By Brad Allen 

Finally, the long-awaited ZeroTech Thrive HD 1-4×24 Prism Sight has arrived for review from Tasco Sales Australia. Prism sights have been around for quite some time now, but only in ‘fixed’ magnification models, as till now, technology wasn’t able to accommodate a variable power option. However, the technical engineers at ZeroTech are leaders in their field and have engineered a way to overcome this issue with the result being the new Thrive HD 1-4×24 Prism Sight. 

Many shooters and hunters believe that they need more power than the 4x maximum that this new sight offers, but I beg to differ. On far more occasions than I care to remember, I’ve witnessed hunting rifles that were horribly ‘over scoped’. I came from an era when the vast majority of hunters used fixed power scopes. It was common to see 2.5x, 3x or 4x scopes on rimfire rifles, 4x and 6x scopes on hunting rifles (depending on the range that game was expected to be intercepted) and 8x scopes on long range target and roo shooting rifles for spot lighting; and those ‘fixed’ scope powers worked just fine and still do. 

The truth is, if you’re hunting for pigs or other game animals in thicker country, where shots could be taken from two to 200 yards, a 1-4 variable optic is possibly one of the most versatile choices for your rifle. At 1x, with a wide field of view, it’s easy to shoot fast with both eyes open. At the other end of the spectrum, 4x is generally enough for any longer shots. In reality, most game animals are taken at distances well under 200 yards. All of this in a small, well-balanced package. The advent of ‘prism sights’ and ‘red dot sights’ just gives us more of a good thing, in a package that is usually smaller and lighter than the average scope of the same power. 

Out of the box, just like all other ZeroTech products that I’ve reviewed, the ZeroTech Thrive HD 1-4×24 projects quality. It’s definitely a solid piece of kit, manufactured to military specs and would easily fulfill its duty on any AR type rifle for hunting, law enforcement, military or competition use. The mounting system of the Prism Sight is a quick-release picatinny type, well suited to AR and other tactical style rifles. The quick-release lever can be easily swapped out for a ‘spare’ in the box that reverses the direction that it closes and locks. 

My only concern was the height of the mount, which on my Chimera .223 placed the sight at about the same height as a ‘high’ mounted scope which made it necessary for me to use a padded cheek rest extension to gain the necessary cheek weld to the stock. Clearly, the high mount is designed to complement AR type rifles which need a higher mounted optic than a standard bolt action type rifle. The Thrive HD 1-4×24 Prism Sight would be a perfect match for any tactical style rifle like the Wedgetail MPR, SCSA Taipan pump, and the Warwick WFA1&2 straight pull, especially those with adjustable height cheek rests. 

The lenses of the prism sight were crisp and clear from edge to edge and the power change ring, which unlike most others is situated on the front objective of the optic, was smooth and easy to change. Not being a fan of first focal plane scopes, I’m happy to report that the Thrive HD 1-4 has the reticule situated in the second focal plane, meaning that the reticule remains the same size throughout the power range of the optic and all adjustments and measurements are in good old, easy to understand, MOA and it has a very usable 3” of eye relief. 

The reticule is ZeroTech’s tried and true RAP-R model, which has thicker side bars leading into a central semi-circle and dot, which also has a fine central cross with hash marks for windage and elevation hold over. The semi-circle part of the reticule naturally draws your eye to the centre of the reticule, which can be illuminated in either red or green for shooting in lower light conditions; however, it works just fine ‘in the black’ without it. The optic has 100 MOA of elevation travel and adjustments are in 0.5 MOA clicks and the turret caps incorporate an outer ‘ridge’ that mates with the turret slot to assist with adjustment. The optic is finished in a tough matt black coating. 

After removing the scope from my .223 Chimera, it was an easy operation to fit the ZeroTech to the picatinny rail via its in-built picatinny rail mount. Once the throw lever is latched down, it is held in place by a very well-designed locking latch. For the type of rifle this optic was designed for, a locking latch of this type is a mandatory safety feature. The field of view of the optic is quite generous at 131.3ft or 43.7m at 100yds on 1x and 10.4m or 31.4ft on 4x. At 1x and with both eyes open, any feral encountered at close range would be in mortal danger! I eagerly awaited a trip to my rifle range to put the ZeroTech through its paces. 

As expected, there were no surprises at the range. I used my old Tasco bore sighter to get the optic in the ‘Zero’ ballpark at 25yds before moving the target out to 100yds. On 4x, the RAP-R reticule performed exceptionally well, with the shooter’s eye instinctively being drawn to the centre semi-circle of the reticule to facilitate fast accurate shots. The ‘fine’ central X inside the central semi-circle then facilitates more precise shooting. All in all, it’s a well-balanced reticule for a multitude of practical uses. 

I managed a quick morning hunt with the Chimera and ZeroTech on a mate’s property not far from town. But as luck would have it, the only mob of hogs I saw were crossing the road into the neighbour’s property as I arrived and two fallow does I put up on a walk along the creek both had fawns at foot, so no shot there either. I did, however, use the opportunity to ‘draw a bead’ on one of the does at 80yds with the ZeroTech on 4x, where the wide field of view, clear lenses and RAP-R reticule excelled. Had she been a ‘shooter’, I would have easily had meat in the freezer. 

The ZeroTech Thrive HD 1-4×24 Prism Sight is definitely an impressive and useful piece of kit. As with all ZeroTech optics, it has a lifetime warranty (Any Owner/Any Problem/Always Covered) and for a Chinese manufactured product, it is extremely well made and finished. The optic is easy to use (mount and adjust) and has quality lenses and coatings. My only criticism would be that for it to be used on traditional hunting rifles, a lower mounting system would be of immense benefit. I have since been reliably informed that the HD 1-4×24 Prism Sight uses an ‘ACOG mini-style mounting footprint’, which is compatible with a wide variety of aftermarket mounts and risers of varying heights which may remedy that situation. 

At the time of writing, several of my local gun shops were selling this optic for around $800, which is good value for money, but check with your local dealers for their best prices. So, if you’re in the market for a prism, red dot or LPVO sight, the ZeroTech Thrive HD 1-4×24 Prism Sight is well worth your consideration, as it could be just the optic you’re looking for.