The low-powered variable optics market is hot and tight. Much like the red dot market, over time, they’ve become the new norm and with mass production, we are seeing an impressive mid-tier of optics arrive. These aren’t quite budget optics, but they also won’t break the bank.
Optics like the Riton 3 Tactix 1-8×24 scope are the kind of optics that will serve 99% of gun owners very, very well.
Riton sent this optic as well as a very nice mount for it to test and review. I can give you the bottom line verdict up front and say that I was a little sad to send it back when I was finished with this review.
As the name implies, the 3 Tactix is a 1-8 power optic. It’s a second focal plane optic.
The 3 Tactix comes in black or FDE, and the finish is a type 3 hard coat anodization. Riton advertises the optic as weatherproof, but doesn’t provide a specific IP rating. I wouldn’t take it to your local YMCA and swim laps with it, but it seems to resist rain and routine splashes and likely some light submersion. The reticle is illuminated and features 11 levels of brightness.
All in all, the rifle scope is a well put together LPVO that might not be the fanciest option out there, but it’s a rock-solid rifle scope.
The 3 Tactix Reticle
The 3 Tactix’s reticle is fairly simple, with lots of little extras to make it more precise and easy to use at longer ranges. It’s also large and designed to be easy to see. At the center sits a 1 MOA dot surrounded by a massive broken circle. To each side and at the bottom sit a tree for making wind and elevation calls.
The vertical lines are five MOA apart, and the horizontal lines between each vertical line are 3 MOA long. Between the horizontal lines and vertical lines is approximately 1 MOA of empty space. If you can remember all that, you can get pretty dang precise with your elevation and windage.
Admittedly shooting beyond 200 yards is something I really need to practice a bit more.
Since the 3 Tactix is a second focal plane scope, the reticle stays the same size throughout the zoom range. That makes the optic more affordable, but also has some downsides. The 5 MOA lines are only accurate at the highest level of magnification. Although, if you’re using the elevation ladder, the rifle is likely already maxed out on magnification anyway.
Up Close With the 3 Tactix
The reticle is just a bit too big for me at 1X. It’s “crowded” when you’re trying to hit a small target quickly. Running through a quick snap-fire on some smaller gongs felt a little slow. It’s easy to lose the small gong in the reticle if you don’t get a great sight picture right away.
One big benefit to the 3 Tactix reticle is its illumination. It can get very bright. Even insanely bright and daylight bright in the brightest Florida’s sunshine. Most budget or mid-tier optics struggle with daylight brightness in my experience. You won’t have that problem here.
The eye box is also massive and it’s very easy to get behind the optic and get on target. Eye relief is a very generous 3.9 inches. Both are nice touches and must-haves on a tactical rifle optic.
Going the Distance
At longer ranges, the 3 Tactix is clearer than it has any right to be. Riton’s HD glass ensures things stay nice and clear. They claim over 99% light transmission. Whatever it is, you get a great sight picture with this optic, and it’s remarkably clear. Even out to 450 yards, I could see the area and the target quite clearly.
I dismounted the optic and used it to spy on my wife as she took our dog for a walk. I know the end of the straightaway in front of our home is 450 yards. With the optics zoomed into 8X magnification, I could see her and the pup very clearly. I could make out her sunglasses, the color of her clothes, and her hair. There is some slight distortion, but it’s very clear.
The Turrets
Dialing was love at first adjustment with the 3 Tactix. The clicks and turrets are so damn nice. The clicks are positive, and the ½ MOA adjustments are dead-on accurate. This was a quick and easy zero and I enjoyed every click. The turrets can be reset to zero easily, too. They are hand-adjustable and pleasantly large.
That’s a nice cherry on the ice cream sundae that is the 3 Tactix 1-8×24. The 3 Tactix is an impressive design in a very capable, reasonably priced LPVO. At its price point, it offers you a lot of scope. It’s not perfect, and I really wish the reticle was a little smaller. However, I didn’t miss targets because of it, and I guess that’s what really matters.
Specifications: Riton 3 Tactix 1-8×24 LPVO
Magnification – 1-8X
Focal Plane – Second
Objective Lens Diameter – 24mm
Eye Relief – 3.9 inches
Length – 10.87 inches
Weight – 19.3 ounces
MSRP – $509.99 (about $430 retail)
Ratings (out of five stars):
Clarity * * * *
You might not confuse it for a Leupold, but you’re not paying $3,000 dollars either. I don’t think optics get much clearer than this at this price point. At carbine ranges, it’s perfectly suitable and downright excels.
Ease of Use * * * * *
This is all brain-dead simple and easy to configure and use. From zeroing the optic with the awesome turrets to dialing in the magnification with the included throw lever. Check out the Riton mounts, too, because they are rock-solid.
Overall * * * *
The 3 Tactix is an awesome option for your next rifle. It’s a solid LPVO at a very good price. There isn’t much more you can ask for with a reasonably priced piece of glass.
Well that looks decent…my only question is “right on” or “rit(dye)on” pronunciation?🙄😎🤑
A direct comparison to the Vortex Strike Eagle would have doubled the value of this review.
Riton makes a great optic for certain…but have you looked at Swampfox?
The cheaper LPVO makers use Chinese glass. The “best” generally use German or Japanese glass as far as I know. There’s always outliers who make a quality lpvo for a great price…
I bought a mini red dot by Riton. It’s straight up junk. Once you sell me junk, you’ve made your last sale to me.
Nice scope…However with almost 4″ eye relief it should be attached without hindering easy access to the charge handle. And scope mount caps are tightened evenly side to side, fore and aft so the seams are exact. For those reasons I score it an 8 out of 10:)
the primary arms and vortex have much better reticles
I’ve a WeaverK4 on my aught 6,
I have a Riton 3 Tactix 1-8×24 and Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24, both are second focal plane. I compared them side by side – its more of a personal preference thing for me:
* The Riton 3 Tactix has better reticle brightness (really bright, great in daytime) – Vortex Strike Eagle is bright enough but could stand some improvement in the reticle brightness – in terms of reticle brightness I liked the Riton better.
* The Riton 3 Tactix has 3.9 inches of eye relief – Vortex Strike Eagle has 3.5 inches of eye relief – for me the difference in eye relief of 0.4 inches didn’t justify the choice of the Riton over the Vortex but people are different so that 0.4 inches might justify the Riton for others and I can see where that 0.4 inches might come in handy and I appreciate it being there on the Riton.
* The Riton 3 Tactix is 10.87 inches long – the Vortex Strike Eagle is 10.0 inches long – although this difference in length doesn’t bother me, as a personal preference I prefer the shorter length of the Vortex Strike Eagle but slightly longer Riton length is not enough to quibble over or object to.
* The Riton 3 Tactix weighs 19.3 ounces – the Vortex Strike Eagle weighs 17.6 oz – I definitely prefer a lighter weight optic and I prefer the Vortex Strike Eagle in this aspect.
* The Riton 3 Tactix and Vortex Strike Eagle both have solid quality construction and materials comparable to each other.
* The Riton 3 Tactix and Vortex Strike Eagle glass were both clear for me and entirely suitable for this class of LPVO. The Riton seemed to have a little more distortion when zooming 6x and up the Vortex Strike Eagle didn’t have but the distortion was very slight and unless one expected ‘$3,000.00 and up perfect’ in this class and price range optic they would not be disappointed and neither was I. The very slight distortion did not detract from the Riton suitability for use.
* All of the other ‘features’ of the Riton and Vortex were comparable but the Riton reticle brightness comes with a cost and that cost is battery life. I found battery life on the Riton to be less than the Vortex. Both use a CR2032 battery.
* An LPVO should have a more comprehensive reticle system for ranging targets and accurate hold overs. The Riton 3 Tactix reticle is, well, ok in a little more than general use aspect for shorter ranges and for longer ranges magnifications 5x and up its entirely suitable but for me the Vortex Strike Eagle reticle was the best all around and I do prefer the BDC arrangement on the Vortex.
I got both my Riton 3 Tactix and Vortex Strike Eagle at deep discounts so for me the prices were comparable. All in all, for me, both are about equal but the Riton is better for reticle brightness where the Vortex was more preferable for the less weight and better ‘personal preference’ reticle design and better battery life. However, both are entirely usable and provide me good service.
Thanks for the write up Booger. Shopping for a less expensive LVPO rn, and you touched on two of being considered.
Riton uses uses two primary OEM factories to make their rifle scopes, one in Japan (Japan Optical) and one in China (SAM Electrical) except for the Riton Patrioptic 1-8×24 which is assembled in the USA but uses materials from Japan and China.
Most Vortex optics are made in the Phillipines, China, or Japan. The Vortex AMG rifle scope and AMG holographic sight are made in the USA but uses materials from China or Japan.
The Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 is made in China by Aimbond.
PSA always seems to be having a sale on the Vortex SE (as a matter of fact, they have one going on now), for around $340 shipped. I have one and like it, but as noted the reticle illumination could be brighter at the lower settings.
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