Sightron vs Weaver vs Leupold: Help!

[megastink]

Hello! I am shopping for a new scope for my Savage 10FP .308. I am planning on hunting deer up to 600 yards. So, I need some good glass. I am NOT looking for the Hubble Telescope. In a perfect world, my perfect scope would be somewhere around a 3.5-10x42/44 w/ a 30mm tube. I want something with plenty of elevation travel, reliability (repeatability), and GOOD GLASS!

I think I have narrowed it down to three, and now I need your help:

Leupold Mark 4 LR/T Target 4.5-14x40:

Mark 4 Precision Rifle Long Range Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 4.5-14x 40mm Side Focus Mil-Dot Reticle Matte

Weaver Tactical 3-15x50:

Tactical Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 3-15x 50mm Side Focus First Focal Mil-Dot Reticle Matte

Sightron 3.5-10x44:

SIII Long Range Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 3.5-10x 44mm Side Focus Mil-Dot Reticle Matte

I think all of the above would do, but I'm leaning toward the Weaver (I found a GREAT PRICE online).

Please help me decide. Thanks!

-Megagun)

 

[Loner]

Wouldn't be a choice amongst those 3 for me, the Sightron hands down.

 

[Pdvdh]

Sightron SIII

 

[Scot E]

What is your feeling on SFP vs FFP?

Is the reticle of any importance to you?

MOA or MIL?


Regarding the Weaver, it is relatively new but getting very good reviews so far. Weavers in general have a very good reputation so I have strong hopes for this scope. It is FFP which is a plus for me at least. The scopes you linked all have mil reticles and MOA turrets. I wouldn't go this route personally. Mixing turrets and reticle is more of a pain than it should be and requires more/different math. The new(2011)Weaver tacticals have MIL turrets and reticle and the new reticle is more of a hash style which for me is a real plus.

SIII's are really nice IMO. Great reputation for glass, durability and turret repeatabiltiy. They are SFP and I think they only have MOA turrets available. So I personally would be looking at one of their scopes with an MOA reticle that would match the turrets and forget about the mildot reticle.

I am kinda here nor there with Leupold. For the price they want I think there is better glass and better scopes out there.

HTH,

Scot E.

 

[Buano]

I wouldn't pick any of your list for that application. I would go with the Zeiss 4.5-14x50 with the Rapid-Z 800 reticle. With that scope you can twist turrets if you have time & shoot off the reticle to 800 yards if you don't.

 

[J E Custom]

There are lots of good scopes out there and some of the ones you mentioned are very good.

I personally like all of the features of the Leupold Mark 4s and the power you picked is my
favorite for hunting because it can go low enough to take running shots but has enough power
to tag the long shots also.

The glass is very good and adjustments are very precise and plentiful. also the eye relief is
excellent for the hard kicking mags.

Leupold also has a great warranty.(I have never had to use it though).

In My opinion the Mark 4 is the best buy for the money.

Just my opinion.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Gary Kaney]

I just picked up a MK4 with the TMR Retcle. I really like the TMR.

 

[jagsr71]

Is the reticle of any importance to you?
MOA or MIL?
The scopes you linked all have mil reticles and MOA turrets. I wouldn't go this route personally. Mixing turrets and reticle is more of a pain than it should be and requires more/different math.
SIII's are really nice IMO. Great reputation for glass, durability and turret repeatabiltiy. They are SFP and I think they only have MOA turrets available.
Scot E.

I just picked up a Sightron for my brand new .260 in a DPMS. You are absolutely correct that the turrets should match the reticle. The 2011 Sightrons are MIL/MIL or MOA/MOA and do not mix anymore. The clicks are VERY precise now (I thought they were a little mushy last year). The glass is phenonmenal! My buddy has a NF and we were comparing them on the highest magnification last week. I thought they were about the same. He actually thinks that the glass is slightly better on the Sightron! I understand that the glass is also made in Japan.
Another big plus for long range shooting is that the windage evelation travel is 100 so there's more than PLENTY of room for adjustment and the hash marks on my SIII 6-24X50 LRMOA are great. Just my .02 if it helps any.

 

[Pdvdh]

10-4

I know the Sightron 6-24x50mm SIIIs are available in moa/moa or mil/mil. I own one in moa/moa. And the SIII reticles are much improved on my scope over prior year models. My reticle is etched, and similar to the IOR MP-8, except the hash marks are spaced 2-MOA on my SIII, instead of 1-MOA as they are on my IOR.

 

[Scot E]

I just picked up a Sightron for my brand new .260 in a DPMS. You are absolutely correct that the turrets should match the reticle. The 2011 Sightrons are MIL/MIL or MOA/MOA and do not mix anymore. The clicks are VERY precise now (I thought they were a little mushy last year). The glass is phenonmenal! My buddy has a NF and we were comparing them on the highest magnification last week. I thought they were about the same. He actually thinks that the glass is slightly better on the Sightron! I understand that the glass is also made in Japan.
Another big plus for long range shooting is that the windage evelation travel is 100 so there's more than PLENTY of room for adjustment and the hash marks on my SIII 6-24X50 LRMOA are great. Just my .02 if it helps any.

Good to know. I was hoping they would get there at some point. They need to update their site as all of their SIII scopes still show MOA turrets. Do you know if they have additional MIL reticles besides the standard mildot? I know they had a dot/hash reticle for a couple of their fixed scopes. Hoping they add a hash style similar to their LRMOA.

 

[jagsr71]

Good to know. I was hoping they would get there at some point. They need to update their site as all of their SIII scopes still show MOA turrets. Do you know if they have additional MIL reticles besides the standard mildot? I know they had a dot/hash reticle for a couple of their fixed scopes. Hoping they add a hash style similar to their LRMOA.

Here's the one I picked up:
Sightron Riflescopes / Binoculars / Sighting Scopes product pages. SIII Series - SIII SS 6-24X50 LRMOA
This is the mil dot:
Sightron Riflescopes / Binoculars / Sighting Scopes product pages. SIII Series - SIIISS 6-24X50 LRMD/CM

I think they have one more reticle option on their site but not sure if it's a MIL reticle.
You're right. I'm really glad they've gotten to this point. They've come a long ways since the first time I looked through one about ten years ago. Now they just need to offer FFP and lit reticle like Vortex does. That would be a homerun for sure!

 

[Pdvdh]

Hello! I am shopping for a new scope for my Savage 10FP .308. I am planning on hunting deer up to 600 yards. So, I need some good glass. I am NOT looking for the Hubble Telescope. In a perfect world, my perfect scope would be somewhere around a 3.5-10x42/44 w/ a 30mm tube. I want something with plenty of elevation travel, reliability (repeatability), and GOOD GLASS!


Sightron 3.5-10x44:

SIII Long Range Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 3.5-10x 44mm Side Focus Mil-Dot Reticle Matte

I think all of the above would do, but I'm leaning toward the Weaver (I found a GREAT PRICE online).

Please help me decide. Thanks!

-Megagun)

Mega,
If you were going to buy a Sightron SIII, I think either of the following two models might be preferable to the one you've linked to at Midway. The model you've linked has a mil reticle, but moa turret adjustments.

This model has a reticle identical to the one you're considering except the reticle and turret adjustments are both in mrad, or mil/mil.
Sightron Riflescopes / Binoculars / Sighting Scopes product pages. SIII Series - SIIISS3.5-10x44LRMD/CM

This model has an even better reticle design - in my opinion - and comes in the moa/moa format. The reticle hash marks are moa, and the turret adjustments are in moa. 1/4 moa per click. A very nice reticle design also, similar to my 6-24x50mm SIII LRMOA 2-MOA model.
Sightron Riflescopes / Binoculars / Sighting Scopes product pages. SIII Series - SIIISS 3.5-10x44 LRIRMOA

 

[megastink]

You are all really selling me on the Sightron. Does anyone have a picture of the clarity; i.e. through the scope? Are the adjustments precise, be it mil/mil or moa/moa (thanks for that lesson, btw!)

Also, how is their customer service?

Anyone ever do a box test? Pictures/Proof? Just trying to do some research.

Thanks!

-Mega

 

[jagsr71]

It looks like phorwath and I both have the identical scope. Although I just got it, I love it already! That last reticle (that phorwath posted) would definitely be a great reticle for punching paper or for shooting coyotes w/o having to make the adjustment clicks!

Also, how is their customer service?
-Mega

I don't know from personal experience (since I just bought mine and have had no issues). That being said, I have heard (especially from a different forum) that it is excellent. If you like I can PM you some of those threads. You will also come up with some pretty good reads if you google "sightron vs nightforce."

Anyone ever do a box test? Pictures/Proof? Just trying to do some research.
-Mega

Same response. I have not had time to do the box test but I have yet to hear that it has any variance from zero. Again, I can PM you some of those threads.