The Gideon Advocate Prismatic Sight

I just lately dipped my toe into the world of prismatic sights with Gideon Optic’s new Advocate. I included the Advocate in my assessment of a Romanian-made WASR-10 7.62x39mm AK with the assistance of an RS Regulate mount. This was my first time spending any quantity of precise set off time with any prismatic sight, so my internal optics-nerd was very excited.

Prismatic Optic Background Data 

Essentially, prismatic optics work precisely like conventional riflescopes: they seize and deal with mild as a way to enlarge a picture to the shooter’s eye. Riflescopes accomplish this by passing mild by stacks of lenses whereas prismatic optics use a collection of strategically positioned glass prisms to do the identical. The totally different association of prisms in most of these optics permits them to be extra compact as nicely; each their magnifications and prisms are fastened in place, and their placement is proportional to magnification. 

Non-magnified prismatic sights, particularly compact models, appear to be rising in reputation as alternate options to the standard reflex (red-dot) sight. All red-dot sights work by emitting a small beam of LED mild that’s caught and mirrored off a coated lens again to the shooter’s eye whereas permitting all different mild to cross by. Reflex sights are easy and efficient; however one in every of their drawbacks for a lot of is that dots seem starburst or blurry for these with astigmatisms. As a result of prismatic optics make use of etched reticles the best way conventional riflescopes and LPVOs do, the blurry-starburst impact is non-existent. There’s no emitted beam to replicate.

The etched reticles are at all times seen, whether or not the illumination is on or off like with some other scope. Within the case of a 1x optic just like the Gideon Advocate, it helps to think about it as a “zoomless” mini-scope that takes the place of a red-dot. Like some other scope, the Advocate nonetheless has goal and ocular lenses and makes use of a diopter to regulate the prescription (focus). This additionally implies that there’s an eyebox concerned when wanting by the optic, in contrast to with red-dot sights.   

Gideon Advocate Overview

The Gideon Advocate is a reasonably compact 1 x 20mm “micro” prismatic sight constructed with roof prisms. Its exterior housing is constructed from 6061 aluminum and has an IPX7 waterproof ranking. The etched and illuminated reticle consists of a easy upright triangle that’s 12 MOA tall and roughly 14 MOA broad that sits inside a segmented circle. Equally, its click on values are straight ahead, with every click on shifting both windage or elevation 1 MOA at 100 yards. The Advocate makes use of the usual Aimpoint T1 mounting footprint, so discovering mounts and adapters isn’t troublesome.

The Gideon Advocate’s illumination array is fueled by a single CR 2032 battery and affords eight totally different daytime illumination settings with two that work below evening imaginative and prescient. The system is movement activated (shake-awake) and shuts down after 4 minutes of inactivity. The unit has an adjustable eyepiece as a way to set the proper focus. Eye reduction is roughly 3.5 inches and I discovered the Advocate’s eyebox to be pretty cheap. Discipline of view is listed on Gideon’s web site as 79 ft at 100 yards.

Whereas capturing it, I didn’t take into consideration the precise FOV however it felt like most some other 1x optic on this regard. Parallax is minimal to the purpose the place it’s not related, and no matter quantity of distortion current is one other non-issue given this optic’s use case. Gideon Optics additionally contains by default a Picatinny appropriate rail mount as comfort, and that is one thing else that’s arduous to complain about for its value.  

The Gideon Advocate On the Vary 

Up to now, my solely expertise with the Gideon Advocate has been within the assessment of the Century Arms WASR-10 AK which consisted of 220 rounds with photographs fired at distances of 15, 25, 50 and 100 yards at numerous targets like IPSC paper targets and NRA B-8s. Regrettably, I didn’t have entry to metal targets at additional intermediate distances like 200-300 yards. I’d nonetheless love for an opportunity to attempt capturing the Gideon Advocate that method.

The Advocate’s 12 MOA tall triangular reticle favors CQB distances. For instance, at 25 yards, when aiming at an NRA B-8 goal, all three corners of the triangle will contact the perimeters of the 5.5 inch B-8’ black scoring space. Take into account that this bullseye at 100 yards would measure 5.5 MOA. Once more, the reticle is “coarse” for quick photographs. On Gideon’s official IG account, one will discover the Advocate mounted on a Beretta 1301 shotgun, which makes lots of sense for a 12-gauge weapon. Equally, this optic can be proper at house on a subgun, PPC or some other firearm arrange for fast, shut vary photographs. 

On A Kalashnikov

Within the case of my Kalashnikov assessment, I zeroed the optic at 100 yards with the higher tip of the triangle. This adjustment resulted in having impacts dead-on at 15-yards with the identical higher tip of the reticle. At 25-yards with the sight image I simply described (the reticle being imposed over all the black portion of the B-8) all photographs have been touchdown comfortably inside the middle of the B-8. At each 50 and 100 yards, this similar zero gave me impacts simply beneath the higher tip (with slightly variation).

Distance Challenges 

At 100 yards, it’s nonetheless simple to purpose and strike any “full-size” goal. Nonetheless, because of the inherent design of the reticle, precision takes a backseat. Even capturing from a bench/rested place, I struggled to persistently hit B-8 targets and even the 8.5×11″ sheet of paper they’re printed on. Teams seemed extra like patterns, with an excessive amount of lateral deviation–greater than is affordable even for an AK capturing 7.62×39 ammo. This wasn’t an AK drawback as a lot because it was an aiming reference problem. With out magnification, it’s merely difficult to exactly align the highest of the triangular tip with respect to each windage and elevation. Moreover not having some other reference to assist align, middle or bracket the reticle additionally makes it difficult as a result of its simple to swing too broad on each the X & Y axes.

With out the magnification, it’s like capturing at a goal with a entrance sight or bead solely. It wouldn’t matter at shut distance however at additional distance the dearth of a rear sight as a reference turns into a hindrance. Take into account that this particular critique solely considerations capturing smaller targets, say 6″ or much less at distance. There is no such thing as a doubt the optic will nonetheless assist a shooter get hits on A/C-zone sized (or greater) targets–however the difficult in precision is one thing to concentrate on. This isn’t to say it could possibly’t be completed, however it would take extra work.

Additional Ideas

For its worth, the standard of the development and glass discovered within the unit is tough to complain about. I can’t actually communicate as to what extent the Gideon Advocate will maintain up long-term as a result of I haven’t had an opportunity to run it arduous for an extended period of time. With its present worth, it’s fairly aggressive in its optics peer-group. When zeroing this optic, I used to be pleasantly shocked to see that the clicks have been sharper and crisper than I anticipated.

I had a difficulty seeing double in a method that doesn’t occur with LPVOs or riflescopes, so I shot the Gideon Advocate with one eye closed 99% of the time. I’m not sure whether or not this double-vision is my very own problem or one thing inherent to prismatic sights (which I’m new to). I but can’t say, however within the meantime I’ve been capturing with one eye closed. Twisting the diopter did nothing to unravel the difficulty, and the additional the goal, the additional the pictures on my double imaginative and prescient sit aside.

CQB-wise the Advocate’s reticle works simply advantageous, however I’m nonetheless on the fence on about that 12×14 MOA triangle on account of how coarse it may be at distance, particularly for firearms chambered in intermediate or bigger cartridges.

As an upstart optics firm, Gideon Optics has actually been getting in gear with their product launches over the previous few months. They began out with pistol dots solely and at the moment are promoting LPVOs and prismatic sights. For a smaller upstart within the inexpensive optics tier, the corporate is beginning to get actually aggressive of their choices. As regards to a non-magnified prismatic sight, the brand new Gideon Advocate represents one other inexpensive choice.