Q&A for Primary Arms SLX 4-14x44 FFP Field Eval

[Formidilosus]

Q&A for- https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/primary-arms-slx-4-14x44-ffp.385171/

 

[Schmo]

As has been said before, this seems to be “missing rifle scope feature”. Great dumpster fire.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Ouch

 

[Dobermann]

Another one bites the dust.

Would be interesting to see how their top-level (made in Japan) offerings fare ...

 

[Halligan]

Another one bites the dust.

Would be interesting to see how their top-level (made in Japan) offerings fare ...

I think that is the real question, especially given the nature of the reticle (looks great).

 

[grappling_hook]

@Formidilosus What is your experience with the Primary Arms Microprism scopes? I have the SLx 5x Microprism scope. Zero will not stay put... elevation/windage adjustments are unpredictable... I'm returning it, but now thinking this may not be uncommon for these and that I might not want to replace it with another one. Which is a bummer because the weight and features were in the sweet spot for my ultralight ultralight rifle build (sub 4-lbs ar).

Assuming this isn't uncommon for them, is there an equivalent 3x or 5x microprism under 10oz from another manufacturer that doesn't regularly have reliability issues? Or is the only way to get a solid fixed ultralight 3x/5x to go with a 1x red dot with a magnifier (e.g. Aimpoint micro with a magnifer)? That would put it back up in weight to my NF NX8 1-8-- which is an awesome scope, just not super ligthweight.

 

[Formidilosus]

@Formidilosus What is your experience with the Primary Arms Microprism scopes? I have the SLx 5x Microprism scope. Zero will not stay put... elevation/windage adjustments are unpredictable... I'm returning it, but now thinking this may not be uncommon for these and that I might not want to replace it with another one. Which is a bummer because the weight and features were in the sweet spot for my ultralight ultralight rifle build (sub 4-lbs ar).

Assuming this isn't uncommon for them, is there an equivalent 3x or 5x microprism under 10oz from another manufacturer that doesn't regularly have reliability issues? Or is the only way to get a solid fixed ultralight 3x/5x to go with a 1x red dot with a magnifier (e.g. Aimpoint micro with a magnifer)? That would put it back up in weight to my NF NX8 1-8-- which is an awesome scope, just not super ligthweight.

I don’t have enough experience with the PA prisms to say- don’t have much experience with prisms at all.

 

[NSI]

I've had good luck with the PA prisms, but not with their included mounts (especially the cantilevering piece). Using a known-good third party mount for the "micro" pattern should solve your problem. I use Unity on my rifles but Scalarworks, Reptilia, Badger, etc should work just as well.

You can also pony up for an ACOG - there are a variety of sizes, reticles, and mags available. They are the bedrock upon which Trijicon's reputation for reliability was built, and can be trusted to hold zero under absurd circumstances.

-J

 

[KyleR1985]

I've had good luck with the PA prisms, but not with their included mounts (especially the cantilevering piece). Using a known-good third party mount for the "micro" pattern should solve your problem. I use Unity on my rifles but Scalarworks, Reptilia, Badger, etc should work just as well.

You can also pony up for an ACOG - there are a variety of sizes, reticles, and mags available. They are the bedrock upon which Trijicon's reputation for reliability was built, and can be trusted to hold zero under absurd circumstances.

-J

What specific issues have you guys seen with the cantilever mount?

How does the ones you reference solve it?

I love the optic, I haven’t had a zero loss issue(yet), but I’m willing to be proactive here and get a new mount.

Thanks!

 

[NSI]

What specific issues have you guys seen with the cantilever mount?

How does the ones you reference solve it?

I love the optic, I haven’t had a zero loss issue(yet), but I’m willing to be proactive here and get a new mount.

Thanks!

Not sure what else to say, except that multiple users including me have had zero shift with the included mounts that is remediated somewhat by excluding the cantilever section and eliminated entirely by switching to a Unity mount. I drop test all my rifles. For the lower value prisms I use a magnifier to establish zero.

The idea of a mount one builds up progressively with different components screwed together is a lovely concept, but there are simply too many mating surfaces for it to be robust in practice. Adding the lever arm from the cantilever exacerbates this issue of multiple shifting bolted joints.

-J

 

[KyleR1985]

Not sure what else to say, except that multiple users including me have had zero shift with the included mounts that is remediated somewhat by excluding the cantilever section and eliminated entirely by switching to a Unity mount. I drop test all my rifles. For the lower value prisms I use a magnifier to establish zero.

The idea of a mount one builds up progressively with different components screwed together is a lovely concept, but there are simply too many mating surfaces for it to be robust in practice. Adding the lever arm from the cantilever exacerbates this issue of multiple shifting bolted joints.

-J

Thanks. Very clear.

 

[grappling_hook]

Not sure what else to say, except that multiple users including me have had zero shift with the included mounts that is remediated somewhat by excluding the cantilever section and eliminated entirely by switching to a Unity mount. I drop test all my rifles. For the lower value prisms I use a magnifier to establish zero.

The idea of a mount one builds up progressively with different components screwed together is a lovely concept, but there are simply too many mating surfaces for it to be robust in practice. Adding the lever arm from the cantilever exacerbates this issue of multiple shifting bolted joints.

-J

Thanks for this. My drop tests for the SLx 5x have been mostly accidental, little bangs on it while out hiking, having it on the floor of my truck, etc. Maybe I'll give it another shot with a different mount, because if I can make it work, the weight is unbeatable given the specific features I'm looking for. An ACOG would be awesome, but at that weight I'm already happy with my NX8 1-8x24 and it's too expensive for me to buy just for fun.

So here is another issue with the Primary Arms, though. I reached out about loctiting their small mount screws since I was having issues with zeroing like you've seen as well, and wanted to make sure I could still return it (I'm within the 90 day free return period). Know what they told me? THEIR TORQUE LISTING IN THEIR OWN MANUAL IS WRONG and to disregard it. Manual says ". When mounting any base to the 5x MicroPrism, always torque the 10-32 screws to 25-30 in-lbs. Do not overtighten them!."

Here is what the email from their customer service said:
Good afternoon,
Thanks for choosing Primary Arms. Please disregard the manual's torque specs as it is 18 in/lbs of torque for the base screws. A little loctite would not hurt but even without the screws will not back out if torque properly.
If you have any further questions or concerns please let us know.

So, now I'm wondering if some of the problems I'm having with zeroing occurred because I followed their manual's instructions and torqued to 30 in-lbs (which I did after degreasing and loctiting).

 

[NSI]

Thanks for this. My drop tests for the SLx 5x have been mostly accidental, little bangs on it while out hiking, having it on the floor of my truck, etc. Maybe I'll give it another shot with a different mount, because if I can make it work, the weight is unbeatable given the specific features I'm looking for. An ACOG would be awesome, but at that weight I'm already happy with my NX8 1-8x24 and it's too expensive for me to buy just for fun.

So here is another issue with the Primary Arms, though. I reached out about loctiting their small mount screws since I was having issues with zeroing like you've seen as well, and wanted to make sure I could still return it (I'm within the 90 day free return period). Know what they told me? THEIR TORQUE LISTING IN THEIR OWN MANUAL IS WRONG and to disregard it. Manual says ". When mounting any base to the 5x MicroPrism, always torque the 10-32 screws to 25-30 in-lbs. Do not overtighten them!."

Here is what my email to their customer service said:
Good afternoon,
Thanks for choosing Primary Arms. Please disregard the manual's torque specs as it is 18 in/lbs of torque for the base screws. A little loctite would not hurt but even without the screws will not back out if torque properly.
If you have any further questions or concerns please let us know.

So, now I'm wondering if some of the problems I'm having with zeroing occurred because I followed their manual's instructions and torqued to 30 in-lbs (which I did after degreasing and loctiting).

Eh, unlikely. Lmk what you find with a better mount. Ensure the rest of your system is drop safe with a known good scope first.

-J

 

[grappling_hook]

Eh, unlikely. Lmk what you find with a better mount. Ensure the rest of your system is drop safe with a known good scope first.

-J

Thanks, and will do. The gun already shoots 1.3" or less with every 10-shot groups with two other known good scopes (Nightforce NX8 and an SHV). The SLx 5x will do that occasionally, but will have one 1" group and then at the next range trip the center of the next 1" group has moved a couple of inches-- or will have 5 close shots and 5 more stringing out, or 9 shots under and inch with single a flyer 2" over, etc. I will put the NX8 on again one more time to verify everything, then the PA one more time and see if the issue persists.

 

[NSI]

I hate to even imply this, but throwing a magnifier on there would rule out that the drifting might be due to aim point imprecision.

-J

 

[grappling_hook]

Fair question, and no offense taken! I bought a 2x magnifier a few weeks ago so I could shoot the 5x SLx for precision work/testing, so I've used it both as a 5x and as a 10x.
But, it could be me! The thought that maybe it's super sensitive to parallax and I'm not lining up consistently, or something came loose on my barrel nut, or I screwed up a reload, etc. I also am on a super-lightweight rig, so I switched out my ultralight lower with my heavy lower, etc. I'll give it another shot with the NX8 today, and try the PA again tomorrow and see how it goes. Maybe I'll even shoot the NX8 at 5x magnification to make it fair. Hopefully everything falls into place and it's one of those variables.