• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Rifle Scopes Sightron SVIII 5-40x56 ED

Iron Worker

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 10, 2005
667
144
66
Nevada
This rifle scope has been out for over a year. How does it compare with a Zeiss S3 or a Vortex G3 6-36. I'm an old fart and wear glasses ,I think the turrets are better on my ATACR , but the glass is equal to this SV111 ED.
 
The Sightron is in a different class of quality than either you are comparing to. It is very good, but it is not a Zeiss or Razor. I am a fan of Sightron in its class, but 40x I think is stretching what I would recommend for that brand. Now, I am an admitted scope snob, but that is very long range, and the glass will begin to show its weakness at that point. Lack of crisp blades of grass, more purple colors bending around white targets, some lack of focus outside of the center.

I would not be a buyer at this magnification. We sell all brands mentioned, but we do not sell Sightron at 40x. We sell ZCO, but there is a reason you pay so much more.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Iron Worker
Wonder how the SVIII series compares to the SV #27008, which is a SFP 10-50x60 scope with 34mm tube? I bought one of these scopes to replace a Sightron SIII 8-32x56 on a BAT 3L LR BR rifle in 6 Dasher that I shoot in BR Varmint Silhouette matches, at regular hi-power silhouette distances of from 200m to 500m.
 
The Sightron is in a different class of quality than either you are comparing to. It is very good, but it is not a Zeiss or Razor. I am a fan of Sightron in its class, but 40x I think is stretching what I would recommend for that brand. Now, I am an admitted scope snob, but that is very long range, and the glass will begin to show its weakness at that point. Lack of crisp blades of grass, more purple colors bending around white targets, some lack of focus outside of the center.

I would not be a buyer at this magnification. We sell all brands mentioned, but we do not sell Sightron at 40x. We sell ZCO, but there is a reason you pay so much more.
I must disagree, I have a ZCO 8-40x56 and a NF Attackr 7-35x56 of the two I would give a slight edge in glass quality to the ZCO. A friend at the range had a Sightron 5-40x56 that I tested next to my ZCO same day, time and image and no matter the distance (1000 yds) I could see no difference in viewing quality between the two. Two other people also checked the two and both said the Sightron was better. I was so impressed with the Sightron I bought one and continued testing my ZCO against the Sightron and could never see any difference as a matter of fact I was so impressed with the glass quality I bought a second Sightron. I payed about $4,200 for the ZCO and $2,150 each for the Sightron from a well known dealer that posts on this board.
I personally can't imagine anybody being dissatisfied with the Sightron 5-40x56.
 
Last edited:
The Sightron is in a different class of quality than either you are comparing to. It is very good, but it is not a Zeiss or Razor. I am a fan of Sightron in its class, but 40x I think is stretching what I would recommend for that brand. Now, I am an admitted scope snob, but that is very long range, and the glass will begin to show its weakness at that point. Lack of crisp blades of grass, more purple colors bending around white targets, some lack of focus outside of the center.

I would not be a buyer at this magnification. We sell all brands mentioned, but we do not sell Sightron at 40x. We sell ZCO, but there is a reason you pay so much more.
It doesn’t sound as if you actually have any experience behind this optic.
 
Isn’t Sightron a lot like March in that they are both World Class optics but have very little exposure in the North American market?

I know both have much larger followings outside the US.

March seems to be gaining traction because of the competitive shooting scene. Sightron should tear a page out of their playbook.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Earnhardt and lash
I was shooting today with my 7-35x56 ATCAR and Sightron 111ED 5-40-x56mm. Today the Sightron had a slightly better image. Thank you, FL410, for your comments about the ZCO. I was thinking of selling the ATACR and upgrading to the ZCO. Not now .
Best part was I bought my Sightron from Liberty optics spring of 21 for $1799.00 My ATCAR was a demo from Euro optics for $3300 including tax.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pinmaster
I must disagree, I have a ZCO 8-40x56 and a NF Attackr 7-35x56 of the two I would give a slight edge in glass quality to the ZCO. A friend at the range had a Sightron 5-40x56 that I tested next to my ZCO same day, time and image and no matter the distance (1000 yds) I could see no difference in viewing quality between the two. Two other people also checked the two and both said the Sightron was better. I was so impressed with the Sightron I bought one and continued testing my ZCO against the Sightron and could never see any difference as a matter of fact I was so impressed with the glass quality I bought a second Sightron. I payed about $4,200 for the ZCO and $2,150 each for the Sightron from a well known dealer that posts on this board.
I personally can't imagine anybody being dissatisfied with the Sightron 5-40x56.
Fair enough. That is very surprising. I would like to hear more comparisons. I have used the Sightron in lower magnifications and would put in more in line with the Arken: Amazing quality for the price, but never comparable to an ATACR. You are giving it a pretty strong endorsement.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Iron Worker
Fair enough. That is very surprising. I would like to hear more comparisons. I have used the Sightron in lower magnifications and would put in more in line with the Arken: Amazing quality for the price, but never comparable to an ATACR. You are giving it a pretty strong endorsement.
Arken ! Now we know you are smoking something. The Sightron S3 series rifle scopes can't hold a candle to SV111 5-40x56ED scopes, a different animal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Earnhardt and lash
Fair enough. That is very surprising. I would like to hear more comparisons. I have used the Sightron in lower magnifications and would put in more in line with the Arken: Amazing quality for the price, but never comparable to an ATACR. You are giving it a pretty strong endorsement.
I am not a "Fan Boy" of any scope manufacturer, I can only call it the way I see it without bias. It is amazing to me that you can make a statement about something you never used or experienced.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lash
Nice to read these comments as I suspect I will give the 5-40 a run on my rifle one day....been lusting for some time. I think the kicker will be stumbling upon someone at JTAC with one who lets me take a look through it.

BUT ultimately I'd like to hear from more people who have never looked through one that is invaluable.
 
Nice to read these comments as I suspect I will give the 5-40 a run on my rifle one day....been lusting for some time. I think the kicker will be stumbling upon someone at JTAC with one who lets me take a look through it.

BUT ultimately I'd like to hear from more people who have never looked through one that is invaluable.
What is JTAC
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tikkaguy
I was working with a us optics b25, I was doing load developments that day. The b25 has a horus h37 reticle in it. The reticle is a bit busy but a good reticle for fast shooting at different target range variations, When you have your dope figured out, without dialing. doing load development was a all day shooting event keeping the barrel at constant temp and groups as small as they could be. By the end of the day my eyes were fatigued by the b25 because when the power is dialed up the eye box is fussy.

i had the Sightron s8 at the range with me that day. I purchased it with the lrm reticle on sale From Sightron. I use adm scope mounts because I find them of good quality with good return to zero. at the end of the day I had some spare rounds and put the Sightron s8 on the rifle just to take a look see and see how she sights in and adjusts.

my first impression was at how forgiving the sight box was even with the power dialed all the way up. With the b25 dialed up to full power your head is in a vise to keep a sight picture, not so with the Sightron s8. The Sightron was clear, detailed, and if I remember right color accurate. the fatigue was gone because the sight box was so forgiving. Compaired to the b25 it was easy to be behind. i had It sighted in quickly and played with the turrets a bit to see if it returned to zero. It did, so I must say I was impressed.

I would say it’s week spot is how the turrets feel. They seem mushy with with out a true feeling of center to the click. In reality, I believe when you dial the click, the reticle moves on that and the slight slop in turret you feel has no effect on reticle movement.

all things considered at the sale price which I think was around $1800 for the lrm reticle, it is a easy scope to be behind with good accuracy And very clear and detailed glass. It is a big scope with the 40mm tube and definitely not a shorty, but I have a 338 lapua mag bolt gun that it will call home on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lash
I'm definitely a fan of the Sightron SVIII and I own several March scopes and was on the fence between another March or the new Sightron SVIII and other than the sheer weight I don't have anything negative to say maybe the turrets aren't tactile but they tract perfectly and I personally feel that its a better scope compared to the Vortex Razor Gen 3 6-36x56. I bought couple more of these SVIIIs. I'm kind of itching to buy a much lighter weight March 5-42x wide angle though but it's still double the cost of these SVIIIs.

I really think these Sightron SVIIIs are the closest to true tier 1 scopes at really affordable prices relative to their unbelievable performance. My SIIIs seem really like budget scopes now days and they are budget scopes.

The only other scope in this price range that floats my boat is the Burris XTR PRO with it's huge wide angle FOV it's absolutely incredible.
 
I have NF ATACR,Razor G2, Cronus and now 2 S8’s. I can put them side by side and can honestly say the NF is has a very slight advantage to my eyes but at twice the cost (ATACR 7x35) as the S8. The S8 is significantly better than the Razor or Cronus. I purchased my S8 from a hide vendor for under 2k
 
  • Like
Reactions: Iron Worker