Sightron vs Nightforce--???

[varminater]

I am getting to the point where I will need to decide what to put on top of my new custom 6br build job which will probaly hit the $2000 mark before scope.

I like the Night Force scopes but the Sightrons offer most of the same features at about half the cost. Is there really that big of difference between the two that warrants twice the price on a NF? I like the looks of the Sightron 8-32x56mm but want a reticle with mil dot reticle to aid in range determination, which may mean I would need to opt for a different power scope, or a Nightforce scope, or somthing different altogether. I definately want higher manification capabilities and a scope that tracks well and is in the 50-56mm obj.range.

If you guys know where I can get more bang for my buck for a long range varmint scope than these two brands, I'm all ears. Thanks.

 

[squirrelduster]

I have both scopes.
I purchased the Sightron 8-32x56 dot for my 6br and the NF 8-32x56 R2 for the 300 win mag deer.
It didn't work on either rifle so I swapped them.
The Nightforce r2 is perfect for the varmint shooting I do and was a waste on the 300 mag. I crank turrets on the 300 so the dot works great.
The clarity of the scopes is very similar. I can't tell the difference.
I really like the 32 high end power for both. I don't need a spotting scope for deer hunting and with the Nightforce I can see a squirrel pop his head out a 400 yards and make the shot. I had a 6-24 on the 6br for a while and didn't have the magnification to see enough for the long range head shots.
The IMO the NF 8-32x56 is perfect for the 6br in a varmint rifle.

 

[Preacher]

I have a few Nightforces, and one S3 8x32,, I like them both well enough, but wouldn't sell the Nightforces to buy more Sightrons.
If it boils down to a money thing, the S-3 wins hands down.... and I hear they will offer different reticules soon.......

 

[varminater]

Preacher, How soon do you mean by soon? I like that scope but that reticle really puts a fly in the ointment for me. I will wait if it is not too long.

 

[Preacher]

I don't want to get backed into that corner, but have heard through the grapevine it will happen.
I have no problems shooting varmints with the S3 and it's reticule, but thats probably because all but one of my NF's have the NP2DD reticule.....

 

[wfeher]

i have 2 s3 8-32 and they are the best scope glass and tracking wise i ever owned. my friends both have nightforces and i think my s3's are a tad bid optically better and my buddies agree with that. they said if they knew the s3's were that good they would of bought them insted of spending $900 dollars more, now if i was in combat and playing in the mud and sand, and all that banging around then i would opt for the nightforce but if not then i think its foolish to spend $900 extra dollars on something that is not much different for the exercise it is used at like varmiting, paper punching etc!

 

[wfeher]

and yes you can get a reticle put in the s3's. just get the 6-24 s3 with milldot and put a gene davis booster on.

 

[memilanuk]

There is a wee bit of difference between 'get a mildot' and THIS.

 

[RJinTexas]

Varminater, IMHO if you plan on hitting prairie dogs out to 500yds and beyond with any regularity you need to be clicking.
Mils are fine for judging distance on larger game such as deer, wild hogs and yotes but prairie dogs are much to small for accurate ranging with a mil-dot system. Ask any long range PD shooter and he tell you at 800yds a solid mil dot will completely cover a rat at that distance.

RJ

 

[Waskawood]

I am also looking at the Sightron for my BR. Will the single dot Sightron reticule pose a problem with dogs at long range. My BR is done waiting for a scope and don't want to miss a season waiting for Sightron to introduce the new reticules. Thanks guys. I appreciate your help.

 

[varminater]

I am not looking for a cure-all in a mildot scope,nor am I expecting anthing as elaborate as would be found on the nightforce. I am just looking for a decent reticle which offers some range determining capabilities for situations where it CAN be used. Something is always better than nothing. A laser rangefinder may be in my future, but no guarantee I would always have it with me.

It seems a bit odd that one of thier premier products is only offered in one simple reticle. I'm confident that Sightron will eventually realize thier shortcoming here,if they haven't already) and do something about it. My only question remaining now is, how long the wait will be, and how long do I want to wait.

Never the less, I am so far convinced that one of the Sightrons will be my next scope choice.

 

[wfeher]

at 1000 yds i can put the dot on a dove and still see gray around the dot so in other words i believe the dot covers up basically 2 1/2 inches at 1000yds, thats exactually a snuff can.

 

[flatlander]

I've got one SIII 8-32x56 & three SIII 6-24x50s, one of which has their mil-dot reticle - all the others have the dot. I've used the 8-32 in several 1000yd. any/any prone matches, where the small dot helps by making the aiming point more visible against the black of the target bull. It doesn't quite completely cover the 'X' in the center of the LR target's X-ring at 1000 with the scope set on 32x, so I'd find it hard to imagine it being a problem with PD shooting. I used one of the dot reticle 6-24s in several of our club's BR varmint silhouette matches last season, and had no issues with the dot covering too much of any of the small varmint targets, from 200m out to 500m.

None of my SIIIs are a year old yet, so I don't have much of an opinion on how long they'll hold up. But so far, I'm completely satisfied with the optical quality, tracking, & repeatability.

 

[boogershooter]

Man, this scope thing??.My rifle will be done in another 2 weeks or so and I cant decide on a scope either,I,d like to be able to shoot 1000 yds so thats in the equation,Like most folks,money these days for me is also an issue.Burris?Nikon?The fore mentioned?????????

 

[jmason]

Below is a copy of an email and response from Bill Ackerman who can work on the Sightron reticles without voiding the warranty on the scope. This info may aid some in decision making.

In a message dated 3/10/2009 6:11:56 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time, johnboymason@hotmail.com writes:

Bill,

I will be purchasing a Sighton SIII 36X soon and was wondering what I can get the reticle changed to? I do not like the target dot. Can it be changes to the mil dot or a fine cross hair? Can you install hash marks instead of dots?

Thanks,

John Mason


John,

We can build a fine X-hair for you. The cost is $110.00. We can install a mil-dot reticle which is an array of dots, 4 up, 4 down, 4 left and 4 right, all spaced 31/2 MOA apart. The cost is $110.00, plus $10.00 a dot for a total of $270.00. We do not make hash marks. A fine X-hair is just your target dot without the dot.
All charges include return shipping, taxes, and insurance.

Bill Ackerman

Oscscope@aol.com

 

[wfeher]

what do you mean by sightron slll 36 power, dont you mean 36x big sky or the 8-32-56 power slll, not 36x slll.

 

[jb1000br]

The 36x is a different critter...

 

[wfeher]

still dont know what you mean by different critter in 36x, what scope in 36 power

 

[jb1000br]

still dont know what you mean by different critter in 36x, what scope in 36 power

He has to be referring to the older model 36x scopes, there are no new ones. The 6-24 and 8-32 are the only ones of that style...for now.

JB

 

[boogershooter]

JB,would the 8x32 be ok for 1000 yrd shooting?Is it 1/4 moa clicks,and if so is this ok?is there enough moa adjustment overall in this scope?And one more question,when we go to the larger 56mm scopes do we have to jack them up off the rifle so much it makes the setup cant susceptible? I know us newbies ask alot of questions so thanks for your patience in advance. Just trying to get my purchase right the first time,