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If you’ve spent any time looking for a low-powered variable scope like a 1-4, 1-6, or 1-8. You’ve probably noticed that many of them are incredibly expensive.
We’re talking easily over a thousand bucks, and sometimes a lot more than that…
And until recently, that was all that was available for this style of AR 15 optic.
But things are starting to change, and today I’m going to tell you about a high-quality 1-6 scope that won’t do too much damage to your wallet…
The Primary Arms 1-6 Gen 3 is currently the best AR scope under 300 dollars…
It comes with some amazing features that really separate it…
…from most other budget AR 15 scopes on the market right now.
And in this review, I’m going to share with you why this optic is fast-gaining such a celebrated reputation…
Are you ready? Let’s jump into it!
The Primary Arms ACSS Reticle…
I think the most acclaimed feature of this scope is the ACSS reticle. It’s actually hard to believe that this reticle comes standard on a budget optic…
First of all, ACSS stands for Advanced Combined Sighting System…
…and it includes a bullet drop compensator, dots for a wind hold, a range estimator, and more.
Now first of all, the bullet drop compensator is outstanding…
On the Gen 3 version of this scope, you have a large horseshoe surrounding a small chevron.
The top of the chevron allows you to be extremely precise when aiming, and you use it for shots at 50, 100, and 200 yards.
From there you just continue going down the line…
…because the reticle shows you where you to hold if the target’s at 300 yards, 400 yards, all the way up to 800 yards.
Now, normally you would have to spin the dials on your scope to adjust for these shots in the distance…
…and that would take a lot more time and energy.
But with this BDC, you simply adjust which part of the reticle to hold on your target and make the shot.
Aside from that, you also get dots for a 5 mile an hour wind hold at all of those distances, and two large dots that guide where you should hold on a moving target as well.
Last, You have a section on the side that allows you to estimate the range of an average sized man (5’10) if they were standing upright…
…and you can use the hash marks on the BDC (bullet drop compensator) to estimate distance based on a man’s average shoulder width too.
It’s really a versatile and practical reticle that packs so much value in this budget scope that’s priced under 300 dollars!
The Primary Arms 1-6x Scope Comes With Illumination…
The reticle on this scope can also be illuminated red…
It takes 1 CR2032 battery in the knob on the left side, and from there you can either turn off the illumination…
…or twist the knob to adjust your brightness setting between 11 different options.
Now during the day, you can see the red illumination a little bit if it’s on the higher brightness settings.
But I don’t really think you need it during the day because the etched reticle is very visible…
Illumination on a scope like this is probably going to be most valuable to you when you’re shooting in low light or night time conditions…
And the illumination is extremely bright under those circumstances. So, I think it is a valuable feature, and I personally like to have it on tactical scopes.
The Primary Arms 1-6 Has Clear Glass…
When you pay over a thousand dollars for a tactical AR scope, the glass in gonna be extremely clear.
Now, the Primary Arms glass isn’t as clear as those premium scopes… HOWEVER, the glass clarity is overall very good!
The whole sight picture, when looking through this scope, is incredibly clear at all power settings, and I’ve never found myself struggling to see targets with it.
There is a little bit of blurring on the edges of the sight picture, but it doesn’t really distract you or hamper your vision…
…and you probably won’t even notice it while you’re shooting, unless you’re actively looking for it. At least, that’s what I’ve found to be the case while using this scope.
Additionally, the eye relief on this optic is pretty generous even though it’s not quite to the level of a red dot…
The manual says its 4.5 to 4 inches, and I haven’t had any problems seeing through this scope when presenting my rifle to make a shot.
So, I think that the glass on this optic is extremely good for the price point, and as I’ve said, you shouldn’t have any problems seeing clearly through it.
Primary Arms 1-6x Scope Pros…
- The AMAZING ACSS Reticle!
- Illumination
- Clear Glass
- Generous Eye Relief
- Pretty Lightweight For This Type Of Scope
The Cons…
- The illumination is not very bright in daylight, but I don’t think you can complain too much because of the price point.
Primary Arms 1-6 Gen 3 Review – Conclusions…
So in the end, is the Primary Arms ACSS 1-6 Scope Worth Buying?
Answer: YES!
- It has the ACSS reticle is the envy of even many premium scopes…
- It has illumination, so it can be used effectively in low light…
- And it has incredibly good glass clarity for its price point!
Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
I’m very happy with my Primary Arms 1-6, and I highly recommend it as the best AR scope under 300 dollars!
Now, there are a few different versions of this scope. So to get the right one for an AR 15 with all the updated features, hit the button above…
Also, you’re going to need a good scope mount once your primary arms arrives… You can check out my favorite scope mount by clicking here.
Farewell, and have fun at the range!
-RDshooters