What's going on with Sightron Scopes

[charlesbr]

I have been leaning toward investing in a Sightron SIII 50X Variable. However, I am a bit concerned to see a whole bunch of them starting to show up for sale at ridiculously low prices for advertised mint condition low mileage and even NIB scopes. I love these prices but it makes me feel as though they are being dumped at real low prices for some possible issues with that specific model.

Not trying to start a flame war, just voicing an observation that has me concerned about buying one.

Charles

 

[Delaware_Ken]

I sold mine to get a down payment on a Nightforce Competition. I've got a feeling a lot of shooters are doing the same thing. Nothing wrong with a Sightron III though. Both the 32x and the 50x have served me well.

 

[rkittine]

I have a Vortex Viper, a Sightron III and two Nightforce Bench Rest scopes waiting for new guns that I have yet to receive. I am pretty sure that the Vortex, will not make me real happy, but I got it at a super price from Cabala's on a close out sale.

I too notice a lot of scopes on the forum for sale, though they are not limited to Sightron's. Though I have nothing to back this up except for reading the posts for these sales, that like me, people may have started out with one level scope due to price and then decided to take the leap and move to the next. Same thing with possibly buying for a build that doesn't happen (i.e. Selling NIB) needing funds for something else (that new refrigerator that gave up the ghost etc.) leaving shooting or a number of other possibilities.

Might sell a scope or two after I get my rifles and see what I can do and if I will stay in this game. If I do, it would be to upgrade models, that I was not yet ready to invest that level of funds in. One NF Benchrest will probably give way to a NF Competition and the Vortex might go for another Sightron III etc. Also, since I am not that knowledgeable or experienced, I picked the reticles that were either available from scopes purchased here, or that I thought I would like and ordered as wanted. Might end up not liking any one of them when I actually start shooting instead of building.

Two of my scopes, yet to be mounted, were purchased on this site, NIB.

Lastly, I get the feeling that there might be some dealers out there that are over stocked that use the forum (for which I am gratefully) to offer a scope at a discount lower than they would normally give in the store. Again the NIB types.

Bob

 

[dkhunt14]

I think you are seeing guys that want to upgrade to a better scope. Maybe they don't like the reticule and want to change. Hunting season is coming and maybe they just want a new hunting rifle. There could be a lot of reasons for this. When the Nightforce Competition came out there were a bunch of other Nightforces for sale. I haven't heard any bad reports on the Sightrons. Matt

 

[dixieppc]

Hi Charles,

The same thing was lurking in the back of my mind when I ordered my LRTD. I got a new one from a dealer at what I am thinking is probably close to wholesale price based on the going retail at "most" suppliers. I look at it this way, If it is a solid, well built and well performing optical platform, then I made out with the price no matter the reason for the abnormally low price. If the low price is due to some problem, unknown to me, with this line of scopes, then I am still taken care of by a Lifetime Warranty.

Regards,
Thomas

 

[DeltaBravo]

I have the SIII 10x50 LRTD and it is a solid scope. It's as bright as any I see on the line at the local VFS competition, including Leupolds Marches and NF. I would only replace this scope if I wanted to get the weight of my rifle below 10.5 pounds - the scope weighs around 30 ounces compared to a 22 ounce Leupy 45. Otherwise, it's an excellent scope; I may be sending it in to Sightron to replace the dot with a fine cross hair.

One of my shooting buddies has the NF competition and he says it has better contrast than my SIII, looking at the same target, but he has his on 55 power and I use about 42 power so his sight picture is bigger. I don't know if that means anything, but I can buy a couple SIIIs for the price of his NF!

Dennis

 

[searcher]

I have multiple Nightforce, March, Sightron III, Swarovski, etc. and I firmly believe the Sightron model you describe is probably the absolute best varmint scope for the money. The resolution at the higher settings (over 35X or so) are not as clear as the other high-end scopes, yet I have noticed they do not magnify mirage as much as a few of my Nightforce NXS scopes in actual field use (side by side on the same power setting). It baffles me as to why - but on hot days, I'll take the Sightron over any of the others. Nothing beats Swarovski glass - but they just don't make a varmint scope with features best for for varminting (or target shooting for that matter). If Sightron could make that side focus a bit easier to turn - I'd be even happier with them. Those who "trade up" for Nightforce or others will pay double or triple to get 5% better, though the Nightforce is much more than that in terms of ruggedness - something not needed at all for varmint hunting.

 

[dixieppc]

If Sightron could make that side focus a bit easier to turn

I have an SIII1050X60LRTD on the way and have never played with one before so how bad is the side focus to turn and is this all of them or at random?

Regards,
Thomas

 

[SS427]

I don't notice any more Sightron scopes for sale than anything else. In fact if I based a decision on how many of something is up for sale used, I would conclude Nightforce scopes were no good. Clearly that is not the case.

I don't have the 50x model but I do own two 8-32x Sightron scopes. I am just as satisfied with them as I am with my Nightforce scope. Even more so when I factor in the value of the Sightrons. My only complaint about my Sightron 8-32x is one of them is a mil-dot and the crosshairs are too thick for my needs.

Both of them have tight parallex knobs, but the last one I bought was better than the first, so I think they have improved them over the years.

 

[queen_stick]

I have an SIII8-32, and the side focus is very stiff. To the point that it's annoying.

I've read you can send them in to have it adjusted (different size o-ring installed?), but I haven't looked into it.

Outside of that, I really like the Sightron's!

Anyone play with the Sightron SV's yet? The price is interesting...

 

[mysticplayer]

I have a nice chuckle when I hear about the stiff side focus... When the first SIII's came out, they had a standard stiffness side focus, maybe even on the light side and met with cries of horror.

So they stiffened it... and now more cries of horror.... to loosen

If a shooter is concerned, Sightron will "fix" it.

WRT to the new SVSS, it is a gem. I compete with both the SIII and SVSS. The SVSS side focus is truly unique and works so well. Spins like a typical spotting scope so I feel, they got the tension just right. The fine focus really does work and makes fine tuning that image so easy... especially in mirage conditions and/or LR.

The optics is better then the SIII .... I did a comparison with a few top tier scopes. The SVSS did very well in my tests. See mysticprecision.com

The SVSS is a heavy scope and on par with the S&B 50X scope. I have had to make changes to my FTR rifle to make weight but on an Open rifle or ELR shooting, no problem.

Uses 34mm rings and I found EGW to make some of the lightest but still really robust rings.

The only spec I don't like, as an F class shooter, is the 1/4 min clicks. I am getting used to this value of click again as the scope is just so good to use.

I prefer 1/8 min for elevation but 1/4 min is just fine for windage.

I am hoping that Sightron will make a SIII/SVSS hybrid and merge the SVSS side focus and glass, with the 1/8 min 30mm SIII scope body and keep weight around 30oz... THIS would be quite the F class and varmint scope indeed.

Call it an S4.....

Jerry

 

[bdale]

Sightron sells a large adjustment wheel that goes on the side focus to make it easier to make slight adjustments, personally I like it tight to me the tighter tolerances may make a difference in the scopes usable life, I have 4 SIII, three 10x50 and one 8x32 and they are all consistently tight.

https://shop.sightron.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=80&product_id=103

 

[nmkid]

So, I was seriously looking at a Zeiss Conquest for my new rifle. Then I started reading the many negative comments on their customer service. Most notably(?) their long service time waits. Now I see the headline on this post and think, here we go again, as I am leaning heavily for a SIII. Well, feels good to read these posts.

 

[XTR]

For an F class shooter I really only see a two options that give us what we want in a scope with reasonable value for your $$, the Sightron is one of them, NF is the other.

March and S&B are options, but I don't see that there is increased value to me as a target shooter for the increased $$.

Leupy's made a run at it but last I heard that scope was having issues out of the blocks.

Personally I use NF, I own 4, but I've only bought one new. Before NF came out with the new Comp version I was considering the unthinkable of switching to a Sightron to save 6oz on my rifle.

 

[ba_50]

What's the low price?

 

[bdale]

Last time I checked you could get a SIII 10x50x60 LRTD or FCH for 839.77

 

[dixieppc]

Well, I got my SIII1050X60LRTD in and mounted but not shot yet. First impression is... it's a big bastard!

In the following pics, you see as part of the optical platform a 20 MOA Kelbly Dovetail Rail, Kelbly Double Screw Tall Rings and that Big Scope. Was forced to go with Tall Rings since the standard rings on a 20 MOA slope would have put the 60mm objective end into the barrel.

One first observation is that with mine, the side focus knob is REAL STIFF to turn.

Can't wait to see if it performs and hold POA.

Regards,
Thomas

 

[LarryDScott]

Tom, that scope really makes for a nice
looking rig. LDS

 

[charlesbr]

One first observation is that with mine, the side focus knob is REAL STIFF to turn.

That seems to be a common complaint but not a game changer. I have noticed that it doesn't come with sun shade or lens caps. The OEM sun shade is $49 which is pretty pricey for what it is plus being an additional $49 for something usually provided with most other scopes. Add to that the additional cost of caps and just assume your are going to spend an additional $100 for what usually already comes with other scopes. However if you get the scope for $800-$850 then the additional $100 to complete the package doesn't hurt all that much. But if paying the suggested retail if $1295, then that additional $100 to complete the package stings.

Charles

 

[bdale]

All four of mine came with flip up scope caps, and as for the stiff side focus there's a link in one of my earlier replies No. 11. The 8x32x56 came with flip up scope capes and sun shade