Despite being a red dot/fixed prism scope kind of guy, I’ve found myself drifting towards low powered variable optics (LPVO’s) in recent years. I could blame my aging eyes, but really it’s a begrudging admission that there’s a lot of versatility in these optics.
It’s the same thing with Riton optics. While I have my favorite old-school brands, I have to admit there’s a lot of quality coming out of certain newer manufacturers. With that, I introduce today’s review subject: the Riton 5 Tactix 1-6×24 Thunder Ranch scope. Announced last yeary, this optic has been on my “to-shoot” list for a while.
Bottom line, we’re looking at a LPVO developed by Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch. Clint’s experience as a Marine, LEO, and legendary firearms instructor is well known. If you haven’t heard of him, his background is worth a quick search.
Clint put the THR reticle into the second focal plane 5 Tactix scope, providing easy bullet drop and windage adjustments out to 500 yards (calibrated for a 16″ barrel and 55gr round, 3200 FPS). It really is a simple reticle to use, blessedly uncluttered with no excessive data points.
Despite running a 14.5″ barrel, the velocity is close enough that hits at 300 yards on a mini E-type target were easy.
The glass on the 5 Tactix is clear and crisp. While I don’t have advanced lab equipment for precise testing, evening low light visibility and color brightness shows me that the multi-coated lenses are doing their work. Japanese glass has a well-deserved reputation for quality, which makes my impressions pretty unsurprising.
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One of my favorite inventions on modern optics is pop-up adjustment turrets. The 5 Tactix uses this feature on the illumination setting knob, making it all but impossible to accidentally turn on (or off) unless you want to.
The illumination itself is very effective. The maximum brightness setting is enough to show through in all but the brightest summer days, at which point turning it off and running the black reticle alone is a more effective choice.
Eye relief is comfortable at 3.5″, but can be a bit sensitive to deviating. If your cheek weld is consistent, it’s not an issue. If you mount your rifle a little on the sloppy side, expect to make minor adjustments.
The windage and elevation adjustment turrets are simple knobs under protective caps. Clicks are sharp, tactile, and audible. Getting used to counting by twos took a minute, but didn’t stop me from zeroing really quickly. After that I didn’t need to adjust again. the THR reticle gave me all the holdover data I’ve needed.
It’s common for magnification throw levers to be stiff at first, but this one is taking longer than normal to break in. Maybe this speaks to tight tolerances and excellent internal seals…I’m not certain. While the knobs are definitely usable, I would like to see it loosen more in the next couple range trips so I can make speedy adjustments.
I’ve primarily been running the 5 Tactix on a V Seven Weapons Systems rifle, a phenomenal machine. If there were issues to be found with this scope, a rifle/ammo combination I know to be accurate would help me sort it out.
As expected, the 5 Tactix holds zero. Not too surprising given the mild recoil of 5.56, but still a basic necessity of any good optic that has to be checked.
Furthermore, a “box test” shows that the 5 Tactix tracks mechanically, meaning that when you go 10 clicks left and shoot, then 10 up and shoot, then 10 right and shoot, then back down 10 clicks, your point of impact is right back where it started.
I’m not intentionally destructive on test products, as in I don’t take a blowtorch to something unless it’s advertised as holding up to blowtorches. For scopes, I absolutely like to beat them up in real usage.
The 5 Tactix has been tossed on the ground, banged around, and left out in the weather. Call it the “Mia Kalifa” test. Everything still works as intended.
I want to take a moment to mention something I really like on the Riton mount for the 5 Tactix. When you’re mounting a scope it can occasionally be tricky getting the optic perfectly level with the mount body. Riton’s mount has a peep-through hole under the scope, with a V-shaped notch protruding downwards. This gives an excellent visual reference against the flat bottom of the scope body, making leveling a breeze.
Specifications: Riton 5 Tactix 1-6×24 Thunder Ranch
Magnification: 1-6x
Parallax Adjustment: Fixed at 100 yards
Tube Diameter: 30mm
Objective Lens: 24mm
FOV @ 100 Yards: 111.2-18.33 Feet
Click Value: .2 MRAD
Length: 10.25″
Weight: 22.2 oz
Eye Relief: 3.5″
Focal Lens Position: Second Focal Plane
Reticle: THR Bullet Drop Compensation
Made In: Japan
MSRP: $674.99 (about $569 retail)
Rating (out of five stars):
Overall * * * *
Quality Japanese glass, solid build, and enough features to keep up. I like the Riton 5 Tactix 1-6×24. It falls comfortably in the “very good” category for me. The street price is around $570 which is reasonable for the optics and build quality. If you’re in the market for a LPVO and don’t want to waste money on Chinese garbage, check out Riton’s 5 Tactix 1-6×24. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
Hard pass. If you’re going to go with a LPVO, a FFP reticle that works like a horseshoe red dot at 1x and like at XMas tree at max is much more useful.
What brand would be an example of that?
The problem is that at 1x the reticle on a FFP scope is very very small. Not ideal for fast shooting, which is what you will be doing if it’s dialed down to low power.
Not every reticle. The ACSS is very good for fast shooting on an FFP scope at 1x magnification.
“Eye relief is comfortable at 3.5″, but can be a bit sensitive to deviating.”
Translation…. eye relief is acceptable for some, but eye box kinda sucks.
😁
Riton 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.
“Riton uses …” …. unless they changed more recently.
Seems pricey for a 2nd focal plane. Is it “right on” or “rit(dye)on??? BTW I have a cheap($150) LPVO which punches above it’s weight. Since I’m not operating operationally it suffices for now…
People are still shooting 55gn 5.56?
Is a christmas tree really needed on a LPVO? But I am only shooting out to 200-300yrds, 168grns .308WIN.
Great for perforating most steel “armor” sold over the last decade when using a 16in+ barrel. Also cheap in bulk if you do volume fire.
“People are still shooting 55gn 5.56?”
sure they are. works fine. you having problems using it?
Am I having problems using it?
No.
I do not own anything shoots 5.56.
Something with only a 24mm objective is going to be a pain in the butt to use over 4x. At 6x the exit pupil is going to be 4mm. That means your eye needs to be positioned PERFECTLY behind the scope.
I keep waiting for my perfect scope.
A 1-8 with a 32mm objective and a 30mm tube.
Fixed windage with a lockable, dial-able elevation turret.
Nice scope, no doubt the glass is clear…Although not necessary with a 1-6 the scope for the price should be a FFP. Since it is a SFP leave it on 6. And if need comes for low power to smoke an annoying horse fly switch to tritium offset backup iron sights…offset sights that were purchased along with a less expensive 1-6 for an AR-15.
Nothing in his otherwise-impressive bio in any way supports the conclusion that he “developed” a precision optical device.
Like many others, he is well known for selling his “brand” to manufacturers of various products, some of them quite underwhelming.
“People are still shooting 55gn 5.56?”
sure they are. works fine. you having problems using it?
“sure they are. works fine. you having problems using it?”
No.
I do not own anything that shooting 5.56.
$2800 ar15
no forward assist
lol
I know, right. My ar can’t function without the forward assist. I need to use it every time I go to the range.
The ‘forward assist’ is the person who holds the target for you when you zero.
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