Prism scopes - teach me

Shorter overall length for the same focal length as a regular scope. Slightly less weight, (still a lot of glass in porro prisms) usually no rings to mess with, (tend to be Pic rails)
If the glass is good, they can be a great improvement. If not, they are like a $25 BSA.

https://www.optics-trade.eu/blog/red-dots-vs-prism-scopes/

Prism scopes have etched reticles that wil work with no batteries.

Prism scopes can work better for folks with astigmitism.

Prism scopes have limited eye releif compared with red dots.

Prism scopes have fixed magnification unlike many regular scopes, so they may be less versatile depending on your intended use. But variable-power optics are also more complex, have more moving parts, and may be more prone to damage.

The magnifications (of prism scopes) tend to be 1, 2, 3, with a few options as high as 5 or 6, so they are not really intended for long range precision.

As was already mentioned, prism scopes tend to be short and stout, thus generally being more compact and--combined with the fixed power thing--quite durable.

Eye relief on prism scopes is generally shorter than traditional scopes (especially if it's anything other than 1x)

They are lighter than the popular 30mm-tube LPVOs. However, compared to traditional 1" tube scopes of similar magnification, the prisms weigh more (may come out close to equal when scope ring weight is added).


As for my own take/opinion, prism scopes seem to be best used on combat rifles (military/swat). For HD, non-magnified paralax-free red dots seem more useful. Long-range shooters would want more magnification and bigger objectives than prism scopes provide. For hunting, quality 1" tube traditional scopes offer all the durability most of us need while also offering more versatility and/or better resolution for the same amount of weight.

...I'm not into the competitive shooting world, so no idea what role prism scopes have there.

I went prism on my 300bo pistol. I love it. I have a Holosun on my 5.56, my wife has a Sparc on her LWRC, both are excellent if I have my contacts in. The Spitfire on the 300 is my new favorite.

It’s fast and easy to acquire, I haven’t noticed an eye relief issue with it, and I don’t need my contacts for the reticle to be crisp. I can adjust the focus if need be.

Now, my Spitfire is a 1x, with the DRT reticle, so that probably plays a role in the eye relief. But I like the prism and the ability to chose illumination or not.

idek said:

As for my own take/opinion, prism scopes seem to be best used on combat rifles (military/swat). For HD, non-magnified paralax-free red dots seem more useful. Long-range shooters would want more magnification and bigger objectives than prism scopes provide. For hunting, quality 1" tube traditional scopes offer all the durability most of us need while also offering more versatility and/or better resolution for the same amount of weight.

...I'm not into the competitive shooting world, so no idea what role prism scopes have there.

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I agree. I have about 46 or 47 scopes, lasers, red dots, reflex sights, and one Burris AR-332 Prism sight. The Burris Prism sight is very well constructed, high quality for the money like all of the Burris' products that I've handled. But, I can't find any use for it, mainly because I don't like the type of reticle that it has - just too big and intrusive to suit me. For every purpose and application that I have (about everything except the competitive shooting games), there's some other sighting device I prefer. As idek said, I don't know if there's some type of competition where I'd prefer a Prism sight, or not.