When you are looking to combine a high-quality optic with a decent price point, then Primary Arms is likely your go-to. They make great products that don’t break the bank. The Primary Arms GLx comes in at a mid-tier price but packs Tier 1 performance. This variable optic came to me at the perfect time. I have a new Savage Impulse Predator, with an empty optic rail. The GLx presented a modern solution to a modern problem.
After I added a Primary Arms optic mount, attaching the scope to the gun completed what’s proved to be a very competent package. Let’s dive into the GLx and see what Primary Arms has to offer in the variable scope realm.
The GLx Features and Specs
The GLx comes in numerous magnification levels, as well as numerous reticle options. I chose the 2.5-10X with the ACSS Griffin reticle. My hunting isn’t done at long open ranges. In fact, it varies between 150 yards and 15 yards. In the jungles of Northwest Florida, you never know how close things will get. So the 2.5X setting is limited enough for close-range shooting, and the 10X is more than enough for the max ranges I’ll harvest a deer or hog at.
At only 12.5 inches long and weighing only 22.2 ounces, the GLx isn’t a heavy or long optic. It’s somewhat bulky with the 44mm objective lens, but the wide field of view is nice. The field of view is 35.8 feet at 100 yards with the magnification maxed out.
The eye relief also allows for the use of magnum calibers and provides you with a generous 3.5 to 3.6 inches of eye relief. This makes it easy to get behind the optic and on target. An adjustable diopter keeps things clear, and the parallax adjustment also matches my needs.
The parallax adjustment ranges from 25 yards to infinity. Typically rifles begin their parallax adjustment at 100 yards or even 50. At 25, I can confidently hit those close-range targets and make use of that ACSS Griffin Reticle.
Finally, the GLx is IP67 rated to resist water and dust. It will certainly withstand my use at the range and in the tree stand or hunting blind.
The Griffin Reticle
The Griffin Reticle is a versatile ACSS reticle. If you aren’t familiar, ACSS is the Primary Arms term for versatile long-range and close-range reticle. The design inspires both CQB and long-range use. The first focal plane nature of the scope ensures the very complicated reticle is useful at any magnification level.
At close range, you have the CQB design, which is an illuminated center reticle with a three-quarter circle surrounding it. At 2.5X, it’s quite small but very useful for fast stop shots. When you deal with hogs as I do, you might stumble on a group, and having fast and accurate snapshots is a nice feature.
The illuminated reticle has ten brightness settings and between each setting is an off position. Consider me a fan of this. It’s nice to snap to a bright setting instantly and turn it off just as fast. The illuminated will shut off after three minutes of no activity but turn back on when it senses movement.
Dropping Rounds
Beneath the chevron sits a MIL grid with 15 drop points, each measuring a MIL. If you know your dope, you can turn this into a bullet drop compensator. The pyramid-like dots are also one mil apart, and there are six on each side of the reticle.
To the right and left of the chevron, we have little dots. These dots are leads for a moving target. They are designed to be used with targets 90 degrees from the shooter, moving at 8.6 MPH, which is the average speed of a running man. According to Primary Arms, these work best between 100 and 300 yards.
On the outskirts of the reticle sits a ladder with various numbers. This ranging ladder is designed to allow the shooter to find the range of a target. It’s set for the average height of a man, so 5’ 10”. Put a man inside the ladder, and whichever number his head aligns with is his range from you.
The Primary Arms GLx At the Range
Ah man, getting behind the glass and seeing that big beautiful reticle is quite easy. The distant eye relief and the very generous eyebox allow you to get behind the gun and get on target quite quickly. Even when you dial up the magnification, it’s easy to get behind and get on target.
Once you notice how fast you get on target, you’ll also appreciate that clarity. Color me impressed. The clarity from edge to edge is fantastic. At 50 yards, I began zeroing my 308 rifle. At that range, I was shooting a B8 target and could see the little 30 caliber holes in the black. Back to 300 yards, I could see that dull grey gong every time I rang it. I could watch it swing, see when it slowed down, and readied itself for the next dose of .308.
The illumination is quite bright and easy enough to see during the day in a moderate setting. The illumination is very sharp and crisp. That little chevron catches the eye easily enough. The reticle is big but clear and crisp, even when the magnification is dialed to 10X.
The GLx turrets provide tactile and audible adjustments with a fingertip design. The ensure accidental adjustments don’t occur, the turrets lock and require a little button press to free. The adjustments are done in .1 mil, so they are quite fine, and the turrets illustrate the MIL adjustments. We get 37 MILs for elevation and windage. The turrets can be reset to zero with ease. Overall I fell in love with zeroing and dialed in my Predator quickly and easily.
When the Sun Sets or Rises
I was a bit shocked that an optic that retails for less than 700 bucks was capable of great low-light performance. Even as the sunset on my range day, I could zoom in and see the dull gray steel targets with the sun behind me. It was vivid and clear, and the fine reticle allowed for easy hits.
Ringing that steel as the sun set gave me a good degree of confidence. Most of the luck I’ve had in the field involves right as the sun rises and right as the sun sets. Having decent low-light performance is an absolute must, and the GLx grants me the performance I want and need.
In fact, the GLx provides me with everything I need, and more, for hunting hogs, deer, and gongs made of AR 500 steel. It’s a fantastic and versatile optic that’s well priced. The GLx is a testament to the quality Primary Arms can provide at a great price point.
Where is this made? Thanks
Where is it made? My bet is China. My hope is U.S.A.