Primary Arms Optics

Primary Arms Optics (PAO) delivers cutting-edge optical solutions for civilian, law enforcement, and military use. With an emphasis on value, innovation, and durability, our optics are trusted for a wide range of shooting disciplines — from CQB to long-range precision.

Our proprietary ACSS® reticle system, advanced technologies, and customer commitment set us apart in the industry.

Primary Arms Optics Product Tiers

We offer four product tiers, each designed to meet specific user needs:

Classic Series®

Classic Series optics and accessories are perfect for the budget-focused marksmen. All Classic Series products come with a lifetime warranty, showing their commitment to guaranteed quality.

SLx®

SLx optics built our reputation for innovation, reliability, and value. All SLx optics undergo rigorous field-testing during development to best serve you in any environment.

GLx®

GLx brings premium technology and materials into an approachable price range.

PLx®

PLx optics meet the exacting demands of professional use, offering impeccable glass clarity and advanced features from state-of-the-art production facilities.

Products We Make

Our product lineup covers all core categories:

Red Dot Sights – Lightweight and fast, ideal for CQB and reflexive shooting
Prismatic Scopes – Fixed-power optics with etched reticle designs
Variable Magnification Scopes – From LPVOs to long-range precision optics
Magnifiers – Add-on magnification for red dots
Binoculars – Compact and durable for outdoor observation
Mounts & Accessories – Precision mounting solutions for all optic types

Our Technologies & Features

AutoLive®

Our auto on and auto off feature. After 3 minutes of no movement, the illumination turns off. The slightest movement will turn the illumination back on to the setting it was previously at.

Easy Lock™

Turrets automatically lock at the zero position, preventing accidental adjustments from bumps, drops, or snags.

Easy Stop®

Turrets feature an integrated over-travel stop to ensure repeatable, confident returns to your original zero setting.

NOVA Reticles

Our ACSS NOVA reticles feature a unique fiber-wire illumination, which produces an ultra-bright center dot for fast target acquisition.

Interchangeable Turrets

Allows users to swap between capped or exposed tactical turrets, enabling configuration based on mission requirements or user preference.

Multi-Reticle Select

Lets users customize what portions of the reticle are visible, enhancing speed and usability by simplifying the display for specific applications.

RDB Reticles

Found in our premium PLx line, RDB reticles use diffractive illumination for unmatched brightness without sacrificing reticle complexity or clarity.

Steel-on-Steel® (SOS®)

A mechanical turret design upgrade using steel internals rather than traditional brass rings. Provides greater durability and long-term zero retention.

UML Levers

User-replaceable magnification levers that attach directly to the magnification ring, providing faster, more tactile adjustment.

Frequently Asked Questions

If your optic isn't functioning properly, reach out to Primary Arms Customer Support. All Primary Arms optics — including co-branded Holosun models with ACSS reticles — are backed by a lifetime warranty. Our team will guide you through troubleshooting or replacement as needed.

In some cases, such as with tight diopters, turrets, or illumination controls, it may just require a bit of breaking-in before adjustments are smooth and easy.

Astigmatism is a common vision condition that can cause red dot sights to appear blurry, smeared, or starburst-like. If you notice distortion when looking through a red dot, you may benefit from optics with etched reticles, such as prismatic scopes or variable magnification scopes, which are unaffected by astigmatism.

ACSS stands for Advanced Combined Sighting System — a proprietary reticle design owned by Primary Arms Optics.

ACSS reticles combine multiple tools, regularly including bullet drop compensation, range estimation, wind holds, and moving target leads into one intuitive system. They're engineered to help you shoot faster and more accurately at varying distances.

Since these are proprietary, we cannot share specific stadia measurements.

FFP (First Focal Plane) reticles change size as you adjust magnification, allowing holdovers and ranging to remain accurate at any zoom level. SFP (Second Focal Plane) reticles stay the same size regardless of magnification, so ranging and holdovers are only accurate at the optic's highest magnification setting.

These refer to different measurement systems within reticles. MIL (milliradian) and MOA (minute of angle) are units used for precision shooting adjustments, while BDC (Bullet Drop Compensation) reticles are pre-calibrated to specific calibers and distances.

This blog includes more information on the three different systems: [MIL vs MOA vs BDC Guide]

SLx and GLx MicroPrism optics use the Trijicon® Mini-ACOG® mounting footprint. This provides broad compatibility with many industry-standard mounts, giving you flexible mounting options based on your preferred height and setup.

Use the following specs when mounting optics:

CLx/ SLx / GLx Mounts:
· Cross bolts: 20–25 in-lbs
· Ring cap screws: 15 in-lbs
· Base/riser screws: 15 in-lbs

PLx Mounts:
· Ring screws: 16–18 in-lbs
· Base screws: 30–35 in-lbs