Sightron SIII FFP going back... Now what do I get to replace it?

[CleanShot]

Hello

I got a Sightron SIII 6-24x50 in FFP but I hated the reticle so much at 6x that it's going back to the vendor that's to a excellent return policy. So now I'm in the market for a replacement and this time I'm willing to spend a little bit more if I have to but not double. Let's set a $1200 limit.

So the rifle it's going on is a Savage 10 Predator Hunter in 243 Win. Next question is always what am I using it for which is a bit more complicated. I'm really using it to practice my marksmanship so I don't have to shoot my 7RM both because the ammo is expensive and the kick is far greater. Our range offers a max of 300 yards which by NJ standards is excellent. I'm hoping it also doubles as a whitetail rifle in NY or PA at some point so dark Northeast woods. If I'm so lucky maybe it will be used for predator hunting at some point.

I've been debating MOA vs MRAD but I think many of you helped me decide that given how used to inches and feet I am and how my range is setup in yards MOA seems to be the way to go. Plus it seems like most people in the US use MOA so odds are if you're hunting with someone they have an MOA spotting scope.

As a newbie I have an affinity to the allure of the FFP scopes. It seems like something I would really enjoy using and would simplify my learning curve. However given a good amount of reading on this since the effective range of this rifle for whitetail is probably <500 yards and our range is 300 yards maybe the SFP would be just as good for my use case.

Anyway that's the background... so next is the scopes I have in mind but I am clearly open to suggestions since I am essentially ignorant still but slowly getting up to speed...

1. Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 FFP MOA or MRAD ($800-900)
2. Nightforce SHV 5-20×56 SFP MOA ($1200-$1300)
3. SWFA 3-15x42 FFP MRAD ($700)
4. Sightron SIII 6-24x50 SFP MOA or MRAD ($800-$900)
5. IOR Valdada seems to have some options

I'm leaning towards the Vortex Viper PST because it seems to have a lot of excellent reviews, a zero stop, illuminated reticle, and it's priced pretty well for a rifle I feel like will be used for shots <500 yards. I think I can take the extra money and move it to buying a nicer scope for the 7RM.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks
Sam

PS I tried to add some bolding of highlights of this post for lazy readers

 

[Senderofan]

Unless I'm way off base.......from what you've described about your dislike of the Sightron FFP reticle.....you might want to just stick with a SFP scope. As to the moa versus milrad......that's a subjective and personal choice. Either one works fine.....moa will give you slightly finer adjustments....milrad will dial quicker because of the courser adjustment.

If you have your heart set on a Vortex Viper PST FFP....I'd seriously recommend checking this one out:

Vortex - Camera Land NY

They have a Demo milrad model for $799.99. I purchased one of these and I could not tell that the scope had ever been handled. For the money and being FFP....the deal is hard to beat.

Otherwise....Your list has some excellent candidates. Sightron S III SFP scopes are excellent, NightForce SH-V would be outstanding and there's been a fair amount of positive reports with the Burris XTR line of scopes...but that would be FFP I believe.

Don't feel pressured into getting a FFP scope. If you are new to shooting and want to concentrate on improving your technique...SFP would be a nice way to go. Once you start to branch out into holdovers and leading / doping wind....the FFP comes more into play.

Good Luck,

Wayne

 

[ultraedge]

Look for a used Nightforce NXS in good shape.I have seen several lately in the $1100.00 range. Look in the classifieds on this site , accurate shooter.com, and snipershide. Gary

 

[CleanShot]

Unless I'm way off base.......from what you've described about your dislike of the Sightron FFP reticle.....you might want to just stick with a SFP scope.

Thanks for the feedback. As far as the FFP on the Sightron, I'm fairly confident it's a very poor design by Sightron and it's lack of illumination and duplex is what really killed it. The reason I was looking at the PST is that it actually seems to have a better reticle design.

I do completely appreciate what you're saying though which is why I'm looking at the SHV and the Sightron SIII in SFP.

 

[Barrelnut]

Since the .243 will be used for target/practice almost exclusively. I feel you will really appreciate the SFP scope at the range. Since SFP scopes have thinner reticles than FFP scope, they are better when shooting paper. A thick scope reticle can be a pain when target shooting.

I would seriously look at the Vortex 6-24X50 SFP. I have one and it's great for target shooting at 100-300 yards. It will also work for hunting, but I think a 6x scope in the woods is a little strong. Something in a 4x on the low side would be better, but again sounds like using it for hunting, in the end, is just a maybe.

Would then use the money saved for a better scope on the 7mag. By the way, a 7mag would make a great woods gun for big deer. Might want to consider a lower power scope on it for for a real woods to 500 yard hunting rifle something like a 4-15x50 and use the .243 for target/varmint and precise long range stuff.

 

[CleanShot]

oh and I found the Viper PST brand new for $850 shipped which is why I wasn't so interested in the camera land demo although I did see it.

 

[CleanShot]

Since the .243 will be used for target/practice almost exclusively. I feel you will really appreciate the SFP scope at the range. Since SFP scopes have thinner reticles than FFP scope, they are better when shooting paper. A thick scope reticle can be a pain when target shooting.

I would seriously look at the Vortex 6-24X50 SFP. I have one and it's great for target shooting at 100-300 yards. It will also work for hunting, but I think a 6x scope in the woods is a little strong. Something in a 4x on the low side would be better, but again sounds like using it for hunting, in the end, is just a maybe.

Would then use the money saved for a better scope on the 7mag. By the way, a 7mag would make a great woods gun for big deer. Might want to consider a lower power scope on it for for a real woods to 500 yard hunting rifle something like a 4-15x50 and use the .243 for target/varmint and precise long range stuff.

My 7RM is currently wearing a SWFA SS 3-15x42 scope. I was just wondering to myself the other day if I should have instead gotten the SWFA SS HD 5-20x50. The 7RM was purchased more for potential Western elk hunts which might require shots beyond the 500 yard mark.

Anyway as for the 243 yes as of now the hunting is just a maybe as I regularly bowhunt in NJ and maybe slug/muzzlerloader hunt if I have the chance. Getting out to NY or PA for a hunt requires more of a time commitment which I currently do not have the luxury of having. If I can take time off, an elk, mule deer, or pronghorn hunt is much more appealing to me at the moment which is probably all with the 7RM.

 

[Barrelnut]

Well the SWAF SS HD may be just the ticket for an antelope or elk at LR with the 7mag. There is a point where glass resolution trumps magnification in a scope and differences in the Vortex 24x and the SWAF SS HD 20x is probably one of those spots.

Below is a printable lens resolution chart from USAF print it and put it up at 100-200 yards and look at it with both scopes focused at high power. I bet you will be able to see more detail with the SWAF at 20x than the Vortex at 24x.
http://jimdoty.com/learn/lenses/usaf_test/usaf_chart/USAF1951w.jpg

 

[CleanShot]

Well the SWAF SS HD may be just the ticket for an antelope or elk at LR with the 7mag. There is a point where glass resolution trumps magnification in a scope and differences in the Vortex 24x and the SWAF SS HD 20x is probably one of those spots.

Below is a printable lens resolution chart from USAF print it and put it up at 100-200 yards and look at it with both scopes focused at high power. I bet you will be able to see more detail with the SWAF at 20x than the Vortex at 24x.
http://jimdoty.com/learn/lenses/usaf_test/usaf_chart/USAF1951w.jpg

I could always take the SWFA 3-15x42 toss it on the 243 then buy the SS HD for the 7RM and the result would be a pretty darn good match in terms of the scope designs so when I'm on the field with the SWFA HD it wouldn't be a major departure.

 

[Barrelnut]

I could always take the SWFA 3-15x42 toss it on the 243 then buy the SS HD for the 7RM and the result would be a pretty darn good match in terms of the scope designs so when I'm on the field with the SWFA HD it wouldn't be a major departure.

Yes. Now your onto something. Plus the 3-15x42 would be 1" shorter and 7oz. lighter and just generally look better on the .243 short action rifle. Aesthetics do matter.

And you do get what you pay for in scopes. If I were in your shoes with these setups. I would probably bite the bullet and do just what saying.

 

[ZSteinle]

take a look at the VX-6 line from leupold. 3-18 power. or 4-24. good light scopes. Had a pst and hated the 12 MOA per turn on the turrets. I also thought the glass was garbage, may have been just me. Had a sightron S3 6-24 and the sightron glass was far superior to the PST Dumb. The VX-6's are 20 moa per turn and if you get the cds-zl. It has zero stop and locking turrets, nice to have on a hunting rifle.

 

[Sully2]

Buy a Zeiss 5-25 by 50 from Cameraland for $899. You wont regret it at all.!

 

[jrock]

I use to have a 6x24 on my .243 and it was very annoying for hunting in woods. at the low end, a deer would fill the whole entire FOV at close range. I had to bring up the gun right on the deer or it would take a few seconds to acquire the target more or less the kill zone. Missed opportunities on some nice bucks because of it. After that, I would not recommend such a high power scope for woods hunting. a 4x16 would be way better or even a 3x12. If you wanted to spend that money, I would go Leopold or Zeiss but I don't have experience with any other high end brand.

 

[Broz]

You will have the same issue with many FFP's on low power settings. Below 10x on many.

I second Gary's advice on a used NXS, hard to beat.

Jeff