Looking for an LPVO to replace an Aimpoint T2 on an 12.5in carbine. Used for home defense, classes, hunting, local club competitions, and plinking. I want the LPVO to have a 1x that is as close to a red dot experience as possible.
After the usual considerations (durability, tracking, glass, reticle, etc.), to get really good 1x performance it seems to boils down to three main factors: dot brightness, edge to edge clarity/no tunnel, and eye box. From what I've read and been told by those I trust (including some members here) there are three LPVO's that stand above the rest for that use: the Vortex Razor Gen II-E 1-6x , Khales K16i 1-6x, and a surprising newcomer the Riton Mod 7 1-8x28IR-T. I have good experience with the Vortex, none with the Khales or Riton and will not be able to look through those two before deciding. All three are (supposedly) just about as bright and clear as one another (with the Khales having a slight edge on clarity) with true 1x and no tunneling. What isn't clear is which has the best eye box and will best replicate a red dot.
As far as I can tell after conversations with several manufacturers, when comparing similar optics eye box (defined as the 3D area in which you eye can be and still use the optic) is a combination of four factors:
1.) Eye Relief.
2.) Exit Pupil (supposedly most important).
3.) FOV.
4.) Internal construction, which is hard to quantify but I was told that an "ok approximation" was to see how much travel is in the windage and elevation, the less there is the better the eye box is likely to be.
I am no expert and could be totally wrong on this. Looking at the specs of the optics in question vs. some of their peers does make this seem like a reasonable approximation. Their specs break down like this at 1x:
Vortex Razor Gen II-E 1-6x:
1.) Eye Relief: 4in.
2.) Exit Pupil: 24mm (sounds wrong but this is what I was told by Vortex twice).
3.) FOV: 115.2ft.
4.) Windage/Elevation Travel: 150MOA.
Khales K16i 1-6x:
1.) Eye Relief: 3.8in
2.) Exit Pupil: 9.6mm
3.) FOV: 138.8ft.
4.) Windage/Elevation Travel: 76.6MOA.
Riton RT-S Mod 7 1-8x:
1.) Eye Relief: 4in.
2.) Exit Pupil: 14mm.
3.) FOV: 142ft.
4.) Windage/Elevation Travel: 175MOA.
Clearly each excels on paper, the Vortex with exit pupil, the Khales with FOV and Travel, and the Riton with FOV. Not sure how this translates into real life for anything but the Vortex however, so I'm hoping members here can give feedback on any of them.
So my questions are:
1.) Is this the right way to compare eye box without having the optics actually in front of you (which some of us who live 6+ hours away from vendors do not have the luxury of doing)?
2.) Which of these would you choose to replace the red dot and why (or would you choose something else entirely)?
3.) The Riton is very new, but I have a good discount and can get one much cheaper than the other two, and having 8x would be nice. Any feedback on them would be appreciated.
After the usual considerations (durability, tracking, glass, reticle, etc.), to get really good 1x performance it seems to boils down to three main factors: dot brightness, edge to edge clarity/no tunnel, and eye box. From what I've read and been told by those I trust (including some members here) there are three LPVO's that stand above the rest for that use: the Vortex Razor Gen II-E 1-6x , Khales K16i 1-6x, and a surprising newcomer the Riton Mod 7 1-8x28IR-T. I have good experience with the Vortex, none with the Khales or Riton and will not be able to look through those two before deciding. All three are (supposedly) just about as bright and clear as one another (with the Khales having a slight edge on clarity) with true 1x and no tunneling. What isn't clear is which has the best eye box and will best replicate a red dot.
As far as I can tell after conversations with several manufacturers, when comparing similar optics eye box (defined as the 3D area in which you eye can be and still use the optic) is a combination of four factors:
1.) Eye Relief.
2.) Exit Pupil (supposedly most important).
3.) FOV.
4.) Internal construction, which is hard to quantify but I was told that an "ok approximation" was to see how much travel is in the windage and elevation, the less there is the better the eye box is likely to be.
I am no expert and could be totally wrong on this. Looking at the specs of the optics in question vs. some of their peers does make this seem like a reasonable approximation. Their specs break down like this at 1x:
Vortex Razor Gen II-E 1-6x:
1.) Eye Relief: 4in.
2.) Exit Pupil: 24mm (sounds wrong but this is what I was told by Vortex twice).
3.) FOV: 115.2ft.
4.) Windage/Elevation Travel: 150MOA.
Khales K16i 1-6x:
1.) Eye Relief: 3.8in
2.) Exit Pupil: 9.6mm
3.) FOV: 138.8ft.
4.) Windage/Elevation Travel: 76.6MOA.
Riton RT-S Mod 7 1-8x:
1.) Eye Relief: 4in.
2.) Exit Pupil: 14mm.
3.) FOV: 142ft.
4.) Windage/Elevation Travel: 175MOA.
Clearly each excels on paper, the Vortex with exit pupil, the Khales with FOV and Travel, and the Riton with FOV. Not sure how this translates into real life for anything but the Vortex however, so I'm hoping members here can give feedback on any of them.
So my questions are:
1.) Is this the right way to compare eye box without having the optics actually in front of you (which some of us who live 6+ hours away from vendors do not have the luxury of doing)?
2.) Which of these would you choose to replace the red dot and why (or would you choose something else entirely)?
3.) The Riton is very new, but I have a good discount and can get one much cheaper than the other two, and having 8x would be nice. Any feedback on them would be appreciated.
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. I'm still blinking on other items.
