SIG SAUER Bravo 3 Prismatic Optic w/ 5.56mm BDC – Review

Sig Bravo 3
Sig Sauer Bravo 3

U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- As I line up individual optic features en route to my “ACOG Killer?” showdown, our second stop brings us to Tualitin, Oregon.  Here lies the Electro-Optics division of New Hampshire-based Sig Sauer.  Kindly willing to send out an optic to be used and abused, I was provided with a Sig Bravo 3 prismatic optic.  Let’s take a look at the facts and features of the Bravo 3 before I break down my impressions.

SIG SAUER Bravo 3 Prismatic Optic

Sig Bravo 3
Sig Bravo 3

Tech Specs:

  • Housing: Aluminium
  • Magnification: 3x
  • Field of view: 10° Megaview (approx 50′ @ 100 yards by my calculations)
  • Objective Lens Diameter:24 mm
  • Illumination Color: Red
  • Reticle: BDC for 5.56mm
  • Brightness Settings:11 (3 are for night vision use)
  • MOTAC: Motion activated illumination
  • Eye Relief:Unlimited
  • Adjustment Type:MOA
  • Adjustment Click Value:0.5 MOA
  • Total windage/elevation travel: 120 MOA
  • Three removable picatinny rail sections
  • Weight: 22 ounces
  • Optical Coating: HDX
  • Battery Type: CR2
  • Battery Life: 40000 hours
  • Operating Temperature: -40 to +140 Fahrenheit
  • Water Resistance: IPX-7
  • Shockproof/Fogproof: Yes

Ok, so the Bravo 3 is feature-laden.  Not unexpected considering Sig’s pedigree.  The first thing that really jumped out at me is the “Megaview” feature of a 10° viewing angle.  The Bravo 3 does have a generous view field, further enhanced by an excellent lens design that seems to make the black “rim” around the view field nearly disappear.  Some other prismatic low magnification optics tested recently seem to have a large dead zone around the view box.  The Bravo 3 is edge-to-edge clean, which reduces the tendency of the shooter to focus through the optic at the expense of wider situational awareness.

The o-ring sealed turrets are neither finger-adjustable, nor wired to the optic.  Two small features that I’ve come to love over the years.  The adjustments however, are both tactile and audible.

Sig Bravo 3
Standard, traditional w/e adjustments.

The illumination on the reticle gets very, very bright.  No worries about being overpowered by a sunny day on this side of the Sahara.  While the 11 brightness settings have 3 listed as “NV 1-3”, they’re actually naked-eye visible in the dark.  They do work just fine with night vision, in case an IR laser isn’t available.

Sig Bravo 3
The center dot makes it easy to line up on a 1″ circular sticker at 50.

The reticle itself is effective.  The dot inside the horseshoe is very fine, allowing for slow/precise aiming.  The horseshoe is big enough to grab the eye quickly, allowing for faster shots.  The windage/lead dots are nice, no doubt needed at longer ranges when the wind kicks up.  Strangely, there is no manual for the Bravo 3, so I can’t tell you what load the bullet drop compensation (BDC) is calibrated for.  As with all BDC’s, it would be nice to have both that information and also the related values in mils/moa so one can figure holdovers for alternate rounds.  (EDIT:  The reticle subtensions can be found online).

Sig Bravo 3
Simple, easy and effective.

Sig Sauer’s Bravo 3 is only a few finishing touches away from having every base covered.  While I’d like to see finger-adjustable turrets and wire retention on the turret caps, consumers need to have information on the reticle to take full advantage of the design.  Don’t let minor quibbles scare you off though, the Bravo 3 is a great offering with durability, battery longevity and excellent glass.  The Bravo 3 sells for $419.99 on Sig’s site, or for around $310 elsewhere online.  Check it out!

For previous entries leading to the “ACOG Killers?”, see:


About Rex NanorumJens Hammer

Rex Nanorum is an Alaskan Expatriate living in Oregon with his wife and kids. Growing up on commercial fishing vessels, he found his next adventure with the 2nd Bn, 75th Ranger Regt. After 5 tours to Afghanistan and Iraq, he adventured about the west coast becoming a commercial fishery and salvage SCUBA diver, rated helicopter pilot instructor (CFII) and personal trainer, before becoming a gear reviewer and writer.”

Rex Nanorum

@Rexnanorum

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Big Daddy

According to Sig it weighs 22 ozs! SLx 3 Compact 3×32 Gen II Prism Scope – ACSS-CQB 300BLK/7.62×39 weighs 16oz? I have the 1x they are nice, they work and are more affordable!

aardvark1

Look forward to reading your review of the PA SLx 3x

Whormd

Very promising, looking forward to trying it.

Joe M

Thanks for adding through-optic and reticle photos on this one, it makes a real difference to see what the sight picture is like in real-world case, as an additional point of data to the manufacturer-supplied photos.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

The Burris 536 prism scope is 5x power and can be had for about $300 most any place. You can get it with two different style reticles also. I like them a lot.

Neanderthal75

I’ve made the decision to stop buying anything out of red China when it comes to optics, rifles, shotguns, and yes food.

Would you please start including in all of your articles the origin of manufacture for the products that you review?

I’m tired of sending my money to the country and the people who are trying to destroy my nation, and kill me and my fellow citizens as soon as they get the chance, oh wait the Wuhan virus is already done that!

Cheers from the oil patch in Central Wyoming

BobH

Reticle subtensions can be found on Sig’s website under help/support. There is a PDF you can download. Interesting the picture you showed is the 5.56 reticle. There is a separate one for 300 blk. Same reticle as the Tango 6 per what they told me when I bought mine.You can try here too.

Dee

I wonder how this compares to the Eotech 300 Blk. Anyone knows?

WinstonRomeo

It’s very nice a 3X red dot, but I like my Romeo 5s just fine. I added a flip off 3X Vortex magnifier so I can have a choice of 1x or 3X.