What’s a prism scope, and do you need one?
Long story short…they are fixed magnification optics that use a prism (whoa) instead of the two objective and ocular lenses of a traditional scope.
I’ll go over some of the pros and cons of prism scopes vs. red dots and low-power variable optics.
Then dive into some popular models we prefer here at PPT. By the end, you’ll know if prism scopes are right for you (there’s especially one big reason) and which one to get.
Summary of Our Top Picks
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Best for AstigmatismNice crisp reticle, great for those with astigmatism, 3 night vision modes
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Best Budget PickMonstrum Tactical 2X Prism Scope
Under $100, we experienced some weirdness but if budget is a concern, this will work.
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Best PCC Prism2X magnification makes it a good fit for PCC or smaller rifles
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Best Lightweight PrismSuper light at 9 ounces, the Sptifire is great if you need to lighten some weight on your build.
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Editor's PickPrimary Arms SLx 3x MicroPrism
A good balance of size and performance make this a solid optic. Throw in an awesome rail system and we're sold.
Table of Contents
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Pros & Cons of Prism Scopes
Hard truth: you’re not going to replace a dedicated long-range optic with a prism.
But you can get close. Here are some of our pros and cons.
Pros
- Some level of magnification
- Usually smaller package compared to a traditional scope
- Increased durability due to no moving optical parts
- Illuminated reticles are the norm
- Don’t need batteries like a red dot since the reticle is etched into the glass
- Possibly better for astigmatism
In our opinion, this makes prisms ideal as a battlesight for carbines, as their flexibility means that they can generally be used at both close, mid, and occasionally longer ranges quite comfortably.
As for astigmatism…here’s a nice illustration from AT3 Tactical.
Cons
- Magnification tops out at around 5x
- Heavy compared to red dots
- Not as forgiving parallax and eye relief compared to red dots
- Illuminated reticles aren’t all daylight bright
- Price point of “nice” ones are around $300 and in the ballpark of low power variable optics (LPVOs)
Prism optics definitely have their own cheering section online but keep in mind these negatives as we go into the hands-on testing section.
Best Prism Optics
1. Primary Arms SLx Cyclops Gen 2 with ACSS
We were lukewarm with the first generation of Cyclops, with only ok illumination and decent eye box.
But the new Gen 2 Cyclops blows it out of the water.
Build quality is still superb, AND they managed to get it even smaller.
How about that illumination? It was great, and it comes with 3-night vision modes as well.
ACSS is one of our favorite reticles…and this iteration continues to deliver.
We had our editor, who has a fair amount of astigmatism, try the optic, and it still appeared crisp.
Check out our full review of the Gen 2 Cyclops where we ran over 1,000 rounds at different distances. There’s a reason that we now love it.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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2. Monstrum 2x Prism Scope
Up next, we’ve got a 2x illuminated prism from Monstrum.
Now, I’m not generally one to hate entry-level optics as I think they can be a useful way for entry-level shooters to ease into the world of glass without breaking the bank, and the Monstrum has some pretty solid reviews on Amazon.
That said, I’m not sure the Monstrum is what you’re going to be looking for if that sounds like an accurate description of you.
The optic features a 2x magnification, which is obviously a higher mag than the 1x from primary arms, but it still sort of suffers from the same symptoms as the cyclops.
It’s also worth noting that we ordered the 3x from Amazon and were sent the 2x instead, which we were able to verify because the two have completely different reticles.
The optic’s mount is actually a bit lower profile than everything else in the prism lineup, and I suspect that’s the core root of the issue here.
Assuming you’re throwing this thing on a standard AR-15, the height of the mount is going to ensure that the front of your rail and your weakside hand are going to blurrily occupy the lower third of your field of view.
Which just feels obnoxious and distracting and may not co-witness with your irons, either.
As you’d probably expect, the illumination here is also next to worthless in bright conditions, but it does have 5 levels of adjustable brightness in both red and green flavors that might be okay if you’re shooting in overcast or more dim conditions.
The reticle itself is a simple circle with a dot at the center – with the outer ring being 24 MOA at 100 yards.
We have no real complaints about the glass itself, but there do appear to be tiny blemishes inside the optic if you really look for them.
It’s kinda nitpicky, and you likely won’t notice unless you knew about them beforehand, but we did pick them up when while scrutinizing the Monstrum for review – but again, this is an $80 optic.
What we did have an issue with, however, was the fact that the windage and elevation turrets are inexplicably reversed.
While zeroing the optic, we fired at our steel target and noticed that our rounds were hitting off to the right. As one does, we followed the indicated arrows and began turning the windage turret, such as to bring our reticle over to the right and get our point of aim to match up with our point of impact.
However, despite the fact that we were adjusting the optic correctly, our point of impact continued to shift even further rightwards, and we figured out shortly after that the turrets are actually mislabeled.
We began walking the reticle back the other way and eventually got the Monstrum zeroed.
Again, you can make the argument that this is a $80 budget optic, and maybe you should expect some wonkiness, but I guess my main issue with it is that the scope is mainly geared towards beginners who might not realize right away what’s going on.
We’ve also found similar concerns echoed on the review comments for the optic on Monstrum’s own page, lest ye think the issue just stemmed from us.
Sub $100 is relatively cheap, all things considered, and if you don’t mind any of the weirdness I mentioned above, maybe you’ll be happier with this thing.
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3. Primary Arms GLx 2X Prism with ACSS Gemini 9mm Reticle
A magnified prism sight on a PCC? It seems silly until you give it a try.
Sure, PCCs aren’t exactly long-range guns. You might say my red dot is good enough, but you’re hitting targets at 50 yards, and I’m driving tacks at 150 yards.
We are not the same. The GLx 2X prism is just a little magnification, and that gets you a little closer to the target and gives you a nice clear picture of it.
It’s a lot easier to hit a target when you can see it. At the same time, it’s not a distracting amount of magnification.
It doesn’t require a super tight eyebox or tight eye relief. It’s still friendly for those rapid and rapid shots at close range. At only 2X, you can still shoot and hit targets at close range without worries.
Sitting in the center of this prism optic is an ACSS Gemini reticle specifically designed around both short 7.5-inch barrels and PCC-length 16-inch barres.
We get holdovers out to 200 yards, which is a bit insane with a 9mm and will make you feel like you are mortaring the gun to hit your target.
Primary Arms ensured the reticle is daylight bright so you can see it and use it much like a red dot at close range. It’s a big reticle, but it’s not complicated, and a quick study of the manual shows you what range each marking equals too.
A big clear picture greets you are you look through the optic, that’s impressive for the optic’s low cost.
It’s fairly compact and won’t weigh down your platform, either. That little bit of magnification can go a long way, and the utilitarian nature of the reticle makes it quite handy.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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4. Vortex Spitfire HD Gen 2 3X
It wouldn’t be an optics discussion if we didn’t throw Vortex into the mix.
The Spitfire HD Gen 2 3X was introduced a few years ago but is still going strong. This small, lightweight prism offers clear glass and a pretty reasonable fast acquisition. In short, it’s a really solid option for those of you who suffer from astigmatism.
When using the Spitfire, you get a 37.9-foot field view. But most impressively, this optic sits at just 9 ounces, making it a great option for those that want to keep the weight low.
Its reticle opts for a 3/4s illuminated circle that forms a dome around the 1 MOA center dot and the hashmark reticle. That 3/4 circle portion works well for close-range shooting. Its glass-etched design ensures everything looks crisp and clear.
It’s not particularly bright, but it still holds its own during the brightest part of the day.
Control-wise, you get large + and – buttons instead of a top dial– which makes it easy to use.
If you’re looking for a mid-priced optic, the Vortex Spitfire HD Gen 3X definitely delivers.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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We have more details about the 3X and 5X versions in our full review.
5. Primary Arms SLx 3X MicroPrism
The Primary Arms SLx 3X MicroPrism has single-handily made prisms a lot more relevant to the current conversation. This 8-ounce 3X optic is the size of a compact red dot.
It completely upsets the red dot and LPVO conversation.
These tiny optics are made for both 5.56/.308 rifles as well as .300 Blackout/7.62x39mm rifles. They are small, lightweight, and customizable. Primary Arms includes what seems to be a half dozen mounting options with the optics to fit it to whatever platform you are rocking and rolling with.
It’s Primary Arms, so you know the reticles will be nice, and you get the simplified ACSS Raptor reticle.
This provides the donut of death on top of a BDC for taking shots at both close and long range. Once you get behind the optic, you are met with a surprisingly nice 38-foot field of view.
On top of that, the image is super clear, and the reticle is daylight bright. It’s an impressive offering.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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Personally, if I wanted a prism optic, this might be my top choice.
It’s lightweight and compact but packs a fixed 3X magnification and an awesome rail system. A bright and clear sight picture helps, as does the ability to mount it every which way but loose.
What do you think of the PA SLx? Rate it below!
6. Swampfox Saber
The Saber is a rather new prism optic that offers you a fixed five-power level of magnification.
At the same time, it’s a huge optic that takes the Trihawk route into massive sight pictures for the magnification settings.
For a lot of people, 5X seems a bit much, but to me, it’s all about the platform. I was looking for a compact but high-performing optic for a .223 Remington bolt gun, and the Saber looked perfect.
With 5X magnification, I see well within the round’s limitations, and the MOA reticle allows me to compensate easily for drop.
In terms of field of view, the Saber is class-leading at 30.9 feet at 100 yards. It’s a wide, bright, and clear sight picture for those more distant engagements.
Unlike prisms at the 3X or even 4X range, close shooting is admittedly tough with the Swampfox Saber.
To make up for that, Swampfox included mounting platforms on the left and right to accommodate mini red dots. Specifically dots with the Shield RMCs footprint. This allows you to stack an extra red dot on for those close-range encounters.
This makes the Saber almost effective as an LPVO. For my shooting, I find myself typically only using only the highest magnification setting or the lowest. I have that same option here.
The Saber might be a little pricier, but it’s still well within the affordable world of prism optics. It’s certainly a more niche option but one that deserves to be mentioned.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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7. Swampfox Trihawk
When it comes to saving some dinero but still getting a high-quality optic, there is the Swampfox Trihawk. The Trihawk costs about $200 and offers you a fixed 3X magnification. Don’t get startled reading the specs.
This is not a micro prism. In fact, it’s a macroprism.
It’s big at 4.55 inches long and 3.43 inches high, but that’s purposeful. It’s huge because it offers you a class-leading field of view. At 100 yards, you are getting a 52-foot field of view.
That’s absurd compared to other prism optics on the market. That massive field of view makes it easy to track moving targets or to find the target if your presentation gets a little sloppy.
On top of that, the exit pupil is nice and large due to the lens size, and you get a clear and bright picture.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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It’s deceptively clear for a $200 optic. Inside that field of view sits either a BDC reticle or an MOA reticle. The MOA design allows you to tailor the Trihawk to any rifle platform, but the BDC locks you into either 5.56 or .308.
The only downside is that I wish the reticle was a bit brighter. It can appear a little dim at high noon in the sunshine state. Other than that, it’s tough not to like the Trihawk.
Unless you dislike massive field of view, clear-sight pictures, and a great price.
But What About ACOGs?
Probably the OGs of bombproof prism scopes are Trijicon ACOGs.
We’ve got an article just for them and some for clones as well!
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that, depending on your individual needs and ability to spend cash on gun glass, we’re positive you’ll find something here that works for you.
What are your thoughts on Prism optics? Do you run a 1x? Or are you like us and prefer Low Power Variable Optics? Also, check out our all-encompassing Best AR-15 Optics and Best Optics for Astigmatism.
32 Leave a Reply
I have an AR 300blk 8 inch pistol (no arm brace). Is the PA Gen 2 Cyclops suitable to arm length one hand aiming/shooting with and without single point sling support?
Is it suitable to two hand push/pull aiming/shooting?
Or does eye relief limit me to cheek on tube shooting?
I have mild astigmatism so the PA gen2 Cyclops looks very attractive to me.
a friend of mine has the trihawk on an AK. It's pretty damned brilliant, honestly. I just wish, like all scopes for AK's, that it could be mounted lower.
Travis, when I was looking for an optic for my new Colt 6940, I trash across your article on the Primary Arms SLx Gen2 Cyclops and bought one. For me, it was what I wanted.
A short time later, I bought their 3X magnifier with a "Flip to the side mount". Again, it works for me.
Then they came out with their 3X Cyclops. I might have bought it, but I like the idea of being able to use the 1X Cyclops for up close and personal work.
To me, Primary Arms has a great product that meets my needs perfectly.
A decade ago I put a burris ar-332 (I think they're discontinued now) on a retro carbine with a carry handle. I was going for the gordon carbine look, but I have an astigmatism and the red dot was a no go for me. I've been incredibly happy with that setup and really appreciate the 3x magnification. Not too much for point blank, but enough to reach out quite a way
As a poor slob that suffers from moderate astigmatism, I'm in the market for a prism Optic. I've tried a buddy's rifle that he equipped with one of the PA scopes, and it did indeed look a heck of a lot sharper than my Red Dots
Being a retiree in a fixed income, it'll take a few months to save up for one.
Appreciate the article and reviews Gentlemen.
The Vector Paragon prisms in 1X, 3X and their newer 4X should be on this list too. The Vector 3X has much better eye relief and eye box than the PA SLX 3X.
I didn’t see my ACOG TA31 with ACSS!
All these Mumford & Son "Tacticools" touting how great these Chinese optics are have obviously never owned a Leupold Vari-X III, Nikon Monarch UCC, or Burris Signature glass. They have no Idea the trail that Eotech, Leupold, Nightforce, and Trijicon blazed for red dot optics without grovelling at the feet of the Chinese communists (yes they are our enemy) just to save a buck (or Yuan). I'll gladly pay as much as the cost of my rifle to get an optic that I know was made In the United States under strict quality standards with a lifetime warranty.
Not everyone has $2k to spend on an optic, nor do they have a place to shoot it more than once a year.
But yes, stuff made in US is off better quality.
Great info here! But this article needs an update for 2021: The Vortex Spitfire 2 5x is a game changer in the prism scope world, about half the size and weight of some of the beasts on this list. The one other thing that should be emphasized is eye relief. Prisms have very, very tight eye relief boxes. Mounting options for prisms really need to be thoroughly considered, especially on platforms that don't have a pic rail extending all the way back to the end of the receiver. To get the eye relief right you might need a cantilevered mount that points rearward, which might interfere with some charging handle configurations.
It's mid-2022 now, and I've been using my Spitfire Gen 2 5x for over a year now. I can honestly say I prefer it over any scope on this list. Would love to see how you rate it against the ACOG and against some newer prisms.
I also have astigmatism and am sick of guessing which part of the red dot fuzz ball is actually the center, plus I like the etched reticle so I am switching to 1x prisms. So far I have a Vortex Spitfire 1x. I will probably stick with these as the reticle is simpler. I will be moving my red dots to my back up & practice guns. For longer range I prefer a LPVO.
I am not hitting a 200yard target with a red dot due to astogmatism. The red dot is just not crisp. So I will take a 1X prism over a red dot for that reason. I have a 2.5X prism on now and it is great since it works close up and those 300-400 yard shots are doable.
How would you rate the Burris offerings in regards to your list? I have the AR-535 for example, seems very similar in construction to the spitfire and also has a lifetime no questions asked warranty.
One thing missed here is comparing a red dot mounted on top of a magnified prism sight VS. a LPVO. Weight might be about the same, depending on the exact setup and a fair number of people run a RDS on their LPVO anyway, so they don't have to switch from higher magnification on the LPVO to 1x
E.g. RDS on top of the PA SLx 5x or Bravo 5 vs. a 1-4, 5, or 6x LPVO. Easier to switch between magnifications and the RDS on top of the prism is a much more heads up position anyway(and even better for NV). Thoughts?
I think you missed the #1 reason for a prism optic.. the etched reticle. Battery failure, electronics failure, etc... won’t matter. Still usable. A red dot would be worthless under either condition. My .02
Hey PPT, really appreciate your reviews. Nice to get an honest viewpoint from experienced shooters. I do have an astigmatism in my right eye and am always look for the best solution for my broken ball ('eye'ball of course). Dont hesitate to "shoot" any of these prisms my way to help with a handicap viewpoint.
Hey Guys, I have really bad astigmatism and it's a corrected as it's going to get. I pick up a Vortex Spitfire 1x and recently noticed that I can see the illuminated reticle from both ends of the optic. I don't like the idea of "the bad guy" being able to see the red or green doughnut from the business end. Seems like it would not be a good option for anything tactical. 2 questions, is this a normal thing for prisms optics? And, am I over thinking this and it's a non-issue?
If it works better for you otherwise, you’re overthinking it. Turn it down as low as you can and the benefits you get from faster target acquisition outweigh the fact that it “might” be visible when pointed DIRECTLY at the target.
It’s good to be cautious when going into a situation you know will get loud...but I honestly think your over thinking it a bit. Chances are the bad guy will see you before he sees reticle from the front of your optic. I think it’s more important that your able to acquire the combatant as fast as possible and place well aimed rounds in his vitals. If the prism helps you do that, stick with it.
Monstrum? Seriously?
Let me expand on your "grain of salt" I am 70+ and have astigmatism. I have tries all kinds of red dots I can take a sub MOA rifle and get 4-5 inch groups because even on the lowest intensity the "dot" is a smear. Find me a red dot I can use ill buy it. I have the vortex 1X good glass but heavy and the center dot is almost invisible but at least its a dot when I adjust the diaopter. So yeah your right those without astigmatism have no real way to review a prism scope for those that do.
I thought Monstrum only made stuff for paintball.
I’ve had the Vortex Spitfire 3x and the Burris AR536. I didn’t like them. For me the eye relief was way to short. I sold them both to a guy that loves them, they seem to work very well for him. That tells me these are something you need to try first to find out if they will work for you or not, and not just depend on someone else’s recommendation.
Even with an astigmatism I can shoot red dots just fine. I see an exaggerated comma, but it doesn't seem to affect anything. I just center the "comma" on the target and pull the trigger. Granted seeing two dots would be frustrating..
Cool article. I'm amazed their isn't a prism 1 power that is any good, just cause I don't know many people who struggle with red dot optics. These offerings were fairly weak, the sig is impressive indeed, but also rather bulky looking, but it's a cool piece of kit and the clear highlight of this piece.
Thanks for another great article as always.
Great article, thanks!
Comes very timely for me because I’m just taking a really hard look at prism scopes for my 10 inch AR...
Would you have an opinion on Sightmark‘s Wolfhound 3x24 prism scope?
Got one offered and would be interested in your take
I take it by your infamous Vortex warranty statement , that the Vortex warranty is not what they claim or full of holes ?
In the market for another scope or maybe two and was considering a Vortex . I enjoyed your article because I am not that familiar with red dot scopes. I totally agree with your take on 1 power scopes and would include even 2 power, being a die hard Peep sight fan.
A old Nam combat Vet, that never used peep sights until basic training. When I got back home after a S.E. Asia tour ( married and drafted ) I put them on every thing, even my 12 gauge Ithaca Model 37 featherweight . The best repeating shotgun I ever owned . Like a dumb arse I traded it in on a Rem 870 which came with a slug barrel , which is required in this state for Deer hunting. The 870 did not group slugs any better that the Ithaca .
I do not think I ever traded or sold another gun since.
Old to early and smart to late
Vortex's warranty is awesome and highly reliable! They have one of the best customer service departments in the industry and really go out of their way to take care of people. Highly recommend them!
Thanks again for the work put in. I bought the Burris 3x combo with the burris fastfire 3. I wasn't positive if I would have liked it but I wanted something that could take a beating and put the fastfire on a pistol. The combo was on sale for $300. I decided I actually liked it because it allowed me to have a better field of view while looking through the fastfire. I have looked through the vortex and Primary Arms and my eyes like the Burris noticeably better. I'm sure the Sig is superior than all simply because even their Whiskey 3 scopes are by far best in class with glass. At least that's what my eyes tell me. I personally have a lot of Burris because of the warranty and I catch them on super sale. If price was equal, I'd prefer Sig glass. Just my 2 cents.
Thanks for another great article!!
Any experience/opinion with the Burris line of prism scopes?
No love for Primary's 2.5 prism?