO's, so this became the obvious choice. I was a bit skeptical about the fixed 3x magnification, but after zeroing it this afternoon I didn't have any issues taking shots at 100 and 150 yards, ran out of daylight to try any longer distances. However, I don't think I'll have any issues making hits out to 300–400 yards.

I know this is a "budget" priced optic, but I'm pretty impressed, the glass is really clear. The reticle is sharp and informative without being cluttered like so many optics are. Oh, and speaking of the reticle, the illumination is very bright on the maximum setting, much brighter than my LPVO and gen 1 Cyclops prism. I would say it's daylight bright, I actually ended up dropping it down to the 9th or the 10th setting to use during the day.

Link to other reviews:

Lynx Defense  

Price point:

MSRP = $319.99

Retail = Same at Amazon

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Clear

  • Bright ACSS reticle

  • AutoLive

  • Small size

  • Various mounting heights

Cons:

  • Reticle is small to see

Score:  8.00 Great

Favorite Link:  Primary Arms SLx 1x Prism review  

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Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 ACSS NOVA

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  Primary Arms has come out with a new Low Power Variable Optic in their SLx line, it’s the 1-6x24mm SFP Gen IV with the Illuminated ACSS Nova Fiber Wire Reticle. The difference between this new 1-6x24 LPVO, and others, is its new fiber wire reticle. The fiber wire produces an actual daylight bright center red dot. The SLx 1-6x24 Nova reticle also has a bunch of other upgraded features when compared to the SLx gen 3's. Let’s go check it out. 

  This new SLx 1-6x24 comes packed with features. Of course it has 1 power magnification so you can use it like a red dot. Or you can crank it up to 6 power to identify and engage targets at longer distances. To change the magnification, Primary Arms has upgraded the throw lever to their new dovetail style. This new throw lever can be taken out and swapped for different heights, including a fold down style. The magnification ring moves about 180 degrees between 1x and 6 x, which is nice. The SLx 1-6 is still a second focal plane optic, but now has different reticle options, including the Nova Fiber Wire reticle. To zero in the reticle, the SLx 1-6 uses capped turrets that adjust in 0.1 MIL increments. The turrets have a good audible clicks to them. There are also 3 tiny set screws to loosen and set those turrets to a known zero position. The scope weighs in at 17.9 ounces and is 10.4 inches long, which is a good balance for this style of optic.

  It’s time to talk about the SLx 1-6’s Nova fiber wire reticle. This Nova reticle is one of the reasons the Gen 4 SLx shines. Using a fiber optic wire allows the Nova reticle to have a center illuminated red dot. I used to complain when companies would say “daylight bright”, not anymore. The red dot inside the SLx 1-6 is BRIGHT. Not only can you see it in direct bright sunlight, but I'm pretty sure it can be seen while aiming it at the sun, but I wouldn’t recommend trying that. The dot is bright enough that it also doesn’t wash out when using a weapon light, a big plus in my book. Because the SLx is an etched reticle, the red dot does not starburst out for those of us that have an astigmatism, something I can’t say for normal red dots. The illuminated dot size measures 0.6 MOA at 1x and 3.6 MOA at 6x. Brightness for the center dot is adjusted on the left side of the scope. It has 11 levels of brightness with only one off position. It is not night vision compatible, the dot is just too bright at level 1 for that. Also included in the reticle are MIL hash marks. The vertical crosshair’s marks are at 1 MIL intervals. There are narrower 0.5 MIL subtension marks between the large 1 MIL ones. These 1 MIL marks decrease in width as you move down the crosshair. This is to estimate a 18” target’s width to help determine what range the target is at. Being a SFP optic, these stadia marks only are accurate at 6x. The horizontal crosshair has marks for wind or travel speed. These are 3,6, and 9 MPH as you move out away from the center dot. The Nova reticle is a great multi-purpose reticle that can range targets or be used as a red dot.

  Since the Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 is now on the fourth generation of upgrades, this means the user gets upgraded glass. This upgraded glass gives the SLx fantastic clarity. To my eye, it compares to the clarity of my GLx 1-6, which is the next higher level of optics in the Primary Arms optics line. Eye relief on the SLx is stated at 4 inches, but it is very forgiving. The eye box is also pretty good for a scope in this class range. These two specs actually make it very easy to find the optic when shouldering the rifle.  

  I mounted up the SLx 1-6x24 Nova fiber wire on my purple AR15. For this particular rifle, the SLx is great. It is super clear and easy to pick up the reticle. That fiber wire makes the center dot so bright that I can actually use the scope like a red dot at 1x, in bright sunlight. The dot is so bright that I had to turn the brightness way down to get a good picture of the reticle, if that tells you anything. The turret adjustments give me good clicks, so when I turn them, I can tell when they moved. My only complaint about the SLx is the throw lever. It is too stiff for my liking. Even though it’s stiff, the throw lever’s movement is super smooth.

   If you are even remotely looking into getting a LPVO, the Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 Nova reticle needs a look. The glass clarity is great. The reticle is top notch for a “one optic” rifle. Plus that red center dot has got to be one of the brightest of any LPVO in this price range. I would encourage you to go take a look at the SLx 1-6 Nova from Primary Arms. It might be one of the best LPVO’s in its price range

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Low power variable optic with a super bright red dot

Target Market:

Those wanting a LPVO that is actually daylight bright 

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Integrated Magnification Throw Lever

  • ACSS NOVA Fiber Wire Reticle

  • Battery Life: Up to 500 hours

  • Magnification: 1x – 6x

  • Second Focal Plane (SFP) 

  • Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm

  • Exit Pupil: 10.6mm – 3.8mm

  • Eye Relief: 4 in.

  • Total Windage/Elevation Adjustment: 120 MOA

  • Field Of View @100 Yards: 120 ft. – 20 ft. (Low – High)

  • Illumination: Red, 11 Illumination Settings

  • Click Value: 0.1 MIL

  • Length w/o Lens Covers: 10.4 in.

  • Weight w/ Included Battery w/o Lens Covers: 17.9 oz.

  • Lifetime Warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Different Reticles

What others are saying?:

5/5 Stars at PrimaryArms.com

THE NEW STANDARD FOR BUDGET LPVO'S

Absolutely lives up to the hype, punches well above its price point. Yeah, it's going to get compared a lot to the PST Gen 2, and I can honestly say the overall glass quality and image/FOV/Reticle, and illumination are frankly better than the Vortex. Still doesn't quite match the Vortex in build quality or external controls, and the eyebox is a tad less forgiving, but this Nova scope is hands down the best LPVO on the market under $500.

Link to other reviews:

Lynx Defense

Price point:

MSRP = $339.99

Retail = Same, but Primary Arms runs sales often

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms

Our Rating: 

Pros:

  • Super brightly lit dot in center of reticle

  • Removable and changeable throw lever

  •  Lightweight 

  • Mil style reticle

Cons:

  • Second focal plane

  • Stiff throw lever

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  Timber Creek Enforcer Review

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Primary Arms SLx 4-16x44 FFP

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  Recently Primary Arms updated the SLx 4-16x44. This update gave the feature rich, SLx 4-16 some new reticles. One of those is the ARC-2 MOA, a simple, yet effective, illuminated reticle. I was excited to put this optic through its paces and it did not disappoint. Primary Arms’ SLx line is what I like to call performance packed optics at a price everyone can afford.

  To put it simply, the SLx 4-16x44 FFP has magnification of 4x to 16x. It has a 44mm objective lens and a 30mm tube to help gather as much light as possible. Magnification is adjusted with a ring back by the eyepiece. The ring has a raised “fin” that can be removed if you don’t like it. It has a side parallax adjustment that goes from 20 yds to infinity. On the end, of said parallax adjustment, is the illumination ring. It has 11 values to illuminate the ARC-2 reticle. The lowest 2 settings are night vision compatible. The highest setting is “daylight” bright. I can actually see a little bit of red illumination in bright sunlight, something I can’t always say when things are “daylight bright”. The adjustment turrets on the SLx are of the tactical style. They are not capped, nor can they be. They have a pretty good tactile feel for the 1/4 MOA clicks, but are not very audible, if at all. These turrets are resettable to zero with the supplied allen wrench. No zero stop, but I can’t knock a $300 scope for that.

  Now that you have a general rundown of the optic, it’s time for more. I’ll start with the glass. For this being in the SLx line, the glass clarity is great, even at full 16x magnification. I could make out a wire fence at around 500 yds, see picture. The fast focus eyepiece gets the reticle super clear and the parallax adjustment gets the image spot on at all different ranges. I really am amazed at how clear the glass is for a $300 scope. The only real downfall of looking through the optic is its eye relief. Primary Arms specs the eye relief at 3.6 - 3.9”. So you really have to be in that 0.3” range to get a good eye box picture. Especially at those higher magnifications. I’m not using this on fast moving targets, so it doesn’t bother me much.

  The Primary Arms 4-16x44 FFP has a few different reticle options. Some are their ACSS style, but I’ll be focusing on the ARC-2 reticle of this particular scope. I chose the ARC-2 MOA reticle because it is not cluttered up with stuff, like so many “christmas tree reticles” are. First off, the reticle is in minutes of angle, which is what I prefer. Second, it’s a first focal plane (FFP) reticle. So all the subdivisions, or hash marks, stay the same size throughout the magnification range. The reticle grows as you increase the magnification. This is so those marks in the reticle stay the same, and are usable for windage and elevation holdovers, at any magnification. On that note, Primary Arms did a nice job with this reticle. Almost all of the MOA marks are visible when at 16x. I’ve seen FFP optics that, a big portion of, the reticle disappears when at full magnification. The reticle itself is essentially just a crosshair with little marks spaced every 2 MOA apart. Every 10 MOA, there is a larger mark and a number, at least on the elevation portion of the reticle. Windage is a little different, with 2 MOA marks for the first 10 MOA, and then marks every 5 MOA past that. See the reticle picture for values. This reticle is very clean. It’s kind of old school mil-dot meets new school technology. Did I mention that the grid portion of the reticle is illuminated? Well it is, in red, with 11 brightness settings. I really like the style of simple and useful reticles like the ARC-2.

  The ARC-2 is such a great reticle, but adjusting your scope is still very important. That brings us to the target style turrets on the 4-16x44. If you are into dialing your scope for windage and elevation adjustments, you want good target turrets. I found these to be repeatable, at least in my testing. If I dialed up 15 MOA, and then back down 15 MOA, it shot where I expected it to. I didn’t do a tracking test, But this isn’t a $1000+ scope, so I didn’t see any need for me to do that. The clicks on the turrets feel really good but you can’t really hear them. I prefer feel over hearing them anyway. They also have a little resistance to them, which is nice, so they don’t move if you bump them in the field. Each turret adjusts in 0.25 MOA/click and 15 MOA per 1 revolution of the turret. It has over 85 MOA of total adjustment, or about 6 full turns of the turret. L/R and UP are marked next to or under the turret, depending on which one it is. There is also a little mark to use for setting zero. The SLx 4-16 has the ability to set the turret dials to zero, after you have sighted it in. There’s 3 tiny set screws at the turret's top, loosen them and rotate the knob to zero. Tighten them back up and your zero is now set. 

  I have the Primary Arms SLx 4-16x44 mounted on a “varmint style” AR. The scope weighs in at 25 ounces. But in this case, it is the perfect scope for this particular rifle. The SLx has performed super well for me. It’s super clear for a scope in this price range. It’s easily adjusted, if needed. It has an illuminated reticle for low light use. A parallax adjustment that goes super low, so if I wanted to use it on something like a .22lr, I could. I wouldn’t hesitate to take this hunting in the brush. I think it would make an excellent hunting scope as the ARC-2 reticle doesn’t take up a lot of room in the scope. The magnification range is also great for this AR’s use case.

  If you're in the market for a feature rich FFP optic, the Primary Arms SLx 4-16x44 ARC-2 might be it. I just can’t get over all the options you get in this optic, and at an incredible price. It performed better than my expectations for sure. The updated SLx scopes from Primary Arms are definitely worth checking out.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality low priced FFP optic

Target Market:

Those wanting excellent quality in a mid range optic, but at a reasonable price

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • First Focal Plane ARC-2 MOA reticle

  • Partial Red Reticle Illumination, Visible in Sunlight

  • 11 brightness adjustments, including 2 that are Night Vision compatible 

  • Side Parallax adjustment

  • Click Value: 0.25 MOA

  • FOV @ 4x / 100 yd : 26.6 ft

  • FOV @ 16x / 100 yd : 6.5 ft

  • Total Windage and Elevation Adjustment: > 85 MOA

  • Zero resettable turrets  

  • Weight (with Battery, without Lens Covers): 25.4 oz

  • Tube Diameter: 30 mm

  • Eye Relief: 3.6 – 3.9 in

  • Fast Focus Eyepiece

  • Fog Resistant

  • Fully Nitrogen Purged, IP67 Waterproof Standard and Dust Proof

  • 6063 Aluminum with Anodized Matte Black

  • Flip-up Lens Covers Included

  • Uses one CR2032 Battery (Included)

  • Lifetime Warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Tons in the SLx line    

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of this review

Link to other reviews:

Same - nothing found

Price point:

MSRP = $299.99

Retail = Same, but Primary Arms always has sales going on

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Price

  • First Focal Plane reticle

  • Reticle options

  • Good Illumination

  • Clear field of view

Cons:

  • Non-forgiving eye box

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  SLx 1x Prism

Primary Arms is an advertiser on the Gun & Gear Review podcast. This does not give them a better review than any other company. 

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Primary Arms SLx RS-10 red dot

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  When I first learned about the new Primary Arms SLx RS-10 mini reflex sight, I was very interested. Then I received one, and was even more excited. This little, open reflex, pistol mounted red dot is everything they said it would be. Including a great price of $199.99.

Autolive in action

  The SLx RS-10 is packed with features. It runs a 3 MOA red dot that is easily picked up. It has 11 brightness settings. Of which include night vision compatibility and daylight bright. I couldn’t try out the night vision setting, but the daylight bright setting is really bright, even in direct sunlight. You should have zero problems seeing the dot in any light. The RS-10 also has easy to use controls on the left side. These buttons are only raised slightly above the RS-10’s surface. Of course they control brightness as well as actual on/off. I say “actual” because the RS-10 features Primary Arms’ “Autolive”. The Autolive is an automatic on/off function that works fantastic. Just barely move the sight and the dot turns on. After about 3 minutes of zero sight movement, the sight turns off. Any teeny movement will keep the RS-10 on. Back to the “actual” on/off. To turn the sight off, as if you are going to store it for a long time, just hold the up and down buttons simultaneously for a few seconds and the sight will permanently turn off. Then to turn it back on, and into the Autolive feature, just hold either the up or down button a few seconds until the dot turns on. Primary Arms specs the battery life at 40,000 hours with a CR2032 battery. So if you change the battery out once a year, you should be good to go and never have the dreaded dead dot. If you couldn’t tell, I really like the Autolive feature.

  Primary Arms also stuck some other features into the RS-10. For strength, they manufacture the housing out of 7075 aluminum. This is the same grade aluminum that quality AR receivers are made from, so it should be good to go. I really like the shape they chose for the housing and window. The rounded, almost square shape seems to draw my eye to the dot. I seem to find the dot much faster than other pistol mounted red dots. Primary Arms says the window size is 23mm and even if it is a smaller window than some brands, see the above comments. I mentioned battery life earlier, but the RS-10 does have a side loading battery tray. That means you can change the battery without having to remove the sight from your desired mounting platform, keeping your zero intact. Coming in at just over an ounce, the RS-10 shouldn’t weigh you down either.

  Anymore, the mounting method for a reflex sight is very important. Mainly because one needs to know if it will fit on their handgun. The SLx RS-10 uses the fairly common Docter/Noblex footprint to directly mount to stuff. Primary Arms also includes a picatinny rail mount and a Glock MOS plate. That way if you aren’t mounting it directly to a pistol, you have some options. For instance, it would make a great 45 degree offset red dot for a rifle. I ended up mounting it on a Strike Industries Liteslide for a G19, as it has a multi optic mounting platform. The SLX RS-10 mounted in perfectly. Primary Arms decided to go with the Docter mounting footprint so they could use that CR2032 battery and have it side mounted. Since the battery is physically larger than other options, you end up getting more battery life out of it. For the small size of the RS-10, a different mounting footprint just wouldn’t work. 

  The SLx RS-10 is a great little red dot. This doesn’t come without a few tiny gripes. If you hold the RS-10 on target, and start shaking it a tiny bit, in a circle, the dot will galaxy out. So it literally looks kind of like a little galaxy inside the window. Does it bother anything? Nope, when shooting the pistol I didn’t even notice it. Even on moving and circling targets. Most people probably wouldn’t even notice it. I also would have liked to see it on a RMR footprint, but Primary Arms didn’t do this because of those “battery” reasons. I can understand this. Now, on a good note. Even for me, with my astigmatism, the dot is fairly clear. So those with normal eyes will see a nice crisp dot. 

  I am going to say this, the Primary Arms SLx RS-10 is currently my go to red dot pistol sight. This red dot impressed me more than I expected. I can find the dot easily. I haven’t destroyed it yet. Even if I did, it has a lifetime warranty. The size doesn’t get in the way. I’d say it is somewhere between one of the super small mini reflex versions and a Holosun 507. The RS-10 is always ready to go because of the “Autolive” feature. The click adjustments for windage and elevation make it easy to make adjustments, unlike other mini reflex sights that have no clicks. I ran this thing fairly hard and have had zero problems. 

  If you are looking for a mini reflex red dot, the SLx RS-10 from Primary Arms might be it. It is priced under $200. At that price, it’s a great deal for this feature packed red dot. With the Autolive function, you won’t have to worry about if the dot is on or off, because it will always be on. I don’t think you can go wrong selecting the Primary Arms SLx RS-10 mini reflex sight. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality Mini Reflex red dot sight for a great value

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a decent priced pistol mounted red dot

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 7075 aluminum body

  • Side-loading CR2032 battery compartment

  • Convenient push-button controls

  • 11 Brightness settings

  • Daylight bright and night vision compatible brightness levels

  • 3 MOA dot

  • Picatinny Rail Mount and Low Profile Adaptor Plate for Glock® MOS Slides Included

  • Autolive motion activation

  • 40,000 hour battery life

  • Weighs just 1.07 Oz

  • 23mm window

  • Lifetime warranty

  • Docter/Noblex footprint

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars on Amazon 

Another great option from PA

Mounted on my Canik Rival with no issues. Great product for the price. Will highly consider getting another in the future.

Link to other reviews:

Lynx Defense  

Price point:

MSRP = $199.99

Retail = $199.99 but Primary Arms is constantly running sales

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Autolive motion activation

  • Price

  • Dot is easily picked up

  • Side loading battery

  • Actual “click” windage and elevation adjustments 

Cons:

  • Doctor / Noblex footprint

  • Galaxies when circling a target fast

Score:  8.00 Great

Favorite Link:  Walker Defense Research

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Primary Arms SLx 1x Prism

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  I was looking around for a prism sight to replace one of my red dots on an AR rifle. I was tired of the flared out dot due to my astigmatism. So when the chance came along to get behind the Primary Arms SLx 1x prism, I was literally a kid in a candy store. The Primary arms SLx worked great as the red dot replacement.

  The SLx 1x prism had all the features I wanted in a true 1 power optic. For one, it was a prism sight. Therefore it has an etched reticle, like most magnified optics. I really like this as a feature, it takes away the burst that red dots have for me, and it gives an actual reticle, even when not illuminated by the battery. I’ll get to the actual reticle later. The SLx’s reticle illumination is red, but green is also an option. Another feature that I wanted was good eye relief. Since it’s not a red dot style optic, eye relief is important. The SLx has a stated 2-6” of eye relief. But it really feels like more. I can get right up on the optic or back off even more than the 6”s and still get a good sight picture, so much so that it feels very much like looking through a red dot optic.

  Primary Arms gave the SLx 1x prism their ACSS Cyclops gen II reticle. The ACSS (Advanced Combined Sighting System) Cyclops is a horseshoe style etched reticle with a chevron, think triangle, in the middle. The round horseshoe part gives extremely fast target acquisition, especially for close up targets. It is also about the size of a 00 buck pattern at 25 yds. The chevron then takes over for precise aiming. You can also use the chevron like you would a red dot, if up close. The top point of the chevron is where you would zero your rifle. This point is also where you get pretty precise aiming by just putting the point on the target. The zero depends on what barrel length and caliber you are using (see picture). With a 16” 5.56 barrel, it would be 100 yds. The inner point of the chevron is now a bullet drop compensator. So with the same 16” barrel, this would be for 300 yds. Then the bottom part of the chevron would be 400 yds. The BDC is just a close estimation, since it also depends on ammunition type and the height at which the SLx is mounted. There is also range estimation built into the SLx. It uses a 5’10” tall or 18” wide object for range estimation. When sighting in, the SLx has 1 MOA clicks for both the windage and elevation adjustments. The clicks are very positive. The adjusting dial is recessed into the SLx’s housing so that the adjustments won’t be hit and knocked out of zero. It also makes for a smoother look. Even though the 1 MOA adjustments worked fine, since the SLx has the precise chevron aiming point, I would have liked to see more accurate adjustments, maybe more like ¼ MOA, or even ½ MOA.  

  Illumination comes from a CR2032 battery that rides inside the brightness knob. The SLx has 13 brightness settings. The highest are “daylight bright”, and the lowest 3 are for night vision. Yes, the “daylight bright” does illuminate the reticle in bright sunlight. It’s not quite as bright as a quality red dot, but you can still see that it is a brighter red. My biggest complaint about the SLx is it’s mushy and hard to turn brightness knob. The click between levels just suck, plus it’s hard to get the dial to turn to them. If it had better “clicks” I wouldn’t complain as much about the stiffness. But, on the other side of that is the awesome “Autolive” function. This is a motion activated auto on function. After a certain time of no motion, the illumination will turn off. Then, when it gets moved, even just a little, the reticle turns back on to the last brightness setting it was on. The Autolive works fantastic, see this as to how well it works: YouTube Video. Because of the Autolive function, battery life is greatly extended. In fact, Primary Arms states the battery life to be 29,000 hours on the medium setting! Remember, if the battery dies, you still get the advantage of having an etched reticle, it’s just no longer illuminated. 

  The SLx gives a very clear window in which to look through. I found this prism sight to be way clearer than I expected from a $250 optic. It has a pretty good Field of View at 76.5 ft @ 100yds. It has a very forgiving eyebox and even has a diopter to focus in the reticle for your eyes. Even when looking through the SLx at odd angles, I was still able to get a good sight picture. 

  The Primary Arms SLx 1x prism comes with a variety of mounting options, all of which are included in the package. The SLx comes with 4 spacers and a picatinny rail mounting base. 3 of these spacers are cantilevered, the other 1 is straight. This lets the SLx mount right above the rail, with no spacers, or up super high off the rail with the straight spacer plus the high cantilever one, and anything in between (see picture). Of course all mounting screws and wrenches are included to swap the heights around. Oddly enough, the SLx can also be mounted to a carry handle of an AR. All these height options let you tune the height, so if you are using a magnifier or back up iron sights, you can get it just how you like it. Yes, the SLx prism will work with those too.

This is not on full brightness, more like around setting 7 of 13, in full sun

  Primary Arms did a fantastic job with the SLx 1x prism. It does almost everything I wanted it to do, okay, it does everything I need it to do. The clarity is great, it’s bright, has auto on/off, good battery life, and even works without the illumination. The 1x appears to be a true 1 power to me. Everything close up and far away is clear and size appropriate. Shooting with both eyes open is just like shooting with a non magnified red dot, plus no starburst. Having the ability to mount the SLx at various heights is also nice. I like this optic so much that I might even mount it on my “go to” rifle. Go check out the SLx 1x prism at Primary Arms.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Etched reticle micro prism sight

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a solid 1x optic 

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • ACSS Cyclops Gen II reticle

  • 13 Illumination settings including Daylight Bright

  • 3 Night Vision Settings:  Low, Med & Flood 

  • AutoLive motion-sensing on/off battery saving technology 

  • 29,000 Hour battery life at medium setting

  • Includes 8 Mounting Height Options (incl. Absolute Co-witness & Lower 1/3 heights)

  • Length: 2.48”  

  • Weight: 7.6 oz with height riser (only 5.5 oz without riser)

  • Etched Reticle

  • Diopter for precision reticle clarity

  • Eye Relief Range:  2” to 6” with 3.6” for optimum Field of View

  • Field of View: 76.5 ft @ 100 yds

  • 120 MOA total Adjustments

  • 1 click = 1 MOA

  • Fully Multi-Coated optics

  • IP67 Waterproof, nitrogen purged for fog resistance, and dust proof

  • Uses (1) CR2032 Battery (Included)

  • Lens Covers included

  • Backed by Primary Arms Lifetime Warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Green reticle or FDE housing

What others are saying?:

4 out 5 stars @PrimaryArms 

MAY BE MY NEW FAVORITE OPTIC!

Put this on an AR15 in 5.56 and the performance was fantastic. The included mounting system is excellent, the reticle is outstanding and the field of view for such a small optic is surprising. I like the etched reticle and the brightness settings are perfect for all lighting conditions. Up until now my favorite optic was the Trijicon MRO but at half the price red dot is hard to beat. Seems just as if not more so rugged that much more expensive options. The only drawback and it's a small one is the 1 MOA adjustment increments which could make it difficult to really dial it in at range but out to 50 yards on my rifle it was dead on.

Link to other reviews:

The Firearm Blog

Price point:

MSRP = $249.99

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • AutoLive

  • Super Clear

  • Etched ACSS Cyclops reticle

  • Daylight bright

  • A lot of mounting height options

  • Forgiving eye relief

Cons:

  • 1 MOA click adjustments

  • Mushy brightness clicks

  • Tight brightness knob

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  Walker Defense

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