#PrimaryArms

Over the last thirteen years, Primary Arms has grown from a small brand offering inexpensive scopes to expanding their house-brand optics into a broader range of pricing and quality levels, and in the process they’ve become a powerhouse supplier for many other brands as well. Today they offer a dizzying array of firearms, components, and accessories, with product lines spanning hundreds of manufacturers from Aimpoint to Zev Tech and just about everyone in between. The Texas-based outfit has never forgotten their optics-oriented roots and are proud of their glass, and particularly their proprietary ACSS reticle. In addition to scopes themselves, Primary Arms provides related products like mounts. With a July 27th press release, they’ve announced the addition of four new mount options in their GLx line. The release reads:

Earlier I reviewed Primary Arms’ MD25 red dot sight. Well, they also have a new GLx 2X Prism with ACSS CQB-M5 reticle. It is a simple, compact, lightweight 2x optic and they make a version that is set for .300blk/7.62×39. I requested it specifically to test it on two .300blk guns, my Troy Pump Action Rifle and the Pork Sword.

Primary Arms has always been a decent option for budget-minded individuals looking for some entry-level options into the magnified optics world. Today we’ll be examining the recently released SLx Gen III 5X Prism Scope I was sent for testing and evaluation. The series so far has been a great success commercially but Primary Arms has also taken some strides to improve the quality over previous generations of the SLx series of optics.

The SLx MD-25 has a full 25mm clear aperture. And it actually offers a wider field of view compared to older 30mm red dots while being smaller and lighter weight. The MD-25 shares some similarities with other micro red dots. However, the power/brightness knob is on the left-hand side. It features a high efficiency LED that offers a run time of 50,000 hours at a medium setting. There are 11 brightness settings with two of them for night vision use.

Primary Arms and Strike Industries have partnered up to launch a series of new rifles – the Sentinel and Sentinel Elite. The new Sentinel rifles (pistols coming soon) are chambered in .223 Wylde and are priced between $749.99 and $1149.99 (MSRP).

Primary Arms introduced and highlighted four optics at SHOT 2020. The first is the GLX Series which has a motion sensor to detect when the rifle is in use to save battery power. A number of different reticles are being introduced for the GLX as well. The version on display at the show was a 4-16 power. Next is the 2x Prismatic that was intended for Law Enforcement use and has an improved mounting system. Next in line is the 2x and 5x Prismatics. These have improved chevron reticles as well.

Primary Arms Optics have had a pair of their red dot optics approved for duty use with Texas’ Pasadena Police Department. The optics have also recently been cleared for duty use by Missouri City’s Police Department too. The CR2032-powered SLx Compact 1×20 Prism Scope weighs in at 9.7 oz and has a 3.7in of eye relief and ½ MOA click adjustments.

The Primary Arms 1-8×24 rifle scope is a Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO) that uses the patented Advanced Combined Sighting System (ACSS) reticle. I was already familiar with Primary Arms’ 1-6x ACSS optic, having owned it for several years. I wanted to test out the newer Primary Arms 1-8x offering as well and Primary Arms kind enough to let me give it a go.

I’m not a fan of torture tests, but I terribly abuse the Primary Arms 3x Prism with ACSS reticle and give my opinion of it.

Primary Arms just announced the release of their new Advanced Micro Dot, it’s an upgraded version of their MD-ADS Micro Dot. Their new MD-RB-AD Micro Dot has an estimated 50,000 hours of battery life from a single CR2032 battery. It features fully multicoated lenses, 11 brightness settings that are controlled via a rotary knob on the right side of the optic and a sharp 2 MOA dot. Their new Micro Dot also retails for less than the previous version, it goes for $149.99 at PrimaryArms.com. Their previous model retails for $169.99.

Primary Arms has just announced the release of a full size red dot that runs on either a single CR1/3N or two LR44 batteries. Made with a one piece 6061 aluminum 30mm tube, the optic features a 2MOA dot for the reticle. Offering a year and a half battery life on a medium setting, the new glass includes three night vision settings – the Primary Arms Advanced red dot  is priced at $130 MSRP. Details below.

For those of you not familiar with Vang Comp, they modify tactical shotguns. Last year I had them modify my Magpul Edition Remington 870.

This year at Shot Show 2017 Primary Arms showed off its latest offerings in optics. They will be offering some of their scopes in FDE, OD Green and Wolf Gray. You can see in the photo above, their 1-6x and their red dots will be offered in alternate colors.

One of the products that has been on the market for a little while that Patrick wanted to put hands on while at SHOT was the Primary Arms 1-8x24mm Platinum Series scope. With ultra clear glass and outstanding reticle choices, the Platinum series is a huge value in variable one power scopes. It is made in the same factory as other high-end scopes with a price point that is near half competing scopes.

As part of the ongoing Vz58 obsession I’ve suffered from for the last few years, I’ve been hunting for the right kind of optic for these rifles. That led me onto the Primary Arms 4x Prismatic. Primary Arms is a budget manufacturer producing a number of red dots, magnified scopes, and prismatic sights. While the optics are made in China, their design team seems to consistently put together good ideas. I’m talking about things like “lets give the 4-16 optic a dedicated .308 reticle” or “lets make sure the 1x on the variable optics is a true zero magnification.”