Best Prism Scopes
There are three major types of optics for modern tactical rifles. We have red dots, a beloved close-range option. We have LPVOs that try to be a jack-of-trades choice. Finally, we have prism sights, which are often misunderstood and underappreciated. Underappreciated by everyone but me, I love Prism Sights, and today, I’m going to explain that love, but I won’t get emotional. Well, won’t get super emotional. I’ll stick to the facts and give you the reasons I love Prism Sights.
My time in the military was dominated by prismatic optics. The first is the Trijicon ACOG on my M16A4 rifle. This 4X scope was a game changer for Marines. The second was the slightly less loved MDO, or machine gu bday optic, which weighed 3.5 pounds and sat on my M240. It worked, but the M240 was heavy enough.
The prism sight has become a core memory for me and allowed me to gain a real appreciation for these optics. I used one in an occupational role, and I learned about their strengths and weaknesses.
What’s a Prism Sight
By definition, a prism sight is an optic that uses a reflective prism for its image-erecting system. Typically, a magnified optic will use a series of relay lenses. These are fixed power optics by their nature. They come in a variety of magnification ratings that start at 1X or no magnification and tend to top out at 6X. Sure, you could go higher, but at that point, even the 6X optics are specialized tools for things like machine guns. The most popular magnification settings are 3X, 4X, and 5X.
The Benefits of Prism Sights
Prism sights provide a compact optic with a degree of magnification. These optics are much smaller than other magnified optics. They tend to be much lighter and require less rail space. Modern micro prism sights are packing 3X magnification in an optic the size of an Aimpoint T1.
The aim of a prism sight is to provide what I call carbine-length magnification. While plenty of rifles can shoot beyond 300 yards, the 300-yard mark is the typical carbine range. It’s the range most shooters, even with minimal training, can hit a man-sized target. A prism provides that carbine length magnification.
What about up close? Some shooters use an offset red dot, but with the illuminated reticle, you can use an occluded shooting technique. You keep both eyes open and focus your vision on the target. The illuminated reticle will glow and superimpose the reticle over your vision.
The simpler, fixed magnification design makes them typically more durable and capable of suffering from some serious abuse. Outside of the famed ACOG, most prism sights are fairly affordable optics. They even come with mounts, which, in most cases, makes them even more affordable.
The reticles used by prism optics are etched. In a situation where batteries die, or the electronics break, the optic is still useable.
Downsides of Prism Sights
The downside of prism sights is that they don’t offer the same magnification as an LPVO and the ease of close-range shooting as a red dot. They are a stopgap that doesn’t excel in any one role. They do a little bit of everything but tend to succeed only in the middle ground of shooting. Up close and far away, they can be a bit dodgy.
Prism sights also require you to get awfully close to the gun. Compared to other optic options, they have short eye relief. This results in some interesting techniques and mounts that have been developed to make this a little easier to deal with.
Gun University’s Choices of the Best Prism Scopes
Best Prism Scopes
Best Overall Trijicon ACOG | |
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Best Lightweight Primary Arms SLx Micro Prism 3X | |
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Best Budget-Worthy Swampfox Trihawk | |
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Best Underrated Steiner T432 | |
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Best Compact Spitfire HD Gen 2 5X | |
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Our Choice in 1x Prism Gideon Optics Advocate | |
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Remarkably Simple Burris RT3 Prism Sight | |
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Best Prism Scopes – Reviews
1 Trijicon ACOG 4×32 BAC : Best Overall
- Clarity A+
- Shootability B+
- Reliability A+
- Features B+
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Trijicon ACOG 4×32 Specs
- Magnification 4X
- FOV 36.8 Feet
- Weight (oz) 15.1 ounces
- MSRP $1,593
Trijicon ACOG 4×32
What could I say to prove that ACOG is one of the best prism optics? It’s not the first by far, but it’s arguably the most successful and fielded prism sight ever made. The ACOG from Trijicon has been fielded by multiple branches. It was part of the Army’s SOPMOD Block II, and the USMC issued the ACOG to Marines far and wide. This 4×32 optic made a huge difference in the marksmanship abilities of Marines and allowed them to hit hard, faster, and further.
The Trijicon ACOG set the standard for prism optics and laid the blueprint for the current prism market. This includes the partially illuminated reticle and the built-in bullet drop compensator. The bullet drop compensator is matched to the round fired and the length of the barrel. This allows for easy and quick adjustments for various ranges, and it’s an easy button for those who might not know their dope and drop. I’ve always found the ACOG BDC to be remarkably accurate and very easy to use.
At the center sits an illuminated reticle that can vary from a circle, chevron, and more. The brightness of the reticle is automatically adjusted via the ambient light. That big red thing over the top of the optic is a mixture of tritium and fiber optics that absorb light and power the optic. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.
The view through the lens provides a super bright and clear view. The image is gorgeous and provides a very high-definition view that’s really fantastic. As a Marine, that clear view provided an easy way to spot threats, to observe, and to detect nearly anything well beyond normal eye range.
The downside to the ACOG is the abysmal eye relief. We were taught to put our nose to the charging handle to get a good, clear view through the optic. The mount sweeps the optic rearward to help, but man, you only get 1.5 inches of eye relief. If you can get past that, the ACOG delivers an extremely well-made, durable, and capable prismatic sight. It’s a professional-grade optic with a professional-grade price point.
Trijicon ACOG 4×32 Pros and Cons
- Excellent BDC
- Tough as Nails
- Super Clear Lenses
- Expensive
- Short Eye Relief
2 Primary Arms SLX 3X MicroPrism : Best Lightweight
- Reliability A+
- Value A
- Reticle A+
- Ergonomics A
- Glass A-
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A
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Primary Arms SLx Micro Prism 3X Specs
- Magnification 3X
- FOV 38 feet
- Weight 7.95 ounces
- MSRP $319.99
Primary Arms SLx Micro Prism 3X Review
Prism sights tend to be moderately sized and can be a little heavy. Primary Arms flipped the switch on the prism sights and introduced the world to the Primary Arms SLx MicroPrism series. These Microprism optics come in 5X and 3X varieties. The 3X model delivers my preferred feature set and size. The Primary Arms SLx 3X delivers a 3X optic that’s about the same size as an Aimpoint T2 and weighs about 8 ounces total.
That’s a lot of magnification for barely any size or weight. Snapping in behind the optic proves it’s small but also surprisingly clear and consistent. I’m impressed by the eye relief, which, at 2.7 inches, delivers a fairly generous eye relief option for a prism sight. The SLx Micro Prism offers a decent field of view that gives you 38 feet at 100 yards. The Primary Arms SLx series also delivers a ton of different reticle options.
I tend to prefer the ACSS Raptor version. The Raptor variant comes in 5.56/.308, as well as 7.62×39 and .300 Blackout. Users can also get hands-on with the ACSS Aurora, Aurora MIL, and probably more. The SLx Micro Prism 3X also comes with a ton of different mounting options. It’s one of the few prism sights that can be easily mounted to a wide variety of weapons with its variety of optic mounts. The SLx series can also use mini-ACOG mounts if the included options aren’t good enough.
The illuminated portion of the reticle gives you thirteen different settings, and the highest settings are truly daylight bright. Of course, if the battery dies, the reticle is etched, so it’s still functional. In terms of clarity, the view is nice and clear. Sure, it’s not as good as the 1,200-dollar ACOG, but it’s pretty close to a quarter of the price.
Primary Arms SLx Micro Prism 3X Pros and Cons
- Affordable
- Super Small and light
- Daylight Bright Reticle
- TTight Eyebox
3 Swampfox Trihawk : Best Budget-Worthy
- Reliability A-
- Value A+
- Reticle A-
- Ergonomics B
- Glass B+
Our Grade
A-
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Swampfox Trihawk Specs
- Magnification 3X
- FOV 52 Feet
- Weight 15.4 ounces
- MSRP $289
Swampfox Trihawk Review
I got hit with the hammer of surprise when I started using the Trihawk. It was a budget-worthy prism optic from what was, at the time, a fairly new company. I didn’t expect much, but I was happy to be wrong. Unlike many other prism optics, the Trihawk accepted the idea of being big and bad and using that size. What’s the size give you that makes it worth the cost of admission?
It hits your eyes hard with a huge field of view. Most prism sights have a fairly average field of view, but the Trihawk gives you a massive 52-foot field of view at 100 yards. It’s almost twice the competition. This huge field of view makes it easy to track targets with minimal movements and helps keep you from getting sucked into a limited field of view. That kind of field of view is absolutely wonderful to have.
Of course, the optic is big, and weighs 15.4 ounces total. It’s 3.343 inches tall and over 4.5 inches wide. It’s no micro prism. The Trihawk does give you excellent visibility and a clear view that makes it easy to soak up the details of the world in front of you. Spotting targets at range is easy, and that big window certainly helps.
The Trihawk is a 3X prism optic that comes with a built-in mounting system and two reticle options. You can use the bullet drop compensating reticle for 5.56 rifles or the MOA design, which can easily work with any caliber. A lot of prism sights stick you with a BDC, typically a .556 BDC, and cal lit good. Options are nice, and other calibers exist outside fo 5.56.
My biggest fault with the Swampfox Trihawk is the reticle visibility. It’s not quite daylight bright. It’s daylight dim. The optic can’t summon the juice to get that eye-catching brightness of other optics.
Swampfox Trihawk Pros and Cons
- Massive Field of View
- Affordable
- Multiple Reticle options
- Big
- Reticle Isn’t Bright
4 Steiner T432 : Best Underrated
- Reliability B+
- Value A-
- Reticle A-
- Ergonomics A
- Glass B
Our Grade
A-
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Steiner T432
- Magnification 4X
- FOV 25 feet
- Weight 16.6 ounces
- MSRP $499
Steiner T432 Review
The Steiner T-Sights series is very underrated. It’s downright criminal that Trijiocn gets all the love when it comes to professional-grade prism sights. The Steiner T432 gives us 4X magnification, but there are 3X and 5X models as well. If I have to pick a magnification for prism optics, I’ve always found 4X to be perfect. The T432 also comes ready with a short length of Picatinny rail attached to the top to allow the mounting of a micro red dot.
Personally, I use a two-eyed open shooting style that uses the occluded shooting method for close-range shots. However, I get that using a mini red dot takes a lot less practice. The Stiner’s reticle is set to work quite well with an occluded shooting style. They call it the rapid dot. The reticle is a crosshair with a dot in the center. The design can be tailored toward 5.56 or 7.62 cartridges.
It’s fully illuminated and gets bright enough to be very easy to see. With occluded shooting, it’s a big red reticle. With standard shooting, it’s a precise dot with a ladder for bullet drop. The Steiner T432 series gives you crystal-clear glass with a good, clear image. The eye relief is 2.75 inches, and that’s not bad for a prism optic, either. Sadly the reticle options are limited, and the height of the optic makes it tough to use on anything but ARs and similar rifles with inline stock designs.
The Steiner T series offers you a professional option in prism optics without having to spend over a thousand dollars. In fact, at around 500 dollars, the T432 eats that ACOG lunch a bit. The Steiner T Series can be a great way to go if you don’t mind battery-powered illumination and limited reticle options.
Steiner T432 Pros and Cons
- Daylight Bright Reticle
- Crystal Clear Optics
- Spare Rail For Mini Red Dot
- Limited Reticle Options
5 Vortex Optics Spitfire HD Gen 2 5x : Best Compact
- Reliability B
- Value B
- Reticle A-
- Ergonomics B
- Glass B+
Our Grade
B+
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Vortex Spitfire HD Gen 2 5X
- Magnification 5X
- FOV 23.3 feet
- Weight 10.3 ounces
- MSRP $649.99
Vortex Spitfire HD Gen 2 5X Review
While I don’t want to be rude, the original Vortex Spitfire series held no interest to me. They felt like an afterthought from Vortex. The second generation was different enough to capture my attention and even my affection. The Vortex Spitfire HG Gen 2 is a real mouthful, but I can get past it because for what they added in the name, they subtracted in size. There is both a 3X and 5X variety, and while both are great, the 5X really impressed me.
It’s super small, and very compact overall. The Spitfire HD Gen 2 measures out to a mere 3.6 inches. This is impressive for a 5X optic. Weight-wise, it’s a mere 10.3 ounces. Keep in mind the 3X Trihawk we mentioned earlier is 15 ounces and is only a 3X optic. The Spitfire series comes with the AR-BDC4 reticle. Vortex designed the reticle around the 5.56 cartridge and AR-15 platform.
That is a bit annoying, but it will work with other 5.56/.223 platforms. In fact, it comes with both a high and low mount; even better, it works with Aimpoint T series mounts. That gives you a massive market and makes finding the right mounts easy. What I don’t like about the mounts comes from the fact they are not swept backward a bit like most prism optics. Due to the short-eye relief, most prism optics are pushed rearward toward the shooter, but the Vortex lacks that option.
The Spitfire HD Gen 2 also provides a mount across the top that allows you to directly mount a Vortex Venom or Viper to the optic to act as an offset red dot. On a 5X optic, this becomes a bit handier. The reticle is just bright enough to reach those daylight brightness levels. You’ll have to max it out, but it works.
Vortex Spitfire HD Gen 2 5X Pros and Cons
- Super Small
- Uses Aimpoint T2 Mounts
- Daylight Bright Reticle
- Mount is Not Swept Rearward
6 Gideon Optics Advocate : Our Choice in 1X Prism
- Reliability A-
- Value B
- Reticle A
- Ergonomics B
- Glass B
Our Grade
B+
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Gideon Optics Advocate
- Magnification 1X
- FOV 79 Feet
- Weight 5.5 ounces
- MSRP $2,229.99
Gideon Optics Advocate Review
So far, every prism optic has had some degree of magnification. Most prism optics take advantage of the design by being magnified. There is a niche market for 1X prisms, and we couldn’t not include one. These 1X Prism fight for the same place on your rifle as a red dot but offer a few advantages over the red dot. Our choice in 1X prism is the Gideon Optics Advocate.
The Advocate offers shooters a 1X Prism with a very bright reticle that’s fighting for that daylight bright rating. The reticle is also etched, meaning shooters with astigmatism won’t suffer from reticle bloom and will always have a nice, clear image. The reticle is a segmented circle with a chevron in the center. It’s attention-grabbing and more dynamic than most red dot reticles.
The Advocate comes with both a low and high mount, so it can be adapted to be used on a wide variety of weapons, from ARs and AKs to CZ Scorpions and more. It drops on and gives you a very usable alternative to a red dot. The Advocate’s design keeps its low profile, and the dot is approximately the same size as compact red dots.
Unlike red dots, you do have to contend with eye relief, and the Advocate gives you 3.34 inches. That’s a fiat bit generous, and the rearward raking mount helps make it so. It’s equipped with shake awake technology, so the batteries last nearly forever. Finally, the Advocate won’t break the bank. It’s less than 250 dollars and ready to go out of the box.
Gideon Optics Advocate Pros and Cons
- Affordable
- Great Red Dot Alternative
- Great Reticle
- Still Have to Deal With Eye Relief
7 Burris RT-3 Prism : Remarkably Simple
- Reliability B
- Value B
- Reticle B
- Ergonomics B-
- Glass B-
Our Grade
B
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Burris RT-3 Prism Sight
- Magnification 3X
- FOV 38.2 feet
- Weight 8.8 ouces
- MSRP $468
Burris RT-3 Prism Sight Review
Simple is as simple does, and the Burris brand has had a long and successful history of producing excellent, well-made prism sights. The Burris RT-3 provides shooters with a remarkably simple prism sight that packs a 3X level of magnification, and it has been shrunk considerably from previous incarnations of Burris prism sights.
The Burris RT-3 is built around the AR-15 with its mount height and reticle design. The reticle features a ladder-type BDC that takes you out to 500 yards. Up front, there is an illuminated three-quarter circle with a dot in the center. The illumination is surprisingly bright and works well in bright daylight settings. The circle and dot combination works really well for those 25 to 75-yard shots that are often done quickly and on the fly.
The RT-3 Prism sight’s ladder makes dropping shots as far as 500 yards easy, but you’ll need the skills to do so. The reticle also has a windage arm to give you the ability to make quick and easy wind calls. The optic offers you a nice 38.2-foot field of view at 100 yards. This isn’t bad for what’s essentially a micro-sized prism sight.
The little 3.5 optic weighs a hair over 8 ounces. It’s a solid, reliable option that won’t kick the butt out of your wallet. With that said, it’s sad it’s an AR-only design, and you customize the mount height. Still, for the money, you are getting excellent illumination and clarity.
Burris RT-3 Prism Sight Pros and Cons
- Affordable
- Daylight bright reticle
- Excellent Reticle Design
- AR Centric Design
A Prism of Light
Prismatic sights are the ultimate carbine optic as far as I’m concerned. While the Recce LPVO is cool, and the close-quarters red dot is great, the prism is what works best for the typical carbine owner. It’s not going to be the coolest option, but for a lot of shooters, it can be the most practical. Give the prism a try, and let us know what you think below.
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About Travis Pike
Travis is a former United States Marine Corps Infantryman and currently a firearms writer, instructor, and works in Emergency Management.
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