By Scott Smith
Contributing Editor
Over the fifty years I have been shooting, the area that has brought shooters more options is optics.
In my youth if you wanted high end precision optics, you purchased a Unertl. In my youth these scopes sold for $50-200 which would be $1,700 today. For affordable scopes ($15-$75) we had Bushnell, Weaver, Redfield, Leupold or branded scopes such as Western Auto, Sears, Montgomery Ward which were about half of the others. These inexpensive scopes were not known for holding zero and they were prone to fogging.
Fast forward to 2021 and you can still find inexpensive scopes but they are light years ahead of what I grew up shooting, save for a Unertl. One brand that has become popular with a variety of users is Primary Arms (Phone: 713-344-9600; Online: PrimaryArms.com). Primary Arms is known for affordably priced, quality optics. Most of their scopes and red dots are priced under $500.00.
I have been testing a 5X Gen III Prism for the last several months. It has been mounted on a KelTec SU16A. This “foldable” rifle has been in a discreet carry case and is my truck gun when traveling. With its 18.5”, 1 in 7 twist barrel it is an accurate compact rifle; especially when mated with a quality optic like Primary Arms produces.
Primary Arms’ attention to detail starts with the base. Most bases have a single bar that fits into the slots of a Picatinny rail. Primary Arms has two bars that give seven points of contact instead of five, three of which contact three rails. This helps ensure you will not lose zero if you remove the SLx. It also gives more even pressure once the scope is attached to your firearm.
Next Primary Arms includes custom flip-up lens covers. These are not flimsy pieces of plastic; they rival those you would spend several dollars for aftermarket. They functioned flawlessly in scorching hot or freezing temps.
Another nice feature is the removable rail on top of the scope to mount a red dot. Like the scope caps, this would set you back several dollars if you installed one. Unlike one you would install this rail is low profile so it will not interfere with the SLX’s operation if you do not remove it. Lastly you can remove the mount and the scope will fit perfectly in a traditional carry handle.
Next, Primary Arms ensures you do not lose the adjustment caps by attaching the caps with a flexible strap. You will also find the 0.33” vertical and horizontal adjustments click. This is a feature generally only found on much more expensive optics.
One last feature I have grown to appreciate is the Advanced Combined Sighting System reticle can be red or green when turned on. There are five intensity settings for red or green. If you travel a lot, you too might find like I did; this helps when going from lush greenery to browns of desert regions.
The ACSS reticle is an inverted horseshoe with a Ballistic Drop Compensator. Primary Arms’ manual gives you the BDC for .223/5.56, .308/7.62X51, 5.45X39, 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC. I zeroed my SU16 with 5X SLx at 50yrds with 55gr JHPs and the BDC was nearly dead on at 200yrds; the actual impact was 2” low; which could be caused shooting in various weather conditions. After zeroing this set-up with 55gr JHPs, I also tested the variation of POA/POI with various weights of .223Rem and found the biggest spread was 3 inches at 200 yards. In practical terms, that is good and I left the zero as it was. Over the last several months, the SLx was off and on the SU16 several times and zero never changed.
With a $329.99 MSRP Primary Arms’ 5X GenIII SLx is an awesome piece of kit. The optic is ideal for many applications; hunting, competition, duty, personal protection. If you are a rancher or farmer, the SLx would also be ideal for on the ranch to dispense various destructive varmints.
Overall I found Primary Arms’ 5X GenIII SLx to be a good scope. It now permanently resides on the KelTec SU16. I trust to protect the house or my RV when I am traveling. I cannot give any piece of kit a higher recommendation than that. If you are looking for a quality compact fixed power optic, PA’s 5X GenIII SLx should be on your short list.
One of the things we never seem to have when zeroing a scope are tools to loosen/tighten mounts or adjustment knob set screws. 5.11 Tactical (Phone: 866-451-1726; Online: 511Tactical.com) has just the tool to help, the TKO Ratchet Kit. At $19.99 it is an affordable wrench kit that can save a trip to the range.
The first item that sets the TKO Ratchet Kit apart from others is it’s a ratchet. Next is its size, it literally will fit in the palm of your hand. Finally, all the eight pieces of the tool kit fit into a MOLLE compatible holder just larger than a silver dollar.
So what all does the TKO Ratchet Kit have for the shooter? Obviously there is the dual direction ratchet driver. Unlike other ratchets, this one can be used as a small pry bar and bottle opener. Next are the tools, six hex bits included: Phillips #2, Torx 10, 15, 20, SAE 3/32” and 7/64”. There is a punch for pins on polymer pistols and a magnetic locking bit extension.
When 5.11 designed this tool kit they knew these six bits would not cover all screws and bolts. Smartly, they sized the bits in ¼” pattern so other common firearm’s tool bits would fit. This means when you have that special tool for a Mosin-Nagant, you can use the 5.11 Ratchet to get better leverage on screw than the standard screwdriver handle will give you. You will have fewer stripped heads and fewer headaches loosening a screw.
At first I questioned the idea of a pry bar. Then I realized you can remove a receiver from the stock and not risk bending a screwdriver or knife. The end can also help open your slide if you have a fired case stick. The pry bar can be used to lift the pull tab on an energy drink or pop can. When you get older and injuries to your hands catch up with you those tabs can be a pain. The bottle opener comes in handy for old school bottles of pop or an adult beverage after you are done shooting.
Having used Primary Arms SLX Gen III and 5.11 Tactical’s TKO Ratchet Kit extensively, I can tell you they are great tools for shooters of all skill levels. The SLX has taken a licking over the last half a year and has never failed to hold zero. The TKO has come in handy on the range and at home. These two items will definitely make you trips, hunting, competition or on duty better. They will truly help you shoot accurately, faster and have more fun doing it.
