Love at first sight! US Optics SR-6S | Sin City Precision
Most people think of the LR-17 and ER-25 when I mention US Optics. US Optics in my opinion also offers some of the most versatile optics available for carbines and hunting. Their SR line (Short Range) is made up of the SR-4, SR-6 and SR-8. The SR line has options that utilize both focal planes and feature innovative reticles that are usable across the entire magnification range. It is no secret I am a fan of US Optics products and I am happy to tell you about what I have been using.
The scope I wanted to talk about today is the SR-6S. The “S” model does not utilize a red dot on the second focal plane (option found in “C” models). The optic does have an illuminated reticle and the design of the reticle its self lends it too fast, close range shooting as well as long range shots. The magnification range is 1.5-6x28mm. To get from 1.5x to 6x requires about ¾’s of a turn on the magnification ring. The optic can benefit from a “cat tail” to help speed up the transitions from 1.5x to 4x or 6x. A lot of people ask me why I went with the SR-6S over the SR-4 or SR-8. The SR-8S and SR-8C are a huge hit and is one of the most versatile rifles scopes on the market. It is the same case with the SR-4, the SR-4 offers the same advantages as the SR-8, just in a much smaller and lighter package (with less magnification of course). Both the SR-4 and SR-8 optics feature true 1x. The SR-6S does NOT have true 1x but 1.5x is not bad and so far I do not feel disadvantaged. The reason I went with the SR-6S is because of its size. Like I mentioned it is not as light or compact as the SR-4 but it is smaller and lighter than the SR-8. I felt the SR-6S was perfect for my applications. The optics is small enough that it does not require a lot of forward extension for the proper eye relief. I like to shoot “nose to charging handle” so a larger SR-8 would need a mount with a lot of forward extension. The SR-4 is an incredible option but I felt more comfortable having just a little more magnification than 4x.
The glass on the SR-6S is very, very clear. The image is sharp and bright. I anticipated a slightly darker image because of the small 28mm objective. I was very wrong. The scope has excellent clarity, resolution and light gathering ability. The eye box is very fast and forgiving across the magnification range. The eye relief is also generous. When I mounted the optic and set the eye relief I made sure to try it at different magnifications. I was very impressed with the forgiving the eye box. I often end up throwing the Sig 716 in the back of my truck along with my other gear. The turret caps and robust design of the SR-6S gives me piece of mind that my optic will be good to go when I arrive at the range.
I mentioned that the reticle is usable across the entire magnification range. If you are accustom to first focal plane precision rifle optics, you know that sometimes on the lower end of the magnification range the reticle can be difficult to see. The JNG MRAD reticle features an outer ring that is easily visible on the lowest magnification. When I am shooting close range targets I have found the “ring” gets me on target very quickly. As I dial the magnification toward 6x the reticle features a fine inside aiming point with 0.5 MRAD subtensions. When using the scope on 6x I find I am able to use it like a traditional rifle scope. To quickly hit targets at distance I use the numbers and subtensions to hold elevation and wind. What I really like about the scope on 6x is that the center aiming point or “cross hairs” are still fine, which allows for a very precise point of aim. This scope has a fixed parallax so you do not have a turret to adjust it. I have had zero issues with targets as close as 3 yards, or as far as 600 yards.
The turrets on the scope are 0.1 MRAD adjustable for both elevation and windage. They feature aluminum caps that screw over the turrets and protect them when not in use. I have found that I do not zero the turrets after sighting in the rifle. I make the proper adjustments, and then just screw the protective caps over the turrets. With this optic I do not anticipate dialing elevation often but I like the fact you have the option too. Both the windage and elevation knobs have positive “clicks” so it is easy to accurately dial them. The turrets and caps are relatively un-obstructive and keep the optic stream line.
The optic features red illumination, the illumination controls are on the left side of the scope. The controls are very easy to use. They are digital buttons you press on the “illumination turret”, the turret features three buttons. The top button is the ON/OFF and the two lower buttons control the illumination intensity. You have 11 intensity settings to choose from. Once you set the intensity, it will remain there as you turn off and on the illumination. If you happen to leave the illumination on, it will automatically shut off after a certain amount of time. The battery life of the illumination is hard for me to articulate. I have yet to change a battery in any of the US Optic scopes I own. This is because of two reasons. The first is the battery life is efficient. The second reason is I do not use the illumination often. It is something I typically use when hunting with Bill, during night shoots or some competitions like the So Cal PRC. On the highest setting the illumination is difficult to make out on a bright day here in Southern Nevada. I usually keep in on the lowest setting. I have noticed I do not need the illumination to be “day time visible” because of the reticle design. When I do find myself in low light or in a bright area looking into a poorly lit area, the illumination is perfect of creating the contrast against a dark background.
The US Optics SR-6S is a great fit for me. I could not be happier with it. The folks at US Optics are great to work with. Their customer service is top notch and they stand behind their products with a transferable lifetime limited warranty. Right now I have been using the optic/mount combination on my Sig Sauer 716. The optic offers such versatility that it makes that platform one of the best “all around” rifles I have ever owned. I am looking forward to using the SR-6S on my future AR15 build. I know this optic set up will serve many purposes for me. With a MSRP of $1,550.00 (depending on how it is equipped) the SR-6S represents a great value for a first focal plane, low magnification rifle scope.
Sig Saur 716 and US Optics SR-6S - YouTube
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