Opinion
I’m a fan of prism-style optics. The primary scope I spent a number of time behind was a Trijicon ACOG throughout my service. I liked the ACOG and the straightforward reticle system that makes it simple to land hits at ranges starting from seven to 500 yards. I’ve saved that love of prisms, however spending over a grand on an ACOG isn’t for me. Fortunately, Main Arms makes quite a lot of prisms, together with the micro-sized SLX 3X MicroPrism.
Main Arms doesn’t use the time period MicroPrism frivolously. It’s the identical dimension as compact purple dots just like the Aimpoint T-2. These micro-sized prisms weigh a mere eight ounces. That’s fairly gentle for an optic providing you 3X magnification. Prism sights are hardly ever this small, and this gentle is for this stage of magnification. I threw it on my PA-15 and developed synergy and sensible ammo financial savings by concurrently testing each.
The World of Main Arms MicroPrisms
Main Arms makes a ton of various reticle choices, and the MicroPrism will get that remedy. We’ve got BDC reticles for five.56/.308, 7.62×39/.300 BO, and a normal Mil reticle. The reticles are all etched and illuminated. Customers can choose between inexperienced and purple illumination settings.
The illumination makes use of shake-awake know-how that Main Arms calls AutoLive. It senses movement and shuts off when it doesn’t detect movement for an prolonged interval. While you seize the rifle, the illumination fires again to life. The MicroPrism’s etched reticle signifies that even when the battery dies, it nonetheless has a reticle.
The optic provides a 38-foot subject of view at 100 yards. It’s not distinctive, however for its dimension, it’s pretty good. The optic makes use of the mini ACOG footprint for mounts and has a modular mounting system. You’ll be able to swap the angle of the mount, which is helpful as a result of restricted eye aid prism optics supply. I take advantage of the mount that swoops rearward, however different mounts can change precisely the way it matches on the gun.
With this swooping rearward mount, I can use the inventory set I would like with out having to press my nostril to the charging deal with. The mount connects to an optics rail through two very beefy screws. I’ve confidence it’s not going to maneuver. Talking of eye aid, it’s 2.7 inches. It’s not horrible, however it’s not spectacular both. Prisms are haunted by brief eye aid.
Zeroing the MicroPrism
Zeroing took longer than anticipated. I’m utilizing 55-grain ammo from a 16-inch carbine. Based on the guide, I have to zero at 100 yards for the BDC to ring true. I did a zero at 50 to get on paper, then backed off to 100 yards to complete the zero. Lots of strolling and measuring took extra time however much less ammo. With the value of 5.56 and .223 Rem, I’d relatively waste time than ammo.
The turrets are exact .25 MOA per click on, and boy, do these turrets click on. They’ve each an audible and tactile click on, and not one of the clicks ever run into one another. It’s good and tight. I obtained .25 MOA out of every click on, making it simple to measure my group’s distance from the place I wished it to hit and get heading in the right direction.
Taking It Far
My dwelling vary maxes out at 200 yards. I used to be pleasantly shocked on the view by way of the lens at 200 yards. I may see the orange and yellow metal I’ve hanging, and my matte stainless targets have been seen in opposition to a white sand berm background. There’s a little bit of haze and somewhat chromatic aberration, however for a sub-400-dollar optic, it’s clear.
At 200 yards, I may see white paper targets in opposition to cardboard, however I didn’t essentially see way more than white. The one motive I do know the place the A-zone is is as a result of I’ve it all the way down to muscle reminiscence.
Between 50 and 200 yards, all I’ve to do is put the chevron on the goal and press the set off. With a restrict of 3X magnification, I don’t count on to get way more exact than that. That proved to be greater than sufficient to place rounds right into a torso. At 100 yards, I fired a drill the place I fired two rounds from the low prepared in 4 seconds at an 8.5×11 inch goal. I ran it 5 instances, and the MicroPrism was optic sufficient to place all ten into the goal.
Getting Shut
Shut vary with fastened magnification optics generally is a little difficult. You’re doing a little bit of occluded capturing. You must crank the illumination up and deal with the goal. The magnification disappears, and whereas it’s not as quick or correct as a devoted purple dot, it really works properly sufficient from fifteen to 3 yards to be practical.
The best brightness setting is simply acceptable sufficient to make use of this system. The reticle is brilliant in daylight, however simply barely. I’m capturing in springtime Florida, so it’s brilliant right here. I wish to see or not it’s a hair brighter as a result of I by no means wish to settle for the minimally acceptable normal.
I used to be in a position to make use of the occluded capturing approach to run a collection of failure-to-stop drills. I began at three yards and went again to fifty yards. By the point I hit 20 yards, I used to be now not utilizing an occluded capturing technique and was taking well-aimed pictures at each the chest and head.
From three yards to 25 yards, I shot the drill in properly underneath three seconds, with something ten yards and nearer being shot in underneath two seconds. At 50 yards, I needed to take somewhat extra time to make the pictures depend, however I landed them in underneath 4 seconds.
I shot the Sage Dynamics Eleanor drill, which focuses on close-range precision and height-over-bore capturing. I shot it a number of instances, however solely handed as soon as. I have to work on height-over-bore compensation. Sadly, the etched reticle simply isn’t sufficiently big to offer me a five-yard aiming level.
General, whereas it’s not optimized to be used inside twenty-five yards, it’s satisfactory when examined.
MicroPrism – Massive Efficiency
Prism optics are a little bit of a jack of all trades. They work properly for msot shooters, particularly inside 300ish yards. At 3X, you’re getting sufficient magnification to matter however not sufficient to be troublesome at nearer ranges. There are many arguments about why a prism isn’t the way in which to go, however for me, it really works.
I like its small dimension, light-weight, versatile reticle, mount design, and ease of use—it’s plug-and-play. Did I point out the value? It retails for lower than 400 {dollars}. For a general-purpose carbine, it’s powerful to go incorrect with a prism.
The Main Arms MicroPrism household delivers on what I would like it to do. It won’t excel at lengthy or shut vary, however it does fairly properly. Generally, fairly good is the way in which to go.
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About Travis Pike
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms fanatic, and now an everyday man who likes to shoot, write, and discover methods to mix the 2. He holds an NRA certification as a Fundamental Pistol Teacher and is the world’s Okayest firearm’s teacher.
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