Leupold 1x14 Tactical Prismatic Rifle Scope?

[Canonshooter]

The russian military is hardly a leading edge example of what works in the real world.

I like their rifles, though (with some non Commy-block improvements)....

[Tomac]

Bottom line, the prismatic is OK for ipsc competition and gun games, but not for real world applications, period. No need to re-hash all of the reasons why.
If someone want to use it for real world use, good luck...........

So, the Prismatic isn't suited for "real world use" but other prismatic optics (like 1-4x variables, 1.5x ACOGs, etc) are?...
Tomac

[Jim D]

So, the Prismatic isn't suited for "real world use" but other prismatic optics (like 1-4x variables, 1.5x ACOGs, etc) are?...
Tomac

The ACOG's have been proven in combat, the Prismatic has not.
The ACOG's do not have battery life concerns, the Prismatic does.
ACOG's are intended to be magnified optics, so use with BUIS's is a different story. A "1x only" optic, why deal with the hassle of BUIS issues when you have no magnification benefit?

[rob_s]

The Prismatic on the other hand is more like a tradition rifle scope but with no magnification. Instead of seeing straight through some lenses like on a reflex sight, the light is bent in a prism inside the scope. This means the scope will have paralax and limited eye relief. To illuminate the reticle requires more light than just a tiny LED resulting in a much shorter battery life. The advantages that the system brings is a much clearer picture and a sharper reticle that doesn't require illumination to be used.

I understand that 3-gun has largely gone the way of ip-sic in general where all we do is stand on our hind legs and shoot fast, but I fail to see how the above description makes this an ideal optic for anyone other than those employed-by, or sponsored-by, Leupold?

[ChocLab]

I have been following this thread with curiosity.

I am wondering the difference between a SWFA 1x4 on 1x or say a S&B on the same vs the prismatic?

Does any scope suffer from the same disadvantages at awkward positions?

For the record I only own Aimpoint/eotechs. After Mac's TAP class I noticed that I may have an astigmatism since I was centering the almost perceived four dots on my 2 Moa Aimpoint. The accuracy emphasis of the class really changed the direction of my training.

[Canonshooter]

I am wondering the difference between a SWFA 1x4 on 1x or say a S&B on the same vs the prismatic?

At least compared to the SWFA 1-4 which I owned, none - other than a lot more bulk, double the weight and double the price for the 1-4 with mount.

Does any scope suffer from the same disadvantages at awkward positions??

Compared to a reflex sight like an Aimpoint, EOTech, etc. - yes to somewhat varying degrees.

For the record I only own Aimpoint/eotechs. After Mac's TAP class I noticed that I may have an astigmatism since I was centering the almost perceived four dots on my 2 Moa Aimpoint. The accuracy emphasis of the class really changed the direction of my training.

If you listen to some here, accuracy doesn't matter - as long as the battery lasts a long time and you can still see the dot while eating a Big Mac.

FWIW, I could shoot the Prismatic with greater accuracy than either the EOTech or Aimpoint for that same reason, but that doesn't matter in "real world" applications.

[kelly neal]

Kelly, I'm well aware of where they got their start, but are you suggesting that the Prismatic is now "sweeping" the 3-gun circuits and shooters are switching over in droves to them? That certainly doesn't mirror what I'm seeing having worked for two different Leupold/ Aimpoint/ Eotech dealers, but hey, maybe they're getting them elsewhere while we sell zero of them (we sold over 100 Aimpoints last month though, by comparison).

That you may be a talented 3-gun shooter who prefers that prismatic doesn't make it any better or worse than it is.

If I wanted an etched reticle optic, I'd buy a Tri-Power that I really don't need to worry about battery life on. But we both know how well that's selling for Trijicon.

Even having an astigmatism, myself... I still have zero interest in buying the Leupold. My rifle usage is not yours though, and if it works well for the games, then great. For me, a slightly sharper reticle isn't worth the nose-dive in battery life for night-time use (my rifle is my preferred HD gun, too), isn't worth the trade off with eye relief and position (shooting from unconventional shooting positions) and the complications that come with running BUIS's (which I run up, all the time).

Were this a competition thread, or a competition forum... you might get some more love on it. If that's the OP's use, then great. As a whole though, most folks here are not hard core competitors, and setup their guns with other priorities in mind.

I have not suggested that 3 gun shooters are going to the Prismatic in droves. Most shooters compete in the Tac Scope division where variables rule the roost. In the competitive realm, I have suggested the following: the Prismatic is (so far) the dominant 1X sight in competition at the national level in the Tac Limited division (and not just with me shooting it). Tac Limited only allows iron sights or 1X optics. This is largely because the quality of glass, sight adjustments and sight picture compared to Aimpoints and Eotechs. Of course, the shots fired in 3 gun and practical rifle matches are 99% fired in the daylight.

Once again, I have not suggested that everyone run out and sell your Aimpoints or Eotechs, just that the Prismatic is an underrated option. The idea that your shooting performance is going to radically improve because you have any one of these sights is silly. I can say that in my experience, the Prismatic and Aimpoint are more durable than the Eotech.

If having BUIS flipped up is of paramount importance, the Prismatic is probably not the sight for you. If engaging more technical targets is of importance, then the Prismatic probably is the sight for you.

I have also noted that I felt at no disadvantage in any sort of night time shooting or training that I have attended. For example, I shot 3 sights during a VTAC Nightfighter class: the CQBSS, an Eotech and the Prismatic. Inside of 50 yards in the dark, I thought the Eotech was slightly better than the CQBSS and the Prismatic. Past 50 in the dark, the CQBSS was superior. In the daytime and at dusk, the Prismatic had a slight edge.

As for the proven in battle comments. True, the Prismatic has not seen nearly the duty use that other 1X optics have. Tucson PD is the only agency that leaps to mind that issues the Prismatic. Of course these very same comments were levelled at the Aimpoint and Eotech. They were silly gamer sights not proven in battle until they were. The Prismatic was never even designed as a gamer sight, it was first conceived as a turkey shotgun sight (guns which brutalize their optics). I too would like to see a Prismatic (and Eotech) go through the Daniel Defense torture test. I would also like to see a Eotech and Aimpoint on Leupold's torture machine. You would be surprised at what that thing can do to poor optics of any price range.

Finally, with the advancements in variable scopes, I see the 1X optic as an evolutionary dead end.

[Canonshooter]

Finally, with the advancements in variable scopes, I see the 1X optic as an evolutionary dead end.

Once the combined weight of scope and mount gets down to under 1 pound, the variable will no doubt be the way to roll (as long, of course, as the reticle illumination lasts 5+ years on one battery, it has unlimited eye relief and the ability to run fixed BUIS to co-witness with your etched reticle ).

[Failure2Stop]

Finally, with the advancements in variable scopes, I see the 1X optic as an evolutionary dead end.

I am a unabashed fan of low powered variables.
I also primarily use them at 1x, and due to years of eye damage, I find that I shoot them just as fast as I do an EoTech or Aimpoint, but with greater precision. This is one of the big factors in my interest in trying out a Prismatic.

Etched reticle optics can be very usable in low light in conjunction with white light. I have found that reticle boldness plays a big role in that application. I am not convinced that it is a superior choice to a good RDS for low-light, but how vast the divide is between a T1 and a Prismatic is what I would like to find out.

Being usable without illumination or battery dependance has appeal to me.

[Warg]

I am a unabashed fan of low powered variables.
I also primarily use them at 1x, and due to years of eye damage, I find that I shoot them just as fast as I do an EoTech or Aimpoint, but with greater precision. This is one of the big factors in my interest in trying out a Prismatic.

Etched reticle optics can be very usable in low light in conjunction with white light. I have found that reticle boldness plays a big role in that application. I am not convinced that it is a superior choice to a good RDS for low-light, but how vast the divide is between a T1 and a Prismatic is what I would like to find out.

Being usable without illumination or battery dependance has appeal to me.

Exactly.

I typically boresight all of my scoped rifles at night using a barrel mounted laser that is reflecting off of a street sight approximately 200y away. I always surprised at how much I can see at night and how visible most of the etched reticles are (fine crosshairs…not so much). I do live in an urban environment, however, with a fair amount of ambient light.

I would like to see low-light, non-illuminated pics through this reticle using a rail mounted weapon light.