A Rifleman's Optics

Veteran-owned Riton Optics has become synonymous with great quality and solid value sold at working-man prices. They also include an unconditional lifetime warranty requiring no proof of purchase or registration. Prices are held in check because initial manufacturing occurs in the Philippines (not China), though every Riton optic undergoes a thorough dual-inspection, quality-control testing process by certified technicians in Tucson, Arizona, where Riton’s headquarters is located. If a customer does have a problem with a Riton product, they simply fill out a form, send the optic to Tucson, and it is replaced free of charge. 

With the Riton 5 Primal 3-18x 50mm long-range hunting scope under discussion here, shooters find an optimized hybrid of precision-target and practical-hunting features for less than $1,000. The 5 Primal is a versatile scope, at home in Eastern hardwoods as much as on Western plains. Riton’s 5-series is the company’s second-tier lineup (7-series riflescopes are the flagship), meaning they include top-quality, fully multi-coated HD glass treated to full wide-band, waterproof and low-light enhancement coatings. This gives the 5 Primal exceptional resolution, including low-light conditions when big game generally moves most freely. The 5 Primal 3-15x 50mm scope is built on a 34mm 6061-T6 aluminum tube, offering generous range adjustment and long-range capability with a standard 100-yard zero. Other 5-Series riflescopes include the 5 Conquer 4-28x 56 and 5-25x 56, 5 Primal 2-12x 44, 2-12x 44 IR and 5 Tactic 1-10x 24mm.   

The 50mm objective lens of the scope under discussion here splits the difference between smaller hunting scopes and more substantial 56mm long-range target models. This is also part of its versatility and the reason there is something here to make every shooter or hunter happy. The 5 Primal 3-15x 50mm includes a target-grade, first focal plane (FFP) reticle that mirrors a classic, high-visibility duplex at lower magnifications, or provides a fine central aiming point at higher magnifications. It is flanked by .5-MIL hash marks along the horizontal and vertical crosshairs and 2-MIL dots on the lower portion of the “Christmas-tree” subtensions. The FFP arrangement means all holdover marks to remain true at all magnification levels. This also means the reticle thickens in relation to the target as magnification is increased. If you would rather dial range and wind holds, removing the threaded turret caps allows for making corrections via oversized, knurled knobs. 

Following sight-in, resetting turrets to zero involves removing a hex screw to allow free-wheeling each dial. The zero-stop is shim-based, which usually allows adjustments of a few MILs beneath zero. After sight-in and turret zeroing, I was able to twist the elevation turret to the bottom, then count 31 MILs to the uppermost adjustment. Conducting this operation several times, I found my sight-in zero remained on the money, showing the scope was tracking precisely. All elevation and windage clicks were impressively sharp, providing auditable clicks and tactile feedback. Adjustments are made in 1/10 MRAD movements at 100 yards. 

The left-side parallax knob allows tweaking the target into tack-sharp focus quickly and precisely. It is marked from 10 yards to infinity. Sandwiched over the parallax knob is the reticle illumination wheel, which includes six brightness settings with off positions between each to make it easy to keep a desired intensity level ready without exhausting the CR2032 lithium coin battery. Illumination is red in color. The magnification control ring includes Riton’s Dual Throw Lever System, which provides multiple positioning and height options, allowing shooters to keep things streamlined or make it easier to operate while wearing gloves or in wet weather.

I first shot the Riton 5 Primal 3-18x 50mm riflescope in chilly mid-20s temperatures with humidity pegged at nearly 100 percent.

Nonetheless, I experienced no fogging issues. Shooting started on a heavily overcast day with snow cascading, but even at the highest magnification, the target remained bright and clear, a testament to a quality optical system.

The 5 Primal tested provides 3.35 inches of eye relief, even at the highest magnification. This makes it magnum compatible, without the fear of a vicious scope cut. Exit pupil dimensions remain 7mm at 3 power, and 2.88mm at 18 power. The human eye can generally dilate from 0.5mm to 7mm, translating into bright views with this optic at all magnification settings in low-light scenarios. Field of view ranges from 36 feet at 3x to 6.3 feet at 18x, dictating how easy it will be to find a target in the scope under stress. The Riton 5 Primal 3-18x 50mm riflescope is a solid design free of plastic parts, weighing 32.45 ounces (2.03 pounds). It measures 14.76 inches long, while providing 6.5 inches of mounting latitude.

All control surfaces – magnification collar, diopter, raised parallax, illumination and turret-cover caps – include milled slant cuts, which create slightly sharp edges. The optic is covered in a durable, flat, black anodized finish. The parallax control includes a tapered wedge instead of specific yardage numbers, and the magnification values are sharp and easy to read. Turret values are pretty small, meaning they might require fishing out the granny glasses for those of us with aging eyes. The raised throw lever can be moved between two positions, one pointing straight down to 6 o’clock when twisted to 18 power (which did not interfere with the bolt of the test rifle), and another that places it at about the 7 o’clock position when on the highest magnification. It is anchored by two set screws. The Riton aluminum four-screw rings were not as refined as more expensive brands, but wholly functional. 

Provided accessories include factory-installed flip-up lens covers (which fit tightly), lens cloth, turret Allen wrench, zero-stop bushing with its own wrench and factory-installed CR2023 lithium battery.

I would consider this a lot of scope to mount on a backcountry rifle, but it would be right at home during a truck-based big-game hunt, on a serious varmint shoot or even a PRS-style target rifle. It is certainly adaptable and provides all the optical and mechanical qualities I’ve come to expect from Riton. To learn more, visit ritonoptics.com.