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F T/R Competition Worth changing from leupold to sightron?

H

hound46

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 7, 2008
16
0
Missouri
Hello,

I informally plink out to 600 yards with my .308. I currently have a leupold vari-xIII 6.6-20x44 crosshair/target knobs mounted. I'm thinking about shooting some F-class, but mostly wanting to try and shoot little groups and compete against myself.

For those that have used both brands for similar applications, would changing from my leupold to a sightron sIII 8.5-32x56 with the 1/8 target dot be an upgrade for my purposes? I want sharp, clear optics and the ability to see the aiming point, whatever it may be(paper 90% of the time).

I'm an FFL holder so the $ part of the formula in making the decision is wholesale vs retail. If I make a change, the leupold has a home.

Thanks in advance for any insight shared.
 
Only you can decide if it's worth it. At 600 yards the 32x is going to allow you a more precise hold and assuming the wind isn't a factor (though it is) smaller groups.

Any more I do load development on all of my rifles with a 32x scope. At 300 yards I can hold on a 3/4 inch paster and be sure that the variation in group size is the load and not the hold.
 
XTR said:
Only you can decide if it's worth it. At 600 yards the 32x is going to allow you a more precise hold and assuming the wind isn't a factor (though it is) smaller groups.

Any more I do load development on all of my rifles with a 32x scope. At 300 yards I can hold on a 3/4 inch paster and be sure that the variation in group size is the load and not the hold.
Click to expand...

This is what I'm wanting to do. Will the sightron glass give me a crisp clear field of view? How is the glass quality compared to the leupold?
 
Really need the get them side by side and compare through the same conditions to tell. I have a 6.5x25x50 vari X III and late in the day the optics are way better than my Vortex Viper 6x24x50. I didn't know it until I got them side by side.
 
I could resolve 1/2" red dots with my SIII 6-24x50 at 300yds and also spot .30 cal holes with the right backdrop. The glass and resolution is amazing for the price. I've since switched to the 8-32x56. Same clear glass and outstanding resolution for the price, but now I can resolve smaller targets. On 32x I can spot .223 hits for my wife when she goes to the range. No need in lugging a spotting scope out to the range with the SIII series. Also know that the Sightrons track extremely well.

Being able to clearly resolve such small items at 300yds has made me a huge Sightron fan. When the FFP models hit the shelves my PST's will be looking for new homes.

Try the leupold at 300yds and see if you can resolve .5-.75". If not, get the Sightron and don't look back!

Hope that helps
 
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I have been using a Sightron SIII 6-24 for a couple of years now in Fclass. Great glass and tracking but I just got a new Sightron SIII 10-50 TD with 1/8MOA turrets. It is awesome. I would shoot a few matches with the Leupold and then decide. It has been my experience that more magnification is better in Fclass even if you are not using it all the time.
 
Yes it is.
With my Open rig it is a 3" wide Bigfoot bag.
With the Bigfoot bags we can make up to a 3" spacing.
Standard Rear bags we already can up to a 1" wide, but haven't made any wider than that though.
When I take off the front 2 7/8" front plate and the back plate (Modular stock for going back and forth between Open and TR).
Take of the 284 barrel and screw on the 308 barrel, hook up the Joy-Pod and use a 1.5 wide Bigfoot bag like I do with the rifle below.
The wood/aluminum/carbon stock with the two aluminum tracks removed weighs 3.6 pounds.

The TR rifle (Synthetic stock) uses a 1.5 wide Bigfoot bag.
The front rest is also made by SEB: Special Edition MAX Rest - It is basically twice the size of the NEO, and can handle forend widths up to 8" wide (three piece front bag design).

Both rifles have the North West Precision (NWP) single-shot actions

Deerhunter 28 said:
Is that the SEB Bigfoot Rear Bag you are using?
What front rest is that?

Thanks
Click to expand...
 
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+1 Sightron SIII, I own 3 6-24x50s and they have excellent glass and tracking, I replaced a VX3 8.5-25x50 with one of them and I like the sightron better, I didn't really see a big difference in glass quality, what I didn't like about the leupold is how the eye relief changes with magnification, I did try both side by side up to 1k yds
 
I had a leupy on my F tr rig, looked through a sightron and an NXS side by side at a 1000yds match, same clear pic. The leupy came off and was replaced with an 8-32 fine reticule. Made master mid range next match. That was my last leupy, never ever gonna by one.
 
This is good news to me as I just ordered an SIII FFP Tuesday and it's on its way from Scott at Liberty Optics. I chose it over a Vortex PST and had an idea that I made the right choice.
 
I run an SIII 8-32 x 56 LRMOA on my F-TR rifle, and love it! I bought mine from longrangesupply.com for a considerable discount to what I found elsewhere. It is simply the BEST scope available in its price range. The LRMOA reticle is absolutely no hinderance in F-class and makes the scope more versatile in the field, when compared to an 1/8 moa target dot reticle. If the $$ isn't an issue, then I'd seriously consider the SIII 10-50 x 60. I know a lot of guys that use it and like it. I also really like Leupold's glass, but they need to get some more new products out. They're just not keeping up with NF & S&B. I haven't compared a VXIII and an SIII side by side, but I would expect them to be similar, with maybe a slight edge to the Leupy. (I could be wrong on that one, but I think Leupy really does make good glass.)

As stated above, you should take your Leupold out and see what you think. I competed with a 16x scope, and didn't think it was too terrible. With lower magnification, I tended to dial in my corrections on the turrets vs holding off (which is how the vast majority of F'ers shoot). It's tough to resolve the scoring rings on low power. However, I've seen a former USMC sniper shoot quite well at Lejeune with a GA precision M40 replica and a S&B PMII 12x scope. He held mid 180's, and the match winner held low 190's. He was competitive for sure!
 
I've got the SIIISS832x56LRD. I'm very satisfied with the clarity. I think you would be pleased.

Unfortunately, the only Leopold that I have to compare it to is an older fixed 24x power. It's also very clear but it's kinda apples to oranges.
 
Thanks for all the input, everyone. I now have the leupold on my 17hmr. I guess that means I've decided to get a new scope for the rig I plan on trying F class with. I guess it's just a matter of time. I'm keeping my eyes open for gently used sightrons while I try to decide on a reticle. I'll probably end up buying new unless quite a deal comes along.

I think I want the 1/8 dot with 1/8 clicks. Any others I should consider
 
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You shouldn't have a problem finding a good used one. Between here and accurate shooter.com they come about frequently. When I wanted one, I waited 3 days and a great deal on a NIB SIII 10-50 TD popped up.
 
I would not change. I would wait awhile as Leupold has a new F Class scope in works. Three of us on US National Team ran them in US National and Individual World Championships this year. Best scope for F Class I have ever used. 7-42 with 34 mm tube and a ass load of travel. Best glass I have ever used. Should have them on display at next Shot Show and out for sale not longer after
 
Tactical said:
I would not change. I would wait awhile as Leupold has a new F Class scope in works. Three of us on US National Team ran them in US National and Individual World Championships this year. Best scope for F Class I have ever used. 7-42 with 34 mm tube and a ass load of travel. Best glass I have ever used. Should have them on display at next Shot Show and out for sale not longer after
Click to expand...


I looked through Stan's at Raton. I didn't get to run it much but the one thing that jumped out at me was that I could never target shoot with the reticle you guys were running.

It may end up being a fantastic scope; however, based on what I saw of it and that it is built on a 34mm tube I'm guessing it's built on the Mk4 ER/T platform. That puts it squarely in the same weight class with the NF NXS/BR's and the Sightron's and several oz heavier than a March or a NF Comp. The cheapest scope they currently offer in that range is north of $2300, or $3000 depending on the model. I'm willing to bet this new scope doesn't come in under what is currently offered and probably a bit more and we still don't know what reticles are going to be offered. Reticles are a very big deal that Leupy historically hasn't understood, so again based on Leupolds past performance it will probably be at least a few yrs before they listen to anyone and put in a reticle that the shooters want.

I would not wait for a Leupy, esp if you are on a budget.

I'd shop for used and get either a Sightron or a NF NXS and start shooting.
 
That reticle is not whats going in finished product. That reticle was an engineers idea as it brackets the X ring. He did not understand we use hold offs. They have listened and are making a new one based on Stan, John and my input.

As to weight. Never assume anything. The Leupold with 34mm tube weighs less than the Nightforce Comp scope.

Frankly you can not compare the Sightron to the new Leupold the Sightron is way out classed

I suggest he waits awhile and uses what he has.

Many guys have drawers full of kit that ended up being temporary, to try and save a few bucks. Buy once and buy for life
 
That reticle is not whats going in finished product. That reticle was an engineers idea as it brackets the X ring. He did not understand we use hold offs. They have listened and are making a new one based on Stan, John and my input.

As to weight. Never assume anything. The Leupold with 34mm tube weighs less than the Nightforce Comp scope.

Frankly you can not compare the Sightron to the new Leupold the Sightron is way out classed

I suggest he waits awhile and uses what he has.

Many guys have drawers full of kit that ended up being temporary, to try and save a few bucks. Buy once and buy for life
 
XTR said:
Care to expand on why you "ain't impressed"?
Click to expand...

It's like looking through fog covered glass above 35x. When you get close to bottoming the elevation travel out the reticle
Moves down and to the left for the last 20 clicks or so and the left and right doesn't move the reticle at all.
 
jsthntn247 said:
It's like looking through fog covered glass above 35x. When you get close to bottoming the elevation travel out the reticle
Moves down and to the left for the last 20 clicks or so and the left and right doesn't move the reticle at all.
Click to expand...

wow, I'd be impressed enough to see if I could get rid of it.

I've never used a Sighrton, but I've seen several people shoot well with them and have had generally good things to say about them. If I'm not mistaken including Russell Simmons, 2nd place in the Worlds this yr, and 2009 F-TR World Champion.



As to weight. Never assume anything. The Leupold with 34mm tube weighs less than the Nightforce Comp scope.
Click to expand...

If they make that happen and put in a decent retical, for reference I use an NP-2DD, and keep the price comparable with NF then I'll buy one and move my NXS to my 600 yard rifle.

If you've read the boards one of the biggest complaints I've read about the NF Comp is the retical and some complaints about the eyebox. Get that part right and keep the price in line (unlike March) and they'll have a hit.
 
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The big brown truck delivered a new sightron siii 8-32x with LRMOA2 ret. I'm waiting for rings. Thanks for the help deciding.
 
I have the leupy vx3 6.5-20x50 and the siii 8.5-32 the glass is comparable and far better than vortex or nikon that I have looked thru.
 
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