Bent and Broken - Primary Arms 3x Micro Prism - Great Features, Performance, Form Factor

Published on August 7, 2022
Duration: 16:31

This review details the performance and durability of the Primary Arms SLX 3x Micro Prism optic, focusing on its features and a critical drop test. While initially praised for its compact size, lightweight design, and excellent optical qualities like a forgiving eye box and wide field of view, the optic failed during a drop test. The glass cracked, the cantilever mount bent, and the optic lost zero, rendering it unusable. The reviewer highlights the mount's potential weakness and suggests design improvements for enhanced durability, particularly for hard-use applications.

Quick Summary

The Primary Arms SLX 3x Micro Prism, while praised for its compact size, forgiving eye box, and ACSS reticle, failed a drop test due to a cracked lens and a bent cantilever mount, leading to a loss of zero. Improvements to the mount design are suggested for enhanced durability.

Chapters

  1. 01:34Introduction to Primary Arms SLX 3x Micro Prism
  2. 01:54Disclosure and Usage History
  3. 02:26Drop Test and Optic Failure
  4. 03:01Drop Test Methodology
  5. 04:07Cantilever Mount Failure Analysis
  6. 04:44Zero Shift and Mount Re-Torquing
  7. 06:01Glass Breaking vs. Mount Failure
  8. 06:32Alternative Mounting Options
  9. 07:11Mount Versatility and Design Flaws
  10. 08:23Eye Relief and Eye Box
  11. 08:50Performance Before Failure
  12. 09:00Price and Value Proposition
  13. 09:13Field of View and Comparison
  14. 09:27Daylight Bright Illumination
  15. 10:11Windage and Elevation Adjustments
  16. 10:34Rear Diopter Adjustment
  17. 10:42Weight and Form Factor
  18. 11:08Mounting Options and Weight Impact
  19. 11:08Overall Impression and Use Cases
  20. 11:38Reticle Breakdown (ACSS)
  21. 12:05Summary of Failures and Positives
  22. 12:51Reviewer's Perspective on Optic Failure
  23. 13:26Suggested Improvements for Durability
  24. 13:49Glass Material Challenges
  25. 14:20Main Downsides: Zero Loss and Mount Issues
  26. 14:52Uncertainty of Failure Combination
  27. 15:04Non-Cantilever Riser Eye Relief Impact
  28. 15:22Final Verdict: Efficient Optic with Durability Concerns
  29. 15:46Recommendation for Hard Use vs. General Use
  30. 16:15Conclusion and Viewer Engagement

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main failure points of the Primary Arms SLX 3x Micro Prism after a drop test?

The Primary Arms SLX 3x Micro Prism experienced multiple failures during a drop test. These included a cracked front lens, a bent cantilever mount section, and a significant loss of zero that made the optic un-zeroable.

What are the key features of the Primary Arms SLX 3x Micro Prism optic?

The optic is praised for its compact and lightweight design, a forgiving eye box, a good field of view (38 feet at 100 yards), daylight-bright illumination with NV settings, and the ACSS reticle with BDCs and wind holds.

What are the reviewer's recommendations for improving the durability of the Primary Arms SLX 3x Micro Prism mount?

The reviewer suggests redesigning the mount by adding more material, using a stronger material like 7075 aluminum, or incorporating recoil bosses to prevent bending and shifting under stress.

Is the Primary Arms SLX 3x Micro Prism recommended for hard-use applications?

The reviewer expresses durability concerns for hard-use or end-of-the-world scenarios due to the mount's failure. For less demanding applications, it is considered efficient and performs well, but caution is advised for extreme conditions.

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