Review on S111 10-50

[StraightPipes]

Cant help this simple fact, more power is better!

Now that everyone is mounting up their new S111 10-50x60 Sightrons, has anyone given this scope a good hard test drive?

You know, the box test, magnum recoil, from 100 to 1000 and back again. Will it repeat, or; is it too early to ask these questions? We dont need to knock a new product, but with the season about to open, will this scope compete or not?

 

[BURL]

Hanging out for some in depth comments also -Sightron has a pretty good history and I find hardly any bad comment on their scopes -lets hope this is an absolute affordable high power winner!!

 

[StraightPipes]

Well guys, the price is coming down already. Could it be that a "REVISION" in the design is just around the corner? Smart business people clear their shelves if they are privy to this.

In the meantime, has anybody put this 10-50 through a good work-out yet? Spending money goes hand in hand with this sport. I "will" spend it, but for me it is simple. Even with a lifetime replacement warranty, the game is to "shoot" and not to be wasting time and more money shipping equipment back and forth to repair centers.
So, who has been shooting with this scope ? What say you?

 

[StraightPipes]

One aspect of this scope just might interest me.

Is the reticle "glass etched" ?

 

[Flybuster]

Somebody is bound to give it a review sooner or later, that's OK I am patient ;D

 

[Taildrag15X]

There's one for sale already on benchrest in the classifieds.

 

[tclaunch]

Thats from a vendor silly. Retail price.

 

[6BRonwheels]

I just ordered mine on Friday, should have it by the end of the week. I probably will not be able to test it out up here in PA until later this month when the snow melts.

 

[Preacher]

Seems like every one has one and waiting on the weather to break, or are waiting for one to show up so they can look at it till the weather breaks..
There will be a rush of tests in a month or so..........

 

[Steve Blair]

True, Preacher. I have two SIII 10-50 scopes and it has rained every other Friday, my days off, in San Diego since December. The temperature is not a problem here but I just don't like shooting wet.

 

[ridgeway]

Still tons of snow here and below freezing. Not sure how my glue in might react to the cold, lol.

 

[243Mendoza]

Straight Pipes,

I do not think they have etched reticles.

Danny

I just called Sightron and they said that the reticules are etched.

 

[dreever]

Steve,

That's good to know. Now perhaps they will be able to offer some other reticle options.

Danny

 

[StraightPipes]

Thanks guys. If this scope has an "etched reticle" I believe it is the first for Sightron. This will be the "BOOMER PROOF" Sightron that I was hoping for.

How "fussy" is finding a full circle picture on this thing?

 

[k80skeet]

Still waiting for someone to give us a full test report.

 

[LarryDScott]

ALL SIIIs are 50cal rated. Larry in western ky

 

[Steve Blair]

Disclaimer: This was 50 rounds fired at 100 yards from a rest. It is not a comprehensive test. I will report more as I use the scope. All 10 groups were fired from one aiming point using the knobs and my Farley rest to adjust point of impact. The target looks like I went from point to point.

We finally had a sunny Friday in San Diego and I was able to shoot today. One of my Savage 12fs that normally has a Nightforce 12-42 BR mounted wore one of the new 10-50 SIII scopes with a sunshade. The .308 barrel was on the rifle today and was only fired at 100 yards from a Farley rest. I used Burris Signature Zee High 30mm rings and they cleared the 1" diameter barrel by .200". I was developing loads today using 8208 XBR and 155 Scenars. It was a sunny day with some high clouds around 55-60 degrees. Needless to say, mirage was not a problem.

The 10-50 was very bright and resolution excellent. I could discern small printing flaws on BR targets easily. Both of those were expected given the objective lens diameter and magnification. At 50X, the very small exit diameter made head position critical. The lower the magnification, the more tolerant it became. Again, this was expected. Reticle focus adjustment was easy with the rear ring. The reticle remained clear and sharply focused at all power levels. Side focus was really fussy at 50X. Almost any deviation from the ideal setting resulted in a sub-optimal sight picture. As power was reduced, this was less an issue.

In summary:

- Brightness, resolution and clarity were very good. Not Zeiss quality, but very good.
- At 50X, adjustments and head position were critical. Almost any deviation was immediately apparent.
- The sunshade is heavy (5.5 oz.) and expensive ($50).
- There are no rear internal threads so an external cover (like a Butler) must be used. I have a front and rear on order that should fit.

Bottom line - There is no free lunch. High magnification has drawbacks. Obtaining glass with the highest possible quality does not come at less than $1000. My initial impression is that the 10-50 is a viable entry and likely suitable for most long-range competition.

 

[RJinTexas]

Steve, I'm not liking what you and other are saying about the side focus being very touchy and hard to get a clear picture on high Magnifaction. If that's indeed the case I'll sell mine because that won't work in the p-dogs towns, got rid of a high end IOR for the same reason. The side focus was one of the strong points on my SIII 8-32X56 scopes. I'm waiting on my Signature Z rings to get here to mount mine. Honestly how do you think it stacks up head to head against to the SIII 8-32?

Regards
RJ

 

[StraightPipes]

50 cal. rating, yes. Glass etched reticles play a major role in this area. For me, I will always spec the etched reticle when its at all possible.

Good one to Sightron

 

[Preacher]

RJ-- As far as being touchy thats only a problem when it's cranked as high as it will go, same as all my NSX 12x42's, on 42 they are either on or not... not much wiggle room up there.. the BR's don't seem to me to be as touchy up there for whatever reason... maybe it's the extra glass ???