Dots vs astigmatism (advice request)

[u/BrotherLefthand]

I have a gnarly astigmatism that impacts my ability to use dots. I've tried etched reticle prisms, but the ones in my budget are too bulky for my shotgun. I need something relatively small and low-profile.

I'm considering the PA x1 microprism with the green dot, but haven't seen reviews of it from people with astigmatism. Does anyone have advice on this unit?

I'm trying to keep my budget sub $400, which is why I'm not looking at fancy closed emitters or holographics. I don't have an Eotech wallet.

[u/CryptidWorks]

I have the stig.

I use the PA 1x with the cyclops reticle on my KSG. Mine is red, but it works very well. The reticle is designed with shotguns in mind.

I'd recommend it wholeheartedly.

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/CryptidWorks]

Awesome, thank you! My stig is exceptionally bad. Even with corrective lenses, I still star burst like crazy. Night driving sucks.

Do you use a magnifier?

[u/CryptidWorks → u/BrotherLefthand]

I don't, but everything I've heard suggests it wouldn't be an issue. I may at some point try one for slugs, as the KSG performs shockingly well with them.

Primary Arms makes a magnifier with a ranging reticle, though that would be overkill on a shotgun, but useful if you ever mount it to a rifle.

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/CryptidWorks]

With the increases to my households cost of living, we don't have a lot of fun money left over. So I'd definitely consider that type of magnifier.

Thank you!

[u/bombhills]

This optic works great with my stupid eyes. Do recommend.

[u/Datlimetho]

I run one of these on my shotgun and really like it, would recommend.

[u/3e_Design]

that looks really tall for a shotgun

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/3e_Design]

The riser is removable.

[u/icantfeelmynips → u/3e_Design]

They come with a whole wack of riser combos with the option to remove it as well. 

[u/coffeeofwar]

I have pa Cyclops eye relief is very long and I can provide a picture of you need it,

My advice get the gen with the better moa adjustment the Frist gen had 1 moa adjustments kinda sucked new ones are half or quarter

But I'd recommend it works super well with a magnifier as well

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/coffeeofwar]

Gen 2 is what I see being sold. I haven't come across a 1st gen. Good advice, thank you!

What magnifier works with a prism? I assume any one that aligns with the optic? I've never used one before.

[u/therowdyirishman]

Good questions! In my experience they're certainly a worthy option for shotgun use. I have bad eyes that require a 2+ prescription. Thanks to the adjustable diopter I could get a very crisp + flat image with AND without my glasses on. I ran one of these pretty hard on my 14" 590. It felt fast, wide FOV sight picture, easy to use with both eyes open and track during recoil. Etched reticle can be considered an alternative back up to irons. Reticle is large enough to offer similar benefits to a 65moa circle dot and brightness was always sharp enough to contrast easily. The mini ACOG footprint means you can find a high quality/durable QD mount, then it can pop off for access to OEM irons. This would be my first recommendation for a backup sight system on a serious rig (eg wildness defense).

Here's some photos of it on my Shockwave build. I also have another post comparing 3 different categories of budget 1x competitors from a few years ago. Open emitter micro (Bushnell) - PA 1x Gen II - Holosun micro rifle dot. I run a 1301 now and ultimately decided I prefer a T2 shaped red dot (HS503CU) with super minimal/low co-witnessed irons via a CROM mount, for a wilderness defense shotgun.

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/therowdyirishman]

If I could use this without my glasses, i would be beyond excited! Thank you!

[u/therowdyirishman → u/BrotherLefthand]

Happy to help! Just realized I forgot to add the links. Here you go. https://www.reddit.com/r/aimdownsights/s/gJdc1r0K5Y

https://www.reddit.com/r/canadaguns/s/gSl80X3rzT

[u/Geralt-of-Rivai]

PA prisms are great for stigma eyes. I also have luck with all the Holosun circle dots, especially in green. A standard red dot is starry and blurry to me but for whatever reason the circle dot combo is fine. Also holographics are fine for me like Eotech and UH1

[u/h3IIfir3pho3nix]

I have an astigmatism. I run the PA prisms on my 3-gun competition rifles. They're awesome

[u/jmz-jmz]

I have 2 of these (one is on my 1301) and 1 GLX - GLX is probably a bit nicer but I like them all.

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/jmz-jmz]

Is glx a microprism as well? I'll have to look into that. If it's double the price, i can't do it.

[u/jmz-jmz → u/BrotherLefthand]

Yeah slightly better version from primary arms, they’re like $50 more than the slx.

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/jmz-jmz]

Oh sweet. I can manage $50. Cheers!

[u/IntrepidKitchen5322 → u/BrotherLefthand]

Watch some reviews first. "Better" is subjective. IIRC the glx uses buttons instead of a dial for on/off, which you may hate because they're flush with the optic body. Might be hard to use with gloves or in dark.

[u/Imaginary-Leading-49]

I have the 3x and love it for a rifle, I definitely am interested in this for a shotgun potentially, or a holosight

[u/mateomalo]

I got a 3x. This design works very well when dots don't.

[u/Edmonton_outdoorsman]

I have astigmatism, and have it on my KSG and a couple other rifles. I love it and would absolutely recommend it.

[u/SecureNarwhal]

I've got the 3x and astigmatism, the reticle is sharp for me. My only issue is I'm just at the max distance for eye relief on it.

[u/AppearanceAfraid]

Have pretty bad stigma and these are great for that. Used a 3x magnifier with it and it worked pretty well

[u/MrBlackroc]

I have this one on my 44 mag. Its great.

Wanted to convince myself to get one for my shotty but it does sit high, even on the lowest rail. 

I got the vortex viper SG in green. Green is better for astigmatism and when im outside i dont get as bad of a flaring on a lower brightness setting

[u/NeruLight]

I want the glx

[u/BigoteMexicano]

What shotgun do you have? I'm a cheap bastard too, so I just use the factory sights. You don't have a factory sight?

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/BigoteMexicano]

I have a basic bead sight. I would like something that lets me get on target a bit quicker and let me have a modified cheek weld.

[u/BigoteMexicano → u/BrotherLefthand]

Well if you're on a budget and have non spherical eye balls, you're just gonna have to make due, I think.

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/BigoteMexicano]

An optic like the one I posted is within my budget. It seems like there are several options available, which is great!

[u/Dootbooter]

Shouldn't you go for a holographic sight? I thought they worked for people with astigmatism? They are bigger and more expensive but I thought that was th trade off

[u/therowdyirishman → u/Dootbooter]

Widely available holographic options are huge, heavy, and come with a baked in AR height mount. This combo generally isn't ideal for those reasons. For a shotgun the goated setup is a fairly compact/lightweight low mounted enclosed emitter RDS (T2 style) with back up irons on deck.

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/Dootbooter]

Bigger and more expensive is not what I'm comfortable with.

[u/Dootbooter → u/BrotherLefthand]

Well hopefully you can find a red dot that works for you.

[u/curvelake]

I bought a vector optics paragon 1x18 prism for about $200 and it works great on my shotgun

[u/BrotherLefthand → u/curvelake]

I havent heard of that. I'll take a look, thank you!

[u/EliteDuck]

Get the 1x micro prism from Vector Optics. It's $200 CAD, T1/T2 mount footprint (every major company makes mounts for this) and Vector is the OEM for Primary Arms. I have three, and am buying a fourth soon.

[u/PrestigiousStatus711]

I really like the pa 1x prism. Have worked very well for me on rifles. Only concern with it on a shotgun is the optic height. I tried it on a 1301 with the low mount on the factory pic rail and it was too high for me. Ended up replacing the factory rail with a aimpoint mount and a h2, much better optic height for me.