Optic Review: Primary Arms SLx 1X MicroPrism Gen II Optic with Green ACSS Reticle

Primary Arms can’t seem to catch production up to the sales of their new SLx 1X Microprism Gen II optic. After shooting it on a range of guns over the last few months, I’m not surprised. It’s without a doubt the best overall value for an optic of its kind on the market.

The most important aspect of any optic is the glass itself. For this second generation SLx 1X MicroPrism, the image clarity is very, very good…much better than I would have expected at this price point. There might be a little dimming or a slight bluing of the image, but it’s so hard to tell that there might not be as well. I really can’t tell.

In either bright light or low light, if I could make out the target with the naked eye I could make out the target in the optic. The battery housing obscures the left side of the optic a bit, but all in all, the format of the optic and the clarity of the glass give the illusion of only the reticle hovering in the air over the target.

This is a prismatic optic, with a green illuminated ACSS Cyclops G2 etched reticle. For those of us with astigmatism, a prism with an etched reticle is ideal. There’s no blurring of the image, no lopsided figure eight “dots,” just a crisp, clean image.

The camera really doesn’t do it justice here. The use of an etched reticle also means that the battery is used for the illumination of the reticle only, not the existence of the reticle itself. If your battery runs out, the (black) reticle is still there.

As far as the battery, the AutoLive system (read: shake awake) ensures a very long run time. How long will a single CRT2023 last? I have no idea. Primary Arms claims 25,000 to 50,000 hours depending on brightness level. I’ve had it for months now set on 10 (clear and bright in full daylight) without any obvious dimming.

There are 13 settings total, including 3 night fision settings. The first two NV settings are dim enough and clear enough to use in front of a Gen 3 AN/PVS 14, but the third was too washed out.

The battery compartment, as well as the brightness controls are on the left side of the optic. Even after a lot of use, the brightness controls are still very stiff, and impossible to use with gloves on. That’s a minor concern, as you’re unlikely to be switching often between brightness settings with an “instant on” optic, but it’s not great. There also isn’t an “off” position between each setting, so you’ll need to do the full revolution each time if you want to turn it on and off. Those are my only complaints with this optic.

For use on a rifle, the eye relief is great. Primary Arms advertises that the eye relief is usable from two to seven inches. Around four inches from the eye you get a full field of view and no shadows at all. For any kind of pistol, even seven inches is too far away.

This SLx 1X MicroPrism has the ACSS Cyclops G2 reticle, which deserves an entire review in and of itself. Although Primary Arms is known for lower cost optics with higher quality, there’s a whole lot of people who shoot Primary Arms optics solely for their reticles.

The ACSS reticle family is a good example of that. The Cyclops G2 reticle gives the shooter the ability to range targets quickly inside the reticle, as well as includes multiple aiming points for various types of firearms, and a built-in bullet drop compensator. It’s great for fast shots on moving targets as well as 300-yard precision shots…at least as precise as you can be with a 1X optic.

Primary Arms ships the SLx MicroPrism with a comprehensive mounting system. I was most interested in mounting it on lightweight bolt action rifles. For that application, the lowest mounting option was what I needed, so I didn’t use one of the risers. The optic mounts right into the slotted plate with the included screws that already have threadlocker on them. The appropriate wrenches are also included.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you want to mount the SLx 1X MicroPrism as high as possible, perhaps to clear a laser pointing device or target illuminator, or if you just want to use a very heads-up position, you could go with the highest cantilever mount and a riser as well. Or any combination of mounts and risers inbetween.

Primary Arms states the SLx 1X MicroPrism Gen II is IP67 Waterproof and nitrogen purged for fog resistance. IP67 generally means that dust won’t get inside and you can spray it with water without effect.

It should also be able to be submerged in water, up to about three feet, for up to half an hour. I set it in a sink full of cold water for an hour, with no ill effects. There also must be some coating on the lenses, as the water slid right off without spotting or streaking.

I ran the SLx Microprism Gen II on a few different guns, to include a lightweight, but not light recoiling bolt action rifle from Black Collar Arms. A six pound rifle pushing a 270 gr .375 projectile at 2,200 fps has some recoil. In a recent safari in Namibia, I used this optic as my backup sight. At no point did the reticle move under recoil, nor did the mount shift at all. I also put a few hundred rounds through it on top of a 5.56 SBR and a couple other guns. I experienced no malfunctions of any kind and none of the mounting options came loose.

Like the rest of the SLx line, the MicroPrism Gen II is backed by Primary Arms’ lifetime warranty. It states “If a defect due to materials or workmanship. or even normal wear and tear has caused your product to malfunction, Primary Arms will either repair or replace your product.” I’ve seen this warranty in action and Primary Arms really does make good on it.

The SLx 1X MicroPrism Gen II is right up there in quality with the best etched reticle prismatic 1X optics on the market, at any price. According to the packaging, these are made for Primary Arms in China, which is undoubtedly what allows them to keep the cost so low. No matter where it’s made, this is one of the best 1X optic values on the market, and the optic to get if you have an astigmatism.

Specifications: Primary Arms SLx 1X MicroPrism Gen II Optic with Green Illuminated ACSS Cyclops G2 Reticle

Battery Life: 25,001 to 50,000 hours
Battery Type: CR2032
Click Value: 1 MOA
Field View @ 100 yards: 76.50 ft
Illuminated: Partial
IP67 Waterproof
Reticle: ACSS CYCLOPS G2
Reticle Color: Green
Country of Origin: China
Total Elevation Adjustment: 120 MOA
Total Windage Adjustment: 120 MOA
Weight: 5.5 oz.
Price: $249.99