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

Favorite Link: Primary Arms SLx 1x Prism review

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.