5 Best Prism Scopes: Robust & Better for Astigmatism

What's a prism scope, and do you need one?

Long story short, they are fixed-magnification optics that use a prism (whoa) instead of the two objective and ocular lenses of a traditional scope.

I'll go over some of the pros and cons of prism scopes vs. red dots and low-power variable optics.

Then dive into some popular models we prefer here at Pew Pew Tactical. By the end, you'll know if prism scopes are right for you (there's especially one big reason) and which one to get.

Best Prism Optics Comparison Chart

How We Chose the Best Prism Optics

For this article, we focused on prism optics that balance glass quality, size and weight, field of view, durability, reticle options, and price.

Travis Pike took the lead on this article, but input also came from PPT's editorial team. Together, we have a combined shooting experience of 30+ years, including instruction, competition, and multiple shooting disciplines.

Every prism scope on this list has been handled and tested by someone here at PPT, some of whom suffer from astigmatism.

Best Prism Optics

1. Primary Arms SLx Cyclops Gen 2 ACSS - Editor's Pick

Editor’s Pick

Primary Arms Cyclops Gen 2

$162

at Primary Arms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$162 at Primary Arms

AR15 Discounts (see price)

Specs:

• Magnification: 1x
• Weight: 5.5 oz
• Objective Lens Diameter: 17mm
• Field of View: 76.50 ft @ 100yds
• Illumination: Red, Green
• Reticle: ACSS Cyclops

We were lukewarm with the first generation of Cyclops, with only ok illumination and a decent eye box.

But the newer Gen 2 Cyclops blows it out of the water. Build quality is still superb, and they managed to make it even smaller.

The illumination is great, and it comes with 3-night vision modes as well.

We had our editor, who has a fair amount of astigmatism, try the optic, and it still appeared crisp.

Additionally, the ACSS reticle is one of our favorite reticles, and this iteration continues to deliver. There is a reason you are seeing so many optics mimic these reticles. Holosun even partnered with Primary Arms to use the ACSS reticle on some of their optics.

Primary Arms is currently dominating the prism optics game, and the Cyclops is their most popular option by far. If you ask someone for prism scope recommendations, chances are they will direct you to this one.

Check out our full review of the Gen 2 Cyclops where we ran over 1,000 rounds at different distances.

2. Vortex Spitfire HD Gen 2 3x - Best Warranty

Best Warranty

Vortex Spitfire HD Gen 2 3x Prism Scope

$399

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$399 at Kygunco

Sportsman's Guide (see price)

AR15 Discounts (see price)

Specs:

• Magnification: 3x
• Weight: 9 oz
• Objective Lens Diameter: 21mm
• Field of View: 37.9 ft @ 100yds
• Illumination: Red
• Reticle: AR-BDC4

It wouldn't be an optics discussion if we didn't throw Vortex into the mix.

The Spitfire HD Gen 2 3X was introduced a few years ago but is still going strong. This small, lightweight prism offers clear glass and a pretty reasonable fast acquisition. In short, it's a really solid option for those of you who suffer from astigmatism.

With the Spitfire, you get a nice 37.9-foot field of view. Most impressively, this optic weighs just 9 ounces, making it a great option for those who want to keep the weight low. These specs are very close to the Primary Arms 3x prisms, with a 38-foot field of view, and weigh 8 oz.

So why the Vortex over the Primary Arms? Well, not everyone likes the chevron reticles.

The Vortex uses a 3/4s illuminated circle that forms a dome around the 1 MOA center dot and the hashmark reticle. That 3/4 circle portion works well for close-range shooting. Its glass-etched design ensures everything looks crisp and clear.

It's not ultra bright, but it still holds its own during the brightest part of the day.

Control-wise, you get large + and - buttons instead of a top dial, which makes it easy to use.

Like all Vortex optics, the Spitfire comes with their unbeatable, no-questions-asked lifetime VIP warranty. If you’re looking for a mid-priced optic, the Vortex Spitfire HD Gen 3x definitely delivers.

We have more details about the 3x and 5x versions in our full review.

3. Swampfox Saber - Best 5x Prism

Best 5x Prism

Swampfox Saber 5x Prism Scope

$318

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$318 at Amazon

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Classic Firearms (see price)

Specs:

• Magnification: 5x
• Weight: 24.7 oz
• Objective Lens Diameter: 36mm
• Field of View: 30.9 ft @ 100yds
• Illumination: Red, Green
• Reticle: Strike MOA

If you are seeking more magnification, the Swampfox Saber offers you a fixed 5x level of magnification.

For a lot of people, 5x seems a bit much, but to me, it's all about the platform. I was looking for a compact but high-performing optic for a .223 Remington bolt gun, and the Saber looked perfect.

With 5x magnification, I see well within the round's limitations, and the MOA reticle allows me to compensate easily for drop.

However, this is a pretty heavy optic. Weight-wise, you are well into LPVO territory. However, you are still getting a much more compact package in terms of overall length.

In terms of field of view, the Saber is class-leading at 30.9 feet at 100 yards. It's a wide, bright, and clear sight picture for those more distant engagements.

Unlike prisms at the 3x or even 4x range, close shooting is admittedly tough with the Swampfox Saber.

To compensate, Swampfox included mounting platforms on the left and right to accommodate mini red dots, specifically dots with the Shield RMCs' footprint. This allows you to stack an extra red dot for those close-range encounters.

This makes the Saber almost effective as an LPVO. For my shooting, I find myself typically only using only the highest magnification setting or the lowest. I have that same option here.

The Saber might be a little pricier, but it's still well within the affordable world of prism optics. It's certainly a more niche option but one that deserves to be mentioned. 

4. Primary Arms SLx 3x MicroPrism - Best Overall Prism

Best Overall Prism

Primary Arms SLx 3x MicroPrism

$319

at Primary Arms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$319 at Primary Arms

Amazon (see price)

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Specs:

• Magnification: 3x
• Weight: 7.95 oz
• Objective Lens Diameter: 23mm
• Field of View: 38 ft @ 100yds
• Illumination: Red, Green
• Reticle: ACSS Raptor, ACSS Griffin

The Primary Arms SLx 3x MicroPrism has single-handedly made prisms a lot more relevant to the current conversation. This lightweight 3x optic is the size of a compact red dot.

It completely upsets the red dot and LPVO conversation.

These tiny optics are made for both 5.56/.308 rifles as well as .300 Blackout/7.62x39mm rifles. They are small, lightweight, and customizable. Primary Arms includes what seems to be a half dozen mounting options with the optics to fit it to whatever platform you are rocking and rolling with.

It's Primary Arms, so you know the reticles will be nice, and you get the simplified ACSS Raptor reticle.

This provides the donut of death on top of a BDC for taking shots at both close and long range. Once you get behind the optic, you are met with a surprisingly nice 38-foot field of view.

On top of that, the image is super clear, and the reticle is daylight bright. It's an impressive offering.

Personally, if I wanted a prism optic, this might be my top choice.

It's lightweight and compact but packs a fixed 3x magnification and an awesome rail system. A bright and clear sight picture helps, as does the ability to mount it every which way but loose.

What do you think of the PA SLx? Rate it below!

5. Swampfox Trihawk - Best Field of View

Best Field of View

Swampfox Trihawk 3x Prism Scope

$239

at Swampfox

Prices accurate at time of writing

$239 at Swampfox

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Amazon (see price)

Specs:

• Magnification: 3x
• Weight: 15.4 oz
• Objective Lens Diameter: 30mm
• Field of View: 52 ft @ 100yds
• Illumination: Red, Green
• Reticle: 5.56/.308 BDC, MOA Ladder

When it comes to saving some dinero but still getting a high-quality optic, there is the Swampfox Trihawk. The Trihawk costs about $200 and offers you a fixed 3x magnification. Don't get startled reading the specs.

This is not a micro prism. In fact, it's a macroprism.

It's big at 4.55 inches long and 3.43 inches high, but that's purposeful. It's huge because it offers you a class-leading field of view. At 100 yards, you are getting a 52-foot field of view.

That's absurd compared to other prism optics on the market. That massive field of view makes it easy to track moving targets or to find the target if your presentation gets a little sloppy.

On top of that, the exit pupil is nice and large due to the lens size, and you get a clear and bright picture.

It's deceptively clear for a $250 optic. Inside that field of view sits either a BDC reticle or an MOA reticle. The MOA design allows you to tailor the Trihawk to any rifle platform, but the BDC locks you into either 5.56 or .308.

The only downside is that I wish the reticle were a bit brighter. It can appear a little dim at high noon in the Sunshine State. Other than that, it's tough not to like the Trihawk.

Unless you dislike a massive field of view, clear-sight pictures, and a great price.

Pros & Cons of Prism Scopes

Hard truth: you’re not going to replace a dedicated long-range optic with a prism.

But you can get close. Here are some of our pros and cons.

Pros

• Some level of magnification
• Usually smaller package compared to a traditional scope
• Increased durability due to no moving optical parts
• Illuminated reticles are the norm
• Don't need batteries like a red dot since the reticle is etched into the glass
• Possibly better for astigmatism

In our opinion, this makes prisms ideal as a battlesight for carbines, as their flexibility means that they can generally be used at both close, mid, and occasionally longer ranges quite comfortably.

As for astigmatism...here's a nice illustration from AT3 Tactical.

Cons

• Magnification tops out at around 5x
• Heavy compared to red dots
• Not as forgiving parallax and eye relief compared to red dots
• Illuminated reticles aren't all daylight bright
• Price point of "nice" ones is around $300 and in the ballpark of low power variable optics (LPVOs)

Prism optics definitely have their own cheering section online but keep in mind these negatives as we go into the hands-on testing section.

But What About ACOGs?

Probably the OGs of bombproof prism scopes are Trijicon ACOGs.

We've got an article just for them and some for clones as well!

Meet the Experts

Pew Tactical author Travis Pike authored this article. Travis spent a lifetime shooting as a kid and later joined the United States Marine Corps, where he spent five years as an infantryman. His experience as a machinegunner, recreational and competitive shooter, hunter, and concealed carry instructor has given him unique insight into various weapon platforms. Additionally, Travis has thousands of articles to his name with a variety of publications, and has tested countless guns and other firearm accessories.

Editing this article is Pew Pew Tactical Editor, Wyatt Sloan. Wyatt is an NRA-certified instructor and also has experience with competition shooting and hunting. Wyatt personally owns over 200 firearms and has 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales.

Also editing this article is Pew Pew Tactical Editor-in-Chief, Jacki Billings. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that, depending on your individual needs and ability to spend cash on gun glass, we’re positive you’ll find something here that works for you.

What are your thoughts on Prism optics? Do you run a 1x? Or are you like us and prefer Low Power Variable Optics? Also, check out our all-encompassing Best AR-15 Optics and Best Optics for Astigmatism.

Latest Updates

August 2025: Added comparison table. Updated pricing.

August 2024: Removed Monstrum 2x Tactical and Primary Arms GLx 2x ACSS Gemini (discontinued).