I played with one once, personally thought it worked pretty well.
I was thinking more of a tube style magnified optic, a prism would probably work as you describe.
What’s the application? IMO maybe on a set course with known targets this could be a niche advantage but not something I would do on a defensive gun.
Why?
Alignment is more critical for magnified. Thats why people optimize around magnified, and put offset or hight 12 rds, cause 200yds in, it doesnt matter.
Why would you put the optic for 500yd shots in a position to make those shots much more difficult?
Watch the video in posted by @Defaultmp3
Have a good friend of mine that used this concept very successfully in 3 gun in the early 2000s. His rational was that you do 90%+ of your shooting 50 and in, so he was shooting open with an Eotech at 12 and canted his magnified optic ACOG at 45. He even mounted his detachable bipod so that it supported the acog at 45. Unconventional but effective.
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Am instructor had one on his rifle and I played with it. You very much looked down into the magnified optic. It was an extremely wierd way to shoot. I did not like it at all.
I did and still dont think this offers any benefit over swaping positions.
A well placed 45 rds doesnt have any drawbacks that I can think of vs top mounted. The magnified does.
That’s not the feedback I got when I asked abut using an offset RDS as primary a few years ago.
An offset red dot does not work well with night vision, also more difficult for shooting around barricades/obstacles. What ever is offset or piggybacked will be secondary. What ever is mounted on top of the receiver is primary. The point of this setup is to have the red dot as a primary optic with the anticipation of close targets being the biggest threat. With an offset micro prism smaller targets and at distance targets is a smooth and quick transition.
When somebody like Jeff Gurwitch speaks I listen, he has many years of combat and competitive shooting experience. After watching his video several weeks ago I tried this out on a 7.62x39 AR. I was able to make hits on steel at 500 yards off the bench. Squatting, kneeling and prone hits where fairly easy out to 300 yards. I’ve only been to the range with this setup once so it’s still to soon for me to know how well it will work for me, but I thinking it’s a good idea.
HA! Yeah, I forgot all about that!
Intuitively, it just does not seem optimal, which was my first reaction to Getnlwr’s proposal.
Buy thank you for posting that vid @Defaultmp3, I’d wondered what someone like Mr. Gurwitch would think about the setup. I had no idea he was already going down that road!
I do have to admit that if your particular mission (driving the gear train, as it does) will require MOST hits to be very close-in, and more rarely a bit farther out and/or needing more precision, it DOES lend legitimacy to the concept.
I like that he points out the value of magnification even inside 50 yards. I myself have noticed great advantage in this, in my “poor man’s ACOG” journey with a 2.5x in top of a 16" middy, as even though I can easily make a hit to 200 with a simple dot, I’ve enjoyed the enhanced precision just a little magnification affords, even at less than 50.
I scored my best MNQ with that setup not too long ago.
Finally got to watch the video a couple times. They got the concept that I was thinking. Was neat seeing a guy doing it with a lefty setup. I have to wonder about carbon buildup on the lense. I prefer shooting suppressed and there is generally more blow back. I did consider a left side vertical mount that would make the POA not equal POI. But always being a couple inches to the right would drive me nuts. Might be okay for a gaming rifle. The gun that will be used as the experiment host was built specifically for ColaWarrior. The rifle is just for fun, and sometimes that’s enough.
As for nv, then go with 12:00.
I have a 1.25-4x as primary
12:00rds for nvg or anything close.
The drawbacks for magnified or drawbacks for compromised cheekweld are splitting hairs and really probably wouldnt matter either way - its just not how Id do it.
When the top 5 of whatever competition are running thst setup, I’d reconsider.
I understand the reason in the video since I’ve shot matches against stukas but I rather have my LPVO and an offset dot. The offset prism gives you a hair of magnification for small targets but honestly past 200 you’re getting into weird holds. I can still use my offset dot under nods too. A badger 1.70 j arm works with nods.
All good points especially about the top 5 % of the competition. Piggyback rmr works for me although follow up shots are slower. This my first time using a PA 3X prism and the question that I keep asking myself is for day time do I really need a rds. The 3X prism is plenty fast as is although anything under 25 yards a rds will be faster and more forgiving. At this point it’s just an experiment.
I too have experienced this with a prism optic, much like with my LPVO, I hardly use illumination at all in daylight.
The PA 2.5x I’m using has a reticle (ACSS/CQB) that is bold enough for very fast use, without being lit up.
I mainly use the illumination when it’s dark, or in an area where the background of the targets give low contrast with the reticle.
LOVE the fact that I can just grab it off the wall and it’s ready, I don’t absolutely have to turn it on.
Trying to get the eye relief back in the position I need it is a challenge. I sort of want to try this with a 3X prismatic as well. The short size of the optic is making the mounting solution extremely difficult. Have not given up through. I have moved it around a bit on different guns. The offset angle would work well on my AUG too I think. And the longer rail on it resolves my eye relief issue. Just thinking.
So has anyone tried this setup?
We never did the “shoot-off”, as my buddy couldn’t find a decent mount thay would hold zero and allow proper eye relief.
It DOES have merit, but curious as to how it would be, especially taking longer shots.