Which scope here should I get??

[CharlieNC]

Discussion is about $800 scopes, so like rifles don't expect them to be as good as something costing 3 to 5 times more. However for the type of shooting I do, the SIII isn't the limiting factor.

 

[FeMan]

I ordered that Sightron III you listed and sent it back. The optics were very clear, but the FFP reticle was so small and fine that it was worthless at low magnification. I could barely see it against a white background. when looking through the scope at vegetation at 6 power I could not even detect a reticle. I thought about their lighted reticle, but it only lights the center dot which makes the FFP feature and hold-overs useless at low power. I ended up with another Viper PST. Not as clear but it works very well.

 

[Sniper338]

I ordered that Sightron III you listed and sent it back. The optics were very clear, but the FFP reticle was so small and fine that it was worthless at low magnification. I could barely see it against a white background. when looking through the scope at vegetation at 6 power I could not even detect a reticle. I thought about their lighted reticle, but it only lights the center dot which makes the FFP feature and hold-overs useless at low power. I ended up with another Viper PST. Not as clear but it works very well.

This is an interesting informative post... that makes me nervous now.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Be sure to let us know how it works out for you.

 

[bdale]

We have several shooters here at Piedmont using Sightrons some are current or previous record holders nothing wrong with Sightron 8)

 

[bdale]

Sighttrons were used for maybe one year when they first came out in br. Theres a reason.

I would be interested to hear that reason. LDS

I've been helping run the matches at Piedmont since 2009 and Sightrons have always been a player, and if anything I'm seeing more of them on the line ;D

 

[hogpatrol]

I saw more than a few Sightrons at the Williamsport school. The rifle I was using wore an 8-32 SIII.

I have three of the Big Sky versions on hunting rifles. They repeat tracking and are clear to my eyes.
Also have on of their FFPs and like it too.

 

[d.id]

I have at least one of each of the $800 scopes mentioned......bushnell elite is by far my favorite, followed by the sightron siii, then down to the vortex.
They all work.
The reticle issue is not exclusive to the sightron, thats just the trade off if you want an ffp.
Some go too thick on the high end to give a decent view on the low, most go to thin on the low end so there not too thick on the high. A compromise one way or the other.
BUT..............All the "cool" kids are doing it.

 

[CharlieNC]

Yea, the reticle is a very personal choice. I have the SIII 6-24FFP, and usually shoot on 12-14X out to 1200yd on steel targets (a lot of black ones in the shade too). The center dot and 1/4 mil lines are very clear for me, but I can certainly appreciate in low light and 6X that some may have difficulty. As mentioned, on FFP the compromise for reticle design/size does not give a one-size-fits-all result.

 

[nakneker]

I've played with scopes in this price range since the first of the year. I had a Sightron STAC 2.5-17x56, a vortex PST 4-16x50 and a SWFA 3-15x42. All three were good scopes. For me, I liked them in this order.

1. SWFA
2. Sightron
3. Vortex

The SWfA was my favorite, it and the Sightron were brighter than the Vortex. They all tracked well. Sightron STACs can be bought with covered turrets, I like that and don't know if that option exists on the others. I hear so many discussions on scopes in this price range I wanted to try them hands on. You can buy Sightrons so cheap at bigsupply that you can play with them and take a very small loss when your done. Vortex PSTs all over, I bought mine used in pristine condition, played with it and sold it with no loss. I still have the SWFA, liked enough that it's not going anywhere.

Scopes have become so competitive that the consumer is enjoying a huge wave of new products with outstanding features for shooting long range. I would have never thought 10 years ago about owning anything other than a Leupold but that has changed.

The other series of scopes in this price range I have yet to try and want to is the Burris XTR IIs, they are getting some really good reviews and have similiar features to the scopes you have mentioned. I hope you find what your looking for. If you have any more questions feel free to send a PM.

 

[flatlander]

I would not go with a ffp scope for hunting, unless you plan to get into practical/tactical matches with it at some point. There's no practical advantage to having a ffp scope on a hunting rig, unless you're going to learn how to range with the reticle.

The downsides to ffp are the added expense, and how small/fine the reticle becomes at lower magnification. I've got both Sightron SIII 6-24x50 & 8-32x56 scopes, as well as a couple of Vortex Viper 6-24x50 PSTs, all 2nd focal plane, and have used them for several years now. IMHO, the Sightron glass has a slight edge over the Vortex, but the knobs on the Vortex scopes are a lot less likely to get spun off zero while casing or un-casing a rifle - plus the PSTs have a rather crude yet workable zero stop on the elevation turret.

Whatever - I've never had an issue with any of several SIII scopes, while the 2nd Viper PST has some sort of liquid inside that's only visible when it's set at the lower end of the magnification range. I sent it back to Vortex, but whatever that stuff is, it's still there & visible.

I've never seen one of SWFA's variable tactical scopes, but have owned a couple of their fixed 16x 'Super Sniper' scopes - probably the best $399 scope on the market....