Rifle Scopes Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Through scope pics

[BobD]

I ordered this scope while the holiday deals were going on and ended up with a very decent price. The MOA2 seems to claim more money than the other reticle options. I'm eager for this to come in. It will be my first Sightron and MOA/MOA scope for that matter. I've heard that the glass is pretty decent for the price and the turrets are solid.

There does seem to be too much buzz about these here, hopefully it will be money well spent.

 

[Armored Transport]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Coming Tommorow

I have the same scope sitting on a custom 300RUM and really like it. The quality is on par with much more expensive scopes. Good choice for sure.......

 

[BobD]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Coming Tommorow

Are you happy with the reticle thickness? Ive read a couple accounts where some felt the center dot obscured to much of their target. On paper, the way its indexed sounds fine to me...

I'm glad to hear another person happy with this scope. Ive never seen any Sightron models in person, no local gun stores or big boxes carry them. I'm curious why these aren't discussed very much (customer service, durability, brand recognition...?) Even looking through YouTube for a video was a fruitless endeavor. At first it was a little discouraging, but I have yet to see any negative information; the little that's out there is very positive.

I'd like to stack this side by side to see how it fares with other competition at its price point. I was sold on the SIII series as a no frills scope, tracking and glass standing out a small margin. Somewhere it is implied that it may not hold up to the same conditions as others, being suited more for the bench than in the field. I havent the slightest clue if this is true. i understand the parralax is not marked for yardage either.

I'll definetely be meeting the UPS driver again in the morning if possible so I can spend the day with this new beast of a scope.

 

[BobD]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

So, as planned i met my UPS driver a short while ago to get my package. I brought it home and opened the package that was crammed with a thousand styrofoam peanuts. Inside was a nicely intact package for Sightron's SIII 8-32x56 and a nifty but unneeded tan Sightron ball cap.

Here are the contents:
Scope
Rubber Lens Caps
Warrantee Card & Instruction Manual
Reticle Subtension Sheet
Hat
Wrench for turrets
Lens Cloth
Sunshade
Cloth Scope Cover
Unrelated coupons

Quick Notes & Impressions:

-Parallax has no yardage markings: ring is quite stiff (Its labeled focus)
-Mag ring is marked 8-9-10-12-14-16-18-20-24-28-32 *Correct at 24x small dot indicating
-Scope is not as large as I was expecting (a good thing, I believe the 10-50 is a monster)
-Lens caps feel cheap
-Elevation and Windage Turrets have pretty good positive detents between adjustments
-Sightron uses 2 different styles in this series, these are the smaller uncapped

I'm going to try to get some time behind the glass today and take a few pics. Unfortunately, sky is covered in clouds and light snow today. So, I'll get the chance to see how much it resolves with less light I guess.

 

[BobD]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived



The LRMOA2 Reticle

A little closer look

These are the reticle values

 

[Billy Budd]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

I just purchased the very same scope. It replaced a Bushnell 5-30X 50mm which I found disappointing at higher magnification (above 20X). The Sightron has much better glass and the MOA2 is a good choice for long range.

 

[svons7]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

hey, i ordered the same one and it arrived friday. so far its great except for one issue i think i might be having with mine. To me, it seems the recticle is extremely faint at times. i went and shot it yesterday and i could barely see the reticle when shooting at 100. After shooting the reticle seemed much more defined and was easy to see but seemed to fade in and out of visibility. Is this normal? this is my first higher-end scope and im not sure if this is normal. In your pictures your recticle seems very easy to see.

hm i just took a picture and it looks normal right now lol.

I think i am just not used to how refined the recticle is but i just wanted to know if anyone else experienced any issues like this. thanks!

hope you enjoy your new scope as much as i do. the image is super clear everywhere i have tested it

overall it was a good day the the range though.

Those Smks seem to be where its at for my current favorite and consistant handloads

i was also shooting 168gr amax which always perform well and 150gr nosler sptizer which did not group well for me at all on my 700 in .308

 

[BobD]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

Svons7,

The reticle does not stand out much... I've just compared it with an Elite Tactical I own as well. However, double check your diopter, parallax and eye placement, they are very sensitive compared to others I have used. I know it sounds basic but I've found those factors a bit more crucial. Make sure the diopter is focused at distance (Have you put on/taken off/out glasses or contacts at either focus or range use?). I'm sure you've noticed how stiff the parallax adjustment is, it's also Very sensitive (probably not the issue but worth checking).

Lastly, I've noticed that off axis eye placement can be touchy as well; you may still get a filled image but directly behind will make a difference. Try moving very slightly from your current position In each direction, including relief. From what your describing, this sounds likely. If you're transitioning, or changing magnifications its possible that your position moved slightly.

I don't think it's out of ordinary high maintenance, they can be issues with most scopes but more so with a thin reticle and high magnification. It will certainly take some getting used to if coming from a traditional mil dot or duplex.

I love the reticle so far, but it has its place. I agree with you, It can be tricky to pick up, but obscures next to nothing and is well laid out.

Hope some part of that ends up helpful,
Nice group you have there-

 

[svons7]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

Bobd,
yea what you described is exactly what it is doing. eye position behind the scope is making the most difference on the thickness of the reticle so far.

overall i am pretty pleased with it so far as well. It seems to function well enough at the range so no complaints here.

seeing how it was my first scope i have actually spent some money on i just wanted to make sure it was normal

 

[Helmet]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Svons7</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> seeing how it was my first scope i have actually spent some money on i just wanted to make sure it was normal </div></div>I sure wish it was the first scope I spent money on. I think you did pretty good.

 

[Helmet]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

BobD: How is the glass compared to your Elite Tactical?

Also, how does everybody feel about the turrets? I really like mine, but it has the target turrets. I haven't been able to play with the tactical ones.

 

[BobD]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

ArmchairElite,

Funny you mention that, I actually did a comparison and took some photos I plan to post. I did a very informal comparison in tough weather, very interesting results. I will repeat it with some formal targets, under different weather conditions and at farther distance.

I will hopefully post it soon.
They have very different glass though. The Sightron produces a more natural picture, with more resolution. However, that one occasion the Elite Tactical was brighter even though it had a 14mm smaller objective. I compared them at 8, 10, 12, and 16x. The Sightron suffers from a touchy parallax control and can not focus anywhere near as close as the Elite Tactical.

Very happy with the Sightron so far. The turrets are nice with more consistent feedback that the Bushnell.

I have noticed recently that under bright conditions, white will have a slight blue halo if you look at certain angles. Not bothersome though.
I'll keep this going an update when I get the chance-

Thanks again for the recommendation,
I needed that push to purchase it-

 

[Helmet]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

BobD: I'm glad you're happy with it. You're doing a much more thorough analysis than I ever did. It would have been nice for me to be able to read your findings when I was considering buying one.

I know that the Elite Tactical is a nice scope, but beyond that I know very little about it. About how much price difference is there between these two scopes?

I really like that reticle. I thought about getting that model before I bought mine. The pictures are giving me second thoughts.

 

[svons7]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

i think i got a pretty good deal on mine. i ended up ordering it from opticsplanet.com and using a 5% off coupon code i found online OPIV5OF

they have it for 951 with no tax or shipping
http://www.opticsplanet.com/sightron-siii-ss-8-32x56mm-side-focus-riflescope.html

so it came out to just over 900.

another website i was looking at was

http://www.wholesalehunter.com/product.asp?productid=61498

who has it for $825 but they charge 33 for tax and then something for shipping. It might have been a little bit cheaper but they were out of stock at the time and i have also ordered from optics planet =before so i know i can return it if there were any issues. I also ended up getting some Leupold PRW Perma-Rings and a 20 moa rail from optics planet. Overall i enjoy that company haha.

i haven't researched the Bushnell too in depth so i am not sure of the difference in price.

also these were prices based off the moa recticle. optics planets has other recticles on the same scope for a cheaper price

 

[Helmet]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Svons7</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> i ended up ordering it from opticsplanet.com and using a 5% off coupon code i found online OPIV5OF

i haven't researched the Bushnell too in depth so i am not sure of the difference in price.</div></div>You can also always use the code "THEHIDE" to get 5% off at Optics Planet. Sometimes there are better deals there, but that code works year round.

I'm betting BobD has a pretty good idea of the price difference since he owns both.

 

[svons7]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

ok cool thanks. that is a lot easier to remember haha

 

[Helmet]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Svons7</div><div class="ubbcode-body">ok cool thanks. that is a lot easier to remember haha </div></div>That's why I know it

. I had the good fortune of ordering mine during their 12th anniversary so they were advertising a 10% off code on the site. Still, the Sightron SIII is the 4th scope I've put on my rifle and it's the 1st one I'm completely satisfied with. I think you did well by buying one 1st.

 

[BobD]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

Good morning guys,

Just to clear up, I own a 2.5-16x42 Elite Tactical.
The reason (other than the small overlap in magnification) I thought it would be interesting to compare is that I feel they both perform well (but differently) in their respective mag ranges.

I believe it's clear that Bushnells 4.5-30 can not hold a candle to Sightron's 8-32
However, the 2.5-16 shines in its large mag range in a much slimmer package for a very decent price. If Bushnell would offer their g2 reticle in this model and/or mil turrets I would buy another tomorrow.

The Sightron outshines Bushnell's 4.5-30 in these areas in my opinion:

-Usability above 20x - I believe this is a general consensus
-Matching turrets and reticles
-Mil, Moa and Target reticle offerings
-Nicer turrets, more consistent tactile feel between adjustments
-More resolution for longer range use
-Larger FOV

* This is why I like the combination of owning the lower mag model Elite Tactical and this particular Sightron. Together, their features and capabilities cover a wide variety of uses.

From the time I have spent with the Sightron so far I believe the 10-50 would be pushing the limits similar to how Bushnell did with their 4.5-30. I have not been behind one, but unless they use different glass I can see where the picture would start to fall off. Between 24-32 the picture slowly diminishes, but is still very capable and I was still able to use in less than ideal lighting and weather. Even with the slight fade in picture quality, the extra magnification provided more information/detail than it was losing. Only in the darkest conditions have I felt that pulling back was absoluetely necessary. Going beyond 32x I can imagine the fade/loss would not be the same trade off-

ArmchairElite,
I must say I am most impressed with the reticle. It's really nice that they provide a subtension sheet. Not many manufacturers have information on their 2nd focal plane scopes for every number in its mag range. Most times you have your setting for correct power and some models hopefully can utilize half and quarter measurements (but often mag markings can be slightly off.
On this model you have the opportunity to utilize as large as 90Moa as a reference point on its lowest setting down to the .0506 moa thickness of the cross hairs on its highest (and a plethora of options in between). On its reference setting, the reticle has marking in .1 .25, .5, 1, 2, 4, 10 and 20 Moa.


Bushnell Elite Tactical 2.5-16x42 $550 is what I paid.
Bushnell Elite Tatical 4.5-30x50 I believe usually in the $600-$700
Sightron SIII 8-32 LRMOA2 $800 is about what I paid. I used $75 off Black Friday coupon when it was on sale. The mil reticle was going or around $725-$750. Price already went back up.

Even if the Bushnell 4.5-30 had equal glass and features (and it doesn't), I would still pay the extra money for the reticle and the matching turrets.

I will try to get some of the pics and info up soon.

 

[Arc Light]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

I own the same scope, except mine has the fine target dot reticle which is what I prefer for p-dog hunting. I found the best deal from an outfit called Wholesale Hunter on ebay. Paid less than $750 brand new with warranty as they are an authorized dealer. I have been extremely pleased with the scope in every regards. It is on par with my Nightforce that cost 2X, at least optically.

For the guy having issues seeing the reticle, make sure you focused it properly or it will never be in perfect focus at all powers. What I do is turn the magnification to max, and the parallax adjustment to the stop (make sure you go to the stop, not just the little infinity symbol). I then turn the fine focus ring fully out until it stops. Point the scope at the sky and turn the fine focus ring in in half-turn increments until the reticle is perfectly sharp and you should be set. Oh, make sure you don't look at the reticle for more than 2-3 seconds at a time when doing this or your eyes will attempt to focus the unfocused reticle.

 

[Helmet]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

BobD: Thanks for clarifying. That reticle sounds more appealing all the time. The only reason I didn't get it was I wanted the 1/8moa adjustmets and a 1/8moa dot. My scope has made a huge improvement in my shooting.
I agree about the 10-50x60 model. From what I hear it becomes pretty noticeable after 40x. Some people really like that extra power but my eyes are fairly picky. I would rather have a power range that is appropriate for level of glass that is being used.

Arc Light: That's a pretty good price. You paid about $50 less than me and I think we have the same one. I did get a really sweet hat though

.

 

[Billy Budd]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

I owned the Bushnell 4.5-30X 50 and ended up sending it back to Bushnell for their "bullet proof money back" guarantee (which they honored). It was a nice scope for the money, but the optics got 'soft' beyond 20X which (at least for me) led to early eye fatigue. I replaced it with a Sightron SIII 8-32X 56. This scope definitely has better optics, especially above 20X. I also like the MOA 2 reticle, which is calibrated for 24X and is easy to use. Worth the extra money for me.

 

[BobD]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

I've been meaning to puts these up here, took them awhile ago. I will follow with a few more. I'll post some at further distance when I get the chance, I've viewed it briefly past 1,000 yards. I'll remove or replace these with better ones when I get a chance.

Here's a few pics I took shortly after getting the scope. They are in a variety of different lighting and weather conditions. Through scope pics never do proper justice, but I can assure you that in person I can make out the fine detail within each of these targets. The glass has good resolution and contrast. I've compared it directly to a Bushnell Elite Tactical I own as well. It produces a more natural looking image to my eye, with more detail (set on the same magnifications)

Distance adjusted for 1 moa target~96yards. Target has .17" center square (.25" diamond) and 1/2" ring. Detail is easily seen in person
I wanted to use the the same standard 1" target or each distance, so I accounted roughly for the distance in yardage to have it come in at 1moa 1/2 moa etc... Jut for reference purposes. Scope was still under its return period when I took som of these shots so it hadn't been fully tightened in a mount yet.

Moa grows at a rate of approx. 0.01047" per yard
.01047" x 100yards = 1.047" (1moa at 100 yards)

Tree with three markers
1" % 1.047 = .9551... (96yards for me) { 1" target = 1moa}
Other markings- 1/2 moa circle, 1/4 moa diamond, 1/6 moa square

Phone poll with one marker
.9551... yards x 1.75 = .1671... (167 yards for me) {1" target = 5/8moa}
Other markings- ~1/5 moa circle, ~3/19 moa diamond, ~1/10 moa square

Tree receded in woods
.9551... yards x 2 = 1.9102.. (Just shy of 190 for me) {1" target = ~1/2moa}
Other markings - 1/4 moa circle, 1/8 moa diamond, 1/12 moa square

Next view, with a bit of glare
through 12x range finder first

Distance adjusted to be 5/8 MOA target (added a few more yards after rangefinder)

 

[BobD]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

In person, the image is completely in focus and can still make out detail within the 1" target and 1/4" diamond

 

[jsthntn247]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

How good can you see this reticle in low light? Thinking about putting a 6-24 on a 300 wm hunting rig.

 

[BobD]

Re: Sightron SIII 8-32x56 w/LRMOA2: Arrived

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jsthntn247</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How good can you see this reticle in low light? Thinking about putting a 6-24 on a 300 wm hunting rig. </div></div>

Glass wise, I think the scope fairs quite well in poor lighting conditions. Here's a few pics below to give an idea. However, the reticle is not fast to pick up in this design. I can still see the reticle ok with less light but i think there are better options. I know they offer some illuminated models but i dont beliee they are available yet in the 6-24 your looking for. If my memory serves correct I believe they have a coarser illuminated reticle (IRMOA-3) in 3.5-10 that has crosshairs that range from 5.7 own to 2 moa in thickness. They have also recently developed a coarser and larger silhouette reticle based on their new mil hash design. It was made for the 10-50 but I'm hoping they will introduce them into the rest of the SIII as well.

Same view as above pics (167 yards) but through thick early morning fog. Can still make out 1/4" recess in white box.

Some losing light photos-
During day view

Camera Zoom (back fence is bit over 280 yards, farthest white fence behind woods is over 600)

Losing light (small pine tree in top left is over 500 and fence is the 280+)

Losing more light

Backing off, losing more light

Still going

Can still be seen in person but camera is failing to pick up properly (lamp in front of picture is now bright enough to interfere) colors are still good.

In all of these pics, background is darker in person and view through scope is cleaner than displayed. I can still see the reticle through these pics, but it's very touchy.

Hope that helps-