Riton Optics of Tucson, Arizona recently released their new 5 TACTIX low-power variable optic.  Boasting a 1-10X magnification range, this first focal plane optic features capped, zero-resettable turrets, a fast-focus eyepiece, and rugged aircraft aluminum construction that is waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof to 1200 G’s.

Riton optics use hand sourced Chinese or Japanese glass and have final assembly in China or Japan depending on price point. The optics are Fully Multi-Coated, Full Wide Band, Waterproof Coated, with Low Light Enhancement.

It can be hard to give optics an objective review, especially a scope like this one that is in a bit of a class by itself.  I decided to address key features and optical clarity by individual qualities.

Optics

Chromatic Aberration 4.5/5 Chromatic aberration (when high-contrast objects can be edged by blues and yellows) was almost non-perceptible.  There was a bit at low magnification but I don’t consider it to be all that problematic.

Distortion 4/5 There is a little bit of pincushion distortion (straight lines at the edge of the optical field curve inwards slightly – you can see this slightly exaggerated by the camera in the magnified view of the railroad ties above).

Eye Relief 5/5 The advertised eye relief of this scope is 4-inches.  I found the eyebox to be generous offering edge-to-edge clarity from 4-inches to almost 5-inches.

Field of View 4/5 Field of view is slightly better than similarly-priced competitors at 105.8ft at 1X to 10.5ft at 10X.  In more expensive 1-10 optics, the field of view is about 10% larger.

Magnification 4/5 At 1X the view looked a little “de-magnified” to my eyes,  that is to say, the image appeared slightly smaller than true 1X.  The image seemed closer to 1X at about 1.5X.

Parallax 5/5 100 yard fixed parallax, no noticeable parallax distortion at various magnifications and distances.

Spherical Aberration & Field Curvature 4/5 There is a little bit of spherical aberration and field curvature, (mainly effects clarity of objects at the edges of the field).  To a certain extent, this is present with all optics, especially those with wide magnification ranges, but I’ve seen much worse in far more expensive optics.

Features and Characteristics

Size & Weight 4/5 – At 11.25 inches, and a weight of 1.6 pounds it’s on the longer side compared to similarly-priced competitors, though the weight is similar.

Illumination 3.5/5  This optic has 6 illumination settings.  The lowest setting is a bit too bright for very dark environments, the top setting isn’t quite bright enough for bright daylight use at 1X. It does have “off” positions between each setting, which is nice.  It doesn’t “bloom” at the high settings but it gives some in-optic glare and has significant frontal glow.  If you are using the illumination for contrast on dark targets in the moderate to bright conditions, it is fine.

Magnification Ring 4.5/5 – nice textured ring that moves relatively smoothly with a lever available in 3 heights (8mm, 11mm, and 14mm) that is position-able in 2 locations.

Elevation and Windage knobs 4.5/5 – capped 1/10 miliradian knobs with tactile clicks.  Knobs can be zeroed with an allen wrench screw in the middle of the knob.

Overall Value 4/5 – With an MSRP just under $1K it is a bit of an investment.  We have to figure in 2023 inflation,  you can’t compare the 2023 MSRP of this optic with the LPVO you purchased on sale in 2021 with 11% more buying power in the 2021 dollar.    Riton does feature a Lifetime Limited Warranty For Traditional Variable Optics.

TOTAL SCORE = 51/60 = 85% VERY GOOD

Thoughts About This Optic…

I’ll be the first one to admit I’m an optics, uh… “aficionado.”  I own several high-quality LPVOs from big brand-name manufacturers.  We can’t really make a fair comparison between those optics (which are in most cases much pricier) and this one.  As I mentioned before, this optic is in a bit of a class by its own.  For a carbine optic, I would say this scope could work, but it wouldn’t be my first choice.  The reticle is nice and crisp, plenty fine at high magnification but a bit thin at low magnification.  The thickened crosshair points that are illuminated do help speed up target acquisition, but this isn’t a CQB optic.  For use on carbines that might pull double duty, I would consider adding a red dot for close-quarters work.

On the other hand, on a rimfire carbine or high-powered air rifle, I think this optic would be an excellent choice, uniquely suited for this role because of it’s designed resistance to bouncy airgun recoil.  That is an important consideration on guns like 10/22’s that can be optics eaters.  The Riton throw-lever mount that came with this scope is just the right height for an AR-style rifle (including .22’s) but it is a bit tall for rifles with conventional stocks.  For a utility rimfire or air rifle, this optic fills a niche.

Material Disclosure

I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.

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