Best SPR Scopes For Under $1000 

You and hop have influenced a tremendous amount of my thoughts on gun things. Perfect balance of ‘tism, nuance, and humor. Thanks for the free information and entertainment.

Dear Primary Arms, As a desert dweller like Mr. Facts here, “SPR” scopes are a staple for me. I have a 1-8x PLX-C which is amazing. I also have a GLX 2.5-10 which I like but I’m still left wanting more mag. I’d love to see you expand on this genre of scopes. If you made a lightweight 2-12x PLx (preferably but I’d take a GLX too), I’d buy 3 of them yesterday.

As always, thank you when you consider content for us poors.

I own the PA 2.5-10x44. It's quite lovely and I have it assigned to a "Mock" 12 build. It is an existential threat to Prairie Dogs everywhere. Frankly, I think there are only a few use-case scenarios where a higher cost scope would be necessary: 1. You're a competition/professional long range shooter 2. You're an actual sniper (which is basically the same as point #1) 3. You got it for free 4. You have lots of money to burn and a lighter in your pocket. Otherwise, if a 2-10x-ish scope is on your shopping list, you really can't get a better combo of performance/value. There you go, my "professional opinion" that's worth 2 pennies!

I know it doesn’t fall within this list, but the Leupold Mark5HD 3.6-18 has been really solid for me for the last few years

I like the openness of the Athlon reticle. I don't need something that can range or hold to a gnats ass, those kinds of reticles tend to distract from the target (for me). It's an example of just enough being better than too much (again, for me).

I would like to vouch for the PA SLx 3-18x HUD DMR. It’s absolutely amazing IMO. Great zoom range, awesome reticle, and fairly light at about 24 ounces, and in the weight range of some heavier LPVOs.

I'm making this comment because of the PA scope in your video. Great video, and I'm a new subscriber as of about two weeks ago. Great channel and have enjoyed it thus far! A couple things here and why I chose the New Vortex 3-18 over the New PA 3-18 GLX. Both of these are currently selling for around $750. Though I was able to get the Vortex for about 670 from OP. My personal experience with PA in the past, as far as their scopes go is, I had one 8 years ago that worked fine for my use at the time. I like what they're doing with their reticles. Now I've just built a DMR and I bought two scopes. One was the new Vortex 3-18 x 44, and PA's new 3-18 x 44 in GLX. I had them both for two weeks playing with them, setting them side by side looking through them in different light, sun and clouds, and at the same objects of course. One object at 496 yards and the other at 284 yards. Over the two weeks of deciding which one to send back, my findings where as follows. GLASS... The Vortex had a definite brighter view by at least 1.5 shades I'd say. Now there's no way for me to say exactly, however, it was immediately obvious there was a slight difference. PA's glass is from Japan, and Vortex from China. I'd expect a slightly better brightness. But after talking to a rep from PA he said maybe Vortex is using a different HD coating, IDK. FIELD OF VIEW... At 18 power the Vortex still had a wider field of view at the 496 yard mark by say, 6ft. Though you can look on the websites to confirm each, the FOV difference was noticeable, not just by a foot. THE EYE BOX Both were about the same. TIGHT. Not much wiggle room from either. But felt like the PA scope should have had some wiggle since lets face it, it's a reticle designed for battle and the last thing you want to have to do in a hurry is have to get perfectly aligned before you can see the reticle. A more forgiving eye box on both of these scopes should be designed. PARALLAX. The Vortex was stiff but smooth. Stiff enough I wasn't worried about accidental movement. But smooth enough not to struggle with fine adjustment. The PA however was a different story. Extremely stiff. Stiff enough that It was hard to tell WHEN it was perfect because there wasn't enough smoothness to find that exact point, like you can when it's a little smoother. Some of you might know what I'm talking about if you'd played with parallax long enough. So again, the Vortex to me was better. TURRETS. Here is where PA won, sort of. They definitely feel a little more tactile. The clicks are ever so slightly louder but not to the point of OH WOW. The one thing I didn't like about PA's turrets are that you have to push that triangle where as with the Vortex you lift up and spin. It just seemed to me like that was easier to do, and I knew when I pulled up it was ready to turn. RETICLE. I liked PA's reticle better on the GLX 3-18. I like the design and it's well thought out. We all know Demetri has done and excellent job there. There's a dot every 2.5 mils all the way down the tree and out each side, so it's easy to adjust quickly if you can spot your impact on time to make the correct adjustment. Vortex's reticle is great too, but it has sub tensions horizontally all the way out, where as PA has dots. Also the Vortex dots on down the tree are only provided at 1 mil increments. So you're left guessing if using the tree for a say 3.4 mils down, and 1.7 mil right. But you can extrapelate I guess. Also the PA has wind holds out to I think 6 which is perfect. The Vortex has them out to 10! Who holds ten mils of wind unless you're shooting a mile or in 45 mph wind? This is just being lazy in the design. Vortex could do a lot better. Here's the issue I found. And I have several FFP scopes so I know about reticle size. Although both scopes are 3-18 and FFP, I couldn't use the reticle on the PA scope outside of the chevron, until I got to about 11 power. That's when I could start to see the dots off to the side of the chevron well enough to actually use them, or the ones below. With the Vortex 3-18 I could actually see the lines and read the numbers on the horizontal plane even down to 6! So for me this meant that I could use a much wide band of the zoom than on the PA scope. CONCLUSION So because of the better brightness, the smoother parallax adj., and the ability to actually use a FFP reticle down at 6x, I chose to keep the Vortex and send the PA back. I can't tell you how much I tried to like the PA scope. I really wanted to! But having my evaluations in front of me, I had to make the better choice for me and my intended use. -

Walked into the store and got a blem 2.5-10x GLX for $450 after tax. Hella worth. Hard to beat even at full price.

I did pick up one of their GLx 4-16 with HUD/DMR though and that’s a good one. The chevron is tiny enough to be unobtrusive when trying for those precise 200ish yard shots with a little wind.

Just took my Mk12 Mod0 equipped with a GLX 2.5-10x out to 900 with 15mph gusts. I thought I’d want more magnification but went with that scope at your recommendation and absolutely loved it.

The slight stumble under NV at 12:58 cracked me up haha

I should let Swampfox Kentucky buyers know that the MOA version does not have the "turret numbers not lining up" issue. MOA is king once again, we landed on the moon! 👌👌

The Helos 2-12 does have a zero stop. Perhaps it's a gen 2 thing, though I don't know when those rolled out. Both of mine from the last year have the zero stop, but they don't have the little sharkfin.

"reticle" - a series of fine lines or fibers in the eyepiece of an optical device. "reticule" - a woman's small handbag U make all the difference ❤

Brass facts is the bees knees, keep it up bud.

1:39 A reticle is the fine lines or fibers in the eyepiece of an optical device but a reticule is archaic for a small hand bag or purse. Sample usage: EOTech's have great a reticle but buying one will lighten your reticule.

Figured I'd throw my two cents in since I have two of these scopes. I had the GLx 2.5-10 with the Raptor Reticle on mine, but recently bought the Athlon Helos BTR 2-12 to try it out. After handling the two and looking through them both, I'm keeping the Helos and selling the GLx. For me, the glass clarity on the GLx is only marginally better and at range, my Helos is actually slightly crisper. However, the Helos is very finnicky about where you are behind the scope. If you're off by a fraction, you see the shadow. The GLx is a little more forgiving in that regard. Otherwise, they're pretty equal with certain things the Helos does better and certain things the GLx does better. At 2x, the Helos reticle is hard to see against certain backgrounds but is amazing at 12x. The GLx is great at 2.5x, but at 10x, like BF said, it takes up damn near the entire lens. It's nuts. TL;DR - Both of them are excellent scopes and at the end of the day, I think Reticle matters the most between the two. Then, comes down to cost.

Picked up a PST viper 2.5-10 for $400 used on my “SPR” build. Things nice, but that Kentucky long is *chefs kiss

This is why I get up on Friday’s because brasshop is my favorite thing in the world

Thanks for another great comparison. Looking forward to the C_Does review and comparison of the Primary Arms GLx 2-10x to the MEOPTA Optika6 3-18x50 prior to making a purchase.

Recently ordered a Athlon helos. Came with a throw lever for magnification, and two dust covers plus a 3 inch tube extension.

Great content, as usual. This has quickly become one of my favorite YT channels over the past six months due to the honesty, humor, and focus on actual products that 99.9% of us will be interested in and use. Been meaning to ask: what is that cover on your weapon light and (more importantly) where did you get it?

As always one of my favorite gun channels to come to for zero bs solutions for poor people. I would love to see you review or just hear your opinions on the Athlon Ares 2.5-15x scope. At a street price similar to the PA 2-10 glx and good stats on paper it seems like potentially the ultimate SPR scope. I've built a 308 in tye spr spirit and now I need glass. Nobody and I mean nobody has a legit field review of it

A 'reticle', or also known as a graticule, is a pattern of fine lines or markings built into the eyepiece of an optical device such as a telescopic sight, spotting scope, theodolite, optical microscope or the screen of an oscilloscope, to provide measurement references during visual inspections ...... A 'reticule', also known as a ridicule or indispensable, was a type of small handbag or purse, similar to a modern evening bag, used mainly from 1795 to 1820.

Got an L3 Unfilmed WP from Nightline, tube is super clean, thanks for mentioning them, used your code of course. Got here the day after paying, crazy fast devilvery (but I'm on east coast). Same setup from TNVC, 12 weeks back order lol.

Sidebar: scopes today which target the Civilian market typically have reticles which have ranging and bullet drop compensation features which obscure an understanding for where the rifle is pointed so the buyer who has no interest in learning how to range or apply BDC from such a reticle will not get the desired results from the scope, which is to hit where aimed. So, what to do? Get an ACOG, which is good to mid range. For LR get a NF NXS 3.5-15 x 50 with MOA reticle and dials. Learn MOA and MOA wind constant formula and your set.

I feel like monstrum tactical should be a part of this conversation

Picked up the Kentucky Long 2-12 (MIL) for $350 on their site. Nothing beats it at that price point.

I have the same PA on my M1A Scout Squad using a SADLAK Airborne mount and it’s been great. It’s a 2 MOA rifle on a good day with match ammo so I didn’t feel it necessary to use a premium optic. But I’ve never felt that the scope itself was limiting its accuracy capability. Before everyone starts hating, that rifle is mostly just a fun gun that I’ll occasionally use for deer hunting and not in my top 5 I’d grab for “serious” use for all the reasons.

Ultra budget primary arms 4-14 ACSS HUD/DMR 5.56 NATO at optics planets under 210 “blazing hot deal” Or 189 at Dvor. I’m well pleased with mine.

I bought a swampfox arrowhead and its been solid. Not really a go to for an SPR build but it's been solid and has survived some pretty rough experiences unscathed. it's setup in a roughly SPR esque build but is my hunting rifle in 6.5 grendel and due to living on the Appalachian im not really shooting further than more than 200 yards in a field.

Happy to see a swamp fox talked about a never hear anyone really review their stuff and I think their staff is great.

Thanks for your candid review, guess I’ll be stepping up my glass

This is a really good idea for a video idea! I’ve got more money than a college student but I’m still a father, so seeing the same thing in the under $2k would be awesome.

brownells mpo 3-18, got mine for $799. it doesnt have a locking elevation turret but the turrets are stiff enough that you will not bump it. I personally think a zero stop is more mandatory than locking turrets. reticle is a good middle ground for all magnification ranges, i actually sold my Pa platinum 1-8 (I didnt like the chevron, and i wanted more magnification) and am way happier with the MPO.

In my experience the Arken SH 4-16 MIL is pretty good. Great turrets, solid build. Heavy AF but that’s the only real downside.

Hop likes MOA because he's right.

I would love to see a 2-12 or 1.7-10 (ish) PA platinum under 19oz

If you or Hop could review the new 2-10x Mark 5 that’d be great, mkay.

I just had to come back to this and comment. I just picked up the Vortex Strike Eagle 3-18 and it’s a piece of glass! It has a locking elevation turret and a capped windage turret. It killed it all the way out to 1400 yards on my Mk12.

Juuuust toeing the line, on eurooptic anyway, the trijicon credo 2-10x FFP and 2.5-15x SFP come at just under a grand. Worth looking into, I only ever had the 1-6x but was very satisfied I with it.

Brass had his sugar cereal before filming this intro

Loving the 80s montage

I get you don’t like Vortex, but the 3-15 Pst gen 2 is superb and comes in under $600 on sale with the EBR2C reticle. Got one during holiday sales and it’s a steal at that price.

I would love a video on the GLx 2-10 vs the PLx 1-8 for a 16" GPR with something resembling a useful option for passive night vision. I would also be happy if you just had some comments you were willing to drop in here on that. For reference, I'm not and never will live in the city.

Huge fan of your down to earth content. I hope one day I will be able to own such fantastic rifles as you 👌(although I am a bullpup fan so I’d want a Tavor or MDR not AR-15)

You absolutely need to review/include the Meopta Optika 6 3-18X. It's incredible!

You finally got the 360 stick cam like D34! 🙌

Come for content, stay for doggo

Love the footage of another south paw operating rifles. I would like to know how you deal with butt too low to ground as I find myself in while hunting. Height of milk crate or less. Do you find some safety switches too long on left side? I run my ambi selector 180 out on right side.

Ngl, this came out at kind of a decent time, I've honestly been wanting to move into a SPR setup due to where I live.

Vortex 3-18 strike eagle would be a good shout these days.

vortex is best bang for buck imho. thanks for these videos! Love your channel

Good vid! I've been seriously considering the Swampfox Kentucky Long 2-12X44 and somewhat considering the Bushnell Engage 2.5-10X44, but I've never really delved into Athlon scopes. After watching this, I think I'm going to have to look into the Helos 2-12X42. Is the Kentucky Long's reticle really that hard to see at 2x? The Helos' reticle looks more useable at 2x, yes? Regarding the Swampfox's issue with the indexing points not lining up with the turrets...supposedly they fixed that issue in newer production models...but who knows which one you'll get?

Sick 90s video game intro music

Love the content. Per some of your other SPR videos thought you were going to try little higher magnification. Have you got your hands on the GLX 3-18 for comparison? Trying to decide between the 2.5-10 and the 3-18.

I’m rocking a Burris fullfield IV 2.5-10 with an offset romio 5. More of a hunting rig but it does a good job reaching out. Damn near spent more money on my mounts

I will say in the Kentucky Long I "MUCH" prefer the MOA reticle. The top 1/3 of the christmas tree illuminates, not just the crosshairs. Making a big pyramid, just throw the tip on target.

Dude! That intro was sweet!

You and Hop are becoming such bros that you even talk the same.

Gawd I love the glx. Worth its weight in rangoons no doubt.

Thank you for this video! I’ve been wanting a video like this

Super Hyper-Caffeinated Intro Brass Facts® is *_BEST_* Brass Facts®

If only the trijicon credo 2.5-10 had side parallax, then it would be a top contender in this comparison.

Always love getting home and watching some brass facts, irregardless of the topic

I have the primary arms SLX 4x14 DMR hud on my mock 12 mod h and then a a primary arms GLX 4x16 DMR hud on my 18in SPR..the GLX is enough scope and clarity I will ever need. At least on a 556 platform. Both rifles use piggy back red dots.

I guess the question is: how do you feel about dial-able elevation but capped windage on a 5.56 rifle? Second question: 3-18x offerings when? 😊 so far i think its Vortex and Primary Arms.

You need a scope that has a "Christmas tree" reticle. I prefer my BUSHNELL LRTS 4.5 - 18 x 44 with illuminated G# small Xmas tree reticle. It's on a 6.5 PRC Browning X- Bolt for longer range hunting here in Nevada. So G3 reticle with illumination have become my must-haves for hunting. This is because I'm used to an H59 reticle for long range competition.

Haven't watched this yet and already commenting 2-10 Viper, 2-10 GLX and 2-10 Credo are 👑 for $1,000 or less. Edit: Swampfox and Bushnell surprised me. I would've thought the Warhorse would've won out on Kentucky Long.

Trijicon has so many lightweight options but they have no locking turrets. Some Credos can go for under $1K but they are missing a few things that make them real winners and it hurts.

Swampfox Warhawk 2-10 is an upgrade from KL 2-12. Look into that one.

I think im going to get the PA 2-10 for a spr type rifle im building using a Criterion Core 16" barrel as the base.

New ruck pack breakdown soon ?? Kudos the camo you look like a professional

The Meopta optika6 3-18 is my favorite in this category

Since you’ve already convinced me why lpvo’s suck I went ahead and ordered the brownells mpo 3-18, which some say is a great deal at its normal price of $999 but I just got it on sale for under $700

Turret click ASMR video when?

Brassfacts Friday🎉

I saw the video and was like, damn I guess I need to consider a different scope now because- Brass facts - "the Athlon Helios.." OH SHIT THATS MY SCOPE Lol guess I didn't do TOO bad

“What’s up guys it’s the talking gas station shades here”

Just my personal opinion but I value turret repeatability over everything. It's hard to find a repeatable non locking turret under 1k

Try a Bushnell ar optics 3-9x. Got one for a truck gun... I like it

Strong opening, love it

The glx is missing a center dot based reticle like the swamp fix with mil stadia around it. Yea it's cool you can dial and have locking turrets but there is no stadia for wind holds when dialing.

The tac tailor 3dap is pretty dope. The talk of margins is applicable but it never once failed me based on my needs in the service and I use it to this day. Pricey but worth it.

I would add that the PA GLX has an obnoxiously large illum knob next to the parallax. I bought one and when I was running drills with gloves on, I constantly switched the illum when I was trying to get at the parallax. Just something to note. Be nice if they had the knob smaller, since most the time people aren't messing with it anyways, but I"m constantly changing parallax.

Much power, very optic.

15:15 "My two dads: Nova's tale"

Brass didn’t you know all you need is irons?

I'm curious why a 4-16 scope with piggyback red dot wouldn't make a good spr set up, but an acog (4x)with piggyback red dot is functional enough for a gpr

@13:35 assfacts was hoofin it 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Is it just me or is there really just a big gap in the lineup when it comes to a lightweight-ish 3-9 that ALSO has side focus AND locking turrets AND a good BDC reticle with illuminated center. Makes me wonder if I’m the only person that wants such a thing.

Fits the criteria/a little much but...my son's going to try out the new FFP Strike Eagle in 3-18, a bit heavy but killer deal Mil discount during Memorial Day sale. Got the MOA, reticle is a little less busy. Trijicon 2.5-15x42 Credo (no lock turret, simpler reticle) but glass is unbelievable, 23 oz is probably a good bit better than those reviewed, love the 1-6 HX. $$$ compared to the Vortex so he went that way.

Huge fan of the Bushnell Forge for tis category. Shame that they no loner produce a scope of this caliber anywhere near its price range.

Primary arms reticle looks like a Pokémon

I'm saving up for nice glass. Until then my .308 will get by with a 1-6x.

Sick intro vibes.

Its 8pm. I fell attacked lol

I wish I could like this more than once

I like primary arms Overkill