A Rifleman's Optics

Tract’s Japanese-made TORIC Ultra High Definition (UHD) riflescopes, in my opinion, represent one of the best all-around bargains in hunting optics. I can say this honestly after running a couple of versions for several years on a couple of my primary big-game rifles. A Tract TORIC UHD 2-10x 42mm BDC lives on my ’65 Winchester Model 70 chambered in 30-06 Springfield, while a more powerful TORIC UHD 3-15x 42mm T-PLEX graces my customized 25-06 Remington. Both scopes have been, as they say, rode hard and put away wet on many occasions, on duties as varied as conducting thorough LoadData.com load development pieces to chasing white-tailed deer and local Rocky Mountain elk.

These riflescopes aren’t box-store specials, including retail prices of $694 and $754, respectively. For that price, you get an optic that competes favorably with riflescopes retailing for double the price. Let’s just say that because I write this optics column, I am lucky enough to play with and review the very best. I happily mounted these scopes on my primary hunting rifles. That says a lot. The savings come largely from Tract’s direct-from-manufacturer business model, which includes no added markup.

Both of these second focal plane (SFP) scopes have proven exceptional in the low-light conditions encountered while sitting during heavily overcast evenings waiting for November’s rutting whitetails or picking up elk before they exit “death zone” clear-cuts during the very first silvering of dark morning. Tract attributes these sharp, bright images to the TORIC’s proprietary UHD optical system, including fully multi-coated SCHOTT High Transmission (HT) glass and Extra Low Dispersion (ED) lenses. These designs, with their generous magnification latitude, have also proven versatile, serving as well from a whitetail treestand as they do across an open clearcut or canyon chasm.

Taken as a whole, this optical system is free of color fringing and provides excellent light transmission and clear, sharp images even during low-light hours. The 2-10x 42mm TORIC provides a 21mm to 4.2mm exit pupil (2 to 10 power) and 20.5 twilight factor; the 3-15x 42mm TORIC a 10mm to 2.8mm exit pupil (3 to 15 power) and twilight factor of 25. The field of view for the 2-10x 42mm is 49 feet at 2 power, 9.9 feet at 10 power at 100 yards, 34 feet at 3 power and 6.9 feet at 15 power at 100 yards for the 3-15x 42mm option.   

The quick-focus eyepiece provides 4 inches of eye relief, which comes in handy with the 30-06 when firing heavy bullets from awkward field positions. Both riflescopes include a diopter range of +2 to -3. TORIC series scopes are offered with either glass-etched Bullet Drop Compensation/BDC (found on my 2-10x) or T-PLEX reticles (found on my 3-15x) – which I’ll address in more detail shortly. Both optics are equipped with Tract’s high-profile MOA turret kit with

zero stop and locking functioning, covered with aluminum threaded caps, and easily zeroed without tools. The 2-10x 42mm provides 60 MOA of internal adjustment, and the 3-15x 42mm provides 50 MOA. Tract also offers customized, accuracy-enhancing accessories, such as the Low-Profile Custom Turret or the High-Profile Custom Turret. The elevation and windage knobs turn positively in precise, repeatable and tactile/audible 1⁄4-MOA-at-100-yard clicks.

At reasonable big-game hunting ranges, I’ve found the BDC reticle of the 2-10x to be accurate and intuitive. It includes 1⁄2-MOA drop and windage correction dots and a pointed post-bracketing system that provides positive aiming references without clutter or obscuring the target. The pointed horizontal posts allow bracketing the target for easy holdovers. Vertical hash marks on the center crosshair and windage correction dots provide holds for 10 mph crosswinds, more or less. The reticle was created for standard (2,800 fps, 100-yard sight-in) or magnum (3,000 fps, 200-yard sight-in) cartridge trajectories given in approximate 100-yard increments. Tract’s IMPACT Ballistic Program is also available to dial things more precisely to a specific load and cartridge. The 3-15x 42mm’s glass etched T-PLEX is a refinement of the classic Plex approach, eliminating the thick vertical upper post for cleaner viewing and faster target acquisition, but otherwise without

the hold-over references of the BDC system.         

The main tube of these scopes measures 1 inch and includes a graphite finish (matching Warne

steel rings can be ordered directly from Tract) and is sealed with quality O-rings to make them 100 percent waterproof to 3 meters. They are thoroughly purged with argon gas to prevent fogging in humid or frigid conditions. Tract says Argon gas includes a higher resistance to temperature changes than the nitrogen purging used in most scopes. The one-piece-milled tube provides about 5.33 inches of mounting latitude on the 2-10x 42mm version and slightly more for the larger magnification scope.    

The magnification ring includes a fairly smooth interface and easily read white-etched numbers. TORIC scopes include a pull-out/push-in locking side parallax knob, marked from 10 yards to infinity and with longer-range yardage ceasing at 300 yards on the 2-10x version, starting at 15 yards with the 3-15x 42mm TORIC. The 2-10x 42mm TORIC measures 13.2 inches long and weighs 18.6 ounces. The 3-15x 42mm measures 13.84 inches and weighs 20.1 ounces.

Each scope comes with Butler Creek Flip Up lens covers and are covered by Tract’s Trust Assurance Warranty, which guarantees the functionality of the product for the duration of its lifetime regardless of whether you’re the original owner. No time limit applies, and no paperwork is required.

You can certainly buy more expensive riflescopes than those offered by Tract. Still, I sincerely doubt most of us could tell the difference in optical quality or find operational details different enough to cause a complaint. The SCHOTT glass Tract utilizes is some of the best available, and the designs are conceived by real hunters engaging in the type of hunts you and I enjoy annually. I have tested and reviewed scopes that were arguably better – and much more expensive – but for my money, Tract offers all the right stuff. Learn more by visiting tractoptics.com.