Category Archives: Optics

Riton Optics 5 Primal 2-12X44 Rifle Scope

Optics, Product review, , , ,

INTRODUCTION

I’ve had the good fortune to play with a few Riton scopes over the years, and I am happy to bring you another one today. The 5 Primal 2-12×44 (which I’ll refer to as 5 Primal) is a second focal plane riflescope that is a perfect fit for those looking for a good hunting scope. The Riton 5 Primal brings many great features to the 2-12 scope world.

Aside from its core features, the affordable price of the 5 Primal makes it an excellent option for many folks out there with a lower budget. Riton Optics does a good job of offering a broad enough selection for most shooters to find what they need.

As we look into the 5 Primal today, keep in mind how its features may benefit or hinder your practices behind the rifle. Only you can evaluate how well it will serve your purposes.

 

Riton 5 Primal mounted to the Q Fix
The Riton 5 Primal mounted to the Q Fix.

5 PRIMAL 2-12×44 REVIEW

SPECIFICATIONS

Specification Details
Magnification 2-12
Parallax Adjustment 10-infinity
Tube Diameter 30mm
Objective Lens Diameter 44mm
Focal Lens Position Second Focal Plane
Lens Coating Fully Multi-Coated, Full Wide Band, Waterproof Coated, Low Light Enhancement
Reticle PHD
Field of View at 100 yds 55.1ft – 9.4ft
Material 6061-T6 Aircraft Grade Aluminum
Eye Relief 3.5in/90mm
Exit Pupil Low 8.3mm – High 3.5mm
Click Value at 100 yds/m 1/4 MOA
Adjustment Range 90 MOA
Mounting Length 4.2″/106mm
Length 12.5in/317mm
Weight 1.5lbs/24oz
Included Items Flip-Up Lens Covers, Lens Cloth, Allen Key

PROS & CONS

My pros and cons list may confuse you, so let me explain a little before we get into it. Your specific purpose might dictate whether some of these features are an asset or a liability.

For example, I like first focal plane reticles, but they may not be ideal for many scenarios. Same with capped turrets. I prefer exposed turrets, but you may want capped turrets.

PROS
  • Affordable price
  • Lifetime warranty
  • 30mm tube
  • Included flip caps
  • Adjustable throw lever
  • Compatible with compressed air rifles
  • Quality reticle
CONS
  • Capped Turrets
  • Second focal plane
  • Made in China
Shop Riton Optics at Palmetto

FIELDING THE 5 PRIMAL 2-12×44 RIFLESCOPE

I mounted up the 5 Primal to a rifle I had handy using a 30mm one-piece scope mount. I did a quick boresight job before hitting the range with it. The hand-adjustable turrets are easy to adjust, the ¼ MOA clicks are easily felt, and a complete turret rotation gives you 25 MOA of elevation.

Riton 5 Primal 2-12x44 close up
The 2-12X44 mounted perfectly in the Aadland 30mm scope mount.

With the scope mounted to a Q Fix chambered in .308, it would be a fine little rifle to take out in the field for a hunt. The 5 Primal made an excellent companion to the rifle.

I really like the 2-12 power zone for hunting. I often think people over-magnify their hunting rifles, but I prefer having a wide field of view to watch impacts and potentially escaping animals after a shot. Even when hunting with bigger scopes like a 5-25, I still rarely engage animals above 14 power.

After zeroing the scope, I used the reticle to make shots all across a deep and long canyon. The hold-over points were easy to keep track of. I like when reticles are labeled at least every few lines, which applies to the 5 Primal. Using the reticle for holdovers worked great at 12X or doubling values at 6X.

Riton 5 Primal 2-12x44 reticle
A look through the 5 Primal at about 3X at 450 yards.

The parallax/focus allows you to focus on targets as close as 10 yards, which could come in handy with an air rifle. But for my .308, it wasn’t so necessary.

The low profile of the 5 Primal makes for a good pack rifle to throw over your shoulder, with few things to hang up on as you hike through the forest. The included flip-caps also helped keep the lenses clean and away from contaminants.

Different throw lever options are also handy, making it easy to adjust the magnification quickly and without having to look for it. It’s also nice to be able to pull the throw-lever off if it creates a snag point for you.

The optical clarity was fine for me, as I wasn’t expecting something incredible from a scope at this price point. It’s also fair to point out that the lower power magnification doesn’t magnify flaws as much, either, so you’re less likely to see them.

Shop Riton Optics at Firearms Depot
Scopelist also has a great selection of Riton Optics
Palmetto is another good place to shop Riton Optics

FEATURES

PRECISION HUNTING DOT (PHD) RETICLE

The PHD reticle is simple enough, yet it gives you 20 MOA in three directions for measuring impacts and holding over. Points are labeled at 10 and 20 MOA, with some good subtensions down to 1 MOA as you near the center of the reticle.

Riton 5 Primal 2-12x44 reticle sky view
Looking at the sky with the PHD reticle

The second focal plane nature of the reticle allows for pretty fine aiming points. I’ll admit, I wouldn’t be against having a first focal plane reticle in this scope, either. The low power settings would likely be useful with the FFP reticle, though it might require a finer reticle.

ADJUSTABLE THROW LEVER

I like throw levers, and this was a nice little feature for those like me who like them. Built-in throw levers can occasionally be in the wrong place or cause contact points with things like bolt handles and the fingers holding them.

Riton 5 Primal 2-12x44 controls
The throw lever was easy to adjust

The ability to remove the throw lever and install it in another position on the power ring is much appreciated. As is the ability to just remove it if needed.

CAPPED TURRETS

As I mentioned above, this can be a good or bad thing, depending on your shooting task. If you need to adjust your elevation frequently, such as you would in a competitive shooting scenario, capped turrets may be a little less desirable. You can, of course, leave the caps off, but I lost quite a few turret caps back in the old days doing that.

For a hunting rifle like the one I tested here, I think the capped turrets are fine, since I likely wouldn’t engage anything beyond 500 yards with it. For those kinds of ranges holding over with the PHD reticle is fine for me.

Riton 5 Primal 2-12x44 controls moa adjustment
To use the cap or not use the cap, that is the question.

CONCLUSION

The Riton 5 Primal 2-12×44 scope is an excellent choice for someone shopping in the sub $1,000 price range. The scope isn’t what I would call super light; instead, it’s built pretty robust, which I’d prefer sometimes.

Riton 5 Primal 2-12x44 on q the fix in mountain background

It should do a great job of providing accurate shooting for most practices. The overall performance of the scope and warranty from Riton makes the scope a pretty safe bet.

Having used several Riton scopes now, I would feel confident recommending them for such purposes as I’ve mentioned.

-CBM

Primary Arms GLx 3-18×44 Precision Rifle Scope

Optics, Product review, , , ,

INTRODUCTION

Primary Arms (PA) has been a huge name in the shooting scene for many years. Part of what makes Primary Arms so relevant is its ability to cater to shooters’ needs with excellent products that don’t require taking out a second mortgage.

Primary Arms has recently released a new scope in its GLx line of scopes, and today we will be taking a look at it; the Primary Arms GLx 3-18X44mm FFP rifle scope.

jeff wood hands on with the primary arms glx 3-18x44m review mounted on desert tech srs m2
It’s hard to beat the view through the scope.

The GLx line of scopes seems to be the mid-series, but don’t tell the kids that. A few GLx scopes have been out for some time, but the 3-18x is a new development.

The 6x magnification of the 3-18x model gives a nice spectrum of usable capabilities, but this little scope has far more features that will earn its keep in your collection.

I’ve used a few PA optics before, but this would be the first one of my own. My previous experiences had been great, so I had no reason to expect this one to be different. I’d also heard good stories from many other shooting professionals I trust.

PRIMARY ARMS GLX 3-18X44 REVIEW

When I opened up the black and orange box, I was struck again by that old familiar feeling. I had a good feeling that this scope and I were going to make some serious hits.

The scope is built on a 34MM tube, which is fast becoming the mainstay for tactical scopes over the more traditional 30mm. Its 44mm objective soaks up as much light as possible to give you the best image of your target.

Locking turrets and a hard zero-stop are great tactical features, as is the ACSS Athena reticle, which can be used for measuring and hold-overs on target.

primary arms glx 3-18x44m review mounted on desert tech srs m2
I also tried the GLx 3-18X44 on a Stag Arms 308

And yet even for those who are accustomed to high-tier optics, the GLx 3-18 will feel very familiar and comfortable. It provides most of the features professional shooters would be accustomed to, making it ideal for activities like PRS shooting, hunting, long-range, or any other precision rifle application.

It may be a little much if you are hunting bean fields in Ohio, but I prefer to have more scope than I need for many hunting purposes.

Shop Primary Arms products at Firearms Depot

SPECIFICATIONS

Attribute Description
Battery Type CR2032 3V Lithium Coin
Brand Primary Arms
Click Value 0.1 Mil
Color Black
Exit Pupil Diameter Low: 9.3 mm / High: 2.4 mm
Eye Relief 3.50 in
Field View 100 Low: 36.70 ft / High: 6.10 ft
Focal Plane First Focal Plane
Illuminated Illuminated
Length 13.66 in
Magnification 3X – 18X
Objective Diameter 44mm
Optic Series GLx
Reticle ACSS ATHENA BPR MIL
Reticle Color Red
Reticle Type MRAD
Total Elevation 180 MOA
Total Windage 120 MOA
Tube Diameter 34mm

PROS & CONS

PROS
  • Great value for the price
  • Excellent warranty
  • Great optical clarity
  • Locking Turrets
  • Zero-stop
  • Included throw-lever
  • 180 MOA elevation
  • Front focal Plane
  • Illuminated reticle
  • ACSS Athena reticle
CONS
  • Slight fish-eye effect
  • Reticle might be a little busy for some

HOW WE TESTED

I figured there was no better way to test the GLx than to mount it to my primary rifle and take it on one of my high country Marmot hunts. This would give me a great opportunity to truly test the PA GLx. Shots can frequently be very long and require quick identification of often tiny targets and perfect shot placement.

Several days of shooting high country Marmots was an excellent test of the function of the scope. Aside from that, I also shot the rifle through a training session on a rifle range, shooting out to 1,200 yards.

I used the scope to find and engage target after target and moved back and forth from different target zones. The GLx was quick to adjust and right on with the measurements.

primary arms glx 3-18x44m review mounted on desert tech srs m2 in mountains
Not many things escaped us while shooting with the PA GLx

FIELD TESTING THE GLX 3-18X44

First, I would need to mount the scope up to my Desert Tech SRS M2; for that, I used a ZroDelta 34mm scope mount. With the scope settled in and level, I torqued down the ring caps.

The next step was to zero the rifle and set the zero-stop under the elevation turret. After that, I did a quick bore-sight job to align the crosshairs with my bore’s centerline.

primary arms glx 3-18x44m review close up
All mounted up on the Desert Tech SRS M2.

I’d brought a .223 Remington barrel and a 6GT barrel for the SRS, but since I’d planned on shooting mainly the GT, I figured I’d zero it for that. I loaded a single round, centered the Athena reticle on my target, and pressed the trigger.

The impact was easily noted a few inches from the target’s center bull. With the reticle again held center on the bullseye, I measured the elevation and windage distance from the crosshair to the hole in the paper. I dialed 1.3 up and .4 left based on the estimates I could get on the reticle subtensions.

After loading another round, I aimed this time for the black hole in the paper and pressed the trigger again. The second 112-grain Barnes Match Burner ripped through the paper, leaving an egg-shaped single hole in the paper.

With zeroing out of the way, it was time to get serious about shooting the rifle and putting the GLx to work finding furry little targets scattered across the beautiful landscape.

primary arms glx 3-18x44m reticle clarity and review
A view thru the GLx 3-18X44

We spent the whole day chasing after Marmots using the SRS and other rifles with comparable scopes mounted. Over and over, I saw the action through the Primary GLx, watching both my impacts and the other’s shots.

Switching back and forth from one rifle to another gave me a great appreciation for the features of the GLx. The built-in throw-lever made it quick to find different targets and quickly zoom in on them without taking your eye off them.

primary arms glx 3-18x44m review by jeff wood
At 3X, the GLx quickly transitioned between various close targets

Adjusting for different distances was straightforward using the turrets; I could count the clicks without losing track of small moving targets. Or I could hold over or under using the reticle. And the zero-stop made it easy to blindly dial back to my hundred-yard zero without even thinking about it.

The parallax adjustment was easy to keep in line with targets, mainly since we would only move incredible distances a few times. The image was always clear and detailed, and only the hiding skills of our quarry made identifying them a challenge.

The one “not so good” thing I noticed was a bit of a fish-eye phenomenon. It was mostly visible when I panned the rifle from one side to the other. A slight optical aberration around the edge of the lens makes the image feel slightly convex.

It was just enough to grab my attention. I took the time to look for it in the other scopes I was shooting that day, and to my surprise, they also had a little bit of the same phenomenon. But I never noticed it until I looked for it.

I don’t consider it a huge problem, as it didn’t affect my ability to shoot the rifle well. And considering the price point, I wouldn’t consider it a dealbreaker.

primary arms glx 3-18x44m close up with dials
The throw lever adjusted the magnification ring quickly

RELIABILITY & ACCURACY

As far as scopes can be reliable, this scope was. All mechanical components of the scope are built very robust and feel like they’ll stand the test of time.

The turret values are reliable and match up with the reticle values inside. Cranking up and down on the turrets through several days of hunting show that the erector inside was consistent in its movement.

The accurate movement of the scopes internals translates into reliable corrections. This is extremely important for accuracy.

OVERALL FEEL

The Primary Arms GLx feels excellent in the hands, and the controls have all the right feels. The clicks are clean and audible, and the tension on all the controls have a nice level of stiffness.

The built-in throw lever is nice, but there is also a flip-up version of the throw lever, which can be folded down when not needed. The turrets have great texturing for a good grip and are also a good height. This makes them more snag-proof.

primary arms glx 3-18x44m long range test
The GLx mounted to my Desert Tech SRS M2

FEATURES

FIRST FOCAL PLANE

The GLx is a first focal plane scope, meaning that the reticle is magnified with the scope’s power setting. This means the reticle and its details will be smaller at low power and fill the whole scope at maximum power. This is done so that the reticle values remain constant regardless of the magnification setting, which is very valuable to shooters who frequently switch magnification settings with time constraints.

In the past, FFP scopes have commanded much higher prices, sometimes prohibitively expensive. But modern market competition has made them more and more affordable, which is where we find the Primary Arms GLx 3-18X44.

ATHENA BPR-MIL RETICLE

The ACSS Athena BPR-MIL reticle incorporates a great deal of technology. If you haven’t taken the time to learn weaponized math, I recommend it.

The Athena reticle has several valuable tools built right into it, like a chevron center, a target-ranging ladder, and a MIL grid for rapid measuring and engagement. With subtensions as small as .1 MIL, you can measure just about anything you need to.

The Athena reticle does a good job of walking the line of being detailed but not overly detailed. It has an incredible amount of details and subtensions, but it is also fine enough not to overwhelm the eye. It may be too much for some shooters, though. The reticle is far more pronounced at the very high end of magnification.

ZERO-STOP

The zero-stop on the GLx scope is a fantastic design but one I needed to familiarize myself with. After zeroing the rifle, setting the zero-stop wound up being quite simple to engage.

With the scope zeroed, you loosen the turret screws around the top until the turret can be lifted. Underneath, you will find a red anodized stop, with three screws holding it in place from three raised bosses on the erector housing. Once loosened, you can raise the red zero-stop until it contacts the bottom of the internal turret hub.

After retorquing the screws to support the stop, you can reinstall the turret by lining up the zero with the centerline and retorquing the turret screws. It is pretty simple, and as soon as I had it back together, the elevation turret lock button engaged as designed.

primary arms glx 3-18x44m turret review
A closer look at the zero-stop internal parts

34MM TUBE

The large 34mm tube of the GLx allows for its broad elevation adjustment. The larger tube gives more space for erector movement, translating into more elevation potential.

The turrets are 10 MIL per rotation, which is better than most scopes that fall in the economically priced category. For me, 10 MIL turrets are great; even better if they have more like 12 or 15 MILs. With the rifle zeroed and the zero-stop set, my GLx had 38.5 MIL of travel, which is pretty significant.

SCORE CARD

RELIABILITY (10/10)

I experienced no reliability issues or problems with the Primary Arms GLx scope. The nature of mechanical things means they can suddenly break, but time will certainly show if that happens. As it stands now, there is no evidence or experience I’ve had that would suggest any impending issues.

ERGONOMICS (9/10)

All the controls of the GLx were easy to handle and adjust. The tension set on each turret and ring was adequate to prevent accidental movements but still be easily adjusted when needed. Added benefits like the locking turrets and throw-lever only added to the easy operation. I was initially worried about whether I’d like the turret lock, but the fact that it only engages on zero makes it just right in my book.

CUSTOMIZATION (8/10)

While scopes aren’t exactly customizable, there are many different options to select that will customize the scope to your purpose. Selecting MOA vs. MIL is a handy option for those shopping for scopes, and other little things like included scope caps and interchangeable throw levers give the user options.

APPEARANCE (8/10)

The GLx 3-18 is a sharp-looking scope. It has all the right curves right where I want them and all the right textures in the right places too.

VALUE (9/10)

I recommend this scope to someone looking for a good precision rifle scope under $800. I remember it wasn’t that long ago that I would have expected to pay twice that much for a scope with similar features.

ACCESSORIES

ZRODELTA SCOPE MOUNT

Any good 34mm scope mount would be a solid match for this scope. I used a ZroDelta mount and didn’t regret it for a second. A good mount like this allows for rapid transition from one rifle to another or simply to take the scope on and off for cleaning the rifle.

SCOPE CHAPS

A good set of Scope Chaps will help protect your scope from scratches or other damage when moving around or transporting it. The chaps velcro to the bell of the scope and give a layer of protection. They also provide a place to put your favorite PVC patches.

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CONCLUSION

After shooting the PA GLx over the last few months, it has given me plenty of experience to judge the little scope.

As a lower-cost precision rifle optic, the GLx stands out against its competition and offers its users some refined features and benefits for a surprising price. The scope gives a superb optical performance and robust mechanical function for those that shoot on the move. It’s light enough to not be eliminated from a hunting rifle project too.

If you find yourself looking for an affordable optic that won’t leave you squinting into the distance, consider pulling the trigger on the Primary Arms GLx 3-18X44.

-CBM

Riton Optics 3 Primal 3-18×50 Rifle Scope

Optics, Product review, , ,

INTRODUCTION

Riton Optics has been producing and selling affordable optics for several years. The American optics market has consistently grown over the last decade, and economical brands have aggressively flooded it.

Riton offers professional-grade features in many of its scopes, and between the different product lines, it offers something for almost any shooter’s budget. Today we will look at one of its offerings from the PRIMAL line, the 3 PRIMAL 3-18x50mm rifle scope.

The 3 PRIMAL brings new features like Riton’s dual throw lever system and incorporates highly sought-after features like exposed turrets, zero-stop, and a front focal plane reticle. I’ve spent quite a bit of time behind rifle scopes, so I was eager to see how this new Riton stacked up against both the Riton scopes I’ve had in the past and the other scopes I use.

 

Riton Optics 3 PRIMAL 3-18x50mm Rifle Scope on mossberg patriot
The 3 Primal mounted on a Mossberg Patriot and paired with Hornady Match ammo made for a winning combination.

RITON 3 PRIMAL 3-18×50 REVIEW

The 3-18 model is an excellent scope for long-range hunters and precision shooters. With six MRAD turrets, each revolution of the turret will increase the sight angle by six Milliradian.

The total mechanical elevation available in the scope is 25 MRAD, so you’ll get just over four rotations of the elevation turret. I prefer 10 MRAD turrets or higher, but I think it’s acceptable for the price point of this scope.

Optically, the 3 PRIMAL has a clean and clear image, which is something I’ve noticed in the past from Riton branded scopes. Riton seems to do a good job sourcing quality glass for their scopes.

The helically fluted control surfaces of the scope allow an easy grip to adjust the settings, and the markings and turret detents are clear and concise. The dual throw lever design is handy, allowing you to remove the throw lever or position it in one of two positions, depending on what works with your particular firearm setup.

This scope would be ideal for someone looking to get into long-range shooting or hunting with a smaller budget. It gives you many high-end features most of us want, but without needing to sell a car to get it.

If you’re the kind of guy accustomed to $3,000 European scopes, you will likely find this Riton a step down. But it certainly gives you what you need to get the job done.

Riton scopes are made in various places, but the 3 PRIMAL says it’s made in China, which may not sit well with some people. As far as Chinese-made scopes go, I felt it looked and functioned well. I’ve used a bunch of different Chinese-made scopes, and this one surely seems to be at the top of that list.

SPECIFICATIONS

Specification Details
Magnification 3-18
Parallax Adjustment 10-infinity
Tube Diameter 30mm
Objective Lens Diameter 50mm
Focal Lens Position First Focal Plane
Lens Coating Fully Multi-Coated, Full Wide Band, Waterproof Coated, Low Light Enhancement
Reticle LRH, Illuminated
Field of View at 100 yds 35ft-6.2ft
Material 6061-T6 Aircraft Grade Aluminum
Eye Relief 3.5in/90mm
Exit Pupil Low 8.2mm-2.8mm
Click Value at 100 yds/m 1/10th MRAD
Adjustment Range 25 MRAD
Mounting Length 4.6″/116mm
Length 13.75″/339mm
Weight 2.85lbs/29.6oz
Included Items Flip-Up Lens Covers, Lens Cloth, Allen Key

PROS & CONS

PROS
  • Affordable price
  • Great optical clarity
  • LRH reticle features useful subtensions
  • Positive tactile clicks
  • Dual throw lever system
  • Illumination with six settings
  • 25 MRAD elevation potential
  • Lifetime warranty
CONS
  • Made in China
  • Not particularly lightweight
  • Reticle gets a little bit thick at 18X

ON THE RANGE TESTING

I mounted the Riton 3 Primal to a Mossberg Patriot 6.5PRC rifle. I used a set of Warne 30mm rings that fit perfectly. With the scope mounted and bore-sighted, I headed into the hills to try the combination.

Riton Optics 3 PRIMAL 3-18x50mm Rifle Scope on mossberg patriot
The Warne 30mm rings made a perfect mount.

After a few shots to confirm zero, it was time to use one of my favorite features of this scope; the zero stop. Using turrets with smaller MRAD counts tends to use multiple revolutions of said turret to get the full elevation.

This scope has 6 MIL turrets, so if you are shooting quite far, losing count and thinking you are zeroed when you are a full rotation (6 MRAD) off can be easy. Zero stops combat this issue by giving you a hard stop at your rifle’s zero.

The Riton 3 Primal achieves this by installing a ring under the turret after zeroing your scope. Unlike the spacer-type zero stops, this one is tightened around the turret stud and has a pin to stop rotation at zero. It’s very easy to install, and once you have the rifle zeroed, you never have to worry about it again.

Shooting with the Primal was very comfortable; my eyes easily adjusted to the view and made perfect sense of its clear image. Using the throw lever to adjust the magnification for different ranges, and spotting targets and details, was relatively easy. With just an Allen wrench, you can change the throw lever position to fit your rifle setup.

Shop Riton optics at Firearms Depot
Palmetto also has a full selection of Riton Optics
Scopelist is another great place to shop Riton Optics
Riton Optics 3 PRIMAL 3-18x50mm Rifle Scope on mossberg patriot hands on test and sighting in
The 3 Primal mounted on the Mossberg Patriot 6.5 PRC

The scope was easily adjusted for focus/parallax using the side-focus knob, and targets were quick to engage with the scope appropriately adjusted. I didn’t need to use the illumination at any point, but it is nice to know it’s there.

The reticle in the Primal was perfect for measuring holdovers and corrections; that said, it is often hard to please everyone when it comes to reticles. It’s a very subjective choice, as we all have our preferences, but I found this one to be fine.

My only complaint is that at 18X, the reticle becomes a little thick, which might make it more challenging to get that perfect hold on a distant target.

FEATURES

ZERO STOP

The zero stop feature of the Primal 3-18 was easy and robust. It took very little time to install or adjust the zero stop ring, and it felt great when the turret hit that hard stop letting you know you’re zeroed.

I’ve seen quite a few different zero stop designs, and this is surely not a bad one, but there are a few I do like better. For this price point and purpose, though, I think it is a great option.

Riton Optics 3 PRIMAL 3-18x50mm Rifle Scope zero stop ring
Installing the zero-stop ring took little effort.

THROW LEVER

The included throw lever is a nice touch, and it allows you to use it or not. And if you choose to use it, you can place it in one of two positions, whichever better fits your rifle setup.

The scope also comes with a cover to replace the empty throw lever position.

Riton Optics 3 PRIMAL 3-18x50mm Rifle Scope multiple throw lever positions
The multiple throw lever positions are a nice touch.

FRONT FOCAL PLANE ILLUMINATED RETICLE

I mentioned the reticle was a bit thick for me at max magnification; this is not a massive deal for me as I don’t often use scopes at their maximum power, at least while shooting. That said, if you plan on using this scope for shooting particularly far, it’s something you should know.

The subtensions of the reticle are small enough to be helpful without making the reticle too complicated. I also like that Riton made off positions between each brightness setting.

Riton Optics 3 PRIMAL 3-18x50mm Rifle Scope reticle
The illuminated LRH reticle is clear and sharp.
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CONCLUSION

I was pretty happy with this rifle scope from Riton. The 3 Primal 3-18x50mm gives you a fine selection of desirable features and is very affordable.

I’ve been lucky to use many high-quality scopes in addition to those that are more mainstream and inexpensive. You will do great with this one if you are looking for an affordable precision rifle scope for recreational purposes.

It would go very well with the Mossberg featured above as a Western long-range hunting rifle or installed on your favorite range rifle. It has features that not too long ago would have cost you at least twice as much money, and despite its foreign manufacture, it presents a great picture.

-CBM

MAVEN BUILT RS.3 5-30X50 RIFLE SCOPE

Optics, Product review, , ,

INTRODUCTION

As so many new optics companies flood the market with rifle scopes, it’s a great time for shooting nerds like me to get their hands full of options.

One of the more recent companies to arrive on the scene is Maven Optics, and today I will be inspecting one of their long-range riflescopes, the Maven RS.3 is a 5-30X50mm rifle scope. It promises to deliver high-quality images combined with the ballistic tools needed to give hunters and shooters an elite performance at any range.

I’ve been like a tick on the ass of the precision rifle community for a couple of decades now, and it has been incredible to see the changes achieved in this space. I remember when I first got into precision rifle shooting, and the options were very limited.

It was a different landscape than what we have today, where there are incredibly high-functioning options that are surprisingly inexpensive. This is no doubt attributable to imported products from all over, but mainly Asia.

The Maven RS.3 is made from Japanese components, which in my experience, has proven to be both affordable and optically sound. I’ve been able to use and test a great many of the options on the market today, so I look forward to sharing what I’ve found with today’s subject.

After a concise introduction to the scope, I already have a pretty good feeling about it.

MAVEN BUILT RS.3 5-30X50 RIFLE SCOPE REVIEW

The RS.3 is Maven’s premium option, and it comes full of features that shooters once dreamed about. It’s quality optics and desirable features come at a price that would surprise some of the other old-timers like myself.

The sport of precision rifle shooting has grown exponentially over the last twenty years, and growing right alongside it has been long-range hunting.

Both practices rely heavily on the ability to hit an often small target at ranges that, until recently, were quite inconceivable. After a short overindulgence in Maven’s marketing material, I get the feeling that they wish to supply both of these types of shooters.

Not that your traditional hunter/shooter wouldn’t benefit from such a rifle scope, but it may be more money than you need to spend if you are the type of shooter who rarely reaches beyond conventional distances.

Long-range rifle scopes like the RS.3 are optimized for tactical-style shooting and long-range hunting. These activities require correction for varying ballistic performances of the cartridges they are mated to.

So with that in mind, it’s important to consider the rifle and cartridge and the intended purpose to ensure you get the best tool for the job.

maven RS.3 5-30X50 mounted on tikka t3 long range test
The Maven Scope performed well on my Tikka 25 Creedmoor

SPECIFICATIONS

Magnification 5x to 30x
Tube Diameter 30mm
Objective Lens 50mm
Weight 26.9 ounces
Focal Plane First
Length 13.03 inches
Turret Values 1/10 MRAD
Reticle SHR-MIL
Warranty Lifetime

PROS & CONS

PROS
  • High quality optical performance
  • Front focal plane
  • Compact size
  • Milling reticle
  • Smooth controls
  • Zero-stop
CONS
  • Six MRAD turrets
  • Loses brightness at 30x

TESTING IN THE FIELD

As I lifted the Maven from its curious egg-carton-like box my curiosity had peaked. I had seen Maven scopes for years, on other’s rifles and in countless pictures.

I hadn’t really formed an opinion yet, but based on what I had vaguely seen and heard, people were happy with them. I inspected the RS.3, and gave the controls a cursory twist to see that everything had arrived intact.

From there, I went outside to have a look at the world around me, as presented by Maven. The image I saw was actually better than I might have expected. Very little aberration around the edges and a pleasantly bright picture that felt great to my eyes. I played with the focus a bit to see how clear I could get the picture at these neighborhood ranges.

Like a true reticle geek, I was immediately enticed by the many subtensions that adorned the posts. There were half MIL and whole MIL marks, out to five, where it turned to more course measurements. The open center housed a tiny dot that, even at 30X, seemed quite fine, and would work great for very precise shot placement.

But it was time to get this little scope ringed up and on a rifle. I mounted it in a 20 MOA canted AADland Engineering cantilever mount, with the plan to mount the scope to one of my favorite rifles, a Tikka T3 chambered in 25 Creedmoor.

I was a bit worried about how it would all line up, but as it turns out, everything was a pretty close fit.

As I set the rifle up to boresight the combination, I noticed a condition that would perhaps aid in shooting with the scope further than anticipated. I’d forgotten that the Tikka already had a 20MOA scope base installed, so the total cant on the scope was 40MOA.

I was worried I wouldn’t be able to zero it at my desired range, but as it happens, it worked out perfectly zeroed near the bottom of the scopes erector travel. This would allow me to use the full elevation capabilities of the RS.3. So, with plans to get way out there, I headed up into the Rocky Mountains to test this scope in the very country it was designed for.

It only took a few shots to get into a groove with the Maven. I really liked the bright image in the morning sun.

Using the tiny point at the center of the crosshair, I was able to adjust my zero till it was as good as it was going to get. The various holdover and windage points would come in very handy for holding wind and measuring corrections.

Many folks use the reticle sub tensions for various purposes, but for me, the main purpose is measuring where I hit compared to where I aimed. This allows for rapid corrections, which are very necessary in the field, particularly when hunting.

maven RS.3 5-30X50 mounted on tikka t3 long range test jeff wood
My Cole-TAC suppressor cover kept mirage down

With the sun shining, I shot several targets across a great spectrum of distances from one-hundred-fifty yards all the way out to one-thousand yards.

This is where I confirmed one of my suspicions that I’ve seen plenty of times before. Every scope I have ever used has a reduced image quality at maximum power. The disparity is often more obvious with optics that are lower priced. This is why you get what you pay for is even more true with glass.

I’ve found that at the highest 5-10% of magnification, most scopes become dark, and details become less obvious. The Maven was certainly not immune to this phenomenon; I found that at its highest ranges of power, it was darker and harder to make out the finer details.

But as I mentioned, I have seen this with nearly every scope out there, and the Maven was no worse than most scopes I’ve used before. In fact, being a 5-30 magnification scope means that at 25x it looks outstanding, whereas comparable 5-25 scopes will likely not look as good when viewed at 25x.

The six-MIL turrets are certainly serviceable, though I am a bigger fan of ten or higher MIL per revolution of the turret. This becomes more of an issue the further you shoot; if the distance you are shooting requires multiple revolutions of the turret to get the corrective elevation, the likelihood of losing track of which turn you are on increases.

maven rs.3 hunting
The rifle and scope combination made an excellent choice for my favorite hunt

It is for this purpose that some use indicators to show which revolution you are on, or another alternative is a zero-stop.

The folks at Maven chose to go the zero-stop route, which is not a bad idea as it is probably the simpler and more affordable way to go. The zero-stop allows you to set a hard zero for your elevation turret. This is very handy as you don’t even have to look while you turn the elevation turret down until it stops. And once there, you know the scope is back at its zero range setting.

There are many different ways to put a zero-stop on an elevation turret, and the design Maven uses isn’t a bad option. It allowed me to have a hard zero that is easily changed using only a small screwdriver tool included with the scope.

The parallax/side focus of the RS.3 was very functional, and I was surprised at how close it would function. What I mean by that is most precision rifle scopes tend to keep their range in the fifty-yard range out to infinity.

The Maven RS.3 can be focused as near as twenty yards, and removing parallax on targets that close would make it a good choice for those fancy new air rifles.

maven RS.3 5-30X50 mounted on tikka t3 profile photo
This combination would be an excellent long range Rocky Mountain hunting rifle

RELIABILITY

During the course of testing out the Maven RS.3, I experienced no issues with its functions. All the controls are easy to operate and with just the right amount of resistance. While I suppose I could have given it a beating with a larger caliber rifle, I have no reason to expect it would have any problems doing so.

As we have become accustomed to the modern optics market, Maven offers a lifetime warranty. So it is good to know that should you experience an issue, they promise to stand behind it.

PRECISION

I was quite happy with the performance of the RS.3 as far as precision is concerned. The measurements input on the turrets were accurate and commensurate to the values in the reticle.

Being a 6X zoom, I was a little worried that the reticle would become too thick at maximum power, but it was still fine enough for accurate use.

OVERALL FEEL

The Maven felt great in both my hands and on my rifle. Comparably priced scopes and including the RS.3 can often have a cheap feel, by which I mean you feel like it could be broken by using too much force on the controls and such.

I certainly don’t recommend abusing your rifle scope in such a way, but I do have and have had scopes that I never felt like I could damage by forcing the controls. And even dropping a fifteen-pound rifle on concrete didn’t ruin the turrets.

That said, I do not expect the Maven or comparably priced scope to endure such torture. Such a performance is more appropriate for scopes costing two and three times what the RS.3 costs.

For the asking price of the RS.3, I think the scope feels great. There are few things more that I could ask of it without adding significantly to its market cost.

maven RS.3 5-30X50 mounted on tikka t3 profile photo

FEATURES

maven RS.3 5-30X50 reticle view

RETICLE

The SHR-MIL front focal plane reticle was a good combination of adequate subtentions without getting too busy.

I like that they numbered many of the reticle points, as it can often get confusing when you are shooting quickly. I suppose there are some folks in the PRS community that may find the reticle a little simplistic for their purpose, which is certainly subjective.

For me, it was fine, and for my favorite activity which is hunting I find it to be ideal.

This is the first scope of its kind that I have reviewed that didn’t feature an illuminated reticle. Some may find this to be a downside. In my opinion, it’s not a big deal. I can count on my hand the times I needed an illuminated reticle over the last twenty years.

maven RS.3 5-30X50 zero stop

ZERO-STOP

The zero-stop, as I mentioned above, is a very handy feature to ensure you know when your scope is set at its original zero POI. The zero-stop functions by having a lockable ring threaded below the turret.

Once the rifle is zeroed, you turn the ring up to the bottom of the turret as a hard stop. The ring can be secured using a screw to tighten it down to prevent movement.

The typical set screws that secure the turret to the erector screw underneath have been cunningly replaced by using a toolless cap on the turrets. You can’t even see it, but the top of each turret’s textured grip area is the caps that can be removed by gripping the turret and loosening the top of it (lefty loosey), once removed you can lift the turret off and set it where you want it before resecuring it with the thumb-screw at the top of the turret.

maven RS.3 5-30X50 30mm tube

30MM TUBE

The 30mm tube has become pretty standard among long-range scopes and is quickly being replaced by the 34mm tube.

The 30mm tube used in the Maven RS.3 allows for greater internal travel than the traditional one-inch tubes your Dad used. This gives the Maven RS.3 a 23MRAD total travel, which is pretty good.

SCORE CARD

RELIABILITY (8/10)

I had no problems with the Maven RS.3 while shooting with it. All the controls worked great. The only thing I would have preferred would have been 10MIL turrets and perhaps a tiny bit more resistance on the turrets. During a hike, the rifle slung over my pack caused my windage to move a couple of clicks.

ERGONOMICS (9/10)

Ergos were great with this scope, easily gripped surfaces, and intuitive operation was great.

CUSTOMIZATION (9/10)

Maven does offer custom options for the scope, which is pretty cool. You can add custom colors to various controls as well as custom engraving.

APPEARANCE (9/10)

It is a great-looking little scope! The finish and quality are great for the price.

VALUE (9/10)

The RS.3 offers just about everything an aspiring long-range shooter needs. And with an MSRP of $1200, it is hard to beat. I remember twenty years ago. I would save up that much money to buy a scope with lesser features.

Click here for more information, comparisons and accessories

maven RS.3 5-30X50 hands on test

CONCLUSION

The steady flooding of the optics market has raised many brands to notoriety. Honestly, I wasn’t surprised that the Maven RS.3 fit right into my collection.

I have seen and heard about them for years. The shooting public has been spoiled with so many good options. This scope is a great buy, and its features are ideal for someone looking to get in on long-range hunting or shooting on a tight budget. Sure, there are higher-quality scopes out there, and if you have the money to get one, I would suggest spending what you can afford.

But if you are looking at scopes in this price range, I think you would do fine using the Maven RS.3. I won’t be selling off any of my high-end scopes to buy more of these, but I certainly don’t feel inadequately outfitted with the Maven on my rifle.

-CBM

US Optics TS25X Precision rifle scope

Optics, Product review, , , ,

Introduction

You have probably seen some of my opinions on other US Optics rifle scopes, but today we are going to talk about another one. The Tactical Sport line of optics from US Optics is a more affordable line of optics, and in my opinion, they are a great choice for someone who needs a good repeatable riflescope without going broke.

The TS25X

Solid scope mounts like this one are outstanding

Today’s subject is the TS25X, it is a 5-25 power riflescope built on a 30mm tube. The 25X is the highest magnification scope in the TS line, but the TS20X scope has a 34mm tube. While I think I prefer the 34mm tube the TS25X is still a great option for various applications. The objective of the 25X is a 50mm to gather enough light to present a clear image, and the side-focus parallax adjustment is on the left side of the turret housing as we have come to expect.

The TS25X mounted on the Bergara HMR 6.5CM

Most of the controls and features will be very familiar to most shooters, the ocular lens adjustment can be focused by turning the rubberized ring at the back of the scope. The five MRAD turrets have a locking feature, they must be popped up to rotate. This helps avoid accidental turning of the turrets when moving. I prefer turrets that use at least ten MRAD per rotation, but considering the size and price of this scope its not a big deal to me.  Inside the erector of the 25X sits the JVCR reticle, this has become my favorite US Optics reticle and I use it in all my US Optics scopes. It gives plenty of holdover and windage points to use for corrections, and not so much as to become cluttered like many other can. The reticle is illuminated red by rotating the rheostat on the outside of the side-focus knob with six brightness settings.

Purposes for the TS25X

The TS25X in the hunting field mounted to a Ruger American

I’ve been running this scope for over a year now, and I’ve gotten a good feel for what its capabilities are. I love shooting, and I’ve found that this little scope can be an excellent tool in various shooting applications. Whether you are going to use it for long-range target shooting, competitive shooting, or more traditional purposes like hunting.

I mounted the TS25X in both Warne and Vortex rings

I have used the TS25X for all of the above and it has served me well. In fact I have used the 25X as sort of a gap-filling scope, one that I have swapped back and forth from one rifle to another. Mounting and dismounting from an assortment of rings and mounts, zeroing and re-zeroing it over and over again. It has done very well in this role, and has performed as well as I could have hoped.

Field Use

The 5-25 power of the TS25X is an excellent range for multipurpose use in the shooting field. Like most scopes the maximum power tends to be a little darker and some resolution is lost, but that is easily remedied by maxing out at something like 21 or 22X. The 25X went on many hunts with us over the past year, as well as many different rifle reviews. The five MRAD turrets work great, but they can be easier to accidentally be off by a revolution. I’ve had that happen before with this and other similar scopes, it’s just something that happens. I ended up putting a piece of tape under the elevation turret to show where actual zero is to avoid it happening again. I can simply look to see if the bottom of the turret is flush with the tape, and if I see a gap then I’m one turn off.
The JVCR reticle in the scope is very handy for measuring your misses, there are just the right amount of subtensions to be able to measure a correction.
I have been impressed by the durability of this little scope, it has been dialed up and down as much any scope has rights to, clamped in rings over and over again and at least one time too hard. And after all the swapping and dialing it just keeps on ticking, and the hits keep coming.

Shop US Optics riflescope at Scopelist
Euro Optics also has the full line of US Optics

 

Hunting

The twenty-seven ounce scope is a great option for a hunting rifle, and it has spent a good deal of time mounted to hunting rifles in my time with it. We have used it to take several mule deer here in the Rocky Mountains, and I would have felt every confidence that it would continue to perform in the ice cold weather of winter too.

After having spent a whole year using this scope across multiple different semi-auto and bolt action rifles, I can tell you with confidence that it is a great little scope. I wouldn’t go as far as to say I have abused it, but I have certainly used it harder than many folks will. So if you are looking for a riflescope with features like these, I can recommend the TS25X to you with confidence.

The TS25X did some time on my TIkka T3 as well

-CBM

Andres Industries TigIR-6Z+™ Thermal Sight

Optics, Product review, , , ,

I am lucky to often play with military grade weaponry, but today we will be talking about military grade optics, thermal optics to be exact. Today we will be looking at the Andres Industries TigIR thermal sight. The TigIR is a compact clip-on thermal sight meant to be used in front of your day optic.

The TigIR-Z

I tested the TigIR on one of my SRS M2 rifles chambered in 338LM, on top of the rifle was a Steiner M5 riflescope.

The TigIR has some very convenient features that make it rapidly deployed and easily adapted to your application. Things like a quick power-up when opening the front lens cover, assorted mounting options, and offset adjustment to remove optical offset. I really enjoy some of the nerdy tech side of shooting, so lets get tucked into this review.

Target hangers as seen from 200 Mts at zero fahrenheit

The TigIR comes in a very nice little polymer carry case with a detailed instruction booklet in both German and English, which came in very handy. One of the first things that surprised me about it was for an optic so filled with functions and features, it only had four buttons. There is a fairly complex menu that is navigated using only the four buttons, using either quick presses or holding the button depressed until selected. But first I had to install the four CR123 lithium batteries.
The TigIR has several filter options that allow different views of different landscapes, each one having a strong-point. The different filters are easily toggled through to see which one best presents your target in any given place. There are also several different brightness settings you can use to adjust to your purposes. The waterproof housing also has a connection for video output and remote control.
In addition, the TigIR allows you to create several profile offsets within the device for different rifles or calibers. When you add a thermal sight to your rifle, or anything to your rifle for that matter, it can affect the way the rifle recoils and change your point of impact. In addition, when you put an additional device infront of your day scope that is zeroed to the rifle, you can also cause an optical offset (sorta like a shallow prizm). The TigIR allows you to correct for this offset, so that your point of impact remains the same with or without the thermal installed. And as I mentioned you can save up to six different profiles to use with the TigIR.

Brownells has a great selection of thermal devices to shop

The front lens cover is held shut by two bungees, the unit powers-up when you open the cover. The bungees then hold the cover firmly in place to avoid unwanted movement. It can also be used for rapid recalibration, by simply closing and opening again it will cause the unit to reset. After startup you can select a power setting from .8X up to 6X, this is handy for various viewing purposes and are easily toggled with the zoom button (#2).
You can select one of the fifteen or so different filters, each of them have strong points such as looking for a person vs. looking at a vehicle. Some of the filters are much better than others depending on what you are looking at, so make sure you try several different options.

Euro Optic sells an excellent selection of thermal optics

The TigIR is easily mounted using a clip-on picatinny rail clamp, but there are other options such as scope-bell clamps as well as observation eyepieces to use the unit alone. The four batteries should power the unit for ten hours according to the manufacturer, though in my experience I would not expect it to last near that long in this kind of cold.

Shop different Mounting accessories here and here.


I must admit that the lionshare of my time was spent learning how to operate the TigIR, which is no surprise as it is a complicated device. It took some trial and error for my captain caveman brain to get everything figured out. But after some time I was ready to make some noise.

To the rifle range

The TigIR mounted to my Desert Tech SRS M2

Having already ensured my rifle was zeroed at one-hundred meters, I clamped the TigIR into place to see what happened next. It’s not often that I play with thermals, and I always forget to bring something warm to use as a target. But to my surprise I didn’t really need one this time, targets and details show so clearly through the TigIR that it was almost unnecessary. I could even see the differing colors of the paper target, as long as the sun was shining on them. As temperatures changed so did my perspective of the targets. It was actually easier to shoot into the snow, where the fresh holes in the snow would show up quite clearly through the thermal. After confirming the offset, I entered the offset data into the profile for my 338. This would ensure that with or without the TigIR installed I would be on target.

Observing target handlers, note “WH” denotes selected IR filter, and 0.8X denotes selected zoom

The images portrayed through the TigIR were quite impressive, making an incredible amount of detail possible. I pushed it out a little further to see how well I could see things at six-hundred meters, and it was still very useful. I continued to shoot and to my surprise I could even see sticks moving behind the target as they were hit by the bullet after passing through. It was actually quite impressive until thick fluffy snow began to fall, and as the air filled with frozen snowflakes the magnified image became unclear with or without the thermal installed on the rifle. I did try some of the other thermal filters and did get some improvement, but not enough to make it worth spending expensive 338 Lapua rounds. I’ll also add that the images shown here don’t show the quality as well as your eye does in real time.

Shop various thermal optics at Mile High Shooting

You can also select one of several reticles from the TigIR menu, different reticles with differing values that can be used either independently of you day scope, or in conjunction with it. And if using the TigIR as spotting device, you can use the reticle values to call corrections for your shooter.

Conclusion

I was thoroughly impressed with the TigIR-6Z, it was very compact compared to other units, and it performance was better than those I am more familiar with. Yes it is a complex piece of tech so there is definitely a learning curve, but I think once you figure out how to use it properly, you will be very happy with it. The price is just shy of  €10K, which is certainly not cheap, but it much more affordable than comparable units I have used. I would definitely get one of these units if you’re in the market for a thermal, its an outstanding little device.
-CBM

EOTech Vudu 1-8×24 Review

Optics, Product review

INTRODUCTION

For the better part of the last twenty years, you could hardly talk about tactical weapon sights with EOtech coming up.

The brand has grown quickly to become an industry stalwart. In much more recent times, the company has released its own line of optical rifle scopes under the Vudu brand.

Today we will look at a model from the Vudu line, the EOTech Vudu 1-8X24 precision rifle scope. This model features a thirty-millimeter tube and the typical twenty-four millimeter ocular lens. Variable power swings between one and eight times magnification with the reticle in the second focal plane. The reticle itself is the HC3, which features an illuminated center dot and several hold-over points for shooting further distances. The capped turrets are graduated in quarter minutes of angle adjustments.

Low Power Variable Optics (LPVOs) have become increasingly more popular for modern sporting rifles and tactical-style rifles. When rapidly engaging targets at dangerously close distances, a rifle scope can be extremely valuable over red dots or holographic sights, particularly if those targets could range from fifty to three hundred yards away.

Shop EOtech optics

The LPVO has become a valued option for that kind of shooting scenario, and our subject today appears to fit that purpose quite well.

I enjoy shooting sports a great deal and have spent a good deal of time behind many riflescopes. I was thrilled to see how the Vudu scope would perform. I am a total fanboy for quality rifle scopes, and if this Vudu lived up to my expectations, I couldn’t wait to add it to my collection.

After unboxing the Vudu and playing around with it in just a few minutes, it has already got me excited to shoot with it.

VUDU 1-8×24 PRECISION RIFLE SCOPE REVIEW

The LPVO market has become quite crowded over the past ten or so years, so I was curious to see what Vudu had to offer that others weren’t already selling. I have heard good stories about optical quality, and so far, glancing over the features, it appears to tick all the boxes I want in an LPVO. So I wasted no time getting the Vudu mounted and ready for the range.

The market is crowded, as I said, but there is undoubtedly room for quality optics at every price and quality point. There are inexpensive LPVOs in the three to five-hundred range, and even more at the thousand dollar price point, and even at the fourteen to fifteen-hundred price point, there is still a lot of competition.

The Vudu fits right into that area for those who can’t or won’t jump to the two-thousand-dollar-plus price range, but it is still a great place to select a high-quality and well-performing LPVO. A good scope like this deserves a good mount that will allow proper positioning on the rifle, so make sure you research before mounting your scope.

With all that in mind, I set out to shoot a selection of different scenarios using the Vudu.

Varying shots from near to far and using both the variable power of the scope and the holdover points on the reticle. The one to eight-power magnification gives a great deal of versatility for a wide field of view on close-up shots with both eyes open.

And it also allows you to zoom it into eight power to take more precise shots at targets further out. I have found eight power suitable for shots as far as one thousand yards at times. So with a great deal of space at my disposal, I prepared to give the Vudu a good workout.

SPECIFICATIONS

Tube 30 mm
Length 10.9 inches
Weight 20.8 ounces
Magnification 1-8x
Objective lens 24 mm
Reticle HC3
Illumination Green center dot
Battery CR2032
Elevation travel 100 MOA @.25 per click

PROS & CONS

PROS
  • High quality Japanese optical lenses
  • Capped hand-adjustable turrets
  • Illuminated reticle
  • Push-button illumination change
  • Throw lever included
  • Hold-over HC3 reticle
CONS
  • Wish it was the 1-10
  • Would like a little more reticle detail
  • Would also like an MRAD option

RANGE TESTING

I had a hard time coming up with cons for the Vudu, as you might have noticed. It looks like I will have to get my hands on their 1-10×28 model as well, as it fits my wishes to a T.

Getting the Vudu on the range was my priority now. I mounted it up to one of my favorite carbines, my Desert Tech MDRX. I do a LOT of shooting with this rifle, so it seemed an excellent fit to compare to a bunch of other LPVOs I have run on the rifle over the years.

With the Vudu in a cantilevered mount, I installed it on the pic rail of the rifle at the proper distance for good eye relief.  It felt right at home there, so I grabbed some ammunition and headed out the door.

Upon arrival at my spot, I set the rifle on a bipod and did a quick boresight job to ensure it would be on paper. After just a few shots, it was zeroed.

I typically zero my rifles at one hundred yards, mainly because that’s where I do a lot of shooting. But it would also make sense to zero a scope like this at seventy-five or fifty yards. It depends entirely on your shooting activities.

After zeroing the scope, I started with some quick transitional shooting between a couple of different targets. The straight one-power allows you to shoot with both eyes open, something I appreciate very much. I also really like the bright green dot in the reticle. It allows the scope to be used almost like a red dot sight.

The push-button on and off makes it much easier to power up than the typical rotational rheostats. The added simplicity of push buttons to increase or decrease brightness are also convenient and easily understood when you’re moving fast.

For shooting IPSC-sized targets from standing and improvised positions, I found that zooming the scope in a few X’s was helpful. I had several targets between fifty and one-hundred-fifty yards. The two to three power settings helped get those targets bracketed and shot.

This rifle is very handy for shots out to five or six hundred yards and even twice that when I switch out barrels for another caliber.

So I wanted to see how targets looked through the Vudu at much further distances. I couldn’t find any information on the parallax setting for this Vudu, but I assumed it is likely at a hundred yards like many others. Not a huge deal but something you should know.

I checked the estimated drop for my 223 ammunition at four hundred yards, about twelve MOA.

Conveniently for me, the Vudu’s HC3 reticle has holdovers for 2, 5, 8.5, and 12.5 MOA. So my holdover for the four hundred-yard shot was pretty easy to line up. Holding into the breeze a little bit resulted in a perfect hit. I watched the bullet splash through the eight-power with great clarity and definition.

RELIABILITY

The Vudu 1-8×24 worked great for me. Through all my zooming in and out, as well as dialing the scope all over, it never lost zero or gave me any grief.

The small scope size makes me think it is less likely to get smacked around like full-sized scopes often do. But I see no reason why this scope wouldn’t live up to EOTech’s famously robust no-BS warranty.

ACCURACY

The accuracy of a riflescope is mainly based on its ability to hold proper zero and track well in its internal movement. I like to measure these movements by bolting the scope down and seeing if it actually moves the amount it says.

In my testing, the Vudu 1-8×24 was as accurate as I could have hoped, with precise corrections and matching the reticle values.

OVERALL FEEL

The Vudu feels outstanding, I like the texturing on the grip areas, and the included throw-lever is very handy, especially in the cold.

The clear optics and rubberized push-button controls make it look and feel outstanding. The large turrets are easily adjusted with gloves on, as are the other controls.

FEATURES

THROW LEVER

The Vudu comes with a thread-in throw lever or cat-tail, as some call it. The idea is to give additional purchase to adjust the magnification of the optic, as gripping the ocular housing from some positions can be challenging. The throw lever gives a better ability to pivot the input force as the housing rotates in many shooting positions.

ILLUMINATION

The Vudu features an illuminated green dot at the center of the reticle. It is powered by a battery housed in the left-hand turret.

There are three buttons on that turret at the twelve, three, and nine o’clock positions. The top button is the on/off switch; the other two buttons are for increasing or decreasing the brightness level of the dot.

I really like this ability to quickly turn the reticle on or off without having to rotate the turret, particularly those that don’t have off settings in between brightness settings. And it is easy to adjust the brightness from the shooting position using the buttons.

20 MOA TURRETS

The twenty MOA turrets on the Vudu allow for a good deal of corrective adjustment. In the event that you need to adjust for elevation at further distances, the turrets allow for precise adjustment in ¼ MOA increments.

HOW WE TESTED

I ran the Vudu 1-8 through a whole bunch of shooting at my range. Fast shooting between target transitions as well as slow fire at much further targets, was a great way to get familiarized with the Vudu and its weak spots.

The only thing I might have found as far as weakness was that at 1X, there is a tiny bit of deformation around the circumference of the image. This is not uncommon in my experience, nor is it a huge deal. It didn’t affect my ability to see and hit my targets.

I also noticed at some of the higher power settings that the eye relief seems a little touchier than I would have wanted; again not a big deal but something I did notice.

The hold-over points on the reticle were quite handy, though if you were going to do more medium to long-range shooting, you would likely want more points. Luckily, Vudu makes another scope for those who are looking for just that.

As it is, this scope makes a great choice for fifty to four-hundred-yard shooting. And when doing up-close shooting, I ran the scope on 1X with the dot turned all the way up and used it just like a red dot.

As I typically do with most optics I test, I also ran the turrets and reticle against a yardstick to see how well and accurately the erector tracks. Most of the time, they are all pretty close to their advertised graduations, and the Vudu 1-8×24 was one of those.

SCORE CARD

RELIABILITY (9/10)

The Vudu 1-8×24 functioned flawlessly for me during my testing. Surely this hasn’t been long enough to truly test its abilities, but only time will tell how that plays out. Follow me to see how the Vudu does over time.

OPTICAL QUALITY (8/10)

The optical quality of the Vudu was great. There was a tiny bit of optical aberration around the edges at 1X. Still, it was certainly something I could live with.

The clarity of targets was superb, and it performed well for my eyes even at low light near dusk. I won’t lie and say that I haven’t seen better, but I think the Vudu is right in line with its best competitors for this price.

FEATURES (7/10)

The illuminated reticle and throw lever were nice things to have when I opened the box, but I was kind of hopeful that Vudu would have brought just a little something extra to the game.

I would have liked a slightly more detailed reticle option and an MRAD option. Of course, more options like these would only add to the Vudu line.

VALUE (8/10)

I think the Vudu brings a significant level of performance and quality for its price point. Competitors in the comparable price range make it a very challenging market. You could almost select based on pure appearance and still get a great scope.

 

 Finish Reading here…

CONCLUSION

EOTech Vudu 1-8x24 Review mounted on desert tech mdrx on bench

If you are looking for a quality rifle scope to use on your short to medium-range carbine, the EOTech Vudu 1-8×24 is a great choice that will allow you to use your rifle to its full capability. That also allows you to see clearly what you are shooting at and look good simultaneously.

The Vudu does what a good LPVO should. It gives you the ease of a red dot or holographic sight up close while leaving you options for magnifying those targets further out. And it comes with the necessary tools to engage those targets if you wish to.

I am really looking forward to shooting more with this scope. I think I’ll leave it on my MDRX for now unless I find a better home for it. No doubt, I will use it extensively for shooting and hunting this spring.

-CBM

 

Burris Veracity PH riflescope 4-20X50

Optics, Product review, , ,

Introduction

Being a sucker for nice optics, I enjoy exceptional riflescopes from both American and European manufacturers. But I really want to buy American-made optics as much as I can.

burris veracity ph review mounted on desert tech srs m2

Burris is a well-known American optics manufacturer that has recently teamed up with optics stalwart Steiner Optics. Being a fan of both, I was excited to review the new Burris Veracity PH 4-20X50.

The Veracity is Burris’s premier hunting scope line, and the PH model is at the top of that line.

The Veracity PH incorporates Burris’s PĒK elevation turret, an electronic programmable and mechanical hybrid adjustment turret. Housed inside the 30mm tube of the PH, you will also find a digital Heads-up-display (HUD) that gives you all the information as you look through the scope.

The reticle is in the first focal plane, which always represents the indicated values regardless of magnification.
A traditional side-focus/parallax adjustment is on the scope’s left side; on the right, you will find a capped windage knob. Since hunters typically utilize the MOA scale instead of the MRAD one, it makes sense to have built the Veracity PH in MOA.

The reticle inside the Veracity was built for holding wind corrections with graduated windage marks.

The Veracity PH promises to give hunters a rapid and accurate firing solution for long-range hunting scenarios. Often when pursuing animals, there is little time to make corrections for distance. The PH allows users to use either MOA come-ups or have the actual distance shown rapidly in the internal HUD.

I can think of several scenarios over the past couple decades of hunting where that would have been very helpful. Hunting open country and long-range has been my bread and butter for at least that long, so I figured it would be a good place to put this scope to the test.

My initial impressions of the Veracity PH are pretty positive, it looks good, feels solid, and the optical quality seemed on par for its price.

I was pleased with the simplicity of the Bluetooth intercourse and integration with the Burris Connect app used to control the Veracity PH.

burris veracity ph review unboxing

BURRIS VERACITY PH REVIEW

As a hunting scope for long-range hunters, the Veracity PH provides fast information for making quick shots.

Technology like rangefinders and ballistic computers have greatly increased the potential for making longer shots with predictability. The Burris Veracity PH was made to capitalize on those advances, and bring some of this technology aboard your riflescope.

With uploadable ballistic profiles, you can put the data right into your scope. These profiles carry bullet drop and windage deflection rates.

This is necessary when making longer shots to correct for distance and atmospheric changes around you. Having this data in your scope is a great advantage for long-range hunters in wide-open country.

If you are more of a bean-field hunter, where shots may not exceed two to three hundred yards, it’s probably more of a novelty than a necessity.

SPECIFICATIONS

Power 5X
Magnification 4-20
Objective 50mm
Tube Diameter 30mm
Reticle PTC Wind MOA reticle
Illumination yes
Turret Graduation ¼ MOA
Focal Plane First focal
Length 15 inches
Weight 27.2 ounces

PROS & CONS

PROS
  • Made in America by Americans
  • Aggressively priced
  • Good optical quality
  • First focal plane
  • Heads up display (I mean C’mon!)
  • Internal level
  • Bluetooth connection with free downloadable app
  • Includes sunshade and flip caps
  • Zero stop elevation turret
CONS
  • Elevation PĒK turret is stiffer than I would like
  • I really wish there was an MRAD version
  • Wouldn’t mind a few more elevation subtensions on the reticle
jeff wood burris veracity ph test long range shooting

FIELDING THE VERACITY PH

I’ve had a few experiences with Burris optics over the years, and they have all been good ones. So I was eager to open up the Veracity PH package and get it into shooting condition as soon as possible.

My plan was to replace the Steiner T6X that I was currently running on my Desert Tech SRS M2. It is essentially the big brother to the Veracity, made in the same Colorado factory.

I mounted the Veracity in a Nightforce scope mount and leveled it on the rifle. It was during this process that I discovered one of the technological gadgets on the Burris scope; the internal level was not showing level compared to my bubble level, or my eye for that matter.

I assumed something was wrong, but after booting up the Burris connect app, I found the calibration procedure for the internal bubble level. You can zero the level on the scope physically using traditional procedures and then zero the internal digital level.

Before I’d even done that, I of course installed the two CR2450 lithium batteries that power the Veracity by loosening the battery cap on the side of the scope.

With the scope leveled and torqued down, I bore-sighted it looking out the window at the mountains above. Like most scopes, the PH turrets have three allen screws around the top to loosen the turret and reset them back to zero after getting the rifle sighted in.

I appreciated the capped windage turret since I rarely dial wind; I prefer to hold it instead. The Wind MOA reticle inside the scope was perfect for that.

Once I was on my range, I fired a few shots to adjust the zero of the rifle, and then it was time to see how this thing performed.

Before leaving the house, I had downloaded the ballistic profile of the ammunition I planned on shooting. It was easily added to the PH’s heads-up display, and using the app, I could select to have the HUD show either the actual MOA correction or the equivalent distance to the MOA dialed.

Again this seems like a very handy tool for hunters since you can upload your data, and after proofing it with the scope, it’s as easy as dialing the distance.

I’m not always a fan of “just dial the number” systems such as caliber/ballistic custom turrets because, typically, they do not allow for atmospheric changes and other common variations. The Veracity PH system, however, when used with the Connect App, allows you to update density altitude (DA) and other important factors to increase the accuracy of the firing solution.

It was time to stretch the rifle and scope combo out and see how all this tech lined up in an actual shot. The first thing I noticed when dialing the scope out for a longer shot was how stiff the elevation turret was.

I might have blamed it on the extreme cold that day, but it was just as stiff sitting on my kitchen table earlier that morning. I guess you could consider this a positive in some ways because the turret is unlikely to get accidentally turned before you make a shot. But even if it did, as you looked through the scope to make the shot, you could see if the elevation had been moved via the HUD inside.

I also noticed, to my surprise, that there were no clicks on the turret, a feature so common on riflescopes that it startled me. But due to the 1/10 MOA sensitivity of the turret, the clicks are unnecessary. You can see either on the turret housing or by the HUD inside what the turret is set to.

The focus/parallax adjustment on the side of the scope on the other hand is very smooth and easy to adjust. The variable 4-20 power magnification is an excellent choice for hunting and long-range hunting in my opinion, allowing for close up shots under one hundred yards or long shots as far as you have the skill to make.

Twenty power magnification is plenty for making shots as far as a thousand yards in my opinion, and it wasn’t long before we were doing just that with the Veracity PH.

The magnification adjustment ring was also easy to adjust, adding to my ability to zoom out to find targets, and right back in to engage them. With the scoped zoomed out to the four power setting, the reticle detail became quite fine, almost fine enough to lose its value.

Not a huge concern in my opinion because chances are if you are shooting at an animal at four power, it is likely going to be quite close and won’t require using reticle subtensions. The tapered reticle posts that thin as they approach the center also create a very natural point of aim that also reduces the importance of the center reticle details.

We fired a bunch of shots that afternoon, closely mimicking the same kinds of shots we would have taken on deer in these very same canyons. The Veracity PH made it very easy to move from one target to the next, and not much was getting away from me at that point.

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RELIABILITY

The Veracity PH was quite reliable during my tests.

If I were to anticipate a failure it would likely be of the electronic portions of the scope simply because it is new technology being used for the first time. It’s good to know that even if the electronic features of the scope were to fail completely from something like a dead battery, everything you need to make a good shot is still there.

And should something fail, it’s nice to know that Burris stands behind their product with an excellent warranty.

ACCURACY

The PĒK elevation turret measures movement of the turret down to 1/10th of an MOA, making it much more sensitive to movement than what we are used to.

I mounted the scope to a solid base, and measured the actual movement vs. what it said it was moving and it was quite accurate in its movement.

OVERALL FEEL

The Veracity PH feels like a great little scope. It keeps the handsome looks of a classic riflescope while incorporating some really cool technology inside.

Other scopes that have incorporated electronics like this have resulted in a turd looking finished product. I applaud Burris for not making that mistake here.

FEATURES

PĒK TURRET

burris veracity ph test scoped in

Probably the most defining feature of the Veracity PH, I found the turret to be very handy other than the resistance mentioned earlier.

The ability to use the solid zero-stop is very handy for those in stressful shooting situations like hunting. Connected to the HUD inside, these features can make shooting far on the fly quite doable.

HEADS UP DISPLAY

The internal Heads Up Display is an outstanding little feature, allowing you to see all the pertinent data from the shooting position without taking your eyes off your target which will likely be moving.

You can get an estimated wind hold, the elevation or distance setting to hit the target, and level up your rifle all without taking your eyes off the scope. The only outside information needed would come from a rangefinder.

BURRIS CONNECT APP

The Burris Connect App allows you to connect to and update data within your Veracity PH riflescope.

It is easily downloaded for free, and I found it pretty easy to navigate and update information with the app. Ballistic profiles for various bullets could be selected and adjusted with real data after shooting, and you could true the data by adjusting data points in the app.
Once you had a good profile for your ammunition, it was as easy as turning on the bluetooth connection on the Veracity PH and tapping the “upload settings” button in the app. This uploads that profile to the scope which then lines up perfectly with the displayed information in the HUD.

burris veracity ph app
burris veracity ph app

You can also use the connect app to adjust other settings like zeroing the level indicator once installed. Other functions like selecting incline compensation, zeroing the elevation turret, the timeout for the HUD, and the auto-off time for the scope to save battery life.

HOW WE TESTED

After uploading my ammunition profile to the Veracity PH, it was easy to shoot the rifle at various distances.

I’m typically a guy who simply dials corrections for distance, but with the ability to true the drop-chart in the app, I actually found it quite pleasant to use the scope in the impact distance setting.

Much like the custom turrets were sold to us years ago as a; just dial the distance and shoot, you actually can just dial the distance and shoot with this scope.

After truing up the ballistic data in the app, it was deadly close at most ranges I shot. I could simply hit the target with my rangefinder and dial the distance it came back with.

While this might be a change for some of us and our practices, it is an easy change in practice and will surely speed up the process for many people. For several hours I found myself simply picking out different targets all across the deep snowy canyon and engaging them individually.

The Wind MOA reticle has plenty of good hold points for offsetting the wind, which I found to be very helpful as the wind and distance changed during the day. But I found that the reticle’s elevation holdover points were significantly fewer. This makes sense, though, as theoretically, most if not all elevation will be counted for with the turret.

Maybe I’m just old school, but I like to have options; when measuring targets with the reticle, I found myself having to use the horizontal windage marks to try and measure vertical targets since there weren’t enough vertical marks to do so. Again, this is not a huge deal, just something I noticed.

burris veracity ph test on desert tech srs m2

SCORE CARD

RELIABILITY (10/10)

I experienced no failures during testing

ERGONOMICS (8/10)

Everything felt great except for the elevation turret

CUSTOMIZATION (9/10)

Some very cool features with the connect app. I wish there was an MRAD version and perhaps the connectivity to allow drop tables from other ballistic apps

APPEARANCE (10/10)

Good looking scope with all the right curves.

VALUE (10/10)

I was actually blown away that this scope was priced at $1200 MSRP, but even more seeing it go for $999 in the market. I figured any scope with an internal digital display was going to cost at least $1500 or more.

ACCESSORIES

BURRIS SIGNATURE 2000 LASER RF

Burris rangefinder

I got to use the Burris Signature 2000 laser rangefinder, which worked out to be a great companion to the Veracity PH. The 7X Signature 2000 rangefinder is rated to reach 2400 yards, which is pretty good for most hunters as they will not need that much range.

Whether you use this one or another rangefinder, you definitely want one to fully take advantage of the Veracity’s capabilities.

Shop Burris Optics Here

CONCLUSION

I must say I was very pleased with the Burris Veracity PH. It was one pleasant surprise after another. The scope was optically excellent, or at least better than its price-point, I would say.

The features were outstanding, even though I would have changed some slightly to suit my personal taste better. I think the Veracity PH is designed with the average long-range hunter in mind, and I think it’s a perfect fit for them.

It brings a pretty impressive technology suite to a good riflescope that is competitively priced. And so far as I can tell, it seems to do everything it claims to do. Most notably, reducing the activities between spotting my game and hitting it.

This scope gets me even more excited than normal for hunting season to come back around. With technology creeping into everything we do, what are your thoughts on the Burris Veracity PH?

-CBM